Walk back in time on one of our popular hikes through the High Peaks of the Catskills.  These were America's first hiking trails whose beauty was immortalized in the novels of James Fenimore Cooper and romanticized in the poetry of William Cullen Bryant.  The breathtaking views seen along these trails today were first captured in the 19th century by the premiere artists of the Hudson River School of art, our country's uniquely American school of landscape painting.

MTHS hikes are conducted by volunteers knowledgeable about the area and include historical narrative and insider information, the result of years of study about the area’s trails, overlooks and historic sites.  Robert Gildersleeve, author of the Catskill Mountain House Trail Guide, is a frequent hike leader. MTHS President, Larry Tompkins, has been leading hikes in the area for 35 years. Bob Titus, the Catskill Geologist and author of The Catskills: A Geological Guide, leads a few hikes every season as well.

The trails, the views and the history are still here, preserved by New York State's designation of the Catskills as lands to remain forever wild.  A walk through the woods with MTHS makes the past come alive for those who are adventurous and want to see and hear the story of America's first wilderness for themselves.  All hikes are free and the public is invited. Please wear proper hiking attire and boots (no sneakers!), pack a lunch, don't forget rain gear or sunscreen, and bring plenty of water. Well-socialized pooches on leash are always welcome, too. 

2011 Schedule

Waterfalls! The Mountain Top Historical Society will be focusing on Catskill waterfalls in its summer 2011 programming. Our August Open House and other activities will emphasize the cultural and geologic history and beauty of the many waterfalls in Greene County. For a first-hand look at many of these natural wonders, join us on some of the hikes scheduled for this year.

April 16 - Waterfall Hike A combination auto and foot tour of the most scenic waterfalls in our area. Meet: MTHS Campus, Haines Falls  9:00 a.m. Return 3:00 p.m. Vertical Rise: Several short climbs.  Distance: About 3 miles. Difficulty level: easy to moderate.

May 14 – Ice Age Waterfalls of the North Lake Region* The Kaatskill geologist Robert Titus and MTHS Director Bob Gildersleeve will be co-leaders of a hike up several Ice Age canyons at North Lake as part of the Society’s Annual Spring Fling. The path will follow through two ravines at North Lake that were formed during the last Ice Age. The Society will sponsor a dinner later that day, and afterwards Titus will give a talk on Ice Age waterfalls and spillways of the Catskills. Meet: MTHS Campus, 5132 Route 23A, Haines Falls, NY. Start: 12:00 p.m. Return: 3:30 p.m. Difficulty: Moderate with some off-trail bushwhacking.

June 4 - National Trails Day: Kaaterskill Rail Trail Hike of the proposed public trail which will be built for recreational, historic and cultural purposes. The trail will lead from the MTHS property to Laurel House Road. The walk will orient visitors to the route presently planned to access the railroad bed from an old town road, Featherbed Lane. Excursions off the railroad trail to two scenic vistas. Meet: MTHS Campus, 5132 Route 23A Haines Falls, NY. Start: 9 :00 a.m. Return: 1:00 p.m. Difficulty: Easy to Moderate.

June 25 -  Poet's Ledge Due to wet weather, this hike has ben rescheduled for Sunday, August 23.

July 9 - Waterfalls of Palenville An MTHS board member and long-time Palenville resident will join us for a tour of several waterfalls in the Catskills’ Village of Falling Waters. Meet: Trailhead parking area, Route 23A, Palenville, NY.  Start: 9:00 a.m. Return: 1:00 p.m.  Difficulty: Easy to Moderate.

July 23 – Kaaterskill Clove: From Fawn's Leap to Bastion Falls A bushwhack and streambed scramble through the middle section of the clove, highlighted by a wild streambed, beautiful waterfalls, the foundations of an old tannery and portions of the original road through the clove. Meet: MTHS Campus, 5132 Route 23A, Haines Falls, NY. Start: 9:00 a.m. Return: 4:00 p.m.  Distance 3.5 miles, elevation gain 1000 ft. Expect to get wet.  Difficulty: Difficult.

August 6 – Diamond Notch Hike through Diamond Notch in Lanesville to Diamond Notch Falls in Spruceton. Meet: Junction of Routes 23A and 214 between Tannersville and Hunter. Start: 9:00 a.m. Return 4:00 p.m. Distance 4 miles round trip. Elevation change approximately 1000 feet. Difficulty: Moderate.

August 20 - Woodland Valley: Waterfalls and History Join local historian and trail guide Paul Misko and Catskill geologist Robert Titus for a rare opportunity to explore historic sites and great scenery deep in Woodland Valley near Phoenicia.  It begins with a fairly easy grade, and gets rocky and slippery at the end.  Good hiking shoes or boots are a must.  Bring lunch, water, rain jacket, flashlight, lighter, and bug repellant. Yak-Trax or similar slip-on grippers are highly recommended and will help scrambling over wet rocks.  Unlike other MTHS hikes, the number of hikers will be limited and advance registration is necessary.  For more information and to register, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or leave a message with the MTHS at 518-589-6657.  Directions, meeting place and other logistics will be e-mailed or phoned in advance to registrants.  Start: 10 a.m. Return: 4 p.m.  Distance: 5 miles.  Difficulty: Moderate/difficult due to some bushwhacking and rock scrambling.  No dogs permitted on this hike.

August 28 - Poet's Ledge Passing three rarely-seen waterfalls and views of Kaaterskill Clove, we will arrive at an unusual view of the clove from the south side.  Meet: MTHS Campus, 5132 Route 23A Haines Falls, NY. Start: 9:00 a.m. Return 3:00 p.m. Difficulty: Moderate.

The following hike has been canceled - DEC has closed all trails in Greene County.

September 17 - Hudson River Ramble Hike: North Point from Mary's Glen* We will pass the site of an early 20th-century lumber camp and see two of the classic views of the region. Meet: MTHS Campus, 5132 Route 23A, Haines Falls, NY. Start: 9:00 a.m. Return: 4:00 p.m.  Difficulty: Moderate.

The following hike has been canceled. Our next hike will be in the Spring.

October 1 - Plattekill Falls and Black Chasm Hike to Plattekill Falls, also known as Pomeroy Falls, near the top of Platte Clove, an easy descent from County Rt. 16.  Afterwards we will follow a nearby state trail passing an old stone quarry and descend off trail to the bottom of the rarely-seen Black Chasm Falls, a winter favorite with ice climbers. Meet: St. Francis de Sales Church, County Route 16, Elka Park. Start: 9:00 a.m. Return: 3:00 p.m. Difficulty: Moderate with an off-trail scramble to the bottom of Black Chasm Falls.

*On hikes going through the North Lake campground, dogs will require a currently valid rabies vaccination certificate.

MTHS does not require membership for hike participation. We do, however, request that you register for each hike. Participants can register by going to the Contact Us page or calling 518-589-6657.  Please tell us your name, phone number and total in your party. The schedule is subject to change. Call Bob (518) 734-9701 or Larry (518) 734-4264 or check mths.org. Notification of changes, including cancellations due to weather, will be made up to the day of any given hike.