Hunter Mountain Loop
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Overview of this Hike: |
| Distance: 8.16 miles from the DEC Parking Lot on Rt 6. |
| Time: Average 5.75 hours round trip |
| Elevation Gain: 1,898’ feet from the DEC Parking Lot and the summit. |
| Best Time to Hike: Morning. |
| Difficulty: Moderate |
| VO Map No: 91, 34, 32, 35, Rt 6 (Spruceton Rd) |
| Catskill Highest: #2 |
| Peak Elevation: 4,046' |
| Digital Mapper: Topo
Terrain
Satellite |
| Attractions: Nice walk up Hunter Brook Trail |
| Attractions: Fire Tower has excellent views. |
| Attractions: Nice conifer forest near top |
| Unattractions: Trail on south side of loop is poorly maintained and rocky |
| Dangers: None known |
| Common Animals: Black bears, Bobcats, Coyotes, birds. |
| Risky Animals:
Rattlesnakes (None known),
Bears (Low-to-Moderate) |
| Access Methods: Foot, ski, and snowshoe |
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Directions to Trail Head from New York State Thruway (Easist, not the shortest): |
| GPS Coordinates to DEC Parking Lot: N42 11.083 W74 16.305 - Elevation is approximately 2,117 feet |
| Take New York State Thruway to Exit 21 (Catskill). |
| Take a left out of the NYS Thruway entrance road. |
| Go approximately 3/4 mile |
| Take a right onto Route 23 West |
| Go approximately 6.6 miles to Cairo, NY |
| Take a LEFT onto Rt 32. McDonalds Rest. on corner. |
| Go approximately 7.7 miles on Rt 32 |
| Take a RIGHT onto Rt 23A |
| Go appoximately 22.2 miles to the intersection of Rt 23a and Rt 42 . |
| Go approximately 0.3 miles - Take LEFT and go over bridge (over Schoharie Creek) |
| Go approximately 4.1 miles on Rt 42 (from Rt 23a) to Rt 6 (Spruceton Road) |
| Go approximately 6.7 miles on Rt 6 (Spruceton Road). |
| About 4 miles down Rt 6 the road will go from a 2-lane road into a 1-lane road. The 1-lane road looks like a private driveway. Continue down the 1-lane road. |
| There are a number of parking lots along this road. The parking lot you are looking for has a horse loading ramp. GPS: N42 11.083 W74 16.305 |
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Special Circumstances about this Hike |
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This is probably the easist route to the top of Hunter Mountain. The two accesses from the East side requires a steep climb. The access from the Diamond Notch access side is rocky climb. |
| Mile Point | Altitude | Notes |
| 0.00 | 2,117’ | DEC Parking Lot - N42 11.083 W74 16.305 |
| 0.02 | 2,117’ | DEC Registraion Box is just past the road barrier with the stop sign on it. |
| 0.35 | 2,315' | Unmarked Trail to Rusk & East Rusk Mountain (on horseshoe turn). |
| 1.41 | 2,905' | Trail Junction. Straight will take you down the East side of East Rusk near the West side of Hunter Mtn Ski Bowl. Right will take you to the summit of Hunter Mountain. Go RIGHT and leave Jeep Trail, and go up the foot path. |
| 1.82 | 3,291’ | Water source on Right side of Trail - Pipe sticking out of ground. |
| 1.94 | 3,400’ | First good view of Rusk Mtn - Flat spot. |
| 2.16 | 3,550’ | Trail Junction. Left will take you to the top of the Hunter Mtn Ski Bowl. |
| 2.65 | 3,671’ | View Point off the left side of the trail |
| 3.09 | 3,968’ | Trail Junction to Fire Tower - Can see fire tower from trail junction. |
| 3.13 | 3,980’ | Hunter Mountain Fire Tower |
| 3.43 | 4,006’ | Trail Junction (4-way). Right will take you to an excellent view point (Yellow Marker). Straight will take you down the Loop Trail (Yellow Marker). Left will take you down the Becker Hollow Trail & summit loop (Blue Marker). Take RIGHT to view ledge. Then reverse back and continue straight down the Yellow Trail. |
| 4.79 | 3,560’ | Trail Junction. Left will take you to Stony Clove (Rt 214). Straight (or Right) to continue on the Hunter Loop Trail. Continue STRAIGHT. |
| 4.89 | 3,531’ | Lean-To |
| 5.50 | 3,450’ | Great views of Spruceton Valley. |
| 7.04 | 2,380’ | Trail Junction. Left to West Kill Mtn & West Kill Falls. Straight will continue you to the end of the Hunter Loop Trail. After viewing Falls (next to trail) continue STRAIGHT. |
| 7.79 | 2,023’ | DEC Registration Box |
| 7.82 | 2,018’ | Road Barrier by Trail Head. |
| 8.16 | 2,160’ | DEC Parking lot where your car is parked. |
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Hike to Hunter Mountain Loop |
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The picture on the left is where you can park on Spruceton Road (Rt 6). The parking lot is fairly large. It is the parking lot with the horse loading ramp.
The trailhead is right next to the parking lot. Look for the steel road barrier with the stop sign on the barrier. |
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The registration box is about 50 feet past the steel barrier. It is always good to register your hike. It helps provide funds for hikers, and can help save your life should you get lost.
The picture on the right shows you what the trail looks like in the beginning of the hike. In the beginning, the trail is very mellow. |
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As you enter the Ox Hollow area, you will cross the new bridge that passes over Hunter Brook. After you cross the bridge the grade will start to increase. The uphill grade is around 10%.
The picture on the right is at the "Horseshoe Turn" on the trail. There is an unofficial trail that will take you to the top of Rusk Mountain and East Rusk Mountain. |
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The picture on the left show you what the trail looks like on the uphill climb. This section is part of the old jeep trail used to build the Hunter Mountain Fire Tower. This road continues down the other side of the mountain range, and comes out near the West side of Hunter Mountain Ski Bowl.
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At mile post 1.41 you will come to this 3-way Trail Junction. Continuing straight will take you down the other side of the mountain range, and comes out near the West side of Hunter Mountain Ski Bowl. Going Right will take you to Hunter Mountain Fire Tower. If you go left (bushwacking), is the eastest route up to East Rusk Mountain. You want to go RIGHT. |
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The picture on the right shows the entrance to the trail to the Hunter Mountain Fire Tower. It is part of the old Jeep Trail, but now is overgrown. It climbs the mountain at a slightly steeper rate. In the beginning it will go thru a number of switchbacks.
The picture on the RIGHT show an excellent water source. You can file this at mile post 1.82 (elev 3291'). |
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The picture on the left is another view of the trail as you continue to ascend up to the summit of Hunter Mountain. |
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At mile post 1.94 (elev 3400') you will come to your first view point. There is also a nice flat section here. The view in the picture is Rusk Mountain and East Rusk Mountain. |
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At mile post 2.16 (elev 3550') you will come to a Trail Junction. Going left will take you to the top of Hunter Mountain Ski Bowl. It is 1.04 miles to the top of the ski lifts. Hunter Mountain Ski Bowl also runs the ski lifts in the summer for hikers who want a very easy way to Hunter Mtn Fire Tower. . |
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The picture on the left shows the sign to Hunter Mountain Ski Bowl.
The picture on the right shows the trail head to Hunter Mountain Ski Bowl from the uphill side |
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The picture on the left shows what the trail looks like after the trail junction to Hunter Mountain Ski Bowl. The trail is pretty easy going to the top. There are a few muddy sections. |
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The picture on the left shows the trail junction to a small view point.
The picture on the right shows the view point. Mountains in the background are the Blackhead Mountain Range and Windham High Peak. |
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The picture on the left shows the Ranger Station. This is mile post 3.13.
The picture on the right shows the Hunter Mountain Fire Tower. |
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The picture on the left shows the trail past the fire tower. From the fire tower, take a left back onto the trail.
The picture on the right shows the next trail junction. It is at mile post 3.43 (elev 4,006'). It is a 4-way intersection. Left will take you down to Becker Hollow (most difficult access to Hunter Mtn). Right will take you to a ledge with an excellent view of the Spruceton Valley. I strongly recommend that you check out the view. It is the best of the hike. Continuing straight will continue you along the trail. First we will check out the ledge, so go RIGHT. |
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The picture on the left shows the trail to the Ledge. The trail is very short, so don't skip this little gem. |
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The picture on the left shows a view from the ledge. Once you get done, reverse your course back to the Trail Junction. Then take a RIGHT and continue further down the trail. |
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The picture on the left shows the trail past the 4-way Trail Junction. It continues down a conifer forest. The trail then starts to descend in elevation. The forest will change from a conifer forest to maples, oaks, and birch trees.
The picture on the right shows the next trail junction. It is at mile post 4.79 (elev 3,560'). If you take a sharp left (almost a 180 degree turn) This trail will take you down the very steep trail to Stony Clove Notch (Rt 214) and the Devil's Tombstone Campground. Continuing straight will continue along the Hunter Loop. You want to go STRAIGHT. |
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The picture on the left shows the trail sign at this Trail Junction.
The picture on the right shows the trail sign at this Trail Junction. |
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The picture on the left shows what the trail looks like just past Trail Junction. This area has lots of birch trees and in the summer it has a lot of weeds. |
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About 1/10 of a mile past the Trail Junction is a DEC Lean-To. The picture on the left shows the lean-to. There is some running water near the lean-to, but it doesn't come from a pipe. It is just running water on the ground.
Just past the Lean-to is a small unmarked trail junction on the left. There is a small rock cairn. This is the trail to the summit to Leavitt's Peak. It will add 1.40 miles to your hike (round trip). This is an option hike, and not part of the mileage listed above. It is a very peaceful hike. There are no views from the summit. About 200 feet after the umarked trail junction to Leavitt's Peak, the trail will start to descend in elevation. |
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At mile post 5.50 (elev 3,450') you will come up a small incline that you see in the picture on the left. At the top of the incline will be a small unmarked trail Junction. 25 feet away is Geiger Point. It has excellent views of Leavitt's Peak, West Kill Mtn, and part of Spruceton Valley. The drop off the ledge is quite large, so don't fall off. |
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The picture on the left is Geiger Point. Nice place for a break. After enjoying the view, continue to descend down the rocky trail for another 1.5 miles. |
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At mile post 7.04 (elev 2,380'), you will come to a Trail Junction.The picture on the left is this trail junction. Left will take you to Diamond Notch to Lanesville and West Kill Mountain. Also at this trail junction is West Kill Falls. Continuing straight will take you back to your car.. |
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The picture on the left is West Kill Falls. After enjoying the Falls, continue down the trail to your car. |
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