Catskill Park

Catskill Park is a protected area in the Catskill Mountains of New York State created as part of the New York State Forest Preserve in 1885 and encompassing roughly 700,000 acres within the park boundary.

The park is known for its mountain peaks, long-distance hiking trails and waterfalls. It contains 35 peaks above 3,500 feet including Slide Mountain at 4,180 feet, extensive backcountry hiking routes such as the Devil’s Path, and notable features like Kaaterskill Falls.

Legislation creating the park and the Forest Preserve aimed to protect watersheds and timber resources; over time the area has been managed for conservation, recreation and limited development such as state campgrounds and ski areas. Management combines state-owned Forest Preserve lands with private lands inside the park boundary.

Catskill Park spans parts of several upstate New York counties within the Catskill Mountains, roughly northwest of New York City and accessible from multiple small towns and regional highways.

• Size and status: Contains roughly 700,000 acres of public and private lands within its boundary known as the Blue Line and is part of New York State's Forest Preserve.
• High peaks and trails: Includes 35 peaks above 3,500 feet, with Slide Mountain the highest at 4,180 feet; popular hiking trails include the Devil's Path and the Escarpment Trail.

What to See #

• Slide Mountain: Highest summit in the Catskills at 4,180 feet, a marked trail climbs to the summit from trailheads in Shandaken and surrounding areas.
• Kaaterskill Falls: A two-tier waterfall with a total drop of roughly 260 feet, located in the northern Catskills and reachable by established hiking trails and overlooks.
• Devil's Path: A famously strenuous ridge trail of roughly 24 miles that crosses several high peaks and is noted for steep, rocky terrain and exposure.