Slide Mountain (NY) *7/25/2026*

Slide Mountain

Location: Shandaken, New York
Mileage: 6.4 Miles
Elevation Gain: 1709 Feet
Trails Used: Slide-Wittenberg-Cornell Trail (Burroughs Range Trail), Curtis-Ormsbee Trail, Phoenicia East Branch Trail
Views: Several Ledges below the Slide Mountain Summit
Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking Lists: Catskill 3500

Slide Mountain is one of the few peaks in the Catskills we still wanted to tackle, being one of only two four-thousand-footers in the range. Attempting the full Catskill 3500 isn’t feasible for us right now, mostly because of the long drives, the mileage to get there, and the many other hikes we’re planning this year in New Hampshire and the Adirondacks.

We decided on Friday to get a hotel room in New York closer to Slide Mountain, as it usually takes us about 4.5 to 5 hours normally to get to the Catskills. So we left New Hampshire and made the drive to East Greenbush, NY to stay the night. We awoke early for the roughly 1.5-hour drive to the trailhead parking area for Slide Mountain. We geared up and headed up the trail to begin our hike.

The trailhead parking area for Slide Mountain, located off Oliverea Road, is a spacious lot that was completely full when we got back to the car.

Upon entering the Slide Mountain Wilderness, you cross the Neversink River, which was unusually dry today. From here, it’s about 2.8 miles to the summit of Slide Mountain.

The first 0.7 miles of the Slide-Wittenberg-Cornell Trail were pretty steep and rocky before meeting up with the Phoenicia East Branch Trail.

From here, the Slide-Wittenberg-Cornell Trail was steady but never too steep, following an old jeep road once used for the fire tower that stood atop Slide Mountain.

At the junction of the Phoenicia East Branch Trail and the Slide-Wittenberg-Cornell Trail, we would head toward the summit of Slide Mountain.

The DEC sign marks the 3,500-foot elevation, where camping is only allowed above this point during winter. In other seasons, there are about four campsites available in the area.

As we continued along the Slide-Wittenberg-Cornell Trail, the path leveled out, making for a fairly easy walk to the summit of Slide Mountain.

This stretch of the Slide-Wittenberg-Cornell Trail was scattered with small white quartz pebbles, something I’ve never seen on any other trail.

Just below the summit of Slide Mountain, two small viewpoints provide modest glimpses of the surrounding scenery.

Slide Mountain’s wooded summit reaches about 4,184 feet, though it hasn’t been officially measured. Future LiDAR data might revise that number. A bit farther along the trail, you’ll find a memorial plaque for John Burroughs, which is why this route is part of the Burroughs Range.

The views from the ledge just below the summit of Slide Mountain are stunning. An old fire tower once stood at the summit, and a few stone blocks now mark its probable location.

There’s no sign at the junction of the Burroughs Range Trail and the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail, but it’s about 0.7 miles from the summit of Slide Mountain.

The Curtis-Ormsbee made for a pleasant descent compared to the rocky trails we climbed. There were two lookout spots, but both lacked views as trees have gradually grown to block them.

This is one of the steepest stretches of the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail. A nearby viewpoint exists, but tree growth has blocked any views during this time of year.

The Curtis-Ormsbee Trail leveled out near an intriguing rock formation, a cleft in the stone with several caves and rugged cliffs.

A primitive campsite is located along the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail, just before it meets the Phoenicia East Branch Trail. Be aware, there’s no water available at this spot.

The memorial monument honors William Curtis and Allan Ormsbee, avid hikers who lost their lives on Mount Washington in New Hampshire on June 30, 1900. This trail was Curtis' favorite way to reach the summit of Slide Mountain.

The Phoenicia East Branch Trail was incredibly muddy, and I could imagine it turning into a river during the rainy season and winter.

The final water crossing on the Phoenicia East Branch Trail marked the start of a 0.7-mile hike down and back to the car.

It was an easy walk back to the car, passing quite a few people heading up while the parking lot was full and spilling into the street. Yet another simple Catskill hike—none we’ve done so far have been particularly tough or long. We’ll likely return someday, but with Slide Mountain, Hunter Mountain, and all the fire towers checked off, there’s not much left we feel we need to tackle for now.

Tremper Mountain (NY) 6/27/2026

Tremper Mountain

Location: Phoenicia, New York
Mileage: 6.4 Miles
Elevation Gain: 1952 Feet
Trails Used: Phoenicia Trail
Views: 360 from Inside the Fire Tower Cab
Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking Lists: Catskill Fire Tower Challenge/Fire Tower Challenge (Adirondack/Catskills)

On Friday night, we made a last-minute decision to head to New York and tackle the final Catskill Fire Tower on our list. Saturday morning, after a long drive to the trailhead parking area, we didn’t start hiking until almost 11 a.m. I was surprised to see so few cars when we arrived, so I squeezed into a spot and we geared up. The temperature was pleasant, though the humidity was high, but manageable thanks to a light breeze. 

Notably, this mountain is one of the few in the Catskills with several timber rattlesnake dens scattered around. These snakes are venomous, so it’s important to keep children close and dogs leashed.

The Catskill Fire Tower Challenge requires you to climb all eight Catskill fire towers between January 1st, 2026, and December 31st, 2026. Tremper Mountain is #7 on the Catskill Fire Tower Challenge and #17 on the Fire Tower Challenge (Adirondacks and Catskills).

The Phoenicia Trail begins just off Ulster County Route 40, with parking available for about 7–8 cars, depending on how they’re parked.

The Phoenicia Trail starts off with a pretty steep climb right after you cross the bridge, and about half a mile in, you’ll reach the old jeep road that leads up to the summit of Tremper Mountain.

The Phoenicia Trail has plenty of switchbacks and some steep, rocky stretches, but it never felt difficult to hike or tricky to navigate.

Along the Phoenicia Trail, there’s a pile of large rocks that looks like a slide but is actually an old bluestone quarry.

Another stretch of the Phoenicia Trail offered a pleasant and easy walk.

The Baldwin Memorial Lean-To sits at around 2,100 feet, with a privy nearby and a spring about an eighth of a mile up the trail. Not much water from the spring today, though.

A glimpse of the Tremper Mountain Fire Tower peeks through the trees. Standing 47 feet tall, it was built in 1917 and served until 1971, before being restored for public use in 2001.

Foundation remains right behind the fire tower on Tremper Mountain, elevation 2730 feet

The views from the fire tower cab on Tremper Mountain are stunning in every direction.

We didn’t spot any timber rattlesnakes during the entire hike, unfortunately. Overall, it was a pleasant trail that was neither too steep nor too flat. We eventually turned around and headed back to the car, passing a few hikers making their way up to the summit.

With the Catskill Fire Tower Challenge now complete, my favorite was probably Bramley Mountain or Hunter Mountain for their easy hikes and great views. My least favorite was definitely Overlook Mountain, which we tackled in winter under miserable conditions with far too many people. It was a nice change of pace from the White Mountains in New Hampshire and the Adirondacks in New York.

Mount Will - Moxie Falls (ME) 6/13/2026

Mount Will 

Location: Bethel, Maine
Mileage: 3.65 Miles
Elevation Gain: 1005 Feet
Trails Used: Mount Will Trail (North and South Loop), Bushwhack
Views: None from Actual Summit, Several Ledges with 180 Degree Views
Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking Lists: None

We took a three-day mini-vacation to Maine to visit Amy’s dad’s camp in Hingham. It wasn’t so much a vacation as a trip to spread some of her brother Paul’s ashes in places he loved to visit and hunt. We decided to take our time driving from New Hampshire into Maine, looking for a hike before heading to the Sterling Inn for the night. Along the way, we stopped a few times for bathroom breaks and to stretch our legs, and during one of these stops, I found a nearby hike that seemed perfect—not too long or difficult, and with great views. Mount Will is located in the Bethel Town Forest.

The trailhead parking kiosk off US Route 2 in Bethel, Maine offers a decent amount of parking for this hike.

At the junction of the Mount Will Trail loop, you can head toward either the South Cliffs or the North Cliffs. We chose the South Cliffs for our ascent.

Along the Mount Will Trail, a local school group has placed interpretive signs. It’s amazing the things you can discover while hiking.

After passing through a logged-out stretch of the Mount Will Trail, the path climbs toward the South Cliffs with a bit of steepness, but the switchbacks make the ascent more manageable.

From the South Cliffs of Mount Will, you can enjoy stunning views of Bethel and the gorgeous mountains that frame it.

The information sign just past the South Cliffs didn’t specify what kind of steps were being counted. I had us at around 4,000 for the hike so far.

The summit of Mount Will, at 1,729 feet, was reached after a short and easy bushwhack, but it was wooded, offering no views.

Several peaks—and a few peeks—come into view as we head north toward the stunning North Cliff lookout.

A vernal pool lies between the South Cliff and North Cliff areas. These seasonal wetlands usually fill with water in the spring and dry up in the summer, providing great habitat for frogs, turtles, and salamanders.

There are more interpretive signs on the North Cliff side of the Mount Will Trail, and I had no idea about the information on either of them.

This sign points the way to the North Cliff viewpoints.

The north cliff offers views stretching northward, of course, though my knowledge of Maine’s peaks is fairly limited.

The descent from the North Cliffs was quick and easy, with a few switchbacks guiding the way down the trail. We only came across one other person and their dog during the entire loop. Overall, it was a pleasant hike with decent views and minimal difficulty—a perfect late spring or early summer day out on the trail.

Moxie Falls

Location: Moxie Gore, Maine
Mileage: 1.8 Miles
Elevation Gain: 150 Feet
Trails Used: Moxie Falls Path
Views: Views from boardwalks around the falls
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Hiking Lists: None

After checking into the Sterling Inn for our Saturday night stay, we decided to visit nearby Moxie Falls, one of Maine’s tallest waterfalls, featuring a single drop of about 90 feet, before grabbing some food. The parking lot for the falls, located off Lake Moxie Road, is a decent size and can accommodate several cars. A light breeze kept the bugs away, making the short hike to the falls even more enjoyable.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Most of the trail to Moxie Falls is wide and made of compacted dirt, making it an easy walk with minimal elevation change.

About half a mile down the trail to Moxie Falls, you’ll come across a woods road featuring a welcome sign for the Moxie Falls Scenic Area.

                                                                  

From the sign to Moxie Falls, steps and boardwalks guide you all the way down to the waterfall.

       

                                   

                                                                                                            

Moxie Falls as seen from one of the boardwalk viewing spots.

                                                                          

The view of Moxie Falls from above was stunning. I got as close as I could without risking a fall or hurting myself.

After a quick walk uphill, we made our way back to the car and headed to the Kennebec River Pub and Brewery for a bite to eat before returning to the Inn. It’s always a treat to witness Mother Nature at work and the power of rushing water, and these falls were such a fun stop to visit.