Death Diamond Notch

September 16, 2023 a 50-year-old man from New Jersey collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. CPR was performed, but they were unable to revive him. Click image for more details (Sept 16)

Unprepared Hiker

September 9, 2023 a 36-year-old woman called for help when overwhelmed and unprepared for the Burroughs Range Hike. Click image for more details (Sept 9)

Injury on Wittenberg

August 26, 2023 a 25-year-old woman injured her ankle while bushwhacking near the summit of Wittenberg Mtn. She was evacuated via helicopter for medical care. Finished up 10:30pm. Click image for more details (Aug 26)

Altercation on Tremper

August 21, 2023 two hikers got into a major altercation on Tremper Mountain in the very early hours of the morning. NY Ranger Martin spent 3 hours searching for the two hikers. Click image for more details (Aug 14)

Fell off ledge

August 14, 2023 a 11-year-old girl fell off the rock lookout by the John Robb Lean-to. It took 6 hours to extract her and bring back to the trailhead. She was then transported to the hospital Click image for more details (Aug 14)

Swimmer Injured

August 19, 2023 a female swimmer fell off the ledge near Fawn's Leap and landed on a ledge below. Rescuers spent 3 hours removing her from the ledge to safety. She was transported to the hospital Click image for more details (Aug 19)

Swimmer Injury

August 12, 2023 a 38-year-old male from Colorado was injured when he jumped off a rock into Kaaterskill Creek. NY Ranger Dawson helped the man back to Rt 23a where he decided to seek medical attention. Click image for more details (Aug 12)

Swimmer Death

August 8, 2023 a 16-year-old male drown at the bottom of fawn's leap waterfall after getting caught in a water eddy. Divers from law enforcement recovered his body from the Kaaterskill Creek floor below Fawn's Leap. Click image for more details (Aug 8)

Hiker Injury

August 6, 2023 a 70-year-old woman fell on the Kaaterskill Rail Trail and suffer numerous injureis. NY Rangers provided first aid and transported her the Laurel House Parking Area and transported to the hospital. Click image for more details (Aug 6)

Bear Incident

August 4, 2023 a 23-year-old woman from Canada was being followed for an extensive amount of time by a Black Bear near North Point on the Escarpment Trail. She created a diversion, and called the Rangers. Click image for more details (Aug 4)

Hiker Lost

July 31, 2023 a caregiver was taking a person with early stage dementia for a hike near Samuel's Point on an old logging trail. After he stepped off the path, she took off and got lost. She was located hours later. Click image for more details (July 31)

Anaphylatic Shock

July 29, 2023 a 27-year-old from NJ was stung by a bee by the Scutt PA, and had a severe allergic reaction. Ranger Dawson contacted a paramedic to administer Epinephrine to stop the allergic reaction Click image for more details (July 29)

Kaaterskill Falls Stairs

July 29, 2023 a 18-year-old girl, from NYC, fell on the stairs on the trail down to the middle basin of Kaaterskill Falls. She was helped down to Rt 23 where Ranger Dawson transported her back to Scutt PA Click image for more details (July 29)

Seizure at Blue Hole

July 28, 2023 a 13-year-old girl, from Hurley NY, had a serious seizure at the Blue Hole in the Peekamoose Valley. She was transported to the hospital to recover. Click image for more details (July 28)

Fawn's Leap Accident

July 26, 2023 a 28-year-old swimmer fell off Fawn's Leap to the rocks below causing severe injury to his leg and arms. NYS Rangers called a helicopter to transport the swimmer to the hospital. Click image for more details (July 26)

16 People Rescued

July 25, 2023 (16) swimmers had to be rescued at Fawn's Leap and Rat's Hole on the Kaaterskill Creek after a flash flood event. Rt 23a was closed for 4 hours for the rescue. UPDATED Click image for more details (July 25)

DEC Updates

JULY 2023 - New York State DEC provided an update on projects, maintenance and warnings within the Catkill Mountain Park. Click image for more details (July 28)

261 acres acquired

The New York DEC and Open Spaces Institute worked together to acquire 261 acres of forest on the east side of South Mtn in the Sundown Wild Forest. Located just north of Ashokan High Peak. Click image for more details (Jul 12)

Leg Injury on Hunter

On July 12, 2023 a 41-year-old hiker sustained a leg injury on Hunter Mountain. NYS Rangers helped her down the mountain, where she sought out medical help on her own. Click image for more details (Jul 12)

Lost on Wittenberg

On July 12, 2023 a 26-year-old inexperienced hiker became lost near the summit of Wittenberg Mountain. Rangers spent 7-8 hours finding and guiding the hiker down the mountain. Click image for more details (Jul 12)

Canadian Smoke

On July 17, 2023 Smoke from the Canadian Forest Fires have returned to the Catksill Mountains. The smoke was very obvious, and caused difficult for people with breathing problems. Presently, we do not know when the weather changes will cause the smoke to be pushed back up past Catskill Mountains. Click image for more details (Jul 17)

Bear Incident

On July 8, 2023 a camper at North-South Lake left food unattended at their campsite. A Black Bear helped itself to the food. Ranger Gullen ticked the group for leaving food unattended. Click image for more details (Jul 8)

Hiker put chairs on Slide

On July 8, 2023 a group of hikers carried up several ADK chairs and left them at the summit of Slide Mountain. Ranger Martin asked them to remove the chair. When they refused to comply, Ranger Martin ticketed them. Click image for more details (Jul 8)

Hiker falls off Ledge

On July 1, 2023 a woman fell off the trail from the Escarpment Trail to Bears Den. Rangers Peterson, Dawson and Fox responded. She was transported down to North-South Lake Campgrounds and taken to the hospital for her injuries Click image for more details (Jul 1)

Illegal Camping

On June 21, 2023 DEC was notified that a group of 60 people were camping on Giant Ledge. New York DEC Rangers Horn, Martin, and Rusher responded and ticketed the group leaders for illegally camping Click image for more details (Jun 21)

Monitor Lizard

On May 11, 2023 DEC Investigators and ECO officers responded to a seller in Sullivan County who was trying to sell a 5-1/2 foot Monitor Lizard for $1,400. The lizard was confiscated and the seller was ticketed. Click image for more details (May 11)

DEC Updates

JUNE 2023 - New York State DEC provided an update on projects, maintenance and warnings within the Catkill Mountain Park. Click image for more details (June 22)

Ash Trees

The DEC has been battling the Emerald Ash Borer since 2009. Today 99% of the Ash Trees between Kingston-Saugerties-Phoenicia are now dead. They have spread aggressively, and it appears that they will not able to stop the ash borers in North America. Click image for more details (June 14)

Hikers Lost

On June 6, 2023, two woman were hiking in the Windham-Blackhead Wilderness when they became lost. When it started to get dark, they called for help. Rangers Fox and Allwine were able to locate them at the Batavia Kill Lean-to, and got them out a little after mid-night. Click image for more details (June 6)

Broken Arm

On May 31, 2023, a 58-year-old woman from Brazil fell and broke her arm on the slippery rocks at the basin of Kaaterskill Falls. DEC Ranger Dawson and EMS splinted the womans arm and transported her to a local hospital. Click image for more details (May 31)

Hiker Lost

On May 28, 2023, a 43-year-old local hiker got lost deep into Vernooy Swamp. NYS Rangers located her just before midnight. Rangers were able to bushwhack her out of the swamp and back to her home. Click image for more details (May 28)

Hiker Injured

On May 26, 2023, a hiker injured her ankle on the Becker Hollow Trail to Hunter Mountain. Her hiker partner called NYS Rangers for help. NYS Rangers splinted her ankle and helped her down Hunter Mountain. Click image for more details (May 26)

Wildfire in Neversink

On May 16, 2023, a person at the Blue Hole notice smoke coming from the summit of Peekamoose Mountain. The fire was actually in the Neversink. Took two days to put the fire out. Click image for more details (May 16)

Hiker Lost

On May 14, 2023, a group of hikers from Long Island got lost on the hike up Overlook Mountain and tried to cross some Mountain Laurel, where couldn't keep going. They were found 1/4 mile off the trail. Click image for more details (May 14)

Hiker Exhausted

On May 13, 2023, a 64-year-old hiker from Albany, New York became exhausted on Plateau Mountain. Two hiking partners stayed with them until NYS Rangers arrived. After providing food and fluid, the hiker was able to exit the woods on their own power. Click image for more details (May 13)

Hiker Injured

On May 8, 2023, a 69-year-old hiker from Flushing, New York fell at Kaaterskill Falls. She injured her ankle and could not walk back to his vehicle at the bottom of Laurel House Road. New York State Rangers carried the injured hiker to a DEC Ranger truck and transported him back to the Parking Area on Laurel House Road. Click image for more details (May 8)

Update on Roads

On Apr 27, 2023, the New York State DEC provided an update on Roads and Forest within the Catkill Mountain Park. Click image for more details (Apr 27)

Visitor Use Mgmt

On May 10, 2023, the New York State DEC will hold hearing at the Hunter Mountain Base Lodge (Coppertree Restaurant) between 5:30 - 8:30pm. Click image for more details (Apr 27)

Hunter Rail Trail

On April 22, 2023, the Hunter Rail Trail opened to the public for hiking and mountain biking. You can start on Clove Road off Rt 214 or by Dolan Lake Park. This section is 1.74 miles long Click image for more details (Apr 22)

Exhausted at Echo Lake

On February 23, 2023, a 18-year-old hiker hiker from NYC was camping at Echo Lake. He tried leave but became exhausted and needed assistance from the NYS Forest Rangers. Click image for more details (Feb 23)

Lost Hiker on AHP

On February 20, 2023, a 75-year-old hiker local hiker became lost on the trail to AHP. When it became dark and her batteries drained, she could no longer see and got lost. DEC Rangers were able to locate her quickly. Click image for more details (Feb 20)

Injury on Sugarloaf

On February 11, 2023, a 65-year-old hiker from Connecticut fell on the west side of Sugarloaf Mountain and injured his ankle. Many of the high peaks in the Catskill have post-holing on the trail because of hikers not wearing snowshoes. Click image for more details (Feb 11)

Serious Injury on Ice

On January 15, 2023, two hikers from the same hiking party fell in separate incidents. Both were hiking Giant Ledge without microspikes. One required to be carried out, and the other hiker was transported to the hospital by helicopter. Click image for more details (Jan 15)

Broken Femur

On January 11, 2023, a 69-year-old male mountain biker fell and broke his femur at the Wintergreen Region of the Bluestone Wild Forest in the Town of Kingston. He was located approximately 1 mile east of the Woods Road TH. Click image for more details (Jan 11)