Above: Photo by Eve Bernhard. Submitted to the 2013 Catskills Outdoor Experience Photo Contest.
Clubs and Organizations
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Almost half of the land in the “forever wild” Catskill Park is owned by New York State. The DEC manages state forest land, and maintains many of the hiking trails. The Catskills spans two of the DEC's regional offices: Region 3 includes Sullivan and Ulster County along with much of the lower Hudson Valley, and Region 4 spans Delaware, Greene and Schoharie County along with the greater Albany area.
NY-NJ Trail Conference
A fantastic resource for hikers, with a good deal of thorough and up-to-date info on Catskills trails. The NYNJTC also publishes a series of excellent hiking maps and guidebooks.
Catskill Mountain Club
Founded in 2004, the Catskill Mountain Club is a volunteer organization dedicated to “responsible, safe, and sustainable” outdoor recreation. These folks help put on the annual Lark in the Park, a Catskills-wide celebration of outdoor pursuits that takes place every October.
Catskill Mountaineer
An informational website about local hiking, run by experienced hikers and home to a popular forum about all things Catskills and outdoorsy.
Catskill 3500 Club
An elite club open to only those rugged souls who have climbed all 35 of the Catskills' peaks over 3,500 feet – and Slide, Blackhead, Balsam and Panther in winter. Aspirants who hope to become members are welcome to participate in club hikes.
Online maps and hiking guides for Sullivan County trails.
BOOKS
Burroughs, John. In The Catskills. 1910; reprinted in 2010 by Purple Mountain Press.
Evers, Alf. The Catskills: From Wilderness To Woodstock. Overlook Press, 1984.
Freeman, John P. Views From On High: Fire Tower Trails in the Adirondacks and Catskills. Adirondack Mountain Club, 2001.
Podskoch, Martin. Fire Towers Of The Catskills: Their History and Lore. Purple Mountain Press, 2000.
White, Carol Stone. Catskill Peak Experiences: Mountaineering Tales of Endurance, Survival, Exploration & Adventure from the Catskill 3500 Club. Black Dome Press, 2008.
Below: A map of local camping gear stores and outdoor outfitters. Click on a pin for more information about a store.
View Catskills Outdoor Outfitters in a full screen map
