Mountains in New York

1. Sugarloaf

Located in Greene County, along the range and trail known as the Devil’s Path, Sugarloaf is one of several mountains of the same name. The mountain’s summit reaches 3,800 feet in elevation at the top, and there are two approaches – the Pecoy Notch Trail and the Mink Hollow Trail – that hikers can choose from.

Both of these options are difficult hikes that involve some class 2 hiking, with an elevation gain of over 2,000 feet. Sugarloaf is a beautiful hike with some unique views, including an old stone quarry in which hikers can find big stone chairs. Camping is permitted at the Mink Hollow Lean-To or the Roaring Brook Trailhead. Sugarloaf Map

2. West Kill

West Kill Mountain reaches an impressive 3,880 feet at its summit, making it number six in the list of tallest Catskill 3500-ers.

Although the summit does not have a spectacular view, hikers can see from the trail views of the Blackhead Range, the central high peaks, the Shawangunks, and the Hudson River. Several viewpoints, including Buck Ridge Lookout, just east of the summit, offer these vistas.

Westkill Mountain is along the 25-mile Devil’s Path at its westernmost point, and is considered the easiest peak along this trail.

The approaches to Westkill's summit are accessible via the Devil’s Path Trailhead as well as the Diamond Notch Trailheads.

3. Blackhead Mountain

Blackhead Mountain ties for fourth-highest peak in the Catskill Mountains, with a summit of 3,940 feet in elevation.

Its summit is the highest part of the Escarpment Trail, a historic trail in the Catskills that was one of the very first marked hiking trails in American history.

Although the summit of Blackhead Mountain is viewless, there are several small outcroppings near the top that offer spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and ranges.

The mountain is accessible by two trailheads -– Big Hollow Trail and Barnum Road -– which each offer various levels of distance and difficulty for hikers. Camping is permitted in the Batavia Kill Lean-To as well as in the backcountry, so long as campers stay at least 150 feet from the trail. Blackhead Map

4. Pyramid Peak

Pyramid Peak is technically not a mountain, as it does not fulfill the criteria of being at least 0.75 miles from the next highest peak or have 300 feet of prominence on all sides.

But although it is a subpeak of its neighbor, Gothics Mountain, Pyramid Peak contains some of the best views in the Adirondacks. Pyramid Peak reaches 4,515 feet elevation at the top, and is only a 0.3 mile hike from the summit of Gothics Peak, via the Pyramid-Gothics Trail.

Most hikes of Pyramid Peak will be overnight excursions, and the two main trailheads that can be used to approach the summit are St Huberts and The Garden.

Campers in the High Peaks Area should be aware of all restrictions and permits necessary, and are required to travel with a bear canister, as bears are prevalent in the area.

5. Breakneck Ridge

Breakneck Ridge can be quite popular in the lower areas of the trail, but as hikers ascend higher and higher, they will soon find themselves in much more solitude, and will quickly learn how the ridge gets its name.

Breakneck Ridge, located in the Hudson Highlands Area, is mostly comprised of rocky ledges and outcroppings, which were manmade when the stone was quarried for buildings like the Albany State Capitol and the Brooklyn Bridge.

The climb itself can be very difficult, but the trail to the summit of Breakneck Ridge is quite a short one, and the views of Mount Taurus and Storm King from the top of Breakneck Ridge are quite rewarding.

6. Crane Mountain

From blueberry picking to relaxing by the pond, Crane Mountain offers many options for hikers to have a fun and unique hike up one of its steep sides.

The summit of Crane Mountain offers some gorgeous views, and the area is great for camping, with a lovely pond that is stocked annually with fish.

There are several options for hiking to the summit of Crane Mountain, from a short (1.4 miles) but steep hike that includes a scramble up rock fields and a climb up a ladder, or the Putnam Trail that leads directly past the pond and several natural caves, Crane Mountain is full of potential for any number of experiences.

7. Cornell

Cornell Mountain (3,860 feet) comes in at number eight on the list of tallest mountains in the Catskills, and is a very popular hike.

Cornell Mountain is located between two other peaks, Wittenberg and Slide, and although it offers spectacular views of both of these mountains, the view from the summit is inferior to what one might find on the others.

These three mountains are close enough together that many hikers choose to summit two of them or even all three in one go. The trail for Cornell, as well as for all three mountains, follows the Burroughs Range Trail, which is also known as the Wittenberg-Cornell-Slide Trail, and extends for 9.75 miles, or 14 miles on a loop hike. Cornell Mountain Map

8. Storm King

Located in the Hudson Highlands Area, Storm King was named by 19th century writer Nathaniel Parker Willis, who wrote of a tall mountain, crowned by clouds, as the foreteller of a storm.

The location was used in the mid-19th century to test artillery, so the presence of unexploded ordinance means that hikers absolutely must stay on the trails at all times.

There is a variety of trails available that lead to the summit, each varying in length and difficulty. Storm King is accessible only via Route 9W North, on which drivers cannot turn around.

If the entrance is missed, visitors must drive into the nearby town of Cornwall-on-Hudson and turn around there. Map

9. Eagle Mountain

Eagle Mountain is a popular hike for those looking to become members of the Catskills 3500 Club, and is located within the Big Indian Wilderness Area, one of the more remote sections of the Catskill Mountains.

From the Pine-Hill West Branch Trail, hikers can approach close to the summit of Eagle Mountain and take a small side path marked by a cairn the rest of the way to the top.

The mountain is quite close to two other Catskill 3500 peaks – Balsam and Big Indian – and many hikers combine their hike at Eagle Mountain with one or both of these other peaks.

The area contains many lean-tos for campers who wish to spend multiple days hiking and exploring the area.

10. Blue Mountain

Blue Mountain allows for a gorgeous bit of hiking in the Adirondacks, with a summit of 3,760 feet and located very close to the Adirondack Museum.

The trail is quite short and easy for beginners, around 2 miles long with an elevation gain of about 1,550 feet, making it quite a popular hike.

Because the trail is so heavily used, it is very eroded in places and hikers should exercise caution when hiking Bear Mountain in wet weather.

The main trailhead for Blue Mountain is about a mile north of Blue Mountain Lake, with a large parking lot just off of Route 30/28N. Backcountry camping is permitted on Blue Mountain, so long as it is at least 150 feet away from the trail.

Although it is not required on Blue Mountain, campers are still encouraged to use bear canisters in the area. Blue Mountain Map