North Point & North Mountain Ledge

Overview of this Hike:

Distance: 5.90 round trip from parking lot by Scutt Road. Deduct 0.34 miles for skipping Ashley Falls Trail. Minimum distance is 5.56 miles.

Time: 3 hours round trip (hiking time)

Elevation Gain: 850' gain from parking lot (2,224' to 3,074')

Best Time to Hike: Any time of day

Difficulty: Moderate

Highest Elevation: 3,180'

Digital Mapper: Topo Terrain Satellite

Access Methods: Foot and snowshoeing.

Maps

Directions to Trail Head from New York State Thruway (Easist, not the shortest):

Take New York State Thruway to Exit 21 (Catskill).

Take a left out of the NYS Thruway entrance road.

Go approximately 1/4 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 7-8 miles to the intersection of Rt 23a and North-South Lake Road.

Climb up the windy mountain road (Rt 23A). When you reach the top, you will then be in Haines Falls.

Take a RIGHT onto North Lake Road (DEC sign on corner of road).

Follow North Lake Road until you almost reach the DEC booths.

Take a RIGHT onto Scutt Road.

Take a RIGHT into the DEC parking lot. The parking lot fills up quickly. If the parking lot is full, you can park on the side of the road. Do NOT park down by the two houses.

Mile Post Chart

Mile Post Altitude Notes
0.00 2,224’ DEC Parking lot on Scutt Road. Take a LEFT out of the parking lot and walk back up Scutt Road to North Lake Road.
0.09 2,250' Scutt Road to North Lake Road.
0.10 2,254' North Lake Road to Trail.
1.37 2,444' Trail Junction #1 at Ledge Falls.
2.12 2,785' Trail Junction to North Point, North Mtn, and Stoppel Point.
2.25 2,869' First Ledge overlooking North/South Lake
2.39 3,017’ North Point
2.54 3,068’ Pocket Holes Ledge
2.64 3,074’ North Mountain Ledge overlooking North/South lake
2.74 3,068’ Pocket Holes Ledge
2.89 3,017’ North Point
3.03 2,752’ Trail Junction to North Point, North Mtn, and Stoppel Pt.
3.78 2,443’ Trail Junction #1 at Ledge Falls.
3.82 2,425 Trail Junction #2 at Ledge Falls.
4.19 2,305’ Top of Ashley Falls.
4.28 2,230’ Trail Junction to Ashley Falls.
4.31 2,244’ Bottom of Ashley Falls
4.56 2,244’ Trail & North Lake Road.
5.82 2,315’ North Road & Scutt Road.
5.90 2,315’ Parking Lot.

Hike to North Point, North Mountain, Stoppel Point, Plane Crash, and Ashley Falls

After walking out of the DEC parking lot, take a LEFT and walk UP Scutt Road back to North Lake Road. At mile post 0.08 you will reach North Lake Road. Take a LEFT and head west away from North/South Lake.At mile post 0.09 you will come to the DEC trail sign. Directly across the street is the beginning of the trail (see picture on the LEFT).

The beginning of this trail has a lot of rocks and water. The trail get better as you continue up the trail. At mile post 1.37 you will encounter Trail Junction #1 at Ledge Falls. You want to take a LEFT, and continue climbing in elevation.

The picture on the LEFT is what the trail looks like after you leave Trail Junction #1 at Ledge Falls. The trail will continue to climb in elevation. You will encounter a Conifer forest below North Point and North Mtn.

At mile post 2.12, you will encounter the Trail Junction to North Point, North Mountain, and Stoppel Point. Take a LEFT up the steep trail.

Shortly after you start climbing, the trail will zig to the left. If you look at the middle left side of the picture on the left, you will see blue painted dot on the rock. This is the first zig in the trial. The picture on the RIGHT is what awaits you at the top of the zig. Some people are intimidated by the climbing the rock. To avoid the rock, you can continue to climb up the steep rock trail on the picture on the LEFT, and take a LEFT once you get on top.

The best way to climb this rock ledge, is to climb it backwards (sitting on the ledge).

After you climb this section, you will come to the first overlook of North/South Lake. It looks good, but the best views are from North Point and North Mtn Ledge.

The picture on the left is a difficult ledge to climb. It is just below North Point. It is a 2 section ledge. You can skip the first ledge by walking around the left side of the picture. This is the way the trail used to go many years ago.

The second ledge is more difficult. Again, you need to climb this ledge backwards (sitting on the ledge, and then turning around). As soon as you climb up this last section, you will be on North Point. It is important to know that this is North Point, and NOT North Mountain Ledge. Some people stop here believing that this is the end of the hike. It isn't.

The picture on the LEFT is the view from North Point. It is at mile post 2.39. The picture only shows some of the view. You actually get a spectacular view of the Hudson Valley, including the Hudson River. From this point, you can see five states on a clear day.

This ledge can get quite crowded on a nice summer weekend.

The picture on the LEFT shows the trail marker where the trail continues along the Escarpment. It is on top of North Point. The path can be difficult to follow. The section between North Point and North Mtn Ledge the trail is marked with blue paint spots and plastic DEC trail markers. You have to observe the trail carefully. It is easy to walk off the trail in this section.

The picture on the LEFT is Pocket Hole Ledge. It is at mile post 2.54. There is a large rock on the ledge. We stood on top of this rock to get this picture. It is half way between North Point and North Mtn Ledge. The mountains in the background of the picture are (from right-to-left) is Acra Point, Dutcher Notch, Blackhead Mtn, Blackdome Mtn, and Thomas Cole. On the very left you can see Stoppel Point. This is where we are headed.

The picture on the LEFT is North Mountain Ledge. It is at mile post 2.64. It has spectacular views of North/South Lake, Kaaterskill High Peak, and the Hudson Valley. From North Point to Stoppel Point there are a lot of coyotes. If you hike early in the morning or late in the afternoon, you might encounter one.

The top of North Mtn is very large in area. If you hike further up the trail, you can then leave the trail and follow the ledge for more views. After you are done on the top of North Mountain reverse course.

When you get the Trail Junction #1 at mile post 3.78 continue STRAIGHT instead of turning right. Go down below the Ledge Falls, and walk below the falls until you reach Trail Junction #2.

On the RIGHT is Trail Junction #2 (Mile Post 3.82 - 200' from Trail Junction #1). Go RIGHT down the trail.

Part way down, you will cross the stream. If the water is high, don't cross the stream. Bushwack down the hill next to the stream. When you approach Ashley Falls, you will come back to the trail again. Ashley Falls is at mile post 4.31.

NOTE: Bears walk across the top of Ashley Falls, so keep your eyes open for them when approaching the top of Ashely Falls.

The picture on the LEFT is Trail Junction at the bottom of the Ashley Falls (mile post 4.28). After a very short walk you will be at the bottom of Ashley Falls (mile post 4.31). Picture is on the RIGHT.

At the end of trail you will come to North Lake Road. The picture on the LEFT is the trail marker. This is mile post 4.56. Take a RIGHT and walk up the road (westward).

When you come to the DEC booths, follow the grass path under the power lines. Then you will come to Scutt Road at mile post 5.82. Then take a LEFT down Scutt Road to end the hike at the DEC parking lot at 5.90 miles.

S E C T I O N S

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