New York · Hiking

Kaaterskill High Peak Trail

6.9 mi
round trip
1,617 ft
climb
3,084 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Sep–Oct
best months

Kaaterskill High Peak Trail is a hard hike in New York, about 1.4 miles from the town of Tannersville. The route is an out-and-back that starts at roughly 2,558 feet and climbs to about 3,084 feet, with a total gain of 1,617 feet over the course of the 13.8-mile round trip. The steepest stretch comes at about 2.3 miles in, where the grade reaches 29 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Platte Clove show July highs around 80°F with lows near 55°F, and September is a milder option with highs around 72°F. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the high peak run cooler. The Kaaterskill Rail Trail is about 1.8 miles away, and Twilight Park Trail is about 2 miles off. Climbers can head to the Catskills, about 3 miles away, and Huckleberry Point Trail is about 3.5 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Kaaterskill High Peak Trail

    Best months: September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      32° / 12°

      16 wet

    2. Feb

      35° / 13°

      13 wet

    3. Mar

      42° / 20°

      13 wet

    4. Apr

      55° / 31°

      12 wet

    5. May

      67° / 42°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      75° / 51°

      14 wet

    7. Jul

      80° / 55°

      14 wet

    8. Aug

      79° / 54°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      72° / 48°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      59° / 37°

      12 wet

    11. Nov

      47° / 28°

      13 wet

    12. Dec

      37° / 19°

      16 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Platte Clove, NY, 3.1 mi away at 2,032 ft. The station sits about 1,100 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Kaaterskill Rail TrailPhoto: RobertDrake2015, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Kaaterskill Rail Trail

~3 min drive

2.88-mile out-and-back trail in New York with 442 ft elevation gain

Twilight Park TrailPhoto: Alexander Gude, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Twilight Park Trail

~3 min drive

1.44-mile out-and-back trail in Twilight Park, New York with 1,285 ft of elevation gain.

Poet's Ledge TrailPhoto: andyarthur, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Poet's Ledge Trail

~6 min drive

0.45-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 294 ft elevation loss.

Huckleberry Point TrailPhoto: Alexander Gude, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Huckleberry Point Trail

~6 min drive

1.30-mile out-and-back trail in New York with 250 ft gain.

Colgate Lake TrailPhoto: andyarthur, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Colgate Lake Trail

~7 min drive

8.42-mile out-and-back hike at Colgate Lake in New York with 1,199 ft elevation gain

Escarpment TrailPhoto: Andy Arthur, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Escarpment Trail

~6 min drive

2.56-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 1,389 ft gain and 1,634 ft loss.

Schutt RoadPhoto: Andy Arthur, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Schutt Road

~6 min drive

0.97-mile out-and-back trail in New York with 367 ft elevation loss

Devil's PathPhoto: New York Public Library, No restrictions (via Wikimedia Commons)

Devil's Path

~7 min drive

Strenuous 14.92-mile point-to-point Catskill ridge traverse for experienced hikers.

Winter Clove Falls trailPhoto: Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Winter Clove Falls trail

~10 min drive

2.58-mile out-and-back hike in New York with 1,315 ft elevation gain

Overlook TrailPhoto: New York Public Library, No restrictions (via Wikimedia Commons)

Overlook Trail

~7 min drive

3.63-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 1,492 ft elevation gain

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors