Hike Hunter Mountain via Becker Hollow Trail
4.4 Miles
2210 Feet
Skiing, Snowshoeing, Hiking
Beginner
Year Round
Out-and-Back
Hike with panoramic views of surrounding mountains including the Hudson Valley, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and if you're lucky, views of southwestern Vermont from the tower.
There are multiple approaches to Hunter Mountain but this is the shortest. From the parking lot, follow the blue trail disks shortly entering a hardwood forest. At approximately 0.3 miles, you will cross over a brook on a footbridge. You will then pass a three-tiered cascade and a 50 foot concrete dam. At 1.8 miles you will reach a sign letting you know, you are at 3500 feet. Shortly after you will reach a junction. Though you can choose to continue following the blue trail you can also follow the yellow Becker Hollow Connector trail which leads you to the fire tower.
Hunter Mountain is the second highest Catskill Mountain standing at 4040 feet. Hunter is part of the Catskill 3500 Club, Northeast 111 and Fire Tower Challenge.
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations.
Nearby Lodging
Reviews
Overall rating:
Winter Ascent
Did this in late January with my son and his two friends. At the trailhead it was 42 degrees, clear, and no wind. As we ascended we ran into one of the Catskills famous and dangerous microclimates. Half way up and it was 20 degrees, 35 mph steady winds and snowing very hard, creating whiteout conditions. I thought that the kids wouldn't make it and they would die on that mountain. We made it to the fire tower and back. Everyone was so exhausted that I was the only one who could stumble back to the car. No one said a word a word on the way back. To this day I don't think any of the kids parents realized how close their children came to death.
