By Lisa Lyons

Morgan Outdoors, Livingston Manor, NY

It’s easy to find your way into the woods. Throughout the Catskill Park there are designated places to park your car; hiking trails with color-coded markers on trees and wooden directional signs, to help you stay the course. It couldn’t be easier.

Several terrific maps and guidebooks well-illustrate the trails (see list of Resources below) and Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor provides friendly guidance, as well as boots, clothes, and supplies. You can also rent some terrific backpacks, hiking poles, snowshoes, and even a child carrier so everyone can come along.

Here are a few of my favorite hikes listed by location (with difficulty level and roundtrip distance noted):

Claryville, NY

Red Hill Fire Tower (moderate - 2.6-mile round trip): View the Catskills from the top of a renovated fire tower. Ranger cabin at top has fire tower history display. Volunteer staff enable entry into top of fire tower (cab) many weekends. DIRECTIONS: From Rte. 17 West to exit 100A (which is after exit 100), then right onto Rte 55 E for about 10 mi. After Grey’s Woodworks, left up Claryville Rd for about 6 mi. About a mile after Blue Hill Café, take a right up Red Hill Rd for 3 mi, then left onto Coons/Dinch Rd. Follow for  0.7 mi to single-lane dirt road. Trailheaddown .5 miles on LEFT. Trailhead parking lot is big enough for 6-7 cars. Kiosk shows map of area and all trails. From Grahamsville and points east: Follow Rte 55 West past the Rondout Reservoir toward Grahamsville. Make right onto 55A for about 1.2 mi (Rondout is on your right), then take left onto Sugarloaf Rd for about 3 mi. Sugarloaf merges with Red Hill Rd and make a hard left onto Red Hill, then an immediate right onto Coons/Dinch, and follow as per above.

Livingston Manor/Lew Beach, NY

- Alder Lake (easy – 1.6 miles round trip): A relaxing loop past the ruins of a 19th century mansion and around a tranquil lake.

-Big Pond to Alder Lake (moderate – 6 miles round trip): Beautiful varied forest of deciduous trees, ferns, spruce groves, small creeks and open field. Go 2 miles or all 6.

- Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower (moderate to difficult – 3.2 miles round trip): Two routes to reach the summit; the longer one is a gentler ascent. Big view at top is reward.

DIRECTIONS: (Trailhead at end of Beaverkill Rd) From State Rte 17 West - Take the Livingston Manor exit, #96. At end of ramp turn right and proceed to stop sign. Turn right onto Old Rt. 17 and proceed 1.4 mi. Turn right onto County Route 151 (Beaverkill Rd) north through Lew Beach. Upon entering Ulster County, the road will change to Ulster County Route 54. Follow Beaverkill Rd 22 mi to the parking area at its end. (You will pass by the trailhead for the Mongaup-Hardenburgh Trail on the right.) Kiosk in parking lot has map showing all trails.

Roscoe, NY

- Trout Pond (easy – 1.8 miles round trip): Pass beautiful Russell Brook on way to bowl cradling Trout Pond. Continue to lean-tos at far end of lake for longer hike.

1. -Mud Pond - Trout Pond Loop (moderate – 4.3 miles roundtrip): Longer hike adds a hidden pond, old stone walls, and more elevation to the outdoor experience.
   

DIRECTIONS: From the Roscoe stoplight, head north on Rt. 206 toward Downsville (Old Rt. 17 becomes Rt. 206) for 2.4 mi. There is a big “Welcome to Colchester” sign on your right. Immediately after that, turn left on to Morton Hill Rd. Follow for 3.1 mi up hill, past Horse Brook Rd to Russell Brook Rd on left. There is no street sign - but one that says “Seasonal Limited Use Highway.” Take left and follow the single lane dirt road 1/2 mile down to parking area. Kiosk  shows map of area and all trails.

Narrowsburg

Though most of the public, marked trails are further north in the Catskill Park, there is a popular marked trail open to the public in Tusten on Boy Scout Property.

— Morgan Outdoors, 46 Main St., Livingston Manor, NY. 845.439.5507

Lisa revels in the spectacular views from the top of the Red Hill Fire Tower in Claryville.

Spring Brook flowing toward Alder Lake, near Lew Beach.