Hunter Rail Trail

OVERVIEW

Type of Trail: 67% Public Trails - 33% public roads

Other Names: Hunter Bike Path

Open Date: April 22, 2023 at 11:30am

Distance: 1.74 miles (one-way) - From Dolan Lake parking to Clove Road

Distance: 0.80 miles (one-way) - From Evergreen Contracting to Clove Road

Time: 2-3 hours one-way (hiking time)

Best Time to Hike: Any time of the day.

Difficulty: easy.

Elevations: 1,691' (EAST) to 1,641' (WEST)

Digital Mapper: Topo Terrain Satellite

Attractions: Nice easy hike through the Catskill Mountain Forest

Unattractions: Parking is difficult and away from the rail trail.

Unattractions: Some railroad ties still on the path.

Unattractions: Base of the path is not hardened, as of this date.

Access Methods: Foot, snowshoe, ski, Mtn bike

Maps

Directions to Dolan Lake Parking Area in Hunter, NY

Dolan Lake Parking Lot WGS84 (DEC): 42.20715, -74.207767 - Elevation is approximately 1,641 feet

Dolan Lake Parking Lot Deg/Min/Sec: N42 12 25, W74 12 27 - Elevation is approximately 1,641 feet

Dolan Lake Parking Lot GPS: N 42 12.429, W 74 12.466 - Elevation is approximately 1,641 feet

Dolan Lake Parking Lot UTM: 18N 565398 4673080 - Elevation is approximately 1,641 feet

Take New York State Thruway to Exit 21 (Catskill).

Take a left out of the NYS Thruway entrance road.

Go approximately 1/4 mile

Take a right onto Route 23 West

Go approximately 6.6 miles to Cairo, NY

Take a LEFT onto Rt 32. McDonalds Rest. on corner.

Go approximately 7.7 miles on Rt 32

Take a RIGHT onto Rt 23A

Go approximately 10.9 miles to the intersection of Rt 23a and Rt 83 (Hunter Ski Center)

Take a LEFT onto Rt 83 (Hunter Ski Center) and go over bridge.

After bridge, take a LEFT into Parking Area for Dolan Lake

Directions to EAST Dolan Lake Parking Area in Hunter, NY

East Dolan Lake Parking Lot WGS84 (DEC): 42.203333, -74.20405 - Elevation is approximately 1,652 feet

East Dolan Lake Parking Lot Deg/Min/Sec: N42 12 25, W74 12 27 - Elevation is approximately 1,652 feet

East Dolan Lake Parking Lot GPS: N 42 12.429, W 74 12.466 - Elevation is approximately 1,652 feet

East Dolan Lake Parking Lot UTM: 18N 565398 4673080 - Elevation is approximately 1,652 feet

Take New York State Thruway to Exit 21 (Catskill).

Take a left out of the NYS Thruway entrance road.

Go approximately 1/4 mile

Take a right onto Route 23 West

Go approximately 6.6 miles to Cairo, NY

Take a LEFT onto Rt 32. McDonalds Rest. on corner.

Go approximately 7.7 miles on Rt 32

Take a RIGHT onto Rt 23A

Go approximately 10.9 miles to the intersection of Rt 23a and Rt 83 (Hunter Ski Center)

Take a LEFT onto Rt 83 (Hunter Ski Center) and go over bridge.

After bridge, take a LEFT into Parking Area for Dolan Lake

Directions to Clove Road (off Rt 214) in Hunter, NY

Clove Road Parking Lot WGS84 (DEC): 42.191683, -74.185733 - Elevation is approximately 1,692 feet

Clove Road Parking Lot Deg/Min/Sec: N42 11 30, W74 11 08 - Elevation is approximately 1,692 feet

Clove Road Parking Lot GPS: N 42 11.501, W 74 11.144 - Elevation is approximately 1,692 feet

Clove Road Parking Lot UTM: 18N 567233 4671380 - Elevation is approximately 1,692 feet

Take New York State Thruway to Exit 21 (Catskill).

Take a left out of the NYS Thruway entrance road.

Go approximately 1/4 mile

Take a right onto Route 23 West

Go approximately 6.6 miles to Cairo, NY

Take a LEFT onto Rt 32. McDonalds Rest. on corner.

Go approximately 7.7 miles on Rt 32

Take a RIGHT onto Rt 23A

Go approximately 9.3 miles to the intersection of Rt 23a and Rt 214

Take a LEFT onto Rt 214.

Go approximately 0.2 miles to Clove Road

Take a RIGHT onto Clove Road

Go approximately 0.2 miles to Clove Road

There is a space on the side of the LEFT side of the road - Park there

Mileage Chart for the Hunter Rail Trail

Mile Point Altitude Notes
0.00 1,641' Dolan Lake Parking Area
0.37 1,652' Bridge / Parking Area
0.94 1,655' Evergreen Contracting / Trail Head for Hunter Rail Trail
1.74 1,692' Clove Road / End of Hunter Rail Trail

Parking Areas for the Hunter Rail Trail

This is the Parking Area for Dolan Lake. It is located in the middle of Hunter, NY. After you turn LEFT onto Rt 83 (road going to Hunter Ski Center), and LEFT again into the Parking Area. There is enough room for 50+ cars. Even if this lot is full, there is parking across the street. Dolan Lake has other activities to enjoy. This will be the default parking area for most people.

This is the parking area by the bridge, that can hold 3-5 cars. Also the location, where you leave the path in the Dolan Lake region, and start your road walk down Rt 83.

This is a road side parking area that will fit about 2-3 cars. Make absolutely sure you have your car well off the road.

This is the parking area at the very end of the Hunter Rail Trail on Clove Road. It is road side parking, so make absolutely sure you have your car well off the road. It can only handle 2 cars.

NOTE: There is a driveway next to the Hunter Rail Trail. That is on Private Property. Do NOT park there.

NOTE: You cannot parking in Evergreen Mountain Contracting Parking Lot. Your car will be towed if you do.

Hike the Hunter Rail Trail

This is the starting point from the Dolan Lake Parking Area. Just follow the side walk all the way down Dolan Lake to the bridge.

The side walk winds around the outflow of Dolan Lake before turning in an easterly direction. From there you will also pass a picnic Pavilion. Keep going down the asphalt side walk.

There is a nice view of Dolan lake as you proceed down the asphalt side walk towards the bridge.

Once you get to the bridge, you want to leave the side walk (do not go over the bridge), and pass through an opening into a small parking area off Rt 83. Then continue walking down Rt 83.

The bridge goes over the Schoharie Creek, and onto a road that takes you back up to Rt 23a.

The shoulder of Rt 83 (Ski Bowl Road) is VERY SMALL, so watch for cars. When a car approaches, makes sure you are as far to the left as possible.

Rt 83 (Ski Bowl Road) follows the Schoharie Creek fairly closely.

Once you see the "Evergreen Mountain Contracting" sign, you have reach the beginning of the Hunter Rail Trail. You can see the Hunter Rail Trail under the green, "Evergreen Mountain Contracting" sign. the Hunter Rail Trail runs parallel to Rt 83. The land is owned by the NYC DEP, so their rules apply to this hike.

NOTE: You cannot park on the land of Evergreen Mountain Contracting!

This is the Trail Marker used for the Hunter Rail Trail.

The beginning of the Hunter Rail Trail is fairly soft. In the summer months it will probably fairly hard.

The Hunter Rail Trail has a very mild uphill climb. In most case, you may not even notice the very slight incline.

They do have wood boards over some of the soft and muddy spots.

When you get towards the end of the Hunter Rail Trail (about 3/4 of a mile), you will encounter the new steel bridge that takes you over the creek.

The bridge was built by the Bridge Brothers in May of 2022. It has a nice view to the south.

The bridge was dedicated to Luke Patterson, who died in 2019. He was a local chef, who owned Luke's Joint. He also owned, "The Other Place". It was an upscale French-American restaurant on K Street. He was a resident of Tannersville, New York, and well liked in the community.

From the middle of the bridge there is a nice view to the south.

This is the end of the Hunter Rail Trail. It ends on Clove Road. Clove Road is a small loop off of Rt 214.

LINKS & REFERENCES

USGS Maps of Hunter-Tannersville Region

Hudson Valley Post - Luke Patterson

North Coast Journal - Luke Patterson

S E C T I O N S

W E A T H E R

O T H E R