The Catskill Scenic Trail (CST) is one of Delaware County’s
greatest treasures. This 25-mile linear park follows the old Ulster and
Delaware Railroad bed and stretches from Bloomville to Roxbury through some of
the most beautiful country in all of New York State. The near-level gradient
and unpaved surface make it ideal for hikers, walkers and families, as well as
runners, cyclists, cross country skiers and horseback riders. There are
numerous places to access the trail which passes through South Kortright,
Hobart, Stamford and Grand Gorge. Maps and information are available at www.catskillscenictrail.org.
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| The Catskill Scenic Trail is 25 miles of old Ulster and
Delaware Railroad bed that stretches from Bloomville to Roxbury through some of
the most beautiful country in all of New York State. |
In Bloomville (eight miles north of Delhi on Route 10) the
trail begins about a quarter mile east of the intersection of River Street and NYS
Route 10 on the south side of Route 10. There is a pedestrian crossing sign in
the eastbound lane, a Catskill Scenic Trail mile marker, and a small parking
lot. Before getting started, one can glance across Route 10 and see how this is
the point where the railroad diverged from the valley of the Delaware River’s
West Branch on its way to Oneonta; however, this Bloomville-Oneonta section of
the abandoned railroad is not open to the public.
The first section of the trail is a shady and subtle descent
that passes the old Sheffield Farms operation, site of the country’s first milk
pasteurization. The traveler will also notice the first in a series of
trailside benches installed by the Catskill Revitalization Corporation, who
oversees the trail and keeps it in good repair. Occasionally, old stone pillar
mile-markers appear, displaying the distance to Kingston. Soon the trail
separates from Route 10 and enters the pastoral scenery of the Delaware River’s
West Branch Valley. The trail then runs alongside the river and crosses it three
times in the next mile. In the spring the wildflowers in these floodplains are
brilliant, and wildlife abounds. This section also offers superb mountain
vistas as it traverses a series of active farm fields, before reaching South
Kortright and the first road junction at 4.5 miles.
The trail skirts behind the hamlet offering an assortment of
glimpses into yesteryear, including an old rail depot. It then crosses County
Route 18 a second time and bends north with fine views down the valley. At 8.5
miles the trail pulls into Hobart – the Book Village of the Catskills, then
it’s a straight shot through mostly farmland to the village of Stamford. Both
Stamford and Hobart offer places for the traveler to get refreshments. Stamford
marks the halfway point of the trail, which crosses Route 23 on the eastern
edge of the downtown area (small octagonal yellow, blue, and white markers are
located at all intersections).
Leaving Stamford, the trail also leaves the West Branch Valley
and parallels the Mooresville Mountain Range on the eight-mile stretch to Grand
Gorge. (Early on there are connecting trails on the left that lead to the
Headwaters Trails system.) Along this stretch, the traveler will pass lakes,
wetlands, farms, historic barns, and the old South Gilboa Depot. Numerous road
crossings serve as convenient access points. A mile or so west of Grand Gorge
the trail is bisected by NYS Route 23. On the opposite side of the road the
trail continues bends south of the hamlet, and there are some unfinished but easily
passable wooded sections. There’s also a unique section that’s cut through a
mountain with slopes on both sides. The trail crosses NYS Route 30 just south
of the hamlet. At this point (behind Becker’s Tire), the trail can be wet and
the traveler may consider the access point just to the south off Route 30.
Now paralleling the headwaters of the East Branch of the
Delaware, the scenic trail runs alongside several cliffs and gradually descends
as the river widens. The surrounding mountains are generally higher than those
along the West Branch, although the valley is narrower and the road is closer
at hand. Before culminating just north of the hamlet of Roxbury at Hubbells
Corner, the trail ascends a grassy slope next to Route 30. Across the road, the
railroad tracks are still in place, and the Delaware and Ulster Railroad is in
operation from Roxbury to Arkville, May – October. Summing up, the Catskill
Scenic Trail runs 25 miles through two spectacular river valleys, has minimal
elevation change throughout its entire course, offers numerous access points,
and therefore is a convenient attraction for casual recreationists to enjoy the
beauty of Delaware County.
