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)

Hiker Death

A 69-year-old hiker had a sudden heart attack on the Rochester Hollow Trail. One of hiking partners performed CPR on the hiker in an attempt bring them back to life. Click image for more details (Dec 17)

Recent Updates

Recent notices from the DEC for trail conditions, bridge replacements, weather conditions, road access point, and much more. Click image for more details (Dec 15)

Snowstorm

Between December 15 and December 17, 2022 a Nor'Easter storm is expected to hit the Catskill Mountains. Regions around Tannersville and Slide Mtn Wilderness are expecting two feet of snow. Mtn tops should expect more then 2 ft. Click image for more details (Dec 15)

Lost Hikers

On December 10, 2022, two hikers from NYC got lost while hiking up to Hurricane Ledge on KHP. When it got dark and they didn't have headlamps, they called for help. NY DEC Rangers found them and brought them back the Parking Area in Platte Clove Click image for more details (Dec 10)

Unconscious Hiker

A 63-year-old woman from NYC fell near the top of Kaaterskill Falls and was semi-conscious for about 20 minutes. DEC Rangers and paramedics assisted her until she could walk back to her car on her own. Click image for more details (Oct 22)

Exhausted Hiker

A 62-year-old man from Pennsylvania became exhausted from a hike up the Warner Creek Trail and could not move further. DEC Rangers provided water and electrolytes to help the hiker get back down the mountain Click image for more details (Oct 19)

Informal Trails

The NYS DEC has been studying the Informal Trails that have formed on many of the trail-less peaks. Since the COVID pandemic hiking has increased significantly, which has formed fractionalized trails on many of the 3500' peaks. Click image for more details (Sept 4)

Forest Fire Update

After two weeks of multiple forest fires in New York, most are contained or out. The Napanoch Point fire was the largest at 142 acres. Click image for more details (Sept 4)

Hiker Injured at KF

On September 4, 2022, a 22-year-old hiker from New Jersey went around the fence near the top of Kaaterskill Falls. He sustained an ankle injury a 12 feet from the top of the upper waterfall. He was pulled to a safer spot where his leg could be taken care of my EMT's and Paramedics. She had to be carried out to Laurel House Road. He was then transported to the Laurel House Parking area, and then transported to the hospital. Click image for more details (Sept 4)

Hiker Leg Injury

On September 3, 2022, a 32-year-old hiker from Washington DEC sustained a lower leg injury on the Mary's Glen Trail. The Mary's Glen Trail starts in the North-South Lake Campground. She had to be carried out to Laurel House Road. She was then transported to the hospital. Click image for more details (Sep 3)

Forest Fire

On August 21, 2022, a forest fire occurred in Warwarsing. Thankfully, multiple NYS departments & Fire Departments were able to contain it to 2-1/2 acres. Click image for more details (Aug 21)

Illegal Fire Wittenberg

On August 20, 2022, two hikers illegally camped and had a campfire on the summit of Wittenberg. Two DEC Rangers spent the day hunting down the pair and ticketed them for two violations. Click image for more details (Aug 20)

Hiker Injured on BLM

On July 19, 2022, a 19-year-old counselor twisted her ankle while descending Balsam Lake Fire Tower. She was taking a 15-year-old hiking. DEC Forest Rangers and the local fire department carried her out. Click image for more details (Jul 19)

Young Girl Lost

On July 15, 2022, a 14-year-old Girl left her mother's tent and was lost for 6 hours in the North-South Lake campground and surrounding region. She was later found by DEC Rangers at the bridge over Lake Creek by Kaaterskill Falls. Click image for more details (Jul 15)

Hiker Sick

On July 9, 2022, a 23-year-old hiker from Philadelphia became sick on the trail Kaaterskill Falls. She had to be carried out to Laurel House Road. She was then transported to the hospital. Click image for more details (Jul 9)

Hiker Injured

On July 9, 2022, a 12-year-old hiker from New York City fell on the stairs down to the bottom of Kaaterskill Falls. He fell further down a steep bank. Due to his injuries, he had to be carried out to Rt 23a. He was then transported to Albany Medical Center. Click image for more details (Jul 9)

Hiker Injured on KRT

On July 3, 2022, a 61-year-old man fell off the Kaaterskill Rail Trail and sustained multiple injuries. DEC Rangers administered first-aid and spent over 3 hour extricating him. He was then taken to the hospital where he is expected to recover. The Kaaterskill Rail Trail runs on the left side of the image from the bottom of Laurel House Road to Haines Falls. Some of the drop-off of the trail are quite significant. Click image for more details (Jul 3)

Dog Rescue

On June 25, 2022, DEC Rangers received a call at 9:30pm that a 135-pound Bernese mountain dog was unable to walk 2 miles up the Pecoy Notch Trail. DEC Rangers helped helped carry the dog back to the trailhead. Click image for more details (Jun 25)

Hiker Injured

On June 9, 2022, 65-year-old suffered a leg injury near Poet's ledge. DEC Rangers helped him down to the dirt road and transported him back to the road. Click image for more details (Jun 9)

Man Almost Dies

On May 30, 2022, 25-year-old drown and went into cardiac arrest after jumping off Fawn's Leap. His friends pulled him out of the water and did CPR to get his heart beating again. He was flown to Albany Medical Center. Click image for more details (May 30)

Hiker Lost

On May 29, 2022, 26-year-old was separated from his hiking group, and got lost. They were hiking up to Peekamoose Mtn from Sun Down Valley. Click image for more details (May 29)

Hiker Killed

On May 22, 2022, 31-year-old Elizabeth Adinaro of Hopewell Junction fell off of 90 foot Bridal Veil Falls. The accident happened around noon-time. DEC Rangers, NYS Police, Greene County Paramedics assisted and helped with the recovery of her body. Click image for more details (May 22)

Lost Hikers

On May 18, 2022, two hikers from Washington DC became lost in the dark. They called in that one of them was injured. They were found 1/2 mile from the Long path. DEC Rangers helped them back to their car. Click image for more details (May 18)

Injured Hiker

On May 14, 2022, a female hiker injured his ankle and knee on the Mary Glen Trail. DEC Rangers helped her back to her car. Click image for more details (May 14)

Injured Hiker

On May 8, 2022, a 42-year-old hiker injured his ankle on the northeast side of Blackhead Mtn. DEC Rangers helped him down the mountain to his car after stabilizing his ankle. Click image for more details (May 8)

Exhausted Hiker

On April 2, 2022, a 77-year-old hiker became exhausted and became sick. He was on the beginning of the Escarpment trail in the region of Elm Ridge. DEC Rangers feed and hydrated and helped him back to his car. Click image for more details (Apr 2)

Dehydrated Hiker

On February 28, 2022, a 23-year-old hiker became dehydrated and became unconscious. He was camping at the Pecoy Notch didn't have water with him. DEC Rangers got him hydrated and helped him back to his car. Click image for more details (Feb 28)

Hiker Lost

On February 21, 2022, a 21-year-old hiker had reached the summit if Balsam Cap. Upon trying to return back to Moon Haw Road he became lost. DEC Rangers went in and located him and guided him down Click image for more details (Feb 21)

Almost slides off KF

On February 20, 2022, a 56-year-old-man ventured near the top of Kaaterskill Falls. The top of the falls was full of ice with water flowing over the falls. He became stuck near the edge of the falls and on the verge of sliding off the ice and over the falls. He could not get back out. Three NYS Rangers quickly improvised a harness to prevent him from slipping over the falls, and pulled him out to safety just in time. Two weeks prior a dog did slide off the edge of the falls to his death. Click image for more details (Feb 20)

Hikers Lost

On February 12, 2022, two teenagers become lost while trying to hike to Sunset Rock. They were later located at the pond by the old Kaaterskill Hotel site. They were escorted back to the Parking Area where their parents were waiting. Click image for more details (Feb 12)

Dog Killed at KF

On February 7, 2022, a fell off Kaaterskill Falls and was killed. NYS Rangers use ropes to reach and recover the dog, and return it to it's owner. Click image for more details (Feb 7)

Hiker Exhausted

On January 22, 2022, a 24-year-old hiker from Milford, NY became exhausted on the Escarpment Trail near Burnt Knob. The hiker became hypothermic after they could not continue. Rangers Click image for more details (Jan 22)

Hiker Injured

On January 10, 2022, a 69-year-old hiker from Massachusetts fell at Kaaterskill Falls. He injured his knee 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 (Jan 10)