If you’ve hiked the Catskills in the past decade, you’ve seen the changes that have come with the increase in outdoor recreation, especially since COVID…
The parking lot was full before sunrise. Cars drive on narrow roads. The once quiet summit now has a steady flow of people. Our trails are widening, weaving and eroding. The pressure is constant and increasing.
Since I started hiking in 2018, the transformation has been noticeable. Even the summit of the Rockies—one of the most inaccessible peaks in the Catskills because there are no marked trails—has been radically altered by increased foot traffic, giving rise to an entire network of unofficial trails.
Now, for the first time, New York state is seriously considering limiting the number of people who can visit some of the most popular hiking areas in the Catskills and Adirondacks.
Here’s what’s being proposed, and how it could affect us all…
Proposed content
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has released two major reports focusing on growing visitation in the following areas:
- Adirondack High Peaks Wilderness
- Catskill Lilac Region of the Catskills
These reports have not yet led to policy. They did make recommendations, some of which were important.
In the Adirondacks (briefly)
- Daily visitor caps at major trailheads
- About 400 people a day in Adirondack Loj and South Meadows
- About 240 people a day Cascade Mountains
- Possible future licensing systems
In the Catskills (bigger local story)
The highlight is Caterskill Lilac, home to Caterskill Falls.
- Current reality:
- Approximately 860 visitors on summer weekdays
- Weekends and holidays ~1,850
- On peak days there can be around 3,000 people
- Recommended capacity:
To close this gap, the report recommends:
- Peak season reservation system
- Timing input window
- Entry point for staffing
- Parking and access changes, including restricted curbside access
Now, we can all show up and hike. If implemented, these changes would be fundamental shifts.
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Why does this happen?
This didn’t happen out of nowhere. This is a response to a problem that has been going on for years.
“We have been calling for a comprehensive, data-driven visitor usage management plan for Kaaterskill Clove for many years and this report is a significant step in that direction.” Jeff Senterman saysExecutive Director, Catskill Center.
Safety
katerskill falls And Lilac has become one of the most dangerous hiking areas in the Catskill Mountains.
- On-street parking along Route 23A poses real dangers
- Many visitors arrive unprepared for the steep terrain and exposure
- There have been more than 100 rescues in the area over the past decade
- Various death toll Since 2015
This is not a theoretical risk. This is real and ongoing.
environmental damage
The land is taking a beating. I saw this happen.
- Trails are being eroded and widened
- Vegetation was trampled
- Informal paths are spreading
- Sensitive habitats, including those used by mountain birds, under pressure
These changes are slow but cumulative. And they are difficult to reverse.
experience itself
This one is harder to quantify, but no less true. Most people don’t go to Caterskill Falls expecting to share it with hundreds or thousands of other people. However, this happens quite often.
The report found that once a certain number of people are seen, tourists begin to feel crowded. The feeling of being in a natural place begins to disappear.
At some point it stops feeling like a hike and starts feeling like a communal event.
The Big Issue: Restrictions vs. Access
This is where things get complicated.
Reason for restriction
- Protect resources before damage becomes permanent
- Reduce dangerous overcrowding
- Improve overall experience
- Proven models at places like Peekamoose Blue Hole
From this perspective, limitations are not limitations. They are about preservation.
Reasons for objection
- Public lands should remain free for use
- Reservation systems add friction and exclude spontaneity
- Many tourists plan to travel on the same day
- Execution can be messy, especially with multiple entry points
- The local economy relies on a steady flow of tourists
There is a broader concern. Once a license is introduced, it feels like a line has been crossed.
my opinion
I have no problem with restrictions. Not because I want to reduce headcount, but because I’ve observed what happens when the speed of usage exceeds the speed of management.
The Catskills are not “loved to death” in some abstract way. They are being used a lot, and in very specific places, that use starts to break things.
Catskill Falls is the most obvious example, but it’s not the only one. so-called jungle mountains— Friday, balsam cap, Loki, Lonely ——Now it has become a serious herd.
At the same time, restrictions alone are not enough. If the country wants to restrict access, it also needs to think wider and respond faster.
- Better infrastructure. Smarter parking, safer entry and exit points, hardened paths in place
- Faster research and implementation. Some of them have been studied for years. Actions should not lag too far behind reality
- There are more paths in the right places. Especially for the heavily trafficked jungle peaks of the Catskill 3500 Range. If people are going, give them one lasting route rather than having a dozen herd paths develop
Currently, we react late rather than plan ahead.
what happens next
Nothing will change immediately.
This is the input stage. A decision will be made later.
What this might mean for your hiking trip
If these recommendations go forward, a few things may change:
- You may need to make an appointment to visit katerskill falls during peak season
- Spontaneous travel in the most popular locations may become more difficult
- Parking chaos could be reduced
- Crowds at peak destinations may be significantly smaller
For many hikers, especially those who value a quiet experience, this last point is important.
The bigger picture
The popularity of the Catskills has not diminished. Every year more people discover these mountains. This is a good thing. But it also means that old models have to change. Now, we can show up, park wherever we can, and hike wherever we want. But this cannot scale forever.
The question is not whether people will keep coming. They will.
The question is how do we make sure these places can handle our foot traffic and still feel like the place we came to in the first place.
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