On average it takes 4 minutes to complete this trail. Panther Mountain is one of the Catskill High Peaks, located in the Town of Shandaken in Ulster County, New York.At approximately 3,720 feet (1,130 m) in elevation, it is the 18th highest in the range. See this access update. Straight ahead is the Eastern Devil’s Path. PSA: How Long Does Trash Last on the Trail? Ledge Trail Trailhead (Table Rock Road) Id be starting (and ending) this hike along the Table Rock Road about a half mile south of the official Hawksbill Trailhead. Just did Giant Ledge. From here, most people return to the parking area on Route 47. Friendly hikers on the trail. These two pictures are some of the more challenging sections. Several recreational opportunities exist, including hiking and rock-climbing. With a little legwork through lovely second growth forest, hikers are rewarded with stellar views of the valley below, Rattlesnake Lake, Mount Si, Mount Washington and others via a Lion King's “pride rock” moment. Beginning with a walk down an old farm road through a hedgerow, the Haley Farm Trail branches off to the south, through an open meadow, before entering tall, well-spaced hardwoods. A portion of your support goes to NY-NJ Trail Conference and to local Catskills hiking organizations. But the landscape is a fantasy-land mix of old blowdown and giant boulders, with everything covered in moss. Meanwhile, on your right, you can see Mount Pleasant, and you can just make out Ticetonyk guarding the Ashokan Reservoir. Personally, I’m too scared to eat anything I find in the woods — and there are similar looking mushrooms which are not good to eat. ClosureGraham and Doubletop mountains are closed to hikers from Nov 8 to Dec 26. Mountain section: Ledge Spring Trail. A visit to Catskill Mountains is worth the trip when you're visiting. On the trail down my feet felt pummeled and, by the time I made it back to the lot, my legs were basically jelly. It was very demanding. Location: The map below shows the exact topographic location of the trailhead. New York is currently open for dining, but there are restrictions. CONTACT: Conservation Officer Kenneth St.Pierre 603-744-5470 603-271-3361 October 20, 2020. About 1-2ft of snow from the recent storm. The final steep ascent to the ledges may be challenging in the snow but it’s a ton of fun on the way down. This classic route to Giant Ledge is a short moderate hike with a huge pay-off: a series of ledge views which are spectacular in all seasons. (42.026565°N, 74.403866°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website) Denning Road Parking Area is located on Denning Road, 3.5 … I really appreciate that. After about 18 miles you … For 30 minutes or so, follow the yellow blazes of the Phoenicia East Branch trail. In summer, even mid-week, the small lot on Route 47 fills up very quickly. Enjoy! Rattlesnake Ledge is a very popular hike destination. My wife and I snowshoed to Giant Ledge on Friday (12/18) afternoon. The trailhead parking can fill up, so get an early start if you can. Views from each outcropping are variations on a theme, each offering a slightly different angle on Woodland Valley, the Eastern Devil’s Path mountains, and the Burroughs Range. Castleview Rock and Ledge 1.8 mi loop, 450-ft ascent, 1 hr 5 min Trailhead: Randolph Hill Rd An easy loop with views of the Northern Peaks from an enormous boulder and a small open ledge. Area Status: Open The trail ascends the northwest slope of Pine Mountain, reaching an excellent view point from the rocky pinnacle called Chapel Rock. All Forest Offices. This is one of the most popular hiking trails in the Catskills. Great intro to the Catskills 3720ft elevation at the top. Yellow trail rocky scrambles til you reach the blue trail. Overview. Panther Mountain and Giant Ledge from Fox Hollow is a 15 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Shandaken, New York that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as difficult. … Spikes were not needed on Sunday, not likely needed Monday or Tuesday, but after that it will surely be more wintry. Glad to have gotten my winter hike of Panther completed on such an absolutely stunning day! The only area where the going was rough was between the two summits in the valley, where winds had drifted snow over the trail and made for slow going. All 35 miles of trails in this area are open exclusively to foot travel, affording the visitor an uninterrupted back country experience. Hike to Giant Ledge Panther Mountain: The DEC Panther Mountain Parking Lot is located at GPS: N42 01.596 W74 24.223 . After 25 mins or so you’ll arrive at a junction. Park at the trailhead on the Frost Valley Road just after Winisook Lake on the hairpin turn. The best time to backpack the Piper Trail and Carter Ledge loop trail is during the summer and fall when the views are either lush, green mountains or that famous New England foliage.Try to go mid-week to avoid the crowds as Piper Trail’s popular out and back summit to Mount Chocorua is known for being busy in the high season (summer-fall). SnowDeep snow on the mountains now. Giant Ledge is an enormous structure, visible as a distinct ridge to the south of Panther’s summit from many vantage points around the Catskill Park. This past weekend (September 27th, 2014) we decided to check out the beginning of the ledge trail to see for ourselves how difficult and dangerous it really was. Extensive foot trails provide access to the remote interior, often climbing over lofty peaks with spectacular views. Beware the chipmunks. No permit is required for day hikes to Cascade Mountain and Porter Mountain. Ledge Trail Update. Area Status: Open White Ledge Loop is a 4.4 mile loop trail to White Ledge (2,010 ft.); a 1,450 feet elevation gain. Today, an easier Ledge Trail attracts over 100,000 visitors a year. We went to the last ledge, and at the time, no one had broken a path beyond this point (out to Panther Mountain). No description for Ledge Trail trail has been added yet! This bushwhack section is rated difficult. Find the yellow-blazed Phoenecia-East Branch trail and hike.65 miles to the blue-blazed Giant Ledge - Panther Mountain Trail. I love reading your trail reports. If you've hiked to Rattlesnake Ledges and beyond from Rattlesnake Lake, this is a delightful alternative. Hunting SeasonIt’s still hunting season so wear lots of orange on hikes, especially when bushwhacking. Don’t be a posthole. Giant Ledge is located in the 47,500 acres Slide Mountain Wilderness Area. While the parking lot is big, it does fill up quite quickly on the weekends. Leaving the roadside, the Art Loeb Trail switchbacks north to round a ridgeline at 1.1. miles at the first campsite. You will know you are in the correct place because there is a very steep hill on the left with some mountain bike obstacles and on the right, there is a view point with a steep drop. Rain and freezing temps this week. Plan accordingly. If I’d started a little further north on the trail, I might have avoided some of the steepness. The Ledge Trail leaves the road a few dozen feet ahead in this shot on the left. The hike continues to Panther Mountain, one of the 35 high peaks in the Catskills over 3,500 in elevation. The trailhead for the hiking trail (Art Loeb Trail) is located at the Daniel Boone Scout Camp. Trailhead parking: Oliverea Road – Big Indian, NY 12410 . Overall not my favorite. On weekends, plan to arrive as early as you can — and have a Plan B for your day in case the lot is full when you arrive. 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