Lion's Head near Salisbury, Connecticut, in the Taconics is a short, moderately challenging out-and-back hike featuring mostly flat terrain with a short rugged scramble to a rocky summit outcropping offering panoramic views. The trail is well-maintained and popular, with good parking and cell service.

Kaaterskill High Peak via Hurricane Ledge is a long lollipop route from Platte Clove featuring wet trails, deep mud on lower slopes, and a steep, tricky ledge climb. The route includes old woods roads, boardwalks, bushwhack sections, and historical sites. Winter ascents of Hurricane Ledge are extremely dangerous due to icy conditions and cliff exposure.</summary> <parameter name="confidence">Medium

A 69-year-old hiker collapsed on Rochester Hollow Trail in Shandaken Wild Forest on December 17 and was pronounced deceased by EMS. The hiker was on a mellow 1.6-mile trail with less than 700 feet of elevation gain when the medical event occurred.

High Falls Conservation Area features short, easy interconnected trails with two scenic waterfalls (the tallest over 150 feet) and stream-side forest; the main hazard is a wet rock scramble requiring proper footwear.

A rock-slide in summer 2019 made the original Twin Mountain ledge section impassable and dangerous. After initial controversy over an iron rung solution, the DEC completed a reroute in November 2019 featuring stone steps and scrambling terrain.

Volunteer trail maintenance on Balsam Lake trail south side, completed in fall 2019; trail sections cleared of overgrowth and blowdowns to maintain clear tread and prevent social trail formation.

Trail guide to Inspiration Point in Kaaterskill Clove, featuring multiple scenic ledges and lookouts with dramatic cliff views. The main trail from Scutt Road parking is described as mostly easy with relatively flat terrain and some rugged spots, offering excellent vistas of Kaaterskill High Peak and surrounding landscape.

A moderately challenging out-and-back hike to Anthony's Nose via Camp Smith trail in the Hudson Highlands, featuring mixed woods, scenic views of the Hudson River, and open ledge overlooks. The route is less steep than the northern approach and is open year-round.

A scenic moderate loop hike through Black Dome Valley with two excellent lookouts offering views of the Blackhead Range. The trail is rugged in spots, particularly one steep section near Burnt Knob Lookout where microspikes have been useful in icy conditions, and includes beautiful hemlock forests and stream crossings.

This guide describes a short, moderate out-and-back route to Dibbles Quarry between Twin and Sugarloaf mountains, featuring an abandoned 1800s bluestone quarry, stream crossings, hemlock groves, and a beaver pond. The main quarry is less than a mile from the trailhead and can be muddy; beyond it lie scenic views, a waterfall, and further exploration areas.

A relentlessly steep but short out-and-back hike with three viewpoints. The trail features boardwalks, stone steps, and a ladder section with open rock terrain in the final half-mile; wet conditions could make rock slab sections tricky.

Giant Mountain is a steep, challenging 8-mile loop with 3,600 feet of elevation gain, featuring rock slab sections and boulder scrambles that are treacherous when wet. The trail is relentlessly steep with stunning views above 3,000 feet and includes a stream crossing and wooden ladder. Best attempted on dry conditions; not recommended after rain due to extensive exposed rock sections.

A scenic short out-and-back hike on Baxter Mountain featuring switchbacks, rocky tread with roots, and views toward Keene Valley and the Dix Range; notable for a rock slab section that can be tricky when icy.

Evergreen trail guide describing Jay Mountain as a scenic undulating out-and-back hike with multiple lookouts, wooded terrain until the summit, and views of Hurricane Mountain and Lake Champlain. The route features excellent fall foliage conditions and is popular with visitors.

A steep bushwhack ascent of Samuels Point above the Ashokan Reservoir with abandoned forest roads, dense vegetation, and scrambling terrain. The author completed it in October 2022 on a perfect hiking day and previously turned back in November 2021 due to snow and ice on uneven terrain.

Weekly fall foliage condition updates from the Catskills and Adirondacks for the 2025 season, covering late September through early November with observer notes on leaf color progression, weather impacts, and trail conditions at various elevations and locations.

Long rugged route to Lower Wolfjaw via Rooster Comb featuring a difficult rock scramble section at 4000 feet with wet rock and cliff exposure; passes through quiet forest with peekaboo views and steep terrain.

A walkthrough video guide to Windham High Peak featuring the route from trailhead to summit, highlighting footbridge, boardwalks, spruce forest, and summit lookouts. The 3.5-mile uphill hike is described as non-technical and accessible to all skill levels.

A scenic point-to-point hike combining Lane Street, Romer, Mount Pleasant, Cross Mountain, and Wittenberg with descent via Woodland Valley. The route features excellent views, well-maintained trail, and notably steep and rugged final miles down Wittenberg.

A newly constructed 1.4-mile blue-blazed trail to Red Hill Fire Tower in the Sundown Wild Forest has opened, offering a more car-accessible winter alternative to the classic yellow-blazed route. The trail traverses rocky outcroppings and hemlock forests with 1,200 feet of elevation gain over 4.0 miles round trip.

The Nun-Da-Ga-O Ridge Loop is a difficult, challenging route featuring multiple scrambles, open ledges, and panoramic views. The trail includes white-blazed sections that transition to unmarked terrain requiring good navigation skills and steady nerves. Trailhead access via unmaintained O'Toole Road can be muddy or require walking in winter and spring.</summary> <parameter name="confidence">Medium

A new blue-blazed 1.4-mile trail to Red Hill Fire Tower opened in February 2021, offering improved access with better parking, stone steps, and scenic hemlock and rocky terrain. The route connects with the classic yellow trail near 2500 feet and ascends to the 60-foot fire tower at 2979 feet with excellent 360-degree views of surrounding Catskill peaks.</summary> <parameter name="confidence">Medium

The Woodland Valley route to Panther Mountain is a long, steep out-and-back with significant elevation gain, featuring a narrow, overgrown trail section with exposure, a water source in a moss grotto, and a newly established DEC primitive campsite. The hike offers diverse forest types and excellent views from the open eastern ridge.</summary> <parameter name="confidence">Low

Seymour Mountain is a long, remote hike featuring steep terrain, slab scrambles, and significant blowdown. The trail follows a long flat blazed approach before ascending a steep, well-worn herd path to the summit with excellent views of the surrounding Seward Range.

A trail guide describing the route to Poets Ledge on Kaaterskill High Peak, a steep hike with excellent scenic views and dramatic ridge-top lookouts. The route includes a road walk, steep evergreen forest, and pitch pine terrain, with no specific dated conditions reported.

A scenic but very steep hike combining trailed Ashokan High Point with a steep bushwhack to Mombaccus Mountain through dense understory and loose rock. Mosquito activity was heavy during a late-May visit.

Vernooy Falls is a short, moderate out-and-back waterfall hike featuring a four-stage waterfall, mill ruins, and multiple stream crossings; the trail tends to be muddy and includes blowdown obstacles. The area may harbor rattlesnakes in warmer months.

Winter hiking guide for the safest route to Sugarloaf Mountain via Dibbles Quarry and Pecoy Notch from Roaring Kill trailhead. Microspikes required minimally; snowshoes recommended in deeper snow. Author attempted the route in February 2022 and had to turn back at 3200' due to deteriorating weather before returning two weeks later on better conditions.

Trail guide describing the Race Brook Falls and Mount Everett route featuring steep terrain, rock scrambles, stream crossings, waterfalls, and potential rattlesnake exposure. The hike is regarded as difficult and very popular, with scenic forest and hemlock stands.

A short and easy trail to Bash Bish Falls waterfall in western Massachusetts/New York border area. On the day of the visit (mid-January), the falls were iced over and microspikes provided helpful traction on the icy steps and ground.

A moderate loop hike in the Taconics featuring stream crossings, varied terrain, and views across the Hudson Valley. The trail requires proper footwear and microspikes or better traction in winter conditions.

Moxham Mountain is an easy out-and-back hike in the Adirondacks featuring scenic views, open rocky summit with spectacular valley views, and well-maintained trail through deciduous woods and spruce. The hike involves moderate difficulty with ledge viewpoints and is suitable for less experienced hikers seeking a rewarding introduction to mountain hiking.

Doubletop and Graham mountains in the Catskills have been permanently closed to public hiking access as of March 22, 2021. The Catskill 3500 Club removed these peaks from their official list, reducing the list from 35 to 33 peaks, and will not accept substitution peaks after this date.

Awosting Falls is a short out-and-back walk to a 60-foot waterfall in Minnewaska State Park. Winter conditions involve icing; microspikes recommended for safe footing on frozen terrain.

This is an evergreen trail guide for the Gertrude's Nose Loop via Millbrook Mountain in Minnewaska State Park Preserve. The route features scenic open rock ledges, wet rock sections, stream-bed hiking, and steep pitches with views of the Hudson Valley and Catskills; winter conditions require microspikes.

Evergreen trail guide for the Lake Minnewaska Loop in the Hudson Valley (Shawangunk Mountains), describing a scenic and easy loop suitable for casual hikers and families with viewpoints of rocky cliffs and the lake.

Trail guide for Plateau Mountain via Mink Hollow North, describing a 1.5-mile steep route to the summit and optional extension to Daley Ridge Lookout. The route features rock scrambles, dramatic outcroppings, and a scenic ridge walk through mixed birch and spruce forest.

A comprehensive route guide for the Table-Peekamoose-Lone-Rocky traverse in the Catskills, describing a well-maintained blazed trail to Table and Peekamoose, followed by challenging herd path and bushwhack sections to Lone and Rocky. The bushwhack between Lone and Rocky involves dense forest and frequent off-trail navigation with significant difficulty.</summary> <parameter name="confidence">Low

Shavertown Trail is a moderate hike through mixed deciduous forest with some steep sections, featuring Snake Pond and Tremperskill Overlook with views of the Pepacton Reservoir. The route avoids rock scrambles and is suitable for fall hiking.

A comprehensive guide to the Dix Range loop from Elk Lake, described as a 16–20 mile, 5500 ft elevation gain challenge featuring six summits. The route includes a long walk-in, the steep Macomb Slide (with occasional needle ice in cold conditions), unmarked herd paths requiring strong navigation skills, and primitive camping near Slide Brook and Lilian Brook lean-tos.

Richmond Mountain and Richtmyer Peak are quiet, infrequently-used peaks in the northern Catskills accessed via the overgrown Long Path, with sparse and non-reflective trail blazing that requires daytime navigation. A scenic viewpoint overlooks the Blackhead Range from a herd path spur about a quarter mile from the col between the two mountains.

A short, steep out-and-back hike on Dry Brook Ridge with dramatic rock outcroppings and a lookout shelter. Trail follows blue-blazed logging road with minimal traffic and good views.

Route guide for North Point and North Mountain from Scutt Road trailhead, featuring mixed deciduous and evergreen forests, boardwalks, waterfalls, glacial erratics, Badman's Cave, and multiple ledge viewpoints. The author hiked in foggy/whiteout conditions but primarily describes the route characteristics and features rather than specific weather conditions.

This is an evergreen trail guide describing the Colgate Lake route to Stoppel Point, a long but easy out-and-back hike featuring meadows, woods, marshes, stream crossings, and footbridges. The route climbs via Dutcher Notch and Milt's Lookout, passing the site of a 1983 plane crash just below the summit, with views of the Blackhead range and Hudson Valley.

A detailed trail guide for the 10-mile Schunemunk Mountain loop with 1800 ft elevation gain, described as a difficult route featuring open conglomerate rock ridges, exposed terrain, steep and sketchy descents, and significant rattlesnake habitat. The route involves navigating multiple junctions with cairns marking the way, crossing brooks, and traversing the western ridge back to the trailhead.

Big Crow Mountain is a short, easy Adirondack hike featuring multiple open rock slab lookouts with excellent High Peaks views. The rocky sections are extremely slippery when wet but bone dry in good weather; the trail includes a few steep short sections but can be completed in about 90 minutes round-trip.

The Willow trailhead route to Tremper Mountain Fire Tower is a quiet, underused alternative to the classic route, offering good hiking solitude with yellow-blazed trail navigation and some steep sections. The trail features hemlock stands and brooks but passes through stinging nettles; bear and coyote activity have been observed, with rough road access that benefits from AWD/4WD and is subject to repair.

The Ashokan Rail Trail is an 11.5-mile wide, level rail-converted path in the Catskills alongside the Ashokan Reservoir, open year-round from sunrise to sunset with multiple parking areas. In winter, snowshoes are required after heavy snowfall as the trail is not plowed. The trail offers seasonal scenery through woodlands and wetlands, with the western section offering more dramatic views including the Burroughs Range.

A popular short hike to a scenic waterfall in the Adirondacks with views of the High Peaks. The lower falls section is very easy with dipping pools, while the upper falls route requires more care and involves some stream-bed scrambling. Parking is extremely limited and competition for spaces is intense in peak season.

A scenic out-and-back route to Giant's Nubble with optional side-trip to Roaring Brook Falls. The trail is steep with rugged sections but no technical scrambles, offering views of Giant Mountain, Noonmark, the Dix Range, and surrounding peaks from open rocky summit.