Seven trails, from a lakeside mile to the Devil's Path

The Catskills begin about five minutes west of the house, and the Hudson is a few minutes east. Here’s the short list we hand to guests — easy to hard, with drive times from the door.

Close to home

Saugerties Lighthouse Trail — about a mile out-and-back through the Ruth Reynolds Glunt Nature Preserve, on trails and boardwalks that end with a view across the Hudson to the 1869 lighthouse. Easy; eight minutes away.

Esopus Bend Nature Preserve — walkable from the house, though you may as well drive the four minutes. Quiet trails along the Esopus mill-pond, some dog-friendly. Park on Kalina or Sterley.

Into the mountains

Kaaterskill Falls — beautifully maintained trails to one of the most photographed waterfalls in the East. Park in the upper lot (GPS the Laurel House trailhead) and come early; it fills up. Twenty-five minutes.

Hunter Mountain — prefer downhill? Take the lift to the top and walk down the ski runs (steeper in summer than they look in winter). Wildlife is possible — we once watched a black bear cross the road. Thirty minutes.

Black Dome — one of the highest and most prominent peaks in the Catskills. Seven miles out-and-back with about 2,300 feet of gain and long ridgeline views. Strenuous; trailhead twenty minutes out.

Newman’s Ledge & Artist’s Rock — short out-and-backs, or a seven-mile loop. Modest climbing but real exposure — Newman’s Ledge has a 500-foot drop, so mind small hands. Twenty-five minutes.

For the truly committed

The Devil’s Path — five summits, twenty-four miles, nine thousand feet of climbing and nine thousand back down. It has its own Wikipedia page. You don’t have to do it in a day — but surely you want to try?

We keep a daypack and trail maps by the door. Ask, and they’re yours for the day — and please tell us how the Devil’s Path went.

Where: Saugerties & the Catskills