catskill question

[Adk_dib]

which hike is better, Peekamoose or Ashokan high PT?
Its along car ride and want to have more for the buck.
Which has the better view from the summit, and which one has the better trail. Any waterfalls on these two trails?

 

[Artex]

Not sure about Ashokan, but Peekamoose doesn't have a summit view. I hiked it last July.

Click here for that report

 

[paul ron]

For a better hike experiance, Peakamoose. Park a car on the other side by the Slide trailhead on rt 47 do a thru hike over Table.

High point is a nice jeep road hike till the last mile up the mountain where you'll have some great views. The loop is interesting but not much of a hike.

3 Waterfalls are on that road between Peakamoose and High Point trailheads on Peakamoose Road. They're running great right now.

 

[Mark Schaefer]

They are both nice hikes. As Paul mentioned there are three nice waterfalls on the road between Peekamoose Lake and the Peekamoose trailhead which can be visited after the hike. Buttermilk Falls, the furthest west and closest to the trailhead is the most impressive. For that reason I would choose the Peekamoose hike in the spring season.

Peekamoose is the more challenging hike (about 2700' from the Peekamoose Rd). The trail passes through some blowdown areas from Floyd, all nicely cleared from the trail. I have always found this area very attractive, perhaps even more so now that the forest is thinner and has some partial valley views through the trees. There is a open southern view at 3500' on the trail, but none at the summit rock (the fir and spruce have grown too tall and now block the former summit view). It is a fairly easy walk over to Table which can be bagged on the same hike, but also no good views on the connecting trail.

The trail to Ashokan HP follows the Kanape Brook, but not within sight of a few attractive cascades. No large waterfalls on this stream. Ashokan HP has better views (good any time of the year). The views aren't at the summit. The best view is on Little High Point, a short bushwhack. The herd path (two paths in places) is not hard to find and follow. At the main summit it starts to the north opposite the main trail from the south and quickly turns to the east. The 2nd picture on the Local Hikes web page is of the main peak from Little High Point. There are also nice views towards the Ashokan Reservoir and the Shawangunks. Return to the main summit (via the herd path). West of the main summit, in a meadow just off the loop portion of the trail, there is a view of Slide Mt. and the Burroughs Range (3rd picture on the Local Hikes web page). I tend to agree with Paul Ron that the rest of the loop trail does not have much to offer, and has an 160' uphill on the way out. I usually return on the main trail. Ashokan High Point is very nice in late June when the laurel is in bloom, during the summer when the blueberries are available, or in early October when the blueberry/huckleberry bushes flame red on Little High Point.

 

[Jay H]

A bunch of us can attest to the view on Little Ashoken... Fred, me, Tuco ran into Rivet on Little Ashoken last year sometime after Fred and I camped there on the summit (the whole mtn is below 3500'). Ashoken has a great view of the Burrough's range and the 4 bushwacks, the reservoir.

Peekamoose and Table has some very good views along the way, not at the summit of peek or table but along the trail. The trip to Slide Mtn Road and Peek/table would also be the much longer hike than Ashoken, if that matters to you.

Jay

 

[funkyfreddy]

Ashokan High Point is probably my favorite mountain in the Catskills for the variety of views you get from it. I love Peekamoose as well, the view from its ledges are also superb as well as its interesting terrain and forest. My advice is to hike both of them in different seasons.

 

[woodstrider]

Peekamoose vs Ashokan High Peak

there really is not any views from Peekamoose's summit- not even if you climb up on the large erratic (at lewast for this 5'4" hiker). Ashokan has lovely views, with a little pocking around you can see into the Hudson River Valley or over to the Bushwhack Range.

On the drive to either trailhead on Rt. 42 are a number of waterfalls- including some well known ones.

 

[ROCKYSUMMIT]

i agree with mark.the short bushwack to little high point the first week of october is spectacular. if you catch the right days, when the bushes are firey red, you'll feel like your in the poppy field in the wizard of oz...with great views as well!