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.

Routes

Snowmobile Trail from Platte Clove Rd., Kaaterskill High Peak Trailil

22 summits • 9.2 mi • 47,106 ft gain • 4 hr 47 min

Long Path, Snowmobile trail, bushwhack

5 summits • 11.5 mi • 2,572 ft gain • 5 hr 40 min

Latest summits

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"Beautiful fall day for a hike. Luckily I got out there early, when I got back to the parking lot it was packed full.... People parking in front of the gate, in the woods and on the side of the road coming up platt clove. Took me a while to get out because people were trying to see where they could squeeze their vehicles... C'mon winter!!" — LGH-Topple • Sep 26, 2020

"Tom,Mimi, Peter and I had a nice hike/bushwhack up to KHP. Encountered no one on our way up or at the canister then only two guys on our way back. Before heading back we dropped down to Hurricane ledge to take in the hazy view out to the Hudson River and down toward the lower Hudson Valley. Finished up our half day by having burgers at Mama’s Boy for lunch. On my way home on Platte Clove road I passed by the usual TH for KHP...wow! Way too many cars and they were still coming up from Saugerties. The local cop was busy doing the paperwork." — Nimblefoot • Jul 18, 2020

"An out and back from Gillespie road using the snowmobile loop trail and bypassing Round Top mountain. Joined Tom, Susan and Happy Lisa on what turned out to be a fairly nice day despite light rain in the AM. A lot of icy patches on trail and off that were covered with an inch of snow from the previous night. Our regular Hillsounds were clogging up with the snow turning them into ice skates rather than spikes." — Nimblefoot • Mar 17, 2020

"Nice easy hike to get back in the saddle after three weeks of a cold/sinus infection. Spikes all day and carried the snowshoes just in case there was deeper snow up higher. Didn’t find much of a track on the herd path between the LP and the sno-mo loop trail and no track going up the ridge to the ramp. At the canister found boot prints from yesterday, appeared like they used the old twilight trail going passed Hurricane ledge. On my way back I deployed the 100’ ribbon for optimal safety while descending the ramp, two guys used it coming up before I dropped down. The rock garden section of the LP was annoying with just old ice and no snow and exposed rocks and roots. Occasionally I broke through the ice allowing one boot to take a dip in the water underneath. A nice day with a mix of blue sky, clouds and light flurries." — Nimblefoot • Feb 9, 2020

"Eight of us enjoyed a hike of KHP on a sunny Black Friday. Snow flurries in the air as we arrived at the PA putting a dusting of snow on the bare ground. From the PA to the snowmobile loop and up the south ridge the ground was nearly bare after last Sunday’s snow melted away earlier this week. As we approached the ramp leading to the unmarked trail the crusty snow accumulated enough to encourage us to put on our a Hillsounds. Once we reach the summit and leave our mark in the canister notebook it was time for our catered lunch thanks to Yong Ae and Mimi. Two varieties of Korean pancakes, Kimchi, ginger tea and holiday pastries fueled us for our return to the PA. The icy patches between all the rocks on the long path were harder to avoid on our descent leading to plenty of slips and slides along with a few good falls. " — Nimblefoot • Nov 29, 2019

"Another fine Fall day though a bit cooler than yesterday for part two of our Devils Path 4-peak traverse. The west side of Twin mountain is still closed do to vandalism of newly installed iron rungs in a section often found challenging for some hikers. An O & B of Indian Head and Twin via the ever popular Jimmy Dolan Notch trail. Today Yong Ae treated us to a lunch of dumplings with dipping sauce and her wonderful ginger tea. Once back to Prediger road only Tom and I were willing to do a late afternoon hike of KHP, to finish the day, before rendezvousing with Tom’s wife Anna in Kingston for some burgers at Five Guys." — Nimblefoot • Oct 15, 2019

"Another late start so by the time I get to the Platte Clove PA I found the lot already full. On the upside I see the cars of three friends so it will be interesting to see if we bump into each other. About a half hour in I run into Christy returning from KHP after starting three hours before me. Then after signing into the new canister I bump into Tim who is in a group of 14 with the Hudson Valley Hikers. Once back to the PA it’s time for a quick lunch then relocate the car to the Peck road PA to tag Windham HP. Only saw a single mountain biker on my way up and a woman walking her dog on my way back. A nice comfortable summer day, certainly not too hot, for getting in a few peaks to start the weekend." — Nimblefoot • Aug 9, 2019

"Bopped up to KHP for the month of July then wandered over to the East peak before heading down to the car. Finished the day with a jaunt up Halcott putting me at 21 peaks toward the Summer Triangle patch." — Nimblefoot • Jul 15, 2019

"Tom, Christy and I did a challenging hike of the eastern half of the Devils Path over to Kaaterskill High Peak using the Platte Clove Preserve trail to connect the two. We started with a bushwhack out of a Mink Hollow up to the DP on Plateau and finished with a bushwhack off of KHP down to Bryne road on new DEP land. Christys car was our rehydration vehicle parked at the KHP/Huckleberry Point PA and while we reloaded water in our packs and enjoyed a chilled beverage she decided to opt out of doing KHP as her knee was bothering her after hitting it hard on the ascent of Twin. Good decision since she has the 50 mile Rock the Ridge relay in Mohonk coming up soon." — Nimblefoot • Apr 22, 2019

"We climbed Kaaterskill High Peak , our final peak to earn our Catskill 3500. The day was perfect - mid 30s with a few flurries that turned into blue skies. Its been a fun journey exploring the mountains!" — deb-and-rob • Mar 16, 2019