Kaaterskill High Peak

Until the late 19th century, Kaaterskill High Peak was considered to be the highest in the Catskills until Slide Mountain was found to possess that honor. In fact, Kaaterskill High Peak is only 23rd highest in the range. It does have 4th most prominence.

Latest summits

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"Climbed Kaaterskill High Peak on a beautiful fall day. It was chilly in the shade but nice and warm in the sun. The fall colors were pretty bust in the area. A lot of bare trees and brown leaves, but this did not take anything away from another enjoyable outing in the Catskills." — Right-On • Oct 16, 2018

"Solid hike with Taryn and Riley with a wonderfully pleasant lunch at Hurricane Ledge. Some really beautiful sections of the trail as you get towards the summit. The entire trail after leaving the snowmobile trail was gorgeous. The temperature was perfect, too. We ended up making it an out and back rather than forming a loop. " — SR-Shilling • Jul 21, 2018

"Peak 5 of our grand hike from Mink Hollow road to Gillespie road visiting the four eastern peaks of the DP plus KHP and Round Top. After walking through the Platte Clove Preserve and Platte Clove road to the PA, for KHP and Huckleberry point, we took a half hour break to reload water and beverages in our packs and fill our belly’s with a variety of beverages and snack foods. One person dropped out do to knee issues so now we are a group of eight for the second half of our hike that includes a hike/whack to KHP then a whack over to Round Top. Most folks had no idea how late we would finish the hike which was a good thing at this point." — Nimblefoot • Jun 16, 2018

"Out on a lovely blue sky day with plenty of sunshine visiting Kaaterskill High Peak and Plateau. We did our usual straight forward ascent of KHP clearing limbs and blow downs off the Long Path section on our trip up and back. I was a bit too casual with the navigation on our descent down the ridge so we ended up drifting over to the old plane crash next to the snowmobile trail on our way back to the herd path. The bugs, black flies, were out in large enough numbers to notice them but fortunately they were not biting yet. " — Nimblefoot • May 8, 2018

"Hiked Plateau and Sugarloaf with Laura in the morning. She refueled us with homemade muffins before she headed home and Ed, Steve and I headed over to the Platte Clove PA to hike KHP. We managed to bare boot the trail, herd path shortcut and up the east ridge to the summit. The spikes went on for the descent down to the trail portion. Looks like the crusty snow and ice will last into the month of May." — Nimblefoot • Apr 23, 2018

"Snowshoeing on a warm early spring day. Initially we had a nice stroll bare booting on the hiking/snowmobile trail that was packed down by snowmobiles creating a sidewalk over the usual rocks and roots. Then the winter flip flops went on to break out the short cut herd path over to the sno-mo trail that circles the peak. Next we whacked right up onto the east ridge and up to the summit. Fortunately the snow has settled and compacted nicely so we are only sinking in 6” rather than 1-2 feet on recent bushwhacks. An overcast morning with a peeking sun improved to a clearing sky with plenty of sunshine pushing the temperature toward the upper 40’s. " — Nimblefoot • Mar 22, 2018

"Laura, Steve and I did a quick hike up to KHP on a nice sunny day. Another melt-out and rain combo wiped out most of the snow cover so the snowshoes stayed in the car again. Icy up the trail then a firm broken track over to the sno-mo trail then down to the old plane wreck before heading up to the summit. It was like walking up a sidewalk today but the incoming warmer temperatures may change it to mush." — Nimblefoot • Feb 13, 2018

"Out tagging KHP for winter round #9. Big difference from the last time I did this peak only a little over a week ago. In December it was 0* in the parking lot today it was 28*. Today my car thermometer read 37* as I drove by Tannersville, in December it read -1*. In the afternoon the snow got progessively stickier on my descent making the snowshoes twice as heavy and felt like I was walking on balls. Fortunately I re-broke the track in the bushwhack sections while the snow was more fluffy in the AM. Snow flurries and wind on the summit changed to rain then back to wet snow on my return." — Nimblefoot • Jan 8, 2018

"Ed needed KHP for December so off we went on a rather brisk but beautiful sunny day. On Platte Clove road the car thermometer dropped to -1* then when we reached the parking lot it rose to an even 0*. Before we headed up three ice climbers parked next to us then prepped for crossing the road and dropping into the Clove to find some ice. They thought we were crazy for hiking up a mountain in the cool temps, a first for me to hear that, at least we were moving constantly. I broke out the herd path leading to the sno-mo trail then Ed broke a track up onto the east ridge until we came upon an old track. The makers of the old track took a creative route taking bushwhacking a little too literally so we made some deviations to stay in the open. They did get to the chute through the rock band then once up on the lookout it was a quick run up to the top. Nice shush back down to the trail though more snow would add to the fun particularly on the rocky/rooty trail to the parking lot." — Nimblefoot • Dec 28, 2017

"Tom and Anna joined Laura, Steve and I for a casual hike up KHP on a nice breezy day with a clear blue sky. We opted to skip the view from Hurricane Ledge and head straight back as we had two more peaks to visit. On our descent down the east ridge Tom slipped on leaves and fell losing his glasses in the process. A quick search for them ensued but to no avail. Tom and Anna headed home while we drove over to Prediger road to hike up Twin and Indian Head." — Nimblefoot • Oct 19, 2017

"Last peak of my vacation. So I was in a hurry. Found out just before hiking it that there was a herd path and not a maintained trail to the summit. The herd path was steep. Also stopped at Huckleberry Point on the way out, which was so worth it. " — newenglandwarrior • Aug 26, 2017

"Laura, Steve and I got together to hike up Kaaterskill High Peak and Rusk for the month of August. Solid sky of clouds in the morning with a forecast of nice weather in the afternoon. On the summit we decided to skip going down to Hurricane Ledge since the view was totally etch-a-sketch....just a cloud bank. On our descent we ran into my old hiking partner, Itty Bitty, and a friend out for an easy hike." — Nimblefoot • Aug 5, 2017

"Solo climb on a cloudy morning with only two other cars in the lot. After taking in the view from Hurricane Ledge returned to a packed parking lot and the sun clearing away the clouds. Over to Prediger road for Twin and Indian Head." — Nimblefoot • Jul 29, 2017

"Laura, Steve and I did a nice hike up to KHP in the AM then headed over to the hairpin curve on Rt 47 to meet up with our buddy Jimmy G and hike up to Panther mountain after lunch. Laura led us up and back including the bushwhack from the snow-mobile trail without the use of any technology." — Nimblefoot • Jun 22, 2017

"Out and back to KHP from the Platte Clove Road Trailhead with a side trip to Huckleberry Point on the return. The snow was deep, but I only had to break trail at the unmaintained section from the snowmobile loop and then along the Huckleberry Point Trail (thanks snowmobiles for doing the grunt work for me today). The weather was warm and sunny in the morning, providing great views at Hurricane Ledge, but storm clouds rolled in over Platte Clove just as I made it to the Huckleberry Point overlook. I hiked the last 2.4 miles back to the car in a beautiful snow squall. " — wacbravo • Feb 15, 2017

"Steve and I joined Tom & Anna, Laura Jim, Ann and Bob for a through hike of Roundtop and KHP from Gillespie road. Easy open whack from Roundtop. After lunch at the summit we checked out the view from Hurricane ledge of the Devils Path, Overlook and Plattekill mtns. and out to the Hudson. ." — Nimblefoot • Dec 21, 2015

"Hiking the Long Path from rt 23A to Platte Clove rd. and Poets Ledge trail for the CATS patch for all of us. Tagged KHP for the three Ladies first round and for Steve and I to close out the month of May and the peak. Cool damp day with only a few glimpses of sunshine. Enjoyed the view from Hurricane ledge." — Nimblefoot • May 21, 2015

"Out & back from Platte Cove Road. Hiked with Tommy. Beautiful day, amazing view from Hurricane Ledge. Tricky rock scrambles in some areas. My final 3500 Club hike! Celebrated with champagne." — kellieirene • Sep 4, 2014

"My winter finish! Headed up on the north side from the snowmobile loop and descended on the south side via hurricane ledge. Beautiful weather. Completely opposite from my previous day. " — LGH-Tom • Feb 20, 2014

"The wife and I scooted up KHP for the month of November. As we headed up the southeast ridge herdpath it began to sleet then snow for awhile making the day feel quite wintery. By the time we got back to the car the sun started to pop out again." — Nimblefoot • Nov 10, 2013