New York City: Hunter Mountain Loop
This 12.2-mile loop rambles through some of the wildest hardwood forest in the northeast and climbs three rugged peaks taller than 3,500 feet in Catskill Forest Preserve.
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Trail Facts
- Distance: 16.8
Waypoints
HML001
Location: 42.1841316, -74.2718201
Turn SE from Diamond Notch trailhead
HML002
Location: 42.1812515, -74.2678452
Turn L onto blue trail
HML003
Location: 42.1753044, -74.2577286
Bear L onto red trail; Diamond Notch looms in the south
HML004
Location: 42.1654396, -74.2310333
Devils Acre Lean-To; ditch heavy pack and bushwhack SW to Southwest Hunter, an unnamed peak on USGS maps
HML005
Location: 42.1645279, -74.2336731
Big rock marks route
HML006
Location: 42.1624413, -74.2435837
Sign register on wooded 3,740-foot summit; backtrack to lean-to
HML007
Location: 42.1653862, -74.2300797
Bear L onto Hunter Mountain Trail
HML008
Location: 42.1749268, -74.2288742
Stay straight on yellow trail
HML009
Location: 42.178112, -74.2300797
Fire tower on Hunter Mtn. (4,040 ft.), the second tallest Catskills peak
HML010
Location: 42.1886978, -74.2373428
Go straight onto blue trail, dropping down to Hunter Brook
HML011
Location: 42.1859283, -74.2716446
Turn R to start off-trail route to Rusk Mountain
HML012
Location: 42.1898155, -74.2733307
Giant rock wall; stay left of Ox Hollow
HML013
Location: 42.2007904, -74.2768478
Nice views from Rusk Mountain (3,680 ft.); backtrack to waypoint 11, then head S .3 miles to complete loop @ car
