About the Catskills Programs
The Catskills Community Trails Program supports our regional stewardship, trail maintenance and lean-to building efforts to improve local economies and quality of life by connecting communities to the surrounding open space. Our work in the Catskills includes advocacy for the Catskill Park and region, volunteer management for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on state lands, and regional outdoor recreation planning, in addition to trail, bridge and lean-to maintenance, repair and reconstruction. This work is completed by a mix of staff and volunteers and requires ongoing funding, volunteer labor, building materials, tools and support.
Get Involved
There are a number of opportunities available for volunteers to support the trails and lean-tos they love. If you have questions contact us at [email protected] or sign up for a particular opportunity below!
- Adopt-a-lean-to and become a Shelter Caretaker
- Have your own "cabin in the woods!" We are looking for dedicated individuals to care for the Catskills backcountry lean-tos that provide shelter to day hikers and overnight backpackers. By maintaining a shelter and keeping it enticing for hikers, you help minimize distress to the surrounding environment by focusing locations for overnight stays.
- Adopt-a-trail and become a Trail Maintainer
- Each Trail Maintainer "adopts" a section of trail to ensure the best possible experience for fellow users. Responsibilities include keeping the trail clear, making sure it's well-marked, and reporting major issues.
- Join our Roving Trail Team
- By signing up to our Roving Trail Team mailing list, you’ll hear about all the local opportunities to help out such as maintaining, clipping, reblazing, building, or restoring trails under the guidance of other volunteers or staff.
Explore the Catskills Region
Resources
- Full Catskills Map Set
- Free Maps and Guides
- Suggested Hikes
Trail Alerts and Conditions
See our News Center for the latest trail alerts and conditions. Have a trail problem to tell us about? Report trail problems here and be sure to include the trail and Catskills region.
Key Highlights
Catskill Park
The Catskill mountain region is home to the Catskill Park with over 300 miles of hiking trails and 35 peaks over 3,500 feet in elevation. Learn more about the Catskill Park and review selected hikes throughout the region.
The Long Path
The 356 mile Long Path, which runs from the George Washington Bridge in New York City to Thatcher State Park just southwest of Albany, passes through the Catskill Mountains region for approximately 100 miles between Wawarsing in the south and Windham in the north. The Long Path follows the main ridges of the Catskill Mountains passing over the Burroughs Range (Slide, Cornell and Wittenberg Mountains), along with the Devil's Path range, which has been called one of the most difficult hikes in the east. The Long Path also makes its way through wild and untouched wilderness areas and follows the eastern face of the Catskill Mountains, offering amazing views of the Hudson Valley and the Taconic, Bershire and Green Mountains beyond.
