Hiking in the Catskills is an adventure climbing up mountains to incredible vistas, and down into lush green valleys. Some peaks reach 3,200 ft! Trees grow everywhere except the slim bald tops of some mountains where, on a sunny day, you can see all the way across the Hudson to the Berkshires. These trips take place in a large state park of over 229,000 acres established in 1885. It has steep sided valleys, rocky ravines, and dense forests. It is approximately 90 miles north of New York City and because of this proximity it has a rich history of legends, the most famous perhaps being Rip Van Winkle.
Trips in the Catskills are generally moderate to strenuous. Students can expect large daily changes in elevation, which means plenty of scenic outlooks! For more information on the Catskills, please visit the Catskill Mountain Club website.