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DISTANCE: 7.5 miles TYPE: Out and back TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN: 1,965 feet MAXIMUM ELEVATION: 3,090 feet DIFFICULTY: Moderate HIKING TIME: 4 hours |
This uncrowded hike offers a journey to one of the southernmost viewpoints in the eastern Catskills, overlooking the Ashokan Reservoir just to the east. While an overgrown summit has reduced the potency of the views available from Ashokan High Point, hiking in the late fall or winter still offers a unique, challenging day hike.
GETTING THERE
Take Exit 19 (Kingston) from the New York State Thruway to NY-28 West. Follow NY-28 West for 16 miles. In Boiceville, turn left onto NY-28A/New York City Road and continue another 3 miles. At Peekamoose Road/County Route 42, turn right and drive 4 miles until you arrive at the Kanape Brook parking lot on the right.
GPS SHORTCUT
Typing “Ashokan High Point” into Google Maps will navigate you to a trailhead that is no longer in use—and, in fact, would involve trespassing on private land. Instead, direct your GPS to navigate you to the town of West Shokan and follow the above instructions from there.
THE TRAIL
From the parking area on Peekamoose Road, walk down the road for a short distance to reach the trailhead, indicated by a red trail marker. After only about 100 feet, you will cross a wooden bridge over the Kanape Brook. Shortly after crossing the bridge, sign in at the trail register.
Continue to follow the red blazes as the trail begins with a gentle incline, shadowing the path of the brook. Eventually the ascent begins to steepen, and you will pass stone walls lining the old woods road. At 1.5 miles into the hike, you will hike through mountain laurels before crossing over a second footbridge.
After several stream crossings, the trail veers away from the brook and arrives at a trail junction around the 2.75-mile mark. The trail continuing straight, in a southerly direction, leads to private property and should not be entered. Turn left to leave the woods road and continue up a footpath. Very shortly thereafter, the trail splits once again. Here, the trail to the left will lead up the north loop, a longer route, while the trail to the right will take a shorter, steeper ascent to the summit of the High Point. You can choose to take the south loop trail up and back for a significantly shorter hike, or you can complete a circuit by ascending one trail and descending by another. For this hike, you will be taking the south loop for a there-and-back route. Take the trail to the right, and the path will begin to climb steeply. Ignore unmaintained side trails branching off to the right as you ascend 1,000 feet over the next mile.
After a steep ascent up rocks, the trail will level out, as if the summit is near, before picking up once again. Stone steps have been constructed in spots to help hikers along their way.
At 3.75 miles, you will arrive at the summit of Ashokan High Point. Graffiti dating back as far as the 1800s can still be found scattered around the rocks. To the right are views of Rondout Valley and the Shawangunk Ridge, though unfortunately the views from the summit have become slightly overgrown over the years. Do not expect an expansive vista—the views here are best in cooler months, when the leaves are down.
Continue through a series of fields where mountaintop homes once stood. Blueberry bushes can be found scattered around the summit as well. You will come to a camping area with a large fire ring and stone chairs.
THE SERENE SUMMIT OF ASHOKAN HIGH POINT
From here, you can explore the various side trails around the summit, or, alternatively, continue on the red blazes to follow the longer north loop trail for a longer return down the mountain. The north loop trail is less commonly hiked and more difficult to follow in spots; it is recommended that you simply retrace your steps and return to the parking area following your original route.
