Kaaterskill High Peak

[mink319]

A few weeks back when I was hiking near Sunset Rock I was amazed by the view of KHP. Since then I really want to climb KHP via bushwack from the very bottom of Route 23C aka "The Rip Van Winkle Trail". It would be an ascent of about 3000', and round trip of about 7 or 8 miles. Every year in the third week of May, my favorite time of year, I like to undertake a nice bushwack up a peak over 3500', or just somewhere way back, and make a full day out of it and even do some fishing and bird watching while I am there. Last year I bushwacked up Blackdome on May 20, and it was spectacular. There was patcy snow near the summit, and in the valleys the leaves were just starting to come out, and wildlife was everywhere and the weather was pleasant.
If anyone has any info on bushwacking up KHP please let me know, or if you have any ideas for any other nice bushwacks that are seldom done.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Mark Schaefer]

There are several options to bushwhack the north side of KHP. The Kaaterskill Creek can run high and be difficult to cross in May, so your best bet is to start from the section of Route 23A which is on the south side of the clove. There is a parking area that can accommodate 6-8 cars midway between the two bridges over the Kaaterskill which would be a good starting point. I once bushwhacked up from there to Poet's Ledge and then up to the KHP summit. It is steep but not an overly difficult climb. There is a great view at Poet's Ledge.

There are a couple of very tight parking spots closer to the western of the two bridges (More's bridge). Hillyer and Wildcat Ravines are popular bushwhack routes not far west of this bridge and the Fawn's Leap waterfall. It can be a bit difficult to hike up and around the south side of the creek from below Fawn's Leap over to the two ravines. Later in the summer a wade across the creek further up stream is usually possible. However, there is no parking on 23A in this area, so you will need to walk along 23A to the "old turnpike". The start of this old road has been washed away by floods. Where the telephone/power lines diverge from Route 23A scramble over the rocks down to the turnpike. And then you will have to find a way across the Kaaterskill Creek to get to the ravines. FYI this old turnpike follows the Kaaterskill to Lake Creek, and then follows the telephone line up to the village of Haines Falls where it rejoins the current 23A.

Viola Falls is about halfway up Hillyer Ravine, and Wildcat Falls is at the top of Wildcat Ravine just below the current route of the Long Path. There is another climbable creek further west which I have not done: John Case Brook with Buttermilk Falls at the top / Long Path. Further west is the Santa Cruz Ravine which is mostly on private land and off limits.

It is a fun climb to the KHP summit and the waterfalls have good flows in the spring. The Long Path does not get much hiker traffic in this area so you are likely to have the climb all to yourself.

 

[funkyfreddy]

Kaaterskill High Peak is one of my favorite places in the Catskills. I love both it and the area around it. I still have a lot of exploring to do there as I haven't climbed Roundtop and also want to explore Plattekill Clove and Kaaterskill Clove. Alas, so many mountains, so little time......

I just ordered "The Catskill Forest: A History" by Michael Kudish and am waiting for it to arrive. I hear it comes with a great map which shows the various uses of the forest through history. I'm sure I'll get a lot of info from the book and ideas for new hikes/places to explore.

 

[mink319]

Thanks for all the great info Mark. I remember when I was looking across at KHP I saw lots of ravines, waterfalls, ledges, and slides.

Freddy, that area is great and full of nice things, and this spring I will definitely do some exploring down in the cloves and maybe some fishing too.

 

[Rob S]

Kaaterskill High Peak is one of my favorites too. The views from Hurricane Ledge are awesome. I've also been wanting to explore this area more. I've read that there is plane wreckage, but I didn't see it. Maybe I was looking in the wrong area. And yeah, a trip over to Roundtop would be great.