2019 Catskills Lark in the Park – planning calendar Note:  Because our goal is to reach as large an audience as possible, we ask that outdoor events begin no earlier than 9 AM and end by 5 PM. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Link to event proposal form. October 5 Hike, easy or […]

Hiking the Catskills highest peak at 4180′ is always a treat. Far less difficult to ascend than many other high peaks, there is no substitute for Slide’s views over all that surrounds it. Find the plaque commemorating the Catskills own naturalist author, John Burroughs, and his hikes to the summit of this celebrated Catskills mountain.  […]

The hike to the Balsam Mountain summit offers a bit of most of the charms of hiking in the Catskills. From streamside and steeps to ancient hemlocks and one of the finest vistas to be found, this hike of just over 5 miles is among the most fulfilling in the Catskills. Event Duration:  5 miles, […]

Join Billy Denter and the folks at Overlook Mountain Bicycles for a ride around the scenic Catskills. The trip is 20 – 25 miles long on various local routes and takes about 2 hours. The steady pace of around 12 mph means the ride is moderately difficult (C+).  After the ride, complimentary coffee and pastries […]

Join Billy Denter and the folks at Overlook Mountain Bicycles for a ride around the scenic Catskills. The trip is 20 – 25 miles long on various local routes and takes about 2 hours. The steady pace of around 12 mph means the ride is moderately difficult (C+).  After the ride, complimentary coffee and pastries […]

To purchase tickets click here. For more information, contact the Catskill Center at (845) 586-2611.

From Devil’s Kitchen trailhead parking: hike the blue trail for 2 mi. to Codfish Point with terrific view of Hudson Valley and east. Then hike 3/4 mi. on an unmarked trail to the upper quarry with a view of Platte Clove Valley and west. Next hike a 3/4 mi. bushwhack over Plattekill peak (views southwest […]

The hike to Huckleberry Point leads to one of the best views in the Catskills, looking up Platte Clove and out to the Hudson River. Join Catskill 3500 Club hike leader Keith Keator on a little used route to this special spot. Event Duration:  5 miles,  4 hours Level of Difficulty:  Moderate Leader(s):  Keith Keator, […]

Your help with early detection is the only hope for our Catskill Hemlocks. Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) is an aggressive invasive insect that kills a host tree in just a few years. Our eastern hemlocks, with little or no resistance to these infestations, have been hit hard by HWA in the Catskill Park. You’ll be […]

Convergence on Balsam Lake Mountain with Laurie Rankin, Dr. Michael Kudish and Lisa Lyons Hike up from either the north or south sides of Balsam Lake Mountain, through balsam fir forest. Both groups will meet at the summit! (each trail ascends a total of 1100′ to the 3720′ summit). At the summit, Laurie Rankin, Volunteer […]

Join Heather Rolland of the Catskill 3500 Club, and Ian Dunn, NYS DEC forester, on an old-fashioned nature walk. You’ll learn tips for identifying the various types of trees common in the Catskills, as well as wildflower and foraging information, wildlife signs, the human history of the place, and other fun and fascinating facts about […]

The Catskill Recreation Center is holding a reception for Fred Woller on October 7, 2016 from 4:30 – 7:30 PM. He has eight large paintings currently hanging at the Catskill Recreation Center, all of people bicycling. This will be a great opportunity to view the artwork and to meet Fred Woller. Fred learned how to […]

An intermediate/advanced level mountain bike ride that will cover all the trails in the Elm Ridge trail network. Riders should be familiar with singletrack riding and have a mountain bike in good working order. Helmets are required and riders should carry plenty of water, snack, a spare tube and appropriate tools. Bring lunch and a […]

Walk from the Stockade District to Kingston Point via the Rondout in Kingston, NY – an important historic gateway to the Catskills. Connecting waterfront parks, cemeteries, old factories and lots of historic sites. 8-12 miles at a moderately brisk pace. Event Duration:  11 miles, 6 hours Level of Difficulty:  Moderate, due to length Leader(s):  Craig […]

The Esopus Creek Conservancy and John Burroughs Natural History Society will co-sponsor a guided mushroom walk in the Town of Saugerties. Autumn can be a very productive time of the year for mushrooms if soil moisture is favorable. Professor Bill Bakaitis will guide us as we explore a local woodland in search of ground and […]

Meet at the Pine Hill Community Center at 3pm for a scenic walk through the historic hamlet of Pine Hill. We will then do a 45 minute yoga session with stunning views of the surrounding foliage. After, we will walk back to the Center to enjoy a potluck meal together. Event Duration:  2 miles, 4 […]

A two day fly fishing event held in Roscoe, NY on Saturday October 8th and Sunday October 9th. This year will include guest fly tyers, presentations, free beginner fly fishing classes, fly tying classes, on the water instruction, and more. This is a great opportunity for fly fishers of all experience levels, or people just […]

Lecture, PowerPoint Presentation and Hike covering the mysterious stone constructions found throughout the Catskill Mountains and Hudson Valley. These include cairns, walls, perched boulders, standing stones, chambers and effigies, such as turtles and snakes. Could some be more ancient than conventionally thought and atributed to the native population? Could there be more to the story […]

Tortoise and Hare Hike: Pick the hike length that best fits you! This woodland hike offers two choices for beginner and intermediate hikers. “Tortoises” will enjoy a 2.2-mile loop around scenic Frick Pond, and the “Hares” will enjoy a brisk 4.1 mile hike. Both groups will head out together; then the Hares veer off halfway […]

On Saturday, October 8, 2016 the Mountain Top Historical Society will be just the place to begin your Lark in the Park! This year we’ll be offering a choice of five hikes.

Come Join us at the Catskill Recreation Center for a free shallow water aerobics class. This class is for beginners/ intermediate water exercisers. Event Duration:  1 hour Level of Difficulty:  Easy-Moderate Leader(s):  Rhayla Hart, Sponsored by Catskill Recreation Center Bring:  Bathing suit, towel, shampoo and soap Registration required by October 4.  Use registration form below […]

Join us outside the Catskill Recreation Center for a 45 minute Spin Class with views of the surrounding Catskill foliage. This class is appropriate for beginners/ intermediate spinners. Free and open to the public, but class size is limited so sign up early. A tour of the Catskill Recreation Center Facilities is available after class. […]

Join us outside the Catskill Recreation Center for a one hour yoga class with views of the surrounding Catskill foliage. Bring a mat if you have one, some will be available. Appropriate for beginners and those new to yoga. Free and open to the public, but class size is limited so sign up early. A […]

The Esopus Creek is one of the iconic Catskill flyfishing streams. Learn when, where, and how to fish the Esopus Creek. Hosted by ” Ashokan-Pepacton” Chapter #559 of Trout Unlimited. Event Duration:  4 hours Level of Difficulty:  Easy Leader(s):  Bert Leifeld Jr., Sponsored by Ashokan-Pepacton Trout Unlimited Bring: lunch,  Fishing equipment, including fly rod, flies, […]

Find out more about the hiking trails and multiple purpose trails (“rail trails”) that criss-cross and connect the mountains and valleys of the Catskill Park and share information about your favorite hikes and places to visit in the Catskills. Event Duration:  1 hour Level of Difficulty:  Easy Leader(s):  Kathy Nolan, Sponsored by Catskill Mountainkeeper Registration […]

“Close Encounters: Snakes and Amphibians of the Catskills,” with Raquel Pallak. A survey of the most common herpetofauna one would meet on a Catskill trail. A visual guide will be provided and perhaps a live guest (or two). Sponsored by: Woodchuck Lodge Event Duration:  1 hour Level of Difficulty:  Easy Bring: chair or blanket Registration […]

It is one thing to see an animal in the wild, but it’s something very different to experience an animal through the clues it leaves behind. Julie Seyfert-Lillis would argue it engages parts of us that we often neglect. This ancient art blends scientific thinking and imagination and brings a sense of well-being from the […]

Join Dr. Michael Kudish, forest historian, for this look back into the Catskills’ distant past. One Catskill Mountain Club officer reported a mountain laurel thicket along the Finger Lakes Trail on the west ridge of Campbell Mountain. We will try to find this thicket and measure its size and growth rate. Then we will estimate […]

Hike these two High Peaks on the Devil’s Path with Cal Johnson.  The Devil’s Path is a very rugged trail known as one of the most difficult trails in the eastern US. Twin (3640′) and Indian Head (3573′) form the eastern end of the trail, offering great views and tough scrambles. Total ascent is about […]

Join the Catskill’s homegrown Team Danger Girl for an off trail exploration of Panther Mountain. We will lead an intrepid crew of up to 8 hikers along the Cascade Brook valley to the western headwall of Panther Mountain. One of the trip leaders is a stream geologist so be prepared for many science-geeky moments! From […]

The Finger Lakes Trail Conference offers a multitude of hikes of varying lengths and difficulty during the three days of the Finger Lakes Trail Fall Campout, Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, 2016. This year’s event is hosted by the Triple Cities Hiking Club, and based at the General Clinton Park Campgound on the banks of […]

CFA’s Education Forester – Ryan Trapani – will be leading a walk on state forest preserve land beginning @ the Vernooy Kill Falls Parking Area on Upper Cherrytown Road, Kerhonkson. Ryan will discuss how tree identification can serve as one way to decipher a forest’s history. Agriculture, logging, fires, tanneries, & various mills have all […]

Come join this gentle walk around Frick Pond with it’s varied plant life and woods. Enjoy little streams and bridges and the pond! We will talk about the care of the woods and leave no trace principles as we have before at Frick Pond.  Perfect after school and with the children or just a nice […]

This wonderful hike begins on a lovely streamside trail and continues up a mountain pass between the two mountains. We then get to scramble up Blackdome (3980 ft) and Blackhead (3940 ft). The views are Splendid! We plan to take our time and enjoy the mountaintops in their October beauty. Hike appropriate for peakseekers, CATs […]

A moderate hike suitable for families and novice hikers leads to a spectacular view of the Pepacton Reservoir and a scenic pond where we will have a short yoga session. No mats needed. The trail passes through wildflower meadows and the crystal clear pond has pink and white water lilies in season. Event Duration:  5.3 […]

Join with CMC board member Howard Raab for an exciting night-time hike on one of the Catskill’s most beautiful trails. We’ll meet at the Kelly Hollow trail-head and follow the trail up to the beaver pond and lean-to where we’ll have a rest and snacks. This first half will be in daylight where we can […]

Join Edie Mesick, one of the trail building volunteers for a hike on the beautiful Andes Rail Trail. The trail starts with an approximately 1 mile out walk on the level railbed followed by a 2 mile round loop trip (hilly, so somewhat more difficult hike on the Bullet Hole Spur Trail). The Rail Trail […]

Join Tom Miano of the CMC on this Lark in the Park bike ride along the scenic Pepacton reservoir. The ride starts at the north end of the Shavertown bridge and follows the back river road along the south side of the reservoir to the Stone School House on SR 28 and returns along the […]

This loop hike climbs to the Escarpment Trail and then to Acra Point. Offering spectacular views of the Blackhead Range and the Hudson Valley, this relatively short hike gives a big reward for the effort. We will have a short yoga stretch at viewpoint(s). Event Duration:  5 miles, 857 elevation Level of Difficulty:  Moderate-Difficult Bring:  […]

Balsam Mountain is one of the High Peaks at 3600′ and is one of the nicest hikes in the Catskills. The hike traces the path of a lovely cascading creek, goes over two bridges and several crossings on stepping stones, passes through stands of mighty hemlocks, gives a whiff of balsam, of course, and comes […]

This event is for families and children to hike the Tanbark Trail in Phoenicia. It is approximately a 2 mile loop and will take about 2 hours. There is some climbing involved, but I would classify this as a moderate hike and good for ages 4+. We will have everyone meet at Phoenicia Field, by […]

Hike Bearpen Mountain like you never have before: the approach from the north offers views and easy walking on a woods road the entire distance. One for your list, Bearpen is a 3600′ Cat35er; this hike is approximately 7 miles in total. Ascent is steady most of the way up but never steep.

We will start across and down the driveway from the DEC Offices in Stamford, NY. We will take a trail up Bald Mountain to the sight of the old ski lifts, where we will have a 270 degree view of the Catskills, one of the best views in the Catskills. The trails are shared for […]

Check the Catskill Center website for more information. One of the ways that we can act to preserve our beautiful area here in the Catskills is to reduce air pollution by becoming energy efficient home owners. The big bonus is that we simultaneously save money on our energy bills and live in more comfortable conditions. […]

Join Karen Rauter of Roundout Neversink Sream Management.  Meet at Neversink Town Hall and we will hike to one of NYC’s weather monitoring stations nearby. This is a hike of moderate length (2mi) with steep pitches. Glenn Horton will explain how snow pack help’s the water supply managers determine how much drinking water will flow […]

— This Event is Full, Registration is closed — We will do the road and trails of Rochester Hollow as I have led here for the last 10 years. A short talk on the John Burroughs Monument will be given. Bring a very modest lunch as a surprise awaits. Leader is a former licensed DEC hiking […]

Red Hill is the southernmost of the Catskills’ 5 remaining fire tower mountains. The hike is about 1.4 miles one way and is moderate – difficult. Join CMC board member Wendell George on this Catskills 100 Highest hike as we pursue the Catskills Fire Towers during this year’s Lark in the Park. We’ll be climbing […]

CANCELLED due to weather. Join Karen Rauter of the Rondout Neversink Stream Program for an on site presentation about stream management work in the Catskills. We will meet at Claryville Church Hall on County Road 19, Claryville and drive to three completed stream restoration project sites within 2 miles to learn about best management practices […]

— This Event is Full, Registration is closed — Join us for a special mushroom walk on the Rochester Hollow Trail in Big Indian (NY/NJ Trail Conference map #142, I-5). Learn to identify mushrooms, their functions and uses with mycologist John Michelotti, founder of Catskill Fungi in Big Indian, NY. The Rochester Hollow Trail follows a stream through […]

Join Catskill Mountain Club board member Howard Raab for a lovely night hike on the Kelly Hollow Trail. The Kelly Hollow trail is an easy to moderate loop of about 4 miles. It is one of the most beautiful short loop trails in the Catskills with rocky streams and waterfalls. It has a combination of […]

Join David and Carol White on an exploration of one of the Catskills historically significant features. First we will visit Dibbles Quarry on the Pecoy Notch Trail and then climb to a large beaver dam and walk across it to acres of chewed-down trees; the hike is 3 miles, round-trip.  After that hike, we will […]

Join New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forester Ian Dunn for a scenic daytime hike into Vernooy Falls on Sunday, October 11th. Experience the beauty and sounds of the relaxing waterfalls along the Vernooy Kill. Learn about the history of early settlers and their use of the stream and lands while eating lunch at […]

Join Lisa Lyons of Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor and Heather Jacksy for a lovely and easy hike in Mongaup State Park. The groups will set out on a 2.2 mile or a 4.1 mile hike from the Frick Pond trailhead at 1:00 PM. Come enjoy the glorious fall foliage set off by the waters […]

Come cast into the fabled pool that was a favorite of Theodore Gordon. The event leader, Philip Eggleton, is an experienced fly fisherman. While you’re there, learn some of the history of the famous Beaverkill covered bridge. The trout here are experienced and selective, so a stealthy approach will be suggested. Fly fishing rods and […]