Hey all, I'm looking to head down to the Catskills in a few weeks and am looking for some help. When searching, I've gotten several different answers so I figured I'd come on here. I want to do Slide and Hunter, so what towns are the trailheads located in/closest to? Any additional pointers/info would be much appreciated. Thanks you guys and happy trails.

Sorry, let me rephrase that; are the towns located right off of Route 28? B/c I can take that from my house and it'll be a straight shot (it's Rt 12 where I live). Also, how far is it between the two trailheads?

Why do you need a town? For accommodation? I never stayed at motels around there but I know there are a couple. You are better off just camp around the trail heads.

The best thing to do is get the Catskill mapset from NY/NJ trail conference which shows the trails, trailheads, and surrounding towns in great detail.

rasgoat wrote:The best thing to do is get the Catskill mapset from NY/NJ trail conference which shows the trails, trailheads, and surrounding towns in great detail.

Yup, what he said. Their website is www.nynjtc.org and you can order maps right there. They're cheap, about $7 or $8, if I remember correctly.

There are many options as far as distance, gain, and trails used. If you want the shortest hike than Slide would start from CR47 which is south of RT 28 and it is a yellow trail and 5 mi round trip. It isn't very exciting. Your better off hiking Wittenberg because the view is incredible and it is a great trail with some easy little rock ledges to climb. You can also get to Slide Mt from the giant ledge trailhead and from the woodland valley trailhead near Phonecia. The best hike in the Catskills is probably Wittenberg, Cornell, and Slide and will take all day and is 14 mi out and back but can be made shorter with two cars.

Hunter has many routes. The shortest would be from 214 south of the town of Hunter/Tannersville and there are two options. You can take the Devils path or a shorter route a mile north of the devils path. They will be around 4-6 miles RT.

My favorite hikes and views in the Catskils are Wittenberg and Giant Ledge. The tower on the top of Hunter is a good view too and the Devil's Path is nice and steep.

Use the internet...it has all the answers. The trail maps are also excellent quality.

www.catskillguide.com

To answer your questions directly without opinionating, the closest big town with amenities to Slide is Phoenicia, to Hunter is Tannersville. Both can be reach by Route 28 (to reach Hunter, just take 214 North from Phoenicia. For breakfast/lunch I recommend Sweet Sue's in Phoenicia or Maggie's Krooked Cafe in Tannersville. For dinner, I like Miguel's in Tannersville or drive all the way near Kingston on Rt. 28 to Hickory Smokehouse.

brokesomeribs wrote:

rasgoat wrote:The best thing to do is get the Catskill mapset from NY/NJ trail conference which shows the trails, trailheads, and surrounding towns in great detail.

Yup, what he said. Their website is www.nynjtc.org and you can order maps right there. They're cheap, about $7 or $8, if I remember correctly.

If you need the maps RIGHT NOW a lot of outdoors stores have them. The EMS by me has everything for my surrounding area. Also, a nearby visitor center might have them too.