Shandaken offers nature trails, winter forest use and local history as distinct highlights. At the Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center, an 80-foot fire tower and nature trails go hand in hand; Rochester Hollow has marked trails that are used for cross-country skiing in winter. In Pine Hill, a museum focuses on the history of the twelve hamlets. When planning your visit, these attractions differ in trail type, accessibility information and subject matter.
Nature Trails at the Visitor Center
The Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center in the hamlet of Mount Tremper includes the 80-foot Upper Esopus Fire Tower and 1.5 miles of nature trails. Some of the trails are ADA-accessible. The Esopus Creek Trail is about half a mile long and follows an out-and-back route across Route 28 to the banks of Esopus Creek. It was built to ADA accessibility standards. The distinction between the figures is important for planning your route: the 1.5 miles refers to the nature trails at the Center, while the half mile refers to the named out-and-back route. The second figure therefore describes the entire round trip, not just the section leading to the creek.
Forest and Winter Trails
The Shandaken Wild Forest includes the John Burroughs Memorial Forest, a planting of white spruce and Norway spruce on an abandoned farm. Both the tree species and the land’s former use are specified. This landscape context differs from Rochester Hollow, where the trails and how they are used are the practical focus. The combination of the two spruce species and the former farm gives the Memorial Forest its own distinct landscape and historical context.
The Rochester Hollow section of the Shandaken Wild Forest has three marked trails. The longest is the 2.7-mile Colonel Rochester Trail. This provides two specific details to help you find your way: the number of trails and the length of the longest route. In winter, cross-country skiers use the trails; however, they are not groomed or maintained for cross-country skiing. If you are planning to ski, take this limitation into account and check trail conditions before your trip.
A Glimpse into Shandaken’s History
The Town of Shandaken Historical Museum is housed in a 1920s schoolhouse in Pine Hill. It displays historical tools and artifacts from the 19th century and later, as well as a schoolroom and kitchen from the 1900s. Other exhibits cover the people and history of Shandaken’s twelve hamlets. The dates refer to different things: the 1920s date the schoolhouse, the tools and artifacts are from the 19th century and later periods, and the schoolroom and kitchen are from the 1900s. This offers a view that ranges from individual historical objects and everyday spaces to the history of the twelve hamlets.
Discover more destinations: Rosendale, Stone Ridge, Phoenicia, Kingston, Hurley, Boiceville, Saugerties, Accord
For the regional travel overview: Ulster.
