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An excellent trail that leads hikers along exposed ridges and slick rock to an open summit with great views.


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Map Key

3.7

Miles

5.9

KM

Out and Back

3,164' 964 m

High

1,616' 493 m

Low

1,577' 481 m

Up

1,577' 481 m

Down

16%

Avg Grade (9°)

60%

Max Grade (31°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · Views

Overview

Catamount Mountain sees little traffic because the Adirondack High Peaks are 30 minutes south. However, Catamount is an impressive hike and should not be overlooked.

Need to Know

The trail is marked with yellow discs.

Description

From the parking area on Forestdale Road, make your way to the west of the lot and continue through a yellow gate. Follow this forest road for about a half a mile. The trail tapers down to singletrack and climbs steadily through the forest. After about one mile, the trail begins to wind along slick rock ledges and forest until, after 1.2 miles, you reach the top of a false summit.

You have excellent views from this point and get a good look at Catamount summit's. Continue along the trail where it descends the false summit into the forest for a short distance. The next half mile to the summit of Catamount offers great views as you negotiate ledges and slick rock. Trail markers are few and far between. It does require patience and some route finding skills to ascend the proper trail.

The summit is obvious with great views toward the southwest. You'll see large cairns descending from the summit. This is not the route down! This marks the way to the summit for those that lost their way on the ascent. Those large cairns going downhill look enticing, but it is not the route. There are no trail markers that way. From the top, simply turn back the way you came. The descent is to the southeast and then south.

Overall, this is an excellent option to escape the crowds of the high peaks.

Contacts

Shared By:

John Maurizi with improvements by Stan Krieger

Trail Ratings

  4.7 from 10 votes

#1046

Overall
  4.7 from 10 votes
5 Star
70%
4 Star
30%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#17

in New York

#1,046

Overall
12 Views Last Month
4,231 Since Sep 4, 2017
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

0%
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22%
11%
67%
0%

Photos

View of Catamount summit from top of the false summit.
Sep 7, 2017 near Keene, NY
View of false summit from summit approach.
Sep 7, 2017 near Lake Pl…, NY
Summit of Catamount Mountain.
Sep 7, 2017 near Lake Pl…, NY
Trail goes through this crack. Known as the Chimney.
Sep 7, 2017 near Keene, NY
Catamount Mountain Trail.
Sep 7, 2017 near Lake Pl…, NY
Catamount Mountain trailhead.
Sep 7, 2017 near Lake Pl…, NY

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