The Trails Less Traveled

DELHI, NY (03/19/2009)(readMedia)-- New York State's Great Western Catskills in Delaware County have long been a place for those who love to get away to the beauty and quiet of the mountains. With winter finally over, it's time to make plans for hiking, and camping in and around the mountains and rivers of the western Catskill Mountains.

Hiking in the Catskills really is one of the best kept secrets of the region. Most travelers consider the Catskills home of the borscht belt resorts of decades gone by. Ignore this label if you are an outdoor adventurer. North and west of the borscht belt lays the Catskill Park and numerous state lands and public/private trail systems. For those who have experienced the Western Catskill Mountains for themselves, they have become passionate fans for these mountains. The ability to trek almost completely alone, through pristine forests, passing breathtaking vistas, traversing mountains creeks, amongst the wild forest animals and plants - finding their own special mountain peace, makes them true believers in the zen to be found in the mountains.

Finger Lakes Trail System

The Finger Lakes Trail Conference maintains a continuous footpath system across central upstate New York. This year they are hosting hikes along 71 miles from the Chenango/Delaware county line on Butts Road on to Big Pond. Hikes will be on the third Saturday of each month April 18, May 16, June 20, July 18, August 15, September 19 and a final hike followed by awards picnic on October 3rd. For more information visit fingerlakestrail.org or call their office at 585/658-9320 and get details on terrain, and fees.

Catskill Forest Preserve

In 1885 a law was passed by the NY State Congress which established the Catskill and Adirondack Forest Preserve. From the beginning this land was protected by the State constitution as 'Forever Wild' land, never to be subjected to development or extraction of natural resources. In 1904 the Catskill Park was designated, which established a boundary, or 'blue line', around the Forest Preserve, and private land as well. Over the years the Forest Preserve and the Catskill Park grew, with the Catskill Park now comprising approximately 700,000 acres, about half of which is public Forest Preserve.

Hiking opportunities abound in the Catskill Park. There are approximately 300 miles of marked, maintained hiking trails on public Forest Preserve land. Stewardship and development of these trails is shared by the New York State Forest Rangers and local chapters of hiking clubs such as the New York/New Jersey Trail Conference and the Catskill Mountain Club (www.catskillmountainclub.org).

The favorite local park trail is the Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest Area and it's Dry Brook Ridge Trail. Located in the southwest corner of the Catskill Park, Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest contains more than 13,500 acres of "forever wild" Forest Preserve. With an extensive trail network to several ponds, this wild forest is ideal for hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, backpacking, canoeing and cross-country skiing. Public Access to Alder Pond.

The Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest can be accessed from the Village of Margaretville along State Hwy 28, or from parking areas along Dry Brook Rd to Millbrook Road. The terrain is a combination of high mountain ridges, steep sided valleys, numerous brooks and ponds, with elevations ranging from a low of 1,740 feet along Mill Brook to a high of 3,723 feet at the summit of Balsam Lake Mountain.

Both primitive and amenity camping opportunities abound in the Catskills. Primitive camping is allowed in the Wilderness and Wild Forest areas of the Catskill Forest Preserve, so long as you follow certain guidelines designed to protect sensitive summit forest communities and water quality of the streams. Wilderness camping rules include not camping within 150ft of a trail, stream, or pond, and not above 3500ft elevation except in winter.

Three-sided, roofed 'lean-to' shelters have been constructed on several Catskill backwoods trails. The NYSDEC maintains seven public campgrounds in the Forest Preserve; North/South Lake, Devils Tombstone, Kenneth Wilson, Woodland Valley, Mongaup Pond, and Little Pond. These campgrounds have tent and trailer sites, restroom facilities, and other amenities varying by location. For more information regarding Forest Preserve Camping opportunities, contact the DEC Region 4 at (607) 652-7364.

To obtain a free copy of maps for state lands, contact the NYSDEC Region 4 office at 607.652.7365. The Catskill Center also has an excellent map of the Park which can be obtained for $5.95. To order a copy of this map contact The Catskill Center at 845.586.2611. New York/New Jersey Trail Conference hiking maps of the Catskills can be ordered by visiting their website at www.nynjtc.org.

Catskill Scenic Trail

The Catskill Scenic Trail lies on top of the former rail bed of the Ulster & Delaware Railroad. The 19 mile Rails to Trails project offers a hard-packed surface that makes it perfect for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. The Trail's very gentle grade is a unique feature, with only a four hundred foot change in elevation over the entire 19 miles. The young and the young-at-heart will find this an easy trek through some of the most beautiful scenery in the state.

The trail can be accessed at several points between Bloomville on State Hwy 10 to South Kortright. Moving on to Stamford, the trail turns east, mirroring State Highway 23 to Grand Gorge and then south along State Highway 30 to Roxbury. Look for the small parking areas and blue and gold "CST" signs. The Trail is owned and maintained by the Catskill Revitalization Corporation, a not-for-profit organization. For more information on the Catskill Scenic Trail, call (607) 652-2821 or visit www.catskillscenictrail.org for a trail map.

Utsayantha Trail System

The Utsayantha Trail System is made possible through the cooperation of the towns of Stamford, Jefferson, and Harpersfield and those private landowners through whose land the trail extends. The best place to access the trails is from the village of Stamford. The trails have been designed to provide enjoyment and challenge to all outdoor enthusiasts, from novice to expert. Included within the system are many fine examples of the scenic mountain tops and serene valleys which have earned Stamford, NY, its "Queen of the Catskill" reputation.

Four trails make up the Utsayantha Trail System and connect to the Catskill Scenic Trail in the village of Stamford. Archibald is a novice trail and can be accessed from the village going north, and lead out towards the more difficult trails, called Blazer and Rexmere. These wrap around the former Deer Run Ski Center. From the village of Stamford, take Route 10 north. Directly across from the Department of Environmental Conservation is Archibald Field on your right. Pull into Archibald Field. There is ample public parking at the field. The trailhead is at Archibald Field and is a gated entryway marked by an Indian head sign. This trail is easily accessible for walkers and hikers of all levels and ability.South of the village and going up to Mt. Utsayantha itself are Mountain Top and Churchill.

Car access to Mountain Top is possible by using Tower Mountain Road. This also provides access for hang gliding enthusiasts to the launch at the top of the mountain. Trails are marked by metal signs featuring an Indian head. Not all routes are currently marked, but a full map is available.For more information on the Utsayantha Trail System, call (607) 652-7581 or visit http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/mount_utsayantha_0000.asp.

Emmons Pond Bog

The history of the pond and bog date back 11,000 years when the retreat of the last glacier left a depression which was soon filled with water. Sphagnum moss and other bog plants grew in the shallow water around the edge of the pond. Plant materials broke down slowly because of the acidity and low temperature of the water. As a result, the plant materials accumulated to form a floating doughnut-shaped mat around the pond. Beavers dammed the outlet stream in the late 1970s, so the bog mat is now ringed with water.

The site is situation in the Town of Davenport about 4 miles southeast of Oneonta. From the Exit 15 ramp off I-88, turn left toward Rte. 28 South, then right on 28 South. In 0.7 mi, at the first traffic light, turn hard left onto Southside Drive. Continue 2.7 miles on Swart Hollow, then left on White Hill Road. The preserve entrance, which is well-marked, is on the left in 1 mile.

The striking and somber view of the pond and bog includes the Sphagnum moss and special plants that can survive the acidic environment (such as leatherleaf, buckbean, cottongrass, pitcher plant, and sheep laurel). Wildlife includes blackbirds and frogs. North of the pond, the trail passes through mature woods where you will see old stone walls and a majestic oak tree. West of the pond, the trail passes a smaller pond--a good location for bird watching. The trail is easy and is marked with orange markers and is 1.4 mi long, circles the pond in a counter-clockwise direction.

West Branch Preserve

The southern boundary of this 446-acre site is the West Branch of the Delaware River. To the north, the preserve extends to a mountain ridge 1,000 feet above the river valley. Woodlands make up some 250 acres. Of these, about 200 acres were logged 25 years ago, while the remaining 50 acres are thought to be the location of a farm abandoned in the 1830s.

The site is located in the Town of Hamden, about 10 miles west of Delhi. From State Hwy. 10 going east about 9 mi., County 26 joins Rte. 10 from left. The preserve entrance and parking area are on the right hand side of Rte. 10, 9/10ths of a mile beyond the junction with County Route 26.From the parking lot a path leads uphill across a meadow to the woods and a sign-in box. There are two trails, a 0.7 mile trail marked in blue markers with a moderate ascent and a 2.0 mile marked in orange on an old logging road that has a steep climb and should be attempted only by experienced hikers.

On the blue trail you can see stands of pines and hemlocks and on the orange trail you will find erosion control bumps and trees like the sugar maple, red maple, beech, and oak. In some parts of the woodlands you might see deer and near the Delaware River you will find the rare riverweed, an endangered plant species. Both the Emmons Pond Bog and the West Branch Preserve are Nature Conservancy Preserves. The Nature Conservancy, incorporated in 1951, is an international membership organization devoted to the preservation of biological diversity through habitat conservation. For more information on the Nature Conservancy and its preserves in the region, please contact The Nature Conservancy (518) 272-0195.

Great Western Catskills Tourism

The Great Western Catskills is an easy day trip from New York City metro area, Albany, or Binghamton and a great weekend getaway or vacation destination for all. To learn more about outdoor resources, Stay-and-Play Packages or any other activities in the western Catskills, log on to: www.greatwesterncatskills.com. Call toll-free: (866) 775-4425 or e-mail: tourism@delawarecounty.org. For timely events in the area visit delawarecountytoday.com. Any time of year, come visit the Great Western Catskills of Delaware County and "Let the magic of our mountains move you."