Go over the bridge and turn right onto the wide Spruceton Trail to get back to your car. - Use the links below to get the full reports for the Adirondacks and Catskills. • The trees close in on the trail. If you detour to the John Robb lean-to you’ll descend through the Cats Elbow (rock formation) and find a nice place to stop and rest and get some good views. The Hunter Mountain Fire Tower is located on the summit of the eponymous mountain, second highest of the Catskill Mountains in the U.S. state of New York.It was the first of 23 fire lookout towers built by the state in the region, and the next-to-last of the five still standing to be abandoned.. Today it remains a popular attraction for hikers climbing the mountain. (see below) Popular hiking trails in the area include the Devil’s Path, Becker Hollow and the Colonel’s Chair. Land Manager: NY Dept of Environmental Conservation. • At 2.4 miles the trail passes the Colonel's Chair Trail that leads to the Hunter Mountain Ski Area. The thoroughfare from the north was part of an old wagon road used in the 1800s to provide a connection from Hunter to the Westkill Valley through Jones Gap. Here I am starting up the mountain, with trail-less high peak Rusk Mountain in the distance. To the left and behind Caudal and Camel’s Hump is Windham High Peak. If there's room, you can simply park at the trailhead and follow the road to the top. Soon, you will pass a trail register (please sign). Palenville, NY Intermediate. NOT OKAY! Please read the DEC info carefully. Description If there's room, you can simply park at the trailhead and follow the road to the top. This bridge crosses the beautiful Hunters Brook, a great place to stop and splash around after a hot summer hike. It burnt some years ago and was relocated to its current spot. In this area you can cross the brook and head northwest to bushwhack Rusk Mt. - Please see the NYSDEC website for COVID recommendations on safe hiking. Intermediate. Take the Devil's Path to Hunter Mountain route to complete a loop or just for more seclusion. The Spruceton Trail is 3.5 miles and an accent of 1,900 feet versus Mink Hollow Trail at 2.1 miles and 2,200 feet accent. Far off to the west Bearpen and Vly can be seen. Hunter Mountain: Spruceton Trail. Hunter is the most developed of the 3500′ high peaks in the Catskills. Hunter Mountain: Spruceton Trail hike up Hunter Mountain - See 455 traveler reviews, 213 candid photos, and great deals for Hunter, NY, at Tripadvisor. Please act responsibly during this stressful period. Catskill Mountain Guide by Appalachian Mountain Club Books, Catskill Day Hikes for All Seasons by Carol and David White, Views from on High: Fire Tower Trails in the Adirondacks and Catskills, AMC High Peaks Trail Guide Map Pack by Adirondack Mtn Club, Catskill Region Waterfall Guide by Black Dome Press, Good Fishing in the Catskills: A Complete Angler’s Guide (Third Edition), Hunter-West Kill Wilderness and Rusk Mountain Wild Forest, Trail Registers for Beginners – Anatomy and why to use them, The Complete Beginner’s Guide to the 10 Essentials. What to Think About Before Using a Lean-To or Back-Country Shelter, Why Trail Guides Should Make You Question Everything, 5 Winter Hiking Tips for Your First Time Out & So You’ll Want to go Back, Sunrise – Sunset Times Catskill Mountains, Catskill Lean-tos and Primitive Campsites, Places to Camp on the Catskill’s Escarpment Trail, Best Hikes: Wittenberg-Cornell-Slide Woodland Valley Loop, Best Hikes: The Catskill’s Escarpment Trail from Colgate Lake, Into The Neversink: An off-trail adventure in the wilds of the Catskill Mountains, Town of Lexington and Hunter, Greene County and the Town of Shandaken, Ulster County. Being a jerk / offensive? Spruceton Trail is a 6.4 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Hunter, New York that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as difficult. Diamond Notch Falls in Spring Scott L. | copyright Challenged Hiking, Click the map or here for an interactive version of the map, Becker Hollow Trail Catskill Fire Tower Project Devil's Path Diamond Notch Falls Diamond Notch Trail fire tower Geiger Point Hunter Mountain John Robb Lean-to Spruceton Trail. The trail reaches a high pass between Hunter and East Rusk at 1.7-miles called Jones Gap. This trail follows a wide dirt road which provides access to the fire tower at the top of the mountain. The trail climbs to a good underground spring (2.2-miles) on the right and then on to the John Robb lean-to spur-trail at 2.3-miles (leads right off-trail). • The Diamond Notch Trail goes out to the Diamond Notch parking area. However, the best place to sit is in the tower’s observation deck. Palenville, NY 3 1.5 mi 2.4 km #2 Hunter Mountain Trail. The Trails: Spruceton Road. Continue straight ahead at this junction, and in about 250 feet, you'll reach the Devil's Acre Lean-to, just to the right of the trail - … The Spruceton Trail ends at 3.7-miles the Becker Hollow Trail junction. 218.76 m Up To the southwest are the mountains Spruce, Fir, Big Indian, Eagle, Haynes, Balsam, and Belleayre. The trail starts at the northeast corner of the parking area marked with blue trail markers and walks at a level grade past the trail register (please sign it). This section of the trail is very pleasant. View of SW Hunter from Geiger Point Scott L. | copyright Challenged Hiking The fire tower stands proud and tall after its long overdue make-over. 2,166' Up This is arguably the best ledge view on the mountain. • This is probably the most common route up to Hunter Mountain and back down. 1,712' Down This is the only flat section for the next 1200 feet of vertical climbing. Spruceton Trail is a trail on West Kill and Hunter Brook in Hunter-West Kill Wilderness, Rusk Mountain Wild Forest, Catskill Park, NY. On cold days when the sky is crystal clear one can see the Green Mountains of Vermont, Berkshires in Massachusetts, the lower hills of Connecticut, the Shawangunks near New Paltz, and finally seen in the distance the faint mountains of northern New Jersey. Colonel's Chair Trail (1.7 miles, yellow markers) Trail. Continuing on the footpath to a nice view from Geiger Point (left) looking over the steep headwall of the Spruceton Valley is found. 2778 Spruceton Rd West Kill NY 12492. At mile post 1.41 you will come to this 3-way Trail Junction. Just east of north anchoring the scene is the rugged Black Dome Range of Caudal, Camel’s Hump, Thomas Cole, Black Dome, and Black Head Mountains. The wind starts to increase. From the parking area, follow the blue-blazed Spruceton Trail northward. At 2.4 miles the trail passes the Colonel's Chair Trail that leads to the Hunter Mountain Ski Area. Looking south the jumble of the southern high peaks crowd together, the Burroughs Range, Giant Ledge and Panther. At 2.1 miles the trail passes the John Robb lean-to. This lumber was used to help build the Ashokan Reservoir and provide materials for construction in Stony Clove and the Ulster & Delaware railroads. This is a well-graded trail and has a few moderately steep sections. The summit also has a privy on its eastern side in the trees. After crossing a small bridge across the brook, you will come to a hairpin turn to the right. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until October. Hunter Mountain via Spruceton Horse Trail is a 9.1 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Hunter, New York that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. Check the DEC website for specifics on hunting dates. We have also seen deer and bear tracks on this high elevation trail. This is a well-graded trail and has a few moderately steep sections. To the southeast are the mountains of Eastern Devil’s Path, Plateau in the foreground with Sugarloaf, Twin, and Indian Head behind. Add Your Trails. If you require advice you should consult an appropriate professional. Dogs and horses are also able to use this trail. At the hairpin turn is the usual bushwhack point for Rusk Mountain. Descending on Devils Path 0.2 miles past the Devils Acres lean-to is an old railroad bed. 3 Reviews. Land Manager: NY Dept of Environmental Conservation, 6.2 mi Look down and see animal tracks at all times during the year. The ascent via the Spruceton trail is moderate 7 miles. In front of the Black Dome Range is Onteora Mountain at a stumpy 3220 feet. 523.43 m Down, 5.5 mi The Spruceton Trail is a very popular approach to Hunter’s summit and with a return on Devil’s Path makes a great circuit hike. Upon reaching the summit at 3.4-miles one is greeted with an attractive clearing surrounded by balsam fir. On the other hand, walking out via the Devil’s Path and Southwest Hunter makes the hike long: 10 miles is 10 miles, and that route includes steeper trail sections. 718' Up 16.3 km Taking other people's content (text, photos, etc) without permission is a copyright violation and Hunter Mountain elev 4040’ Spruceton Trail Distance: 6.7 miles (add 2 for Colonel's Chair) Time: 7 hours Vertical rise: 2,240 feet Hunter is a big mountain that is best hiked on the long, gradual trail from Spruceton. After about half a mile, the trail crosses Hunter Brook on a wide wooden bridge and then makes a sharp right turn. Spam? The Spruceton Trail follows the old jeep road that serviced the fire tower. Follow the blue blazes from the trailhead to the summit of hunter mountain. 222.01 m Down, 10.2 mi A summit observers cabin also sits in this place. Read more here! The return trip can be made following the same route up or by making a nice loop down the Hunter Mountain Trail to connect with Devil’s Path and the Diamond Notch Trail returning to the Spruceton Valley with a short road walk back to your car. At 2.2 miles, the trail passes a lean-to and the diamond notch. 1,717' Down This trail follows a wide dirt road which provides access to the fire tower at the top of the mountain. 6), in the Town of Hunter. The temperature was forecast to start out cold but rise to the high 30’s by early afternoon. Intermediate. The Spruceton Trail (blue markers) begins at a DEC parking area near the end of Spruceton Road (Greene Co. Rt. A friend of mine who eats mountains for breakfast described the ascent of Hunter as “relentless.” This was a special day for Anna and Yong Ae as they finished their single season Spring round of the Catskill 35 therefore awarded the first two Spring triangle patches from Hikers Anonymous. 2,805' Up Rusk and the Spruceton Valley from the Lean-to Scott L. | copyright Challenged HikingYou’ll also get a glimpse of the fire tower. How Much Water Should You Drink on a Hike and Why? All outdoor activities are carried out at your own risk. As you crest the hill on this part of the climb look back at the Westkill Valley and see Rusk and East Rusk Mountains and more. At about 0.4-miles the trail swings left (northwest) to cross a wooden bridge. "Tom, Anna, Yong Ae and myself hiked the classic loop of SW Hunter, Hunter, Rusk East and Rusk starting on the Spruceton trail and finishing with a short road walk. The Spruceton Trail is a very popular approach to Hunter’s summit and with a return on Devil’s Path makes a great circuit hike. Crossing the bridge the trail climbs a pitch up to a hairpin turn and swings back up the road (east). 2,807' Down Full Details. Contacts. The picture on the left show you what the trail looks like at the beginning of the trail up to West Kill Mountain. Hunter Mountain from Spruceton On Wednesday, April 1st I wanted to do a 3500 foot peak and had decided early in the week it would be Hunter. It ends at a junction with the red-blazed Devil's Path, also marked by a sign. The cabin served as home to the summit observers when the tower was still being used for fire observation is now a respite for climbers as they sit on its front porch at the wooden table. NOTE: You are responsible for bringing appropriate gear, supplies, clothing, first aid, and lights. Continuing east the view provides a good look at Cauterskill (Kaaterskill) High Peak and its lower companion Round Top. This trail is wide enough that it also makes for a nice easy ski back down or can be used to access other ski runs in the area. This was used by the Fenwick Lumber Company which established a mill in the Myrtle Brook Valley. Hunter is the second highest in the Catskills. As the wind forces increase some legs may become weak but finally, with mercy, there is a refuge in the observation deck out of the wind. Go left on the Spruceton trail (blue) all the way up to the Hunter Mountain fire tower. A gentle three mile hike with an ascent of 1,300' from the south of … After departing Jones Gap, the trail will be level for a bit and then the trail will become steeper and rougher. It’s excellent to gaze at almost any time of the year. This trail was developed during the 1937 season primarily as a ski trail from the Stony Clove Road (Route 214) near Lanesville to the Spruceton Road near its junction with the old Spruceton-Hunter Road. This is now the point you’ll find a herd-path to SW Hunter Mountain. Hunter Mountain is in the towns of Hunter and Lexington, just south of the village of Hunter, in Greene County, New York, United States. If you have binoculars and the sun is high, you might see Kaaterskill Falls! The picture on the right is another example of the trail up to West Kill Mountain summit. Create Recommended Route or 11.9 km Please note changes in access and rules for hiking and camping in the Adirondacks and Catskills during the COVID-19 outbreak. As the hiker climbs the tower, the trip up is uneventful until the steps carry one above the trees. On Monday, January 16th I wanted to do a 3500 foot peak and decided the night before to do Hunter from Spruceton. 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