Saugerties is a great locale for hikers of all ages and abilities. Whether it's casual walks through the Village that take you down great hometown streets such as Finger Street (which nicely ends at Seamon Park . . . great for strolling around and viewing the Catskills) or planned trips to nearby trails and Catskill mountains, you'll find Saugerties to be a healthy place for all of us bipeds.
There are many resources for finding places in and around Saugerties to hike. The local book stores include books by the locals, covering all sorts of hiking possibilities. And there are some very nice descriptions of trails on Web sites.
There are 3 sections that follow:
- Hiking trails in the immediate Saugerties area
- Hiking trails in neghboring towns, within a reasonable drive from Saugerties
- Catskills hikes you can sign up for, with expert guides - "Hike with Us".
SECTION 1. We first list trails in the immediate Saugerties environs (re: COVID-19 pandemic - please check with websites or the involved communities to learn whether the trails listed are open):
Falling Waters Preserve
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Falling Waters Preserve, just south of the
Village of Saugerties, is a stunningly diverse 168-acre preserve containing
featuring streams, meadows, wetlands, hardwood forest, dramatic waterfalls and
more than a mile of Hudson Riverfront. Three miles of trails will connect
visitors to these natural treasures.
Level of Difficulty: easy ... OK for family hikes.
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Saugerties Lighthouse Hike
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Visitors can hike to the Saugerties Lighthouse on the half-mile nature trail,
open sunrise to sunset. Parts of the trail experience tidal flooding on
a twice-daily basis, so come prepared or plan accordingly. Consult the tide table
for more details. The trail travels among stands of willow and maple
trees, along tidal pools, and through patches of wildflowers, eventually
opening onto the middle of the majestic Hudson River. In winter, you
may encounter ice or snow on the trail, so wear appropriate footwear.
Icy walkways in winter; ice traction devices recommended. During the COVID-19 pandemic (into 2021), please stay aware of the latest rules. There have been parts of the Saugerties Lighthouse grounds that are off limits. At present, the trail is open everyday (sunrise <-> sunset) and the deck is open (Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays only). Visit the Saugerties Lighthouse website news page for more info.
Level of Difficulty: easy ... OK for family hikes.
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As of March 17, 2021, here is the latest in terms of hiking on the Saugerties Lighthouse trail
Welcome! The trail is open to from sunrise to sunset. The riverside deck
remains closed to the public. The lighthouse B&B is open for
existing reservations only; no new bookings at this time. Please follow
state and local health advisories including wearing a mask when
encountering other on the narrow trail. No large groups. No public
restroom at this time. Proper hiking footwear recommended. Be alert for
tides and changing weather conditions.
For the latest Saugerties Lighthouse trail news, visit https://www.saugertieslighthouse.com/news/
Esopus Bend Nature Preserve Trail
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Esopus Bend Nature Preserve is a unique 161-acre preserve located
partially within both the Village and Town of Saugerties along a
dramatic bend in the Esopus Creek less than a mile from the Hudson
River. The preserve borders Barclay Heights, a large housing development
built in the 1950s, and is visible to 10,000 travelers a day who cross
the Esopus Creek traveling on Rt. 9W into or out of the Village of
Saugerties. There are 4 trails, ranging from .4 miles long to 1.2 miles long, and some "Meadow Paths". For a nice downloadable map of the trails and a trail guide, click HERE.
Level of Difficulty: easy ... OK for family hikes.
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Huckleberry Point Trail
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Huckleberry Point Trail is a 4.5 mile heavily trafficked out and back
trail located near Elka Park, New York that features a great forest
setting and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for
hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from
April until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be
kept on leash.
Level of Difficulty: moderate.
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Note that Platte Clove Road (access road) is typically closed each winter (December through at least February.) And as of this writing (May 2021) it is still closed for repair work.
Sojourner Truth (Ulster Landing) Park
 Photo by Becca Howe Parisio
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Sojourner Truth / Ulster Landing Park features an assortment of
activities for all ages. There are several hiking trials (one trail is
handicap accessible) with beautiful views of the Hudson River providing
numerous bird watching opportunities. The park also features a boat
launch, playground areas, barbecue grills, horseshoe pits, basketball
hoops and beach volleyball. There is a large beach area for sunbathing
and swimming with Lifeguards on duty. For the Ulster County webpage for this park/trail, click HERE. Level of Difficulty: easy (one trail is handicap accessible) |
SECTION 2. Nearby trails in neighboring towns
Staying in Saugerties? If so, you are well positioned to venture out for a week or two, and each day, you can choose a different hiking trail. Below we list some nice hikes within a short driving distance of Saugerties.
Again, you are advised to check with the websites or even the governments in these municipalities, to see whether trails are open/available.
For a list of 15 guided hikes in the Catskills, including the Overlook Mountain hike mentioned above, visit the NY State DEC "Hike with Us" page.
Here is a list of 45 parks in the Hudson Valley (Scenic Hudson Parks) - https://www.scenichudson.org/explore-the-valley/our-parks/
There are all sorts of hikes for bird watching, animal tracking and so on, arranged by the good people of the Esopus Creek Conservancy. Take a look at the calendar to see if one is planned while you're in town.
Saugerties also offers exercise possibilities such as kayaking (see Kayaking webpage) and bicycling (see bike routes webpage).
Section 3. Guided Hikes in the Catskills
To sign up for a guided hike, visit the "Guided Hikes in the Catskills" NY State page, by clicking on the image or link below:
https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/117265.html
