Views and Wild Azalea on Dry Brook Ridge

At 3460’ in elevation and lying west of the Catskills’ high peaks (summits above 3500’), Dry Brook Ridge is a less frequented and rewarding mountain to visit. There are several approaches to this long ridge, including the Dry Brook Ridge Trail which runs 9.6 miles from the village of Margaretville to the Millbrook Road Parking Area (and another 4 miles to Quaker Clearing in the Beaverkill Valley). Along the way, there are intersections with the German Hollow Trail (a 1.65-mile trail climbing from the east); the Huckleberry Loop Trail, which reaches Hill Road to the west in 2.3 miles; and again the Huckleberry Loop Trail Valley which connects with Ploutz Road in 1.5 miles. All of these trails are shown on the Central Catskills Trails Map (# 142) which is published by the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. It is recommended that hikers obtain this map, which shows the many ‘point-to-point’ and advanced hiking possibilities found in this area.

Near the center of the ridge and near its highest point are a series of ledges that offer westerly views. A good way to reach these ledges (also known as Penguin Rocks) is from the Ploutz Road Parking Area. Ploutz Road is reached by taking the Millbrook Road 6.7 miles from the Pepacton Reservoir. After turning left, proceed just over a mile, passing the farmhouse, until the parking area on the right. At first, the trail ascends through a mature spruce forest, then it passes through some rocky sections before coming to the DBR Trail after a climb of about 1000’. Turning left, the trail moves through an open swampy area and semi-stunted ridgetop forests until the first overlook is reached in about a mile. This is a good place for a break while you take in the view and decide if you would like to continue about three-quarters of a mile to the next major overlook. Each of these overlooks is denoted by a star symbol on the trail map. If you turn around at this second viewpoint the hike is about six miles roundtrip.

There have been two lean-tos adjacent to this 9.6 miles section of the DBR until a few years ago when the German Hollow Lean-to was crushed by trees during a storm. It is still slated for reconstruction, although it may be relocated. The second lean-to is located 1.35 miles from Mill Brook Road, which makes for a convenient “out-and-back” overnight trip or a welcomed shelter if you’re on a longer journey. (Note his lean-to is located near private land and access to the spring shown on the map is limited.) 

The large tracts of wild forest along the ridge make for excellent wildlife habitat, and the ridge is known for its bear and bobcat. In the spring, the ‘Pinkster’ bush, a type of wild azalea, blooms in abundance along the higher, central part of the trail. Although many hikers opt for the 9.6-mile through hike, each of the trailheads offer secluded climbs to the ridge. To reach the trail from Margaretville, turn onto Southside Road from Route 28 (across from Fair Street), go to the top of the hill and turn left; the trailhead will be on your right in a short distance.

Scenic Kelly Hollow Hike on the Border of Delaware and Ulster Counties

One of the great things about hiking in the Catskills is that the drives to get to the trailheads are scenic and relaxing. To reach the Kelly Hollow Trail, you could go to Arkille, turn at Dry Brook Road, and enjoy the Dry Brook Valley; or you could travel along the south side of the Pepacton Reservoir and take Millbrook Road to the trailhead. Better yet, you could make a loop out of it.

The Kelly Hollow Trail itself is a loop, which makes for some good options. In fact, there’s a short loop that’s less than three miles and a longer one that’s four miles. Along the way you’ll encounter a range of interesting places for such a short hike. From the parking area, the trail crosses the small stream, then goes along an old road through a Norway spruce forest. These trees were planted back in the 1930s when the Civilian Conservation Corp was active, and today they make for a unique hiking experience. (You’ll see the sign for the “cut-off” for the shorter loop on your right, which dips down into the shady and rocky ravine before rejoining the big loop again.) Steadily but gradually climbing, the road emerges from the evergreens and eventually hooks westward at a stream crossing. After a slight incline, the trail levels, rounds a ridge, and arrives at the Kelly Hollow Lean-to. The lean-to not only offers overnight accommodations, Catskills style, but it’s next to Beaver Pond, which often lives up to its name due to the presence of tree-gnawing residents. And there are frogs, newts and good bird watching. This spot, some two miles from the parking area, makes for a good family overnight.

The trail then rounds the upslope side of the pond, giving a good feeling of being at the head of the hollow. The trail also happens to be one of few marked cross country ski trails in the Catskills. Up until this point, the trail has been relatively easy for the back country skier, but between the pond and the road this second half of the loop requires more advanced skiing skills. Descending, steeply in places, the trail makes a couple of switchbacks before coming to the junction with the shorter loop. If you take this loop (by turning right) it will rejoin the outer loop and return to the parking area. If you stay left, you will complete the larger loop; however, you will come out at the road about a quarter-mile west of the main parking area (the one with the brown and yellow sign). Not far before the road you will also see an old cemetery just off the trail to your left.

As far as Catskill hiking goes, Kelly Hollow is relatively easy; yet whichever loop you choose, there’s enough elevation gain to break a good sweat and there’s plenty to discover along the way.

[The Kelly Hollow Trailhead is located on the right side of Millbrook Road, just over five miles from the intersection of Millbrook Road and the NYC Board of Water Supply Road along the south side of the Pepacton Reservoir. If you’re coming from Arkville, take Dry Brook Road six miles to Millbrook Road, turn right, and go 6.6 miles; the trailhead will be on your left. Although not required, it’s a good idea to have the set of Catskill Trails hiking maps, available at: www.nynjtc.org/product/catskill-trails-map-set]

Climate Changes Makes for an Interesting Winter

It's half over and nothing is normal.  Warm and sunny. Really cold and windy. No snow accumulations that have lasted. What do we offer the intrepid winter traveler if we don't really have snow??  It's a question all our local businesses have been asking.  But one man's trial is another man's treasure - or so the sentiment goes. 

For hikers this winter has been blissful. No deep snow to trek through or snowshoes to hike with. No frostbitten noses and fingers. Wonderful weather that keeps repeating itself.  We've been staying tuned to the Catskill Mountain Club's website for notes on last minute hikes that folks may be organizing.

The cultural organizations that provide programming throughout the winter and shops that stay open during the "shorter" days have been the beneficiaries of easy driving conditions and folks looking for things to do.  Workshops, writing classes, open jams, movies and music - all have an easier time persuading folks to come on out and engage in their activities - as you can see them on our website's events page.

Tubing at Plattekill has been fun too! The mountain can make the snow on the bunny hill and it doesn't need alot for tubing. Saturday night tubing followed by the great bar scene and now elegant dinners with a locavore bent. 

As with everything, winter is what you make of it. We're happy to ski fewer trails and focus on the pure pleasure of skiing.  We're happy to get out and about a little more than usual and a little farther than usual.  Stay tuned to our Facebook page as we all share our favorite things this winter. 

Winter Festival - there will be Ice and Snow no matter what Mother Nature does!!

The Walton Fairgrounds will be transformed into a celebration of winter in true Northeastern style for the 3rd Annual Winter Festival on Saturday, January 21, 2012. 

The event will feature a spectacular ice carving competition, with carvers from the American Culinary Federation and including Delaware County's own SUNY Delhi Ice Carvers competing against one another and Mother Nature. Beautiful forms to local business logos will be carved that day.Competitors will be toting chainsaws, chisels, blowtorches, and other special tools of the trade. Top professional ice carvers will judge the sculptors and crown a champion by day's end.

 

     This one-day, family-oriented festival will also feature a horse-drawn carriage and sleigh exhibition, figure skating demonstration, ice skating, snowmobile races, wood carving competition, and children’s’ winter-related activities. Food vendors will be on-site to make sure everyone has a warm and full belly!

     Registration for the snowmobile races will begin at 8 a.m., and the festival opens at 9 a.m. The Hamden Hill Ridge Riders will collect $5 per person at the gate; half of the funds will be designated for Delaware County flood victims.  This event is sponsored by the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, the Hamden Hill Ridge Riders, the Walton Chamber of Commerce, Mang Insurance Agency and the Watershed Post.

The Winter Festival and ice makes us think about the Hanford Mills Ice Harvest festival coming on its heels on February 4th - so mark that date as well.  There's always winter fun on tap in the Great Western Catskills of Delaware County. Check out another great winter blog we love - Winter In The Catskills!!

The Ladies who Lunch in Stamford!

We heard lots of the same sort of stories from the 4th of July weekend with it's rainy Sunday weather. Folks were determined to get out and about, whether to the Taste of the Catskills event in Delhi, the fireworks in Margaretville, a rainy ride along the Catskill Scenic Trail, or elsewhere.  A delightful group of gals reported in via Betty from the Beaver Spring Lake Campground with this accounting of their day out in Stamford a little later in the week.  This is the kind of laid back charm our village main streets hold for so many..........

Ladies being ladies, a group of my seasonal camping ladies and I like to shop for unique items and are always on the lookout for bargains.  We took the opportunity last Thursday, July 7 to explore a couple of ‘new’ places to us in Stamford; one being a craft store and the other a jewelry and gift shop.  Lunch was also planned.

We first checked out Inspire Me a craft store on Main Street which had opened last September….besides beading and crocheting yarn, gifts and supplies, they have lots of scrap booking and wedding supplies.   After making our purchases, we walked across the street to another interesting store called, ‘Country Chic’ which was tiny, but filled with unique hand-made gifts, bags and jewelry. 

We left our cars parked and walked along the shaded sidewalk to Railroad Avenue to T.P.’s Café where the seven of us enjoyed a variety of soups, salads and sandwiches in their newly renovated dining area. After getting caught up on everybody’s news and happenings over lunch we decided to duck into Cores Thrift Store and of course, found several bargains. 

We headed back to our ‘homes’ at Beaver Spring Lake Campground and managed to do all this shopping within four hours and used less than one gallon of gas.  Now, that’s a real bargain.

Delhi's Outdoor Education Center

We receive email news updates from several of our local businesses.  One I personally look forward to reading every word of are the weekly updates from Good Cheap Food on Main Street in Delhi. Faiga Brussels, the owner, loves Delhi and constantly adds tidbits to her market updates on events and other goings-on in the village and outlaying areas.  I just had to repost her email from yesterday which was dedicated to one of the wonderful recreational assets of Delhi.........

Hello Everyone,

I  wanted to take a moment to remind you about the Outdoor Education Center of SUNY Delhi--a park two miles out of Delhi on the right side of Rte 28 as you head toward Andes. You'll see a wooden sign, and can pull down in to the parking lot.

The park is an old farm that belongs to the college and was turned into a park by Americorps volunteers years ago.

Now is a great time to go. The park is lush, beautiful and perfumed by stands of wild phlox (otherwise known as dame's rocket or its latin  hesperis matronalis, info courtesy of Mermer Blakeslee) and the flowering black lotus trees.

Walk from the parking lot to the little welcome kiosk, and follow the path beyond the kiosk, bearing right until you pass a stone bench. After the bench there is a path on the left leading down to the lower level of the park. When you get to the bottom of the incline, the road will split. Don't worry about getting lost, as all roads eventually converge and will lead you to a path that goes uphill back to the parking lot. But at the bottom, where the path splits, bear right. This route is a little longer, but takes you along the bottom of the hill under a canopy of trees and a lovely stone wall built years ago by  Americorps volunteers, including Delhi's Jane DeWitt who now has her own stone masonry business in town. Keep bearing right. The path  narrows and winds  through ferns, wild phlox and a profusion of buttercups,  across wooden planks and out to the river. Turn left at the river, under a forest of Japanese knotweed, and wonder along the river path. Woods and fields are littered with wild phlox.

There are Adirondack chairs and access points to the river to cool your feet, fish, or let your dog go for a swim.  Eventually you'll come upon a stand of black locusts that are in riotous bloom, covered with white lantern like sweet smelling flowers that drape down over the river. Under the largest of these trees there is a picnic table.  Keep on going, and you'll find a butterfly garden not yet in bloom, but with benches for a rest. Soon there is the first path back up, but just beyond this  you'll see a gate which leads to the labyrinth, which has been mowed recently.

If you continue walking eventually you'll come upon another path up, and further along, after a bog and two stands of wild yellow irises, the path you came down upon will be on your right. The boggy water is home to lots of peepers.

BTW, this stroll takes only ½ hour. Lengthen the walk by trying detours and walking the upper fields near the parking lot. You will usually be the only car in the parking lot.

This place is a piece of heaven. Enjoy.

Cannonsville Recreational Boating - give it a paddle

New York State’s Western Catskills  have long been a place for those who know the secrets of its waters: the best fly-fishing spots, early season high water kayaking on the rivers, fishing from canoes on the reservoirs. What had been lacking are large bodies of water for recreational use.  That changed in 2009 when the New York City Department of Environmental Protection opened up of  most of the Cannonsville Reservoir for recreational kayaking, canoeing, sculls, and for small sailboats, like Sunfish. The Cannonsville is western-most reservoir, and runs from south of Walton west and south towards Deposit and Hancock.   Last year almost 200 people went through the process of getting a permit and steam cleaning their boats – and got to paddle on these pristine waters. 

Two steps are required to access the Cannonsville.  First the boater will need a DEP Access Permit, which you can get online at www.nyc.gov or at local sports stores. Second is the Recreational Boat Tag, which you get once your boat has been steam cleaned. All craft must be steam cleaned prior to being placed on the water and permits affixed to the boats. Trailers are not allowed in the water and there is no camping at these sites. 

The NYC DEP has nine launch sites: Roods Creek, Mormon Hollow, Dry Brook, Speedwell, Patterson, Apex, Fish Brook Beers Brook, and Dryden Brook all listed with GPS coordinates on the free brochure.

Boat Cleaning
Five  boat cleaning businesses will be in operation in the towns surrounding the reservoir – Downsville, Deposit, Trout Creek and Walton and each charges their own rate. The cleaning process will take about 20 minutes per boat, so make sure you give yourself enough time if you have a few boats.   These vendors will  issue you Recreational Boat Tag good for 1-7 days during which your boat must stay on NYC DEP lands. When you visit these locations, please remember to support these local vendors and purchase your supplies from them. For those wishing to obtain a full-season pass, steam cleaning services will be provided by the DEP Downsville Operation’s office located on NYS Route 30. Call 607-363-7009 to schedule an appointment.

Boat Rentals
Here are a few options for renting boats – though you’ll still need to have the boat steam cleaned.  Als Sport Store in Downsville will be renting out canoes and kayaks - call them at 607-326-3500 or visit  www.alssportstore.com.  Catskill Outfitters in Walton will be renting kayaks and canoes – call them at 607-865-8827 or visit www.catskilloutfitters.com. Border Water Outfitters in Hancock will be renting canoes and they can be reached at 607-637-4296 or at www.borderwateroutfitters.com.  Catskill Outback Adventures has kayaks and canoes to rent out to the public, complete with car-top accessories for transporting the boat. Call them for more info at 845-254-9888 or visit their website at www.catskilloutback.com.

Access is from sunrise to sunset and will run from Memorial Day weekend to Columbus weekend.  The Delaware County tourism office is providing a brochure outlining all the information you need to know on the rules and regulations for the Cannonsville. You can receive a copy by calling 866-775-4425 and leaving your name and address or by emailing your request to info@greatwesterncatskills.com.  You can download the brochure on the tourism website www.greatwesterncatskills.com.  


This is a three year pilot program running from 2009 – 2011, after which the City will assess the benefits and local impact and determine whether to keep it open or possibly expand it.

How To Pack For A Catskills Vacation

A few things you may not know, that you need to know, if you want a truly great vacation experience in our neck of the woods.

Bring a light sweater or long sleeves when you go out at night, even if it's been a hot summer day. Our evenings are always cooler than you'd expect. There's a nice breeze - it's a double benefit - it keeps the bugs away.

Hiking in shorts is what most folks think they should wear in the summer. We do it sometimes - but always regret it when we come back scratched up from the wild raspberry and blackberry brambles we encounter along the way. It's all good if you're hiking when the berries are ripening!!

And hiking shoes.  No sneakers please. Our moutains are rocky and there are roots and fallen branches. You need your ankle support. Let's hope you'll never twist an ankle but you need to be able to walk out as cell phones don't have great coverage here and in the Catskill Park.

Don't bring skinny heels, especially if you're coming here for a wedding. They're all held on lawns and ours can be a little "punky" - meaning your heels will sink right in.  Outside of villages, we don't have lots of sidewalks - more along the lines of gravel or stone paths leading to houses. Some events have port-a-johns and, well, it's just easier to go in and out of one in comfy shoes.

So what are we really saying?  It's a relaxed, comfortable, rugged, and quirky kind of place you'll be coming to experience. 

A this tip is just to make sure you experience our country vibe completely. If you're on a slow back road small village street,wave to folks when you drive past them. We do it all the time. Sometimes we know them. Sometimes we don't. But it always makes everyone feel good.