Hiking Areas
in the Slide Mountain
Wilderness of
Sullivan County
The Slide Mountain Wilderness, encompassing over 47,500
acres, is the largest and most popular wilderness area in
the Catskills. Extensive foot trails provide access to the
remote interior, often climbing over lofty peaks with
spectacular views. Slide Mountain, the tallest peak in all
of the Catskills, inspired poet and naturalist John
Burroughs to write: “Here the works of man dwindle, in
the heart of the southern Catskills.” A plaque
commemorating both the man and the mountain graces the face
of the summit rock, in tribute to Burroughs and his vision.
Aside from the trail system the Slide Mountain Wilderness
offers an expansive trailless area providing visitors with
the solitude, challenge and independence commonly associated
with wilderness.
Wilderness is an area where the earth and its community
of life are untrammeled by man — where man himself is a
visitor who does not remain. Unlike other public lands that
are managed for a higher degree of public use, wilderness is
managed to offer “outstanding opportunities for solitude or
a primitive and unconfined type of recreation.”
In keeping with this definition, your wilderness
experience may include day hiking, backpacking, camping,
hunting and trapping, fishing, cross-country skiing and
snowshoeing, observing and photographing nature and enjoying
solitude.
Because wilderness challenges you to be self-sufficient,
no motorized equipment or vehicles (such as all-terrain
vehicles or snowmobiles) are allowed.
Location
The Slide Mountain Wilderness is located in the
northwestern corner of Ulster County. It encompasses Forest
Preserve lands in the towns of Shandaken, Denning and Olive.
Crescent shaped north to south, this area straddles the
Esopus, Neversink and Rondout watersheds.
Terrain
This is a rugged, mountainous wilderness that
includes Wittenberg, Cornell, Panther, Lone, Rocky, Balsam
Cap, Friday, Peekamoose and Table as well as Slide Mountain,
from which the area takes its name. Elevations range from
1,100-4,180 feet.
Recreation
A variety of wilderness recreational opportunities
ranging from hiking, snow-shoeing and primitive camping to
hunting, fishing and trapping await the visitor.
Hiking
All 35 miles of trail in this area are open exclusively to
foot travel, affording the visitor an uninterrupted back
country experience. Harboring the tallest of the Catskill
Peaks and offering numerous trailside vistas, the Slide
Mountain trail network is quite attractive and, as a result,
is the most heavily visited wilderness trail system in the
Catskills. Visitors seeking solitude are less likely to
encounter others during mid-week.
Woodland Valley-Denning Trail
(9.8 miles,
yellow markers, moderate-2,300 foot elevation gain.)
For all but the northernmost mile, the Woodland Valley -
Denning Trail follows an old carriage road, making this an
easy to moderate hike with steady, moderate ascents. Other
than its historical significance as the sole thoroughfare
from Phoenicia to Claryville in the days of horse and
carriage, its greatest attribute is that it offers the
public access to other trails.
The Burroughs Range Trail
(9.75
miles, red markers, challenging-3,620 foot elevation gain.)
Accessed either from the Woodland Valley Campground on the
east or the Woodland Valley-Denning Trail on the west, this
trail provides a challenging route through the heart of the
Slide Mountain Wilderness, ascending Wittenberg, Cornell and
Slide Mountain. The eastern approach is notably more
difficult, often requiring the use of one's hands to
negotiate several rock ledges. At higher elevations, thick
stands of balsam fir channel the hiker upwards, adding an
element of surprise to the beautiful panorama that unfolds
on the various summits.
Slide Mountain
Total distance: 2.7 miles (5.4
miles round-trip). Elevation gain: 1,780 ft.
The shortest, most direct route up Slide Mountain
is from the Slide Mountain Trailhead parking area. Follow
the yellow marked Woodland Valley-Denning Trail southwest
.70 miles to its juncture with the red-marked Burroughs
Range Trail. Turn left, heading east 2.0 miles to the summit
rock and Burroughs's Plaque.
Curtis-Ormsbee Trail
(1.6 miles, blue markers,
moderate-900 foot elevation gain.)
Often referred to as the scenic route up Slide Mountain, the
Curtis-Ormsbee trail provides the hiker with three panoramic
vistas to the south and west and a moderate "terraced" ridge
hike through stunted northern hardwoods. It is named in
memory of William Curtis and Allen Ormsbee who originally
blazed this route and later lost their lives during a
mountaineering expedition in the White Mountains in 1900.
Giant Ledge-Panther Mountain-Fox Hollow Trail
(7.45 miles, blue markers,
challenging-2,620 foot elevation gain)
This trail follows along a north-south ridge that offers
spectacular views to the north (the Devil's Path) and to the
east (Woodland Valley) from both Giant Ledge and the summit
of Panther. The ascent from either direction is interspersed
with level stretches suggesting a "terracing" effect through
mixed hardwoods at lower elevations and ultimately through
the scent-laden balsam fir. Popular in part but noticeably
less traveled north of Panther Mountain, this section of
trail provides the hiker with a sense of solitude.
Giant Ledge
Total distance: 1.6 miles (3.2
miles round trip). Elevation gain: 1,100 feet.
The shortest and easiest route up Giant Ledge is
from the Giant Ledge Trailhead. Begin by crossing the road
and following the yellow marked Woodland Valley-Denning
Trail east .75 miles until its juncture with the blue marked
Giant Ledge-Panther Trail. Turn left, heading north .85
miles to the summit and excellent views to both the east and
west.
Terrace Mountain Trail
(0.9 miles, yellow markers,
easy-300 foot descent.)
Accessed from the Burroughs Range Trail, the Terrace
Mountain Trail is a short and easy hike with a very gradual
descent, ending at the Terrace Mountain Lean-to. Bare rock
outcroppings and low blueberry bushes best characterize the
open "meadows" interspersed along the trail. NOTE: there is
no water source at the Terrace Mountain Lean-to.
Peekamoose-Table Mountain Trail
(7.15 miles, blue markers,
challenging-2,820 foot elevation gain.)
Spotting a vehicle at either trailhead for the Peekamoose-Table
Mountain Trail, thereby doing this trail as a through hike,
affords the hiker maximum enjoyment. This is a less traveled
area that presents a sense of remoteness, complemented by
beautiful views at timely intervals. A distinct sense of
history is evidenced by the red pine plantation, pioneer
species indicating former pasture and stone walls on the
southern end, contrasting sharply with the old growth forest
in the interior.
Before you set off, be sure to:
- Get a detailed map and compass and acquaint yourself
with the area.
- Draft and review an emergency plan should someone in
your group become ill or injured. Be specific. Indicate
at various points along your intended route which way is
the quickest route out to a phone. Carry emergency phone
numbers with you.
- Check the weather forecast and local conditions.
- Get an update on back country information and State
land regulations.
- Leave written word at home or with a friend of your
specific plans.
- Dress for the weather.
- Water is relatively scarce in the Catskills so plan
your trip accordingly.
- Expect ice and snow from November through April.
- Please sign in and out at trail registers. In case
of an emergency it could help us to locate you more
easily.
Back country camping is allowed in most areas of the
Catskill Preserve. Please see below for some of the rules
for primitive camping.
To protect back country resources, state law requires all
campsites to be at least 150 feet from any road, trail or
water source, except at sites designated by DEC. A
designated site is either a lean-to or a campsite marked
with a yellow "camp here" disc.
Camping is also prohibited above 3,500 feet in elevation
from March 22 until December 20 each year to protect the
fragile summit environment.
Groups-of 10 or more must obtain a camping
permit from the area Forest Ranger before entering state
land. In a wilderness area, group size is limited to a
maximum of 12 individuals to protect the wilderness
character of the area, especially the opportunity for other
visitors seeking solitude. Larger groups can be accommodated
in Wild Forest areas such as the nearby Balsam Lake Mountain
or Sundown Wild Forests. Whenever possible use an existing
designated campsite to lessen your impact.
Campfires-are permitted below 3,500 feet in
elevation, but only dead and down wood may be used. In a
designated campsite, use the existing fire ring and burn
wood no larger than that which can be snapped in your
hands-it's sure to be dead, dry and will burn down to ash.
Never leave a fire unattended and make sure your fire is
cold before breaking camp.
Bear Precautions-Using nylon cord, hang all
food, garbage and toilet articles a minimum of 15 ft. above
the ground and an additional 10 ft. from any adjacent tree
trunks or overhead limbs and a distance of 150 feet from
camp.
Keep a clean camp. Wastewater should be
taken a minimum of 150 feet from any water source and gently
sprayed into the underbrush as against pouring it into a
sump hole. Cooking water should be strained of any food
particles and treated in a similar fashion. This distributes
rather than concentrates the dirty water, dispersing both
the impact and related odors that attract wildlife. All food
waste should be packed out.
Human Waste-If available, use the privy. If
not, dig a "cat-hole" 6-8 inches deep, a minimum of 150 ft.
from any water source. Cover waste with soil and leaf
litter. Minimize the use of toilet paper and burn or pack it
out. When appropriate, use leaves instead. Treat feminine
products as you would all other garbage and pack out as
well.
Drinking Water-The department cannot ensure
the purity of any water source. Giardia lamblia is a water
borne parasite which can cause severe and prolonged
intestinal disorder and has infected the water supply as a
result of poor human sanitation habits. Boil all water for 2
minutes, filter or treat chemically.
If you Bring Your Pet-Your pet must be
under your control at all times. When others approach,
particularly small children and other animals, leash your
dog. Keep your pet quiet. Remove droppings from the trail
and camping areas.
The Catskill Forest Preserve was created in 1885 to
protect the area's water resources, as well as to provide
public outdoor recreational opportunities. New York City
alone relies on the Catskills to provide nearly 90 percent
of its drinking water supply.
A land of legendary wilderness, Slide and the surrounding
mountains formed the core of the original Catskill Forest
Preserve. Prior to its creation, most of the primeval
forests were devastated in the mid-1800s by the leather
tanning industry, which required an exhaustive supply of
hemlock bark, and then by the successive harvesting of the
area's hardwood forests for a growing demand for furniture
and other wood products. A few stands of old growth forest
escaped the lumberman's axe. For example, virgin mountain
spruce-fir forests, generally above 3,500 feet in elevation,
can be found on some of the area's highest peaks.
Management of the Forest Preserve stems from the "forever
wild" provision of the state's Constitution, which states:
"The lands of the state, now owned or hereafter
acquired, constituting the forest preserve as now fixed
by law, shall be forever kept as wild forest lands. They
shall not be leased, sold or exchanged, or be taken by
any corporation, public or private, nor shall the timber
thereon be sold, removed or destroyed . . ."
Recreational use of this area began in the nineteenth
century when summer resorts and boarding houses first
opened, and flourished with the development of the Ulster
and Delaware Railroad. A number of guides sprang up during
this period, many of whom were excellent woodsmen who laid
out and maintained the trails they used.
James Dutcher was among the best of all mountain guides and
the guardian spirit of Slide Mountain. In the 1870s he
blazed a trail up the mountain from Winisook Lake, building
stone steps where needed. While the "Dutcher" or "Step"
Trail as it came to be known is no longer used today (it
crosses private land), a trail nearly as old is still in
use.
In 1891 the first public funds to be allocated by the New
York State Legislature for Forest Preserve trail development
were used to construct a "public path" to the summit of
Slide Mountain. The present Burroughs Range Trail follows
this route as it ascends Slide, and vestiges of the original
stone work which built up low portions of the path can still
be seen. Thanks!
|
