OVERVIEW
	Type of Trail:	100% DEC Trails
	Special Info:	This hike requires 2 cars!
	Distance - Route #1:	5.05 from parking lot at South Lake dam to Palenville Parking Lot.
	Distance - Route #2:	5.58 from parking lot on Scutt Road to Palenville Parking Lot.
	Time:	3.5 hours round trip (hiking time)
	Elevation:	2,466'
	Elevation Loss:	1,366' loss from Laurel House parking lot to Palenville parking lot
	Best Time to Hike:	When the leaves are not on the trees
	Difficulty:	Easy
	DEC Trail Map:	DEC Kaaterskill Wild Forest Map (free)
	Digital Mapper:	Topo      Terrain      Satellite
	Access Methods:	Foot & Snowshoe

	Directions to HARDING ROAD Parking Area
	Harding Road Parking Area WGS84 (DEC): 42.176236,-74.030495 - Elevation is about 680' feet
	Harding Road Parking Area Deg/Min/Sec: N42 10 34, W74 01 49 - Elevation is about 680' feet
	Harding Road Parking Area GPS: N 42 10.574 W 74 01.830 - Elevation is about 680' feet
	Harding Road Parking Area UTM: 18N 580071 4669799 - Elevation is about 680' feet
	Harding Road Parking Area (Google Maps)
	: Enter "42.176236,-74.030495" in the Maps Search Box
	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 on Route 23.
	Take a LEFT onto Rt 32 (McDonalds on corner).
	Go approximately 7.7 miles on Route 32.
	Take RIGHT onto Rt 23A.
	Go approximately 2.6 miles on Rt 23A .
	Take a Right into the DEC Harding Road Parking Area in Palenville
	Leave a car here, and proceed with 2nd car to North-South Lake (directions below)

	DIRECTIONS TO NORTH-SOUTH LAKE
	Laurel House Road Parking Lot WGS84 (DEC): 42.19575, -74.063433 - Elevation is approximately 2,081 feet
	Laurel House Road Parking Lot Deg/Min/Sec: N42 11 44, W74 03 48 - Elevation is approximately 2,081 feet
	Laurel House Road Parking Lot GPS: N 42 11.745, W 74 03.806 - Elevation is approximately 2,081 feet
	Laurel House Road Parking Lot UTM: 18N 577326 4671935 - Elevation is approximately 2,081 feet
	Google Maps: Laurel House Parking Area (Haines Falls, NY)
	: Enter "42.19575,-74.063433" in the Maps Search Box
	Scutt Road Parking Lot WGS84 (DEC): 42.200817 -74.058417 - Elevation is approximately 2,240 feet
	Scutt Road Parking Lot Deg/Min/Sec: N42 12 02 W74 03 30 - Elevation is approximately 2,240 feet
	Scutt Road Parking Lot GPS: N 42 12.049 W 74 03.505 - Elevation is approximately 2,240 feet
	Scutt Road Parking Lot UTM: 18N 577734 4672502 - Elevation is approximately 2,240 feet
	Google Maps: Scutt Road Parking Area (Haines Falls, NY)
	: Enter "42.200817,-74.058417" in the Maps Search Box
	South Lake Parking Lot WGS84 (DEC): 42.196467, -74.0511 - Elevation is approximately 2,128 feet
	South Lake Parking Lot Deg/Min/Sec: N42 11 47, W74 03 03 - Elevation is approximately 2,128 feet
	South Lake Parking Lot GPS: N 42 11.788, W 74 03.066 - Elevation is approximately 2,128 feet
	South Lake Parking Lot UTM: 18N 578344, 4672026 - Elevation is approximately 2,128 feet
	South Lake Parking Area (Haines Falls, NY) (Google Maps)
	: Enter "42.196467,-74.0511" in the Maps Search Box
	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 approximately 7.4 miles to the intersection of Rt 23a and North Lake Road.
	Take a RIGHT onto North Lake Road (DEC sign on corner of road).
	Go approximately 1.7 miles to Laurel House Road.
	Take a RIGHT onto Laurel House Road
	Go approximately 0.4 miles to Laurel House Road Parking Area.
	Do NOT park on the side of the road. Your car will be TOWED if you do.
	NOTE: if the parking area on Laurel House Road is full, then return back to North Lake Road.     NOTE: Take right onto North Lake Road - Go 0.4 miles.     NOTE: Take a RIGHT onto Scutt Road. Parking is near the top of the road.
	Do NOT park on the side of the road. Your car will be TOWED if you do.

MILEAGE CHART
	Mile Point	Mileage	Altitude	Notes
	0.00	0.00	2,081'	DEC Parking Area - At the end of Laurel House Road. (If full use the DEC Parking Area at the top of Scutt Road.)
	0.16	0.16	2,025'	Trail Junction - Turn LEFT and go over bridge (Lake Creek).
	0.07	0.23	2,017'	Trail Junction - Go LEFT after going over the bridge (Walk parallel to Lake Creek.)
	0.16	0.39	2,090'	Trail Junction (4-way intersection) - Go RIGHT afer Register box (Left side of trail). (After going right, walk up the hill.)
	0.25	0.64	2,214'	At the Trail Junction - Take a RIGHT onto the Old Hotel Road
	0.07	0.71	2,209'	Horse loading station and backcountry campground - Continue STRAIGHT.
	0.20	0.91	2,216'	Trail Junction - Short-Cut Trail to Sunset Ledge - Continue STRAIGHT.
	0.89	1.80	2,198'	Trail Junction - Turn RIGHT onto the Southwestern part of the Escarpment Trail.
	0.65	2.45	2,106'	Between 2.35 and 2.45 miles you will see multiple view point. At 2.45 miles is Inspiration Point
	0.13	2.58	2,050'	Sunset Ledge
	0.14	2.82	2,120'	Trail Junction - On the right is the Short-Cut Trail - Continue STRAIGHT
	0.29	3.11	1,898'	Council's Bluff (The first small ledge isn't it - The large ledge is Council's Bluff.
	0.08	3.19	1,890'	Council's Bluff - Where Mohawk Indians performed ceremonies prior to year 1650
	0.09	3.28	1,836'	Layman's Monument
	0.38	3.66	2,073'	Trail Junction - Left will take you to the bottom of Kaaterskill Falls (250' elevation drop) - Continue STRAIGHT
	0.15	3.81	2,017'	Trail Junction - Go LEFT over the bridge - Follow path back to the Laurel House Parking Area
	0.23	4.04	2,081'	DEC Parking Area - Laurel House Road

Hike the Harding Trail

This is the LAUREL HOUSE ROAD DEC PARKING AREA. If this Parking Area is full, do NOT park on the side of the road. The Town of Hunter WILL tow your car! Instead, drive back to North Lake Road. Take a RIGHT onto North Lake Road. Drive about 1/4 mile. Take a RIGHT onto Scutt Road. There is another DEC Parking Area near the top of Scutt Road. The Trail Head starts at the bottom middle of the Parking Area. Skip over the next two section to start your hike. Do not leave trash in the Parking Area or outhouses!

This is the SCUTT ROAD DEC PARKING AREA. The picture shows the upper part of the Scutt Road Parking Area. There is also a lower Scutt Parking Area. There is an outhouse located in the lower lot. To get to the trail head you need to walk to the lower lot. Across the street to the entrance to the Scutt Road Parking Area is the Trail Head. Look for the BLUE Trail Marker across the street. Walk down the trail 0.50 miles (1/2 mile) until you reach the DEC Registration Box and 4-way intersection. Skip down a few section to start at the 4-WAY INTERSECTION. Do not leave trash in the Parking Area or outhouses!

This is the SOUTH LAKE PARKING AREA inside the North-South Lake Campgrounds. It is located by the South Lake outflow pipe on the western side of the campgrounds. After parking your car, walk on the paved road. In the direction that goes OVER the overflow pipe (southerly direction). Walk on the paved road 0.12 miles (600 feet). On the right side of the paved road you will see a path with a wooden bar across the path. That is the Cross-Country Ski Trail. You want to take a RIGHT and Walk down the cross country ski trail 0.38 miles until you come to the 4-way intersection. At the 4-way intersection, take a LEFT and hike up the hill. Look at the map to get yourself oriented. Skip down a few section to start at the 4-WAY INTERSECTION. Do not leave trash in the Parking Area or outhouses!

This is the Trailhead from the Laurel House Parking Area. It is located in the middle of the bottom parking lot.	The hike starts off in a beautiful conifer forest on the perfectly maintained trail.

After a short distance of a little less then 2/10 of a mile, you will come to the Trail Junction for the viewing platform for Kaaterskill Falls. You want to go STRAIGHT.	If you decide to visit Kaaterskill Falls, please review the rules for the Kaaterskill Falls Region.

After 0.16 miles (600 feet) you will come to this Y-Trail Junction. You want to go LEFT and go over the steel bridge. If you decided to take a short side trip to view Kaaterskill Falls, take a Right to the view platform to view Kaaterskill Falls (0.14 miles one-way)

On your left is the bridge that goes over Lake Creek. You want to walk across the bridge	On your right you can see a trail junction just after you leave the bridge.

At the trail junction, you want to go LEFT. The trail on the right will take you to the bottom of Kaaterskill Falls or the Southern Escarpment Trail. Some people might want to take an alternate route by taking the Southern Escarpment Trail. Note: if you have a fear of heights, do not take the Southern Escarpment Trail!

THIS IS THE 4-WAY INTERSECTION On your left is the Hike Registration Box. If you parked in the Laurel House Road Parking area, GO RIGHT. If you are parked in from the Scutt Parking Area, you want to go STRAIGHT. If you parked at the South Lake, you want to GO LEFT.

After hiking uphill for a 1/4 mile, you will come to this trail junction. You want to go RIGHT onto the old Hotel Road. Straight will take you to the Kaaterskill Hotel Ruins and Boulder Rock.

This is the sign at the Trail Junction for the horse trail to Palenville Overlook.	Shortly after you get on the Old Hotel Road, you will see a horse loading platform. Just after the platform is a trail leads to a backcountry camp site and outhouse. Important Note: Horses have the right of way in the forest. Horses are only allowed on certain marked trails.

This is the camp site behind the horse loading platform. There is also an outhouse there. This camp site can accommodate a couple small tents. Make sure you put out your campfire before you leave. Do not leave it unattended.

This Trail Junction is about 1/4 mile down the Old Hotel Road. You want to continue STRAIGHT. This is a Short-Cut Path to the middle of the Southern Escarpment.

After traveling 1.80 miles down the Old Hotel Road, you will come to this Trail Junction. You want to continue STRAIGHT. here. Going straight will take you to Palenville Overlook and the Harding Trail.

After a short distance you will come to another Trail Junction. You want to continue STRAIGHT. Left will take you to the Kaaterskill Hotel Ruins and Boulder Rock	This is a picture of the trail you want to take. There are two Trail Markers on the trees. There should be a RED Trail Marker along with the Horse Trail Markers (on birch tree in this picture)

After a short distance, you will come to a new trail junction. You want to take a RIGHT onto the Harding Road Trail. This will take you down the old Harding Road Trail. Take a left (straight) will take you to Palenville Overlook.	This is the view at the beginning of the Harding Road Trail.

Typical view of the trail. Lots of straight sections with nice views over the valley when the leaves are not on the trees.	Limited View over the Kaaterskill Clove and the Hudson Valley from the upper part of the trail.

A little further down the Harding Road Trail	About half way down the Harding Road Trail. You will start to enter a region with conifer trees. You will also be able to see Indian Head from this location.

As soon as you round the corner you will be able to see Indian Head towering above you. In the summer it is much harder to see. But, when the leaves are not on the tree you can see Indian Head quite well.	This is one of the smaller stream crossing on the Harding Road Trail. Parts of the road have been washed away, but you should not have a problem crossing it. During high water, you may not be able to cross this stream. Do not take un-necessary risk if the water is too high.

At this point you arrived at the only view point on the Harding Road Trail. The fire place is also located here.	Fireplace at one of the good view points over the Kaaterskill Clove. You can also hear the waterfalls below and see Rt 23a.

View Point from the Harding Road Trail. This view point is right by the fireplace.

A little further down the Harding Road Trail before the DEC registration Box for the Harding Road Trail.	This the the DEC Registration Box for the Harding Road Trail. Even if you have finishing your hike it is always good to register for your hike. The DEC uses the number of hikers using the trail to appropriate funds for trail maintenance.

After you pass the DEC Registration Box, there are two trails off to the left. Both trail junctions will take you to the White Road Parking Area. If you parked at the Harding Road Parking Area, continue past both trail junctions.	This is the gate near the DEC Harding Road Trail Trailhead.

This is the Harding Road Parking Area. This is the end of your hike. Hope you enjoyed this hike.

Links and References:

New York State DEC North/South Lake

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