Region
Highlights
- Push yourself up the steep Becker Hollow trail to the summit of one of the only two 4000 footers in the Catskills
- Take in the extensive views from the fire tower on top
- Stop by the overlook at the top of the Becker Hollow Trail to take in great views to the west
Routes
/-74.2301973553929,42.1776176490593,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
43 summits • 6.6 mi • 1,911 ft gain • 2 hr 42 min
/-74.2301973553929,42.1776176490593,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
27 summits • 5.7 mi • 2,290 ft gain • 4 hr 11 min
/-74.2301973553929,42.1776176490593,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
5 summits • 7.3 mi • 2,316 ft gain • 4 hr 9 min
/-74.2301973553929,42.1776176490593,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
3 summits • 10.1 mi • 2,331 ft gain • 5 hr 40 min
/-74.2301973553929,42.1776176490593,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
1 summit • 10.7 mi • 2,078 ft gain • 6 hr 5 min
/-74.2301973553929,42.1776176490593,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
1 summit • 14.5 mi • 3,004 ft gain • 7 hr 4 min
/-74.2301973553929,42.1776176490593,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
1 summit • 15.8 mi • 60,732 ft gain • 10 hr 28 min
Latest summits

"Loop from Spruceton Rd Trailhead going clockwise to Hunter and Southwest Hunter. Warm and sunny day for February, packed slushy snow and some icy patches. A couple steep parts on the way up and down, but not too bad. Spikes, no snowshoes needed. Ran into a few groups of hikers. The view from Hunter's firetower was amazing, no view from SW Hunter unfortunately. The ridge along Devil's Path had a nice sunny lookout and there were some cool waterfalls by the turn to West Kill's trail a mile from the end of the loop. Overall, not too difficult or technical of a hike, slushy snow was the toughest part. 10.25 miles in 5.5 hours, 2,750 ft total elevation gain." — gregoryskiba • Feb 21, 2022
"Picking off the other two peaks I missed 5 days ago when break trail to SW Hunter in the fairly fresh snow. Fortunately this time some bare booters had broken out a track to Rusk and right over East Rusk making my travel much easier." — Nimblefoot • Jan 24, 2022

"We took the Spruceton trail for 7.68 miles & 1947 feet of elevation gain. Fairly gentle trail that never exceeds 28% grade, on a crushed shale horse trail. It was a very windy, foggy hike, with no views besides clouds at the summit." — EmilyDoucet729 • Oct 16, 2021
"Intended to hit Hunter and SW Hunter via the Becker Hollow trail then head over to Peck road to hit Windham HP. Once over to the canister on SW Hunter I realized I didn’t have time to get Windham and get home in time to pickup our farm share so I took my time descending Becker Hollow. Additionally I created a low point on some of the many mini-ponds on the rail bed and Hunter mountain trail to allow them to drain." — Nimblefoot • Sep 9, 2021
"A late morning/afternoon hike of Rusk and Hunter with Ed. We intended to also do SW Hunter then return to Hunter to see the full moon at sundown for some photo ops for Ed. Neither of us was up for SWH so we were on Hunter too early and the cloudy sky discouraged us from sticking around for sundown. One or two snowmobiles came up the Old Hunter trail and chewed up the upper half of the Spruceton trail to the tower/cabin." — Nimblefoot • Feb 26, 2021
"Mimi and I did the 3-Peaker despite the weather forecast of mixed winter precipitation and slippery roads. Not many Holiday hikers, Presidents Day, out so it was a nice quiet day. Normally I would have whacked straight over to SW Hunter from West Kill through Diamond Notch but I didn’t feel like breaking a track so all the way down to the bridge then all the way back up. Still some bare booters out there punching holes into the nicely packed trails....too lazy to where the big shoes." — Nimblefoot • Feb 15, 2021

"Becker Hollow Trail, 4.7 miles. 2240' elevation gain, very steep after a mile up. Snowy, and packed down for the most part, only used spikes. Snowshoes would have been better, at least near the top. Cloudy day, but around 30 degrees and very light wind. Climbed the fire tower but no views through the clouds unfortunately. Was able to slide down half the way down, which was fun and made the descent much quicker." — gregoryskiba • Feb 14, 2021

"Enjoyed a nice climb up Becker Hollow trail to Hunter and then over to SW Hunter and back down Becker. Trail mostly tracked out, drifts in places. Roughly 10 miles RT. Perfect day to be out on the trails" — deb-and-rob • Jan 31, 2021
"Joined Itty Bitty for an easy romp of SW Hunter and Hunter for her month of December. Hunter was day #195 of 366 of the 4K peak/day challenge and the first peak of the Catskill 35 to reach the big 5-0( 50th ascent that I recall/documented). The tower on Hunter was nicely frosted for a winter-like photo op for IB." — Nimblefoot • Dec 10, 2020
"Did a Spruceton circular of West kill to Rusk. I hit the summit of West Kill first, to find the cairn knocked over and the remnants of a recent “camp” fire including a scarred tree roots, then whacked down to Diamond notch. After an easy stroll through open woods it was a steep drop that was a bit slippery with wet leaves. Next was a steep ascent on sliding rocks to head toward SW Hunter. Once most of the elevation was regained it was an easy stroll to the canister. Now it’s rail bed and trails to Hunter with the overcast sky breaking up and the sun showing through. The two people descending the tower were the only two other hikers I saw on the summits. Popped up and over the East summit of Rusk on my way to the canister on Rusk followed by a speedy descent on the herd path trying to stay ahead of gravity with the slippery leaves again." — Nimblefoot • Oct 27, 2020