THE GREAT OUTDOORS IN THE CATSKILLS

By Jeff Senterman

How has your summer been in the Catskills? We’re starting to turn the corner now, from summer into fall as the month of September brings cooling temperatures and by mid-month, hints of the vivid leaf colors that will peak in October. While September signifies a slow end to summer, it is a great time to get outside and enjoy the region. Crowds are starting to thin, the temperatures are moderating, and there is generally good weather, all of which make it the perfect time to take the hike, ride a bike, visit a farmers market, have a picnic, or partake in any other Catskills adventure you had been planning!

One thing though, the Catskills have been busy. We’ve seen high levels of use throughout the region, especially at our most popular trailheads and destinations. When you are enjoying the great outdoors in the Catskills, we need you to act responsibly and take care of the great outdoors. The Catskill Park is a “Carry It In, Carry It Out Park,” and that means you won’t find trash receptacles along trails or at trailheads—what you bring in, you should pack back out and take home to dispose of properly. If we all do our part, we can maintain the environment and protect the important natural resources of the Catskills.

Most importantly, we all must work to Leave No Trace when we visit the great outdoors. There are seven principles to the Leave No Trace message, but the overall message is the most important. When you visit an area, leave it as good, if not better, than when you arrived. That means staying on trail, not damaging natural features, bringing all of your trash out with you (including those orange peels), and being aware of your impacts on the environment and your fellow hikers.

Please do your part and make sure the forests, trails, swimming holes, and even our roadsides aren’t covered in litter!

Mid-Season Stewardship Efforts Show Positive Impact in the Catskills

The Catskill Center’s Catskill Stewards Program commenced its 2024 season with mixed visitation trends within the Catskill Park, indicating overall growth compared to the previous year. Some locations have experienced notable increases in foot traffic, while others have seen slight declines. The overall upward trend in visitation underscores the continued importance of monitoring the Catskills’ most popular outdoor destinations and highlights the value of the stewards’ efforts in preserving the park’s natural heritage while promoting a positive visitor experience.

The program includes seven full-time Catskill Stewards and one part-time Ridgerunner, all certified in Wilderness First Aid, trained as Leave No Trace educators, and instructed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) on forest rules, regulations, and invasive species identification. Stewards are stationed at high-use locations throughout the region, including Peekamoose Blue Hole, Kaaterskill Falls, Platte Clove and Thorn Preserves, Devil’s Path, and six Fire Tower locations. They collaborate closely with Forest Rangers in their efforts to protect and preserve the Catskill Park. Their duties include providing information on permit requirements, removing litter, rehabilitating illegal campsites, protecting water quality, and promoting responsible recreation practices. Additionally, they assist the United States Forest Service in data collection to better understand visitor demographics and usage trends.

From May 1 to mid-July 2024, the Catskill Stewards engaged with 23,335 visitors and 1,772 dogs, bringing total visitation to 28,223 across all locations. Peekamoose Blue Hole saw 7,822 visitors, an increase of nearly 1,100 from 2023. Kaaterskill Falls had 14,421 visitors, a decrease of roughly 3,800 from last year. Devil’s Path attracted 1,163 visitors, an increase of 400 from 2023, while the Fire Towers recorded 705 visitors, up by approximately 185 from 2023. At Peekamoose Blue Hole, stewards turned away 5,000 visitors due to capacity limits. Throughout the start of the season, the stewards have built connections with a diverse range of park users, including hikers, anglers, birders, families, swimmers, and cyclists, as both residents and visitors of the Catskills.

Joining these efforts are the Catskill Mountainkeeper Stewards, focusing on high-use areas in the Western Catskills. From May through June 2024, the Mountainkeeper Stewards welcomed 2,158 visitors and 123 dogs, surpassing last year’s numbers. They cover five primary locations at Big Pond, Alder Lake, the Beaverkill Covered Bridge, the Peekamoose Blue Hole Lower Field, and the Neversink Fishing Access Point. Like the Catskill Center stewards, they are trained in DEC rules and regulations, Leave No

Trace principles, and Wilderness First Aid, and collaborate with the United States Forest Service on visitor surveys.

Visitors have expressed appreciation for the stewards’ presence at trailheads and the noticeable improvements in site conditions. Popular activities reported this season include fly fishing, swimming, boating, kayaking, and enjoying the natural beauty of the park. Stewards have welcomed visitors speaking English, Korean, Czech, Spanish, Hindi, Burmese, Indonesian, and Lithuanian thus far, and counted up to 45 bird species in one day at a single location. These experiences highlight the Catskill Park as a vibrant destination for both people and wildlife, and underscores the continued importance of stewardship efforts in the Catskills.

The Catskill Stewards Program is a program of the Catskill Center, supported by donations, grants, and the NYS Environmental Protection Fund, administered by the NYSDEC. Stewards are paid seasonal staff of the Catskill Center who are trained specifically to meet the demands of welcoming tens of thousands of people to the Catskills annually. Learn more about the program at catskillcenter.org.

Loving the Catskills to Life!

We often hear how a place is “loved to death” and can easily see how overuse or high use can negatively impact the natural areas that people want to visit. As part of anything that we do, we want to make sure we are able to welcome more visitors to the Catskills to enjoy our important places, all without harming those places! We want to make sure our visitors help invest in and regenerate our natural areas—we want to love the Catskills to life!

In my mind we can all take a few steps in that direction:

1. We need to ensure that we do not just take from the Catskills. Find ways to give back, whether they are large or small. When you’re hiking and see a candy bar wrapper, pick it up and pack it out! Thinking bigger? There are lots of volunteer opportunities in the Catskills tackling everything from invasive species to trail maintenance to staffing a fire tower! Sign up at catskillcenter.org/volunteer.

2. Raise our voices for the Catskill Park with all of our elected officials. We need to continue the good work that has been accomplished in Albany and ensure continued funding to improve the infrastructure of the Catskill Park and help our communities. These improvements make the Park more accessible, but at the same time help ensure natural resources protection and make for a better Park experience.

3. Pass on our love and appreciation for wild areas and the Catskills to new users and generations while understanding that those we talk to may have none of the experiences we have had, and that their frames of reference are likely completely different from ours. We need to move forward together for the Catskills with understanding and compassion on all sides.

4. We need to help the communities of the Catskills. When we enjoy the great outdoors, we need to make sure we also stop on main streets and enjoy our local communities. Get a coffee at a local shop, buy a sandwich at a deli within the Catskills, stop for dinner on your way home in the Catskills. Outdoor enthusiasts need to use their economic potential for good in the Catskills!

Do your part and love the Catskills to life!

Permits Required to Visit Peekamoose Blue Hole through September 15

The Blue Hole is a day-use area and a permit is required for all visitors to the Peekamoose Blue Hole and the entire nearby Peekamoose Valley Riparian Corridor along the Rondout Creek, including campers, picknickers, hikers, and anglers everyday between May 15 and September 15 of each year.

Permits are $10, and must be acquired at least 24 hours in advance, but no more than a week in advance. Only advance registrations will be accepted. No walk-in registrations are available. Permits must list the names of all members of the visiting party when making the registration. Names can be changed up to one day in advance. Each permit will be linked to a vehicle, and the permit must be displayed on/in the vehicle. Permits can be acquired from Reserve America at newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com/.

For more information on the Peekamoose Blue Hole and Riparian Corridor permits, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at 845 688 3369.

New Hiking Challenge Showcases The Catskills’ Hidden Treasures

The Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center is thrilled to be hosting the Catskills Adventure Challenge. This unique challenge offers outdoor enthusiasts a fresh and exciting opportunity to explore the Catskill Mountains while fulfilling their passion for adventure.

The Catskills Adventure Challenge is designed to offer both new and seasoned hikers a unique set of objectives that highlight the beauty and diversity of the Catskill Mountains. The Catskills Adventure Challenge invites participants to embark on eight carefully selected hikes that showcase the region’s breathtaking landscapes, diverse ecosystems, and rich history. To complete the challenge, participants must finish six of these eight hikes, providing flexibility and variety to suit all levels of experience and interest. Participation in the challenge is straightforward and rewarding.

Guides with detailed information about each hike are available at the Catskills Visitor Center or via the official challenge website at catskillsadventurechallenge.com.

Upon completing the hikes, participants are asked to compile a log of their adventures, including details of the six trails completed. Adding a personal touch to the submission, participants are encouraged to include a favorite photo from the challenge. Submissions should be made via the convenient online form available on the official challenge website. All who complete the challenge will receive a special Catskills Adventure Challenge patch, symbolizing their adventurous spirit and lasting connection to the stunning Catskills wilderness.

Visit the Catskill Park’s Visitor Center

Located at 5096 Route 28 in Mount Tremper, the Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center (CVC) is the official visitor center for the Catskill Park. A program of the Catskill Center, staff are available at the CVC with information, maps and all the advice needed to plan a Catskill adventure. The CVC is open every day in the summer months from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm. Visitors can get their Catskill questions answered in person, receive tourism literature, and make purchases at the CVC’s shop that includes hiking maps, regional books, and much more. CVC staff are also available to answer questions about the Catskills and the Catskill Park via email at info@catskillcenter.org or phone at 845 688 3369 during normal business hours.

In addition to tourism services, there are 1.5 miles of trails on the CVC’s grounds, including the 0.5 mile long accessible Interpretive Loop Trail, which are open to the public daily. The 80-foot tall Upper Esopus Fire Tower is also open daily to visitors, offering unrivaled views of the surrounding mountains and Esopus Creek valley. Picnic tables are available on site for those who wish to enjoy a picnic lunch.

Visitors can explore the ever expanding resources available online for the CVC on the web at catskillsvisitorcenter.org, the CVC’s Facebook page at facebook.com/catskillsvisitorcenter, and the CVC on Instagram at @catskills.visitor.center.

Catskills Hiking Guides with the Hiker Trash Husbands on YouTube and the Web

Looking to explore the trails of the Catskills (and beyond) before you hit the trail? My husband and I have a YouTube channel showcasing our hiking adventures in the Catskills and beyond! You can find The Hiker Trash Husbands on YouTube at youtube. com/thehikertrashhusbands. If you’re in the Catskills and have cable provided by MTC, you can catch our videos on CatskillsAir, MTC Channel 1.

For the two of us, The Hiker Trash Husbands is not only a way to show friends and family our hiking adventures, but an effort to provide positive LGBTQ+ representation in the hiking world. We love to showcase our own hiking adventures, along with other queer outdoors folks. You can learn more about our efforts, along with detailed hike descriptions and guides, by visiting our website at hikertrashhusbands.com.

Catskill Park Advisory Committee

The Catskill Park Advisory Committee (CPAC) was established to facilitate communication within the Park and consists of representatives from local governments and organizations chaired by the Catskill Center. Meetings are held quarterly and are open to the public. If you’d like to learn more, join the mailing list or attend the next meeting, please email the Catskill Center at at cccd@catskillcenter.org with CPAC in the subject asking to be added to the mailing list.

Catskill Park Trail Conditions

Local recreational opportunities are always changing in the Catskill Park and by visiting the Catskills Visitor Center’s Trail

Conditions page, you can stay on top of those changes. Staff at the Visitor Center are regularly posting updates related to the Catskill Park, Catskill trails, Catskill campgrounds and camping, Catskill boating, and more at catskillstrailconditions.com.

Give Back to the Catskills

The natural beauty, the majesty of the mountains, the protection of the Catskill Forest Preserve, the region’s natural and cultural resources, all need your help! By supporting the work of the Catskill Center, you support: stewardship of our Catskill Park and its vast natural resources; the Center’s collaborative spirit as we convene, create partnerships and facilitate discussions that benefit the region; and the Center’s work to support education, arts and culture throughout the Catskills. To support the work of the Catskill Center, become a member online through their website at www.catskillcenter.org/ donate or donate by mail: Checks made out to the “Catskill Center” can be mailed to Catskill Center, PO Box 504, Arkville, NY 12406.

Jeff Senterman is the Executive Director of the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development in Arkville, NY, a member of the Board of Directors of the Catskill Watershed Corporation and, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Central Catskills Chamber of Commerce. Jeff graduated with a degree in Environmental Science from Lyndon State College and worked for many years as an Environmental Planner in New England before coming back to New York and the Catskills in the nonprofit sector. To learn more about the work of the Catskill Center in the Catskills, visit catskillcenter. org.