Hiker Lost

On November 22, 2020 a 22-year-old male hiker fell behind his group and took the wrong trail at an intersection. It was raining and foggy. When it became dark he called 911. Rangers Fox and Dawson responded and found the hiker and helped him back. Click image for more details (Nov 22)

Hiker Injury

On November 16, 2020 a 32-year-old male hiker became twisted his ankle on the south side of Elm Ridge. Rangers Fox and Dawson responded at the trail intersection between WHP and Elm Ridge and helped him to his car. Click image for more details (Nov 16)

Hiker Lost on Cornell

On November 15, 2020 a 47-year-old male hiker became lost after dusk while bushwhacking up Cornell's steep face. His group started the hike when he didn't show up on time. A series of mistakes were made while he attempted to catch up. Click image for more details (Nov 15)

Hiker Injury

On October 22, 2020 a 41-year-old male hiker was lost in the wood after dusk. Other hikes heard him screaming for help and called 911. Ranger Nelson located him, and helped him back to his car. Click image for more details (Oct 22)

Hiker Passed Out

On October 21, 2020 a 62-year-old male hiker passed out in the middle falls region of Kaaterskill Falls. He suffered from a pre-existing condition. DEC Rangers helped him walk back to the Ranger's car. The Ranger then provided him and his wife with a ride back to their car. T Click image for more details (Oct 21)

Hiker Injured

On October 17, 2020 a 55-year-old female hiker injured her ankle on the hike to Windham High Peak. DEC Rangers helped her back to her car. They were out of the woods by 5 pm. Click image for more details (Oct 17)

Hiker Lost & Injured

On October 14, 2020 a male summited Wittenberg Mountain near dusk. He attempted to use his cell phone light to guide him down. But, quickly walked off the trail, and fell off a ledge and injured his knee. DEC Rangers got him out of the woods at 5am. Click image for more details (Oct 14)

Hiker Injured

On October 3, 2020 a 65-year-old male fell backwards off Bastion Falls and fell 20 feet. He sustained significant injuries, and was transported to Albany via Helicopter. DEC Rangers located the couple and guided them out of the woods. Click image for more details (Oct 3)

Hiker Injured

On October 1, 2020 a couple hiked up the Overlook Carriage Road towards Overlook Mountain. At some point they drifted off the trail due to sun setting. DEC Rangers located the couple and guided them out of the woods. Click image for more details (Oct 1)

Hiker Injured

On September 19, 2020 a 40-year-old male hiker injured his leg while hiking down to the Barnum Road Trailhead from Thomas Cole Mountain. DEC Rangers carried the man down to his car. Click image for more details (Sept 19)

Hiker Exhausted

On September 13, 2020 two hikers set out on a 14-mile hike from Colgate Lake Trailhead. The hiker became exhaustion about 400' from the summit and turned around. But, two miles from their car the hiker could not continue. Click image for more details (Sept 13)

Hiker Injured

On September 13, 2020 a 37-year-old female hiker injured her leg while hiking up the Kaaterskill Falls. DEC Rangers helped her to Rt 23a where her family picked her up for medical attention. Click image for more details (Sept 13)

Hikers Lost

On September 13, 2020 a group of 5 hikers hiking Slide Mountain became lost in the dark. Near midnight a search team located the hikers. They helped the hikers back to the trailhead at 3am . Click image for more details (Sept 13)

Hiker Lost

On September 12, 2020 a hiker started on Upper Cherrytown Trailhead and got lost around the Vernoy Trailhead. After hiking further down the Long Path he became lost in the dark. Lost, cold, and thirsty without a headlamp. He ended up in the Town of Rochester. Click image for more details (Sept 12)

Hikers Lost

On September 6, 2020 a large group of hikers got lost in the Platte Clove Ravine after dark. Non of the 9 hikers had a headlamp. It took DEC Rangers 7 hours to extract them. Platte Clove is one of the most dangerous areas in the US. Click image for more details (Sept 6)

Exhausted Hiker

On September 5, 2020 a 32-year-old woman became exhausted on the trail to Wittenberg Mountain. DEC Rangers had to carry her out and transport her to the hospital by Ambulance. Click image for more details (Sept 5)

Exhausted Hiker

On September 3, 2020 a 39-year-old man became broke his ankle after slipping on a rock while hiking on the Escarpment Trail near Bear's Den Escarpment Trail. Click image for more details (Sep 3)

Swimmer Injured

On August 30, 2020 a 24-year-old man from New Jersey dislocated his shoulder after landing wrong at Fawn's Leap Kaaterskill Creek. Ranger Dawson helped the swimmer correct his dislocated shoulder. Click image for more details (Aug 30)

Exhausted Hiker

On August 24, 2020 a 26-year-old man became exhausted on the Escarpment Trail on the way to Blackhead Mountain Range. DEC Rangers hydrated the hiker and helped back to his car. Click image for more details (Aug 24)

Hiker Injury

On August 22, 2020 a 14-year-old-teenager injured her leg near Kaaterskill Falls. The girl was hoisted up the falls, and then carried out to Rt 23a. From Rt 23a she was transported to the hospital. Click image for more details (Aug 22)

Hiker Injury

On August 18, 2020 a 72-year-old woman injured her leg on the Southern part of the Escarpment Trail. DEC Rangers transported her back to the road via a Stokes Basket, where she was transported to the hospital Click image for more details (Aug 18)

Hiker Injury

On August 17, 2020 a 28-year-old woman injured her ankle on the Giant Ledge Trail. DEC Rangers splinted the ankle and transported her back to the road, where she was transported to the hospital Click image for more details (Aug 17)

Hiker Injury

On August 16, 2020 a 74-year-old woman fell off the access trail to The Blue Hole on Peekamoose Road. She sustained a serious head injury, and was flown to the hospital Click image for more details (Aug 16)

Bear Incident

On August 9, 2020 a woman set off her SPOT because a bear had gotten into her food at Adler Lake. DEC Rangers responded to the GPS coordinates and located the woman and educated her how to handle food around bears. Click image for more details (Aug 9)

Swimmer Injured

On August 9, 2020 a 15-year-old teenager from Queens NY was injured when another family member landed on top of her at a swimming hole in the Kaaterskill Creek. She suffered a back injury. She was flown to the hospital. Click image for more details (Aug 9)

COVID Exhaustion

On August 8, 2020 a 44-year-old-man lost consciousness near Kaaterskill Falls. He was having breathing problems. This is common on rcovering COVID-19 patients. NY DEC Rangers assisted him back up the trail to his car. He declined medical attention after being evaluated. Click image for more details (Aug 8)

Hiker Becomes Ill

On August 5, 2020 a 22-year-old-woman from Flushing NY became ill suddenly after she had hiked down to the middle basin of Kaaterskill Falls. NY DEC Rangers assisted her back up the trail to her car on laurel House Road. She declined medical attention. Click image for more details (Aug 5)

Heat Exhaustion

On July 26, 2020 a 42-year-old-man from Ulster County was no longer able to continue hiking due to the high heat. He was suffering from a life threatening condition call Heat Exhaustion. Click image for more details (Jul 26)

Kaaterskill Falls Injury

On July 20, 2020 a 72-year-old-man from New Jersey slipped on wet rocks and sustained an ankle injury. DEC and EMS responded and carried the hiker out to the Trail Head. The hiker then obtained medical attention on his own. Click image for more details (Jul 20)

Bald Eagle Released

On July 19, 2020 a Bald Eagle was released back into the wild in Schohaire County. A retired New York State Police Investigator found the eagle, and Missy Runyan rehabilitated the eagle until released Click image for more details (Jul 19)

Fawn's Leap Injury

On July 18, 2020 a 25-year-old Woman jumped off one of the ledges and landed wrong in the water. She had difficulty in moving, along with other injuries. She was transported to the hospital for treatment Click image for more details (Jul 18)

Hiker Becomes Ill

On July 4, 2020 a 22-year-old Male became ill while hiking around Kaaterskill Falls. DEC Rangers responded and were able to walk him to the Laurel House Parking Area. The hiker was taken to the Hospital. A number of hikers have become ill while hiking, and endangering others with COVID-19. Hikers should NOT go hiking if they do not feel well. Click image for more details (Jul 4)

Parking Tickets

Windham Police have been ticketing cars parked on the side of the public road outside the Elm Ridge DEC parking area. This is the parking area on Rt 23a between East Windham and Windham. Click image for more details (Jun 29)

Camp Site & Fire Towers

As of July 1, 2020 all the DEC campgrounds will be opened up. BUT, they will only be accepting existing reservations. Fire Towers will also be open. Other smaller announcements. Click image for more details (Jun 29)

Hiker Becomes Ill

On June 17, 2020 a 58-year-old Male became ill while hiking the Escarpment Trail in the Kaaterskill Clove. Two DEC Rangers responded and were able to extract him out to South Lake parking area. The hiker was taken to the Hospital. (Jun 17)

Forest Fire

On June 10, 2020 a small forest fire erupted in the Kaaterskill Clove just off Rt 23a. It burned about 3/10 of an acres. Several fire companies arrived quickly and put it out. Click image for more details (Jun 10)

Coronavirus

The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is now in both Greene and Ulster County. It was primarily spread by NYC residents visiting the Catskills. As of March 28, 2020, trails are open during daylight hours, seven days a week, to local residents only Click image for more details (Mar 28)

Lost Hiker

On April 7, 2020 a 26-year-old Shandaken woman was reported missing in the Slide Mtn Wilderness. She was located 12 hours later. Eight NYS DEC Rangers, local police, and Sheriff were involved in the search. Click image for more details (Apr 7)

Campgrounds Closed

On March 28, 2020 New York State closed ALL campground due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) until further notice. The purpose of closing the campgrounds was to help reduce the spread of the Coronavirus. Click image for more details (Mar 28)

Fire Towers Closed

On March 28, 2020 New York State closed ALL fire towers due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) until further notice. The purpose of closing the fire towers is because social distancing cannot be done inside the top of the fire tower. Click image for more details (Mar 28)

Hiker Exhausted

On March 10, 2020 a 26-year-old man became exhausted while hiking the Devil's Patch in the Spruceton Valley. It took DEC Rangers 12 hours to extract him out of the forest where he was transported to the hospital. Click image for more details (Mar 10)

Hiker Injured

On March 9, 2020 a woman sustained head, shoulder, and leg injury while hiking down Sugarloaf Mountain to Pecoy Notch. It took DEC Rangers 5 hours to extract her out of the forest. Click image for more details (Mar 9)

Fire Ban

Between March 15 and May 15, 2020, the DEC has a fire ban. With little snow, the forest fire danger is high. On March 9, 2020 a 277 acre forest fire destroy many cars in the Breakneck Ridge PA (outside the Catskills) Click image for more details (Mar 9)

Lost Hikers

On March 7, 2020, DEC Rangers received a call that two hikers never returned from hiking. DEC Ranger Martin located the hikers at 3:30am, and led them out of the wilderness over a two hour period. Click image for more details (Mar 7)

Hypothermia

On February 28, 2020, a man was found outside a tent in a severely hypothermic state. A call to 911 brought DEC Rangers and EMS personnel to extract him from the wilderness. Click image for more details (Feb 28)

Boy killed in Platt Clove

On February 29, 2020, a 11-year-old boy fell 300' to his death after falling off the climber's path and letting go of a safety rope. His Father and friends were returning after a day of ice climbing on "The Dark Side" of the clove. Click image for more details (Feb 29)

Hypothermia

On January 26, 2020, a snowmobile broke through the ice on North-South Lake. Both men were able to get out of the water on their own, but suffered hypothermia and where transported to the hospital. Click image for more details (Jan 26)

Hiker Injured

On January 19, 2020, a 59-year-old hiker injured her leg while hiking near the summit of Sherrill Mountain. DEC Rangers then helped her back to the car. Click image for more details (Jan 22)