Windham and Hunter Mountain Hiking Trails
Explore the mountains and scenery around Windham, Hunter Mountain, and the Catskills. Enjoy the outdoors with one of the many area hikes that range from a short, under-an-hour walk, to an all-day excursion. There are many maintained trails within minutes of Hotel Vienna to meet your skills. If you’re low on time and looking for Hunter Mountain hiking while in the area, consider visiting Kaaterskill Falls, a two-mile hike to New York State’s highest cascading waterfall.
During your hike, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife like deer and turkeys. Some of our lucky guests have even caught a glimpse of a black bear. Looking for something more relaxing? Bird watching while hiking can also be exciting, and we offer bird guides and a backpack to take on your hike.
Easy Hikes
Windham Path – Accessible directly from Hotel Vienna, this is a wonderful path for a walk, jog, or easy bike ride. This loop takes you approximately two miles, beginning at the front of the hotel and winding through fields and woods along Bataviakill Creek. The loop is a great place for viewing the beautiful Catskill Mountains, birds, and even deer. The path is handicapped-accessible and suitable for everyone.
Acra Point Trail – With great views and an easy rating, this loop in the Windham and Blackhead Mountain Range is perfect for families and beginner hikers. The 5.06-mile trail takes an average of 3.5 hours to complete and features forest scenery, natural streams, and views at the top. From Hotel Vienna head southeast on NY 296 South, after .9 miles continue on to Maplecrest Road, shortly after turn right on County Road 40, after 2 miles turn left on County Road 56, and travel 4.2 miles to the parking lot and trailhead.
Colgate Lake – For families, a scenic hike around nearby Colgate Lake makes for a great afternoon. This off-the-beaten-path lake is scenic and provides ample opportunities for kids to get up close to nature. Be sure to bring your water discovery toys. This 4-mile out-and-back trail takes approximately 3 hours to complete.
Mount Utsayantha – Hike to this popular fire tower lookout spot just outside the Catskill Forest Preserve. This is a great spot for a picnic or stop for lunch as picnic tables are available and the views are fantastic. This is a one-mile hike that takes a little over an hour to complete out and back. From Hotel Vienna drive north on Route 296 for .4 miles, turn left onto South Street, after 2.3 miles turn left onto Route 23 West, after 13.6 miles, turn left onto Mountain Ave, after 1.2 miles turn left onto Tower Road.
Moderate
North Point & North Mountain Ledge – Don’t miss the adjacent Ashley Falls Trail on this hike where you’ll find a beautiful waterfall; this is an out-and-back off of the main trail totaling .34 miles. The minimum loop on this trail is 5.56 miles and takes about 3 hours to complete. Head all the way to North Point and then to North Mountain Ledge for the best views. To reach the parking area from Hotel Vienna travel southeast on NY 296 South, after 1.1 miles turn right onto County Road 40, after 3.8 miles turn left onto County Road 23C, after 6.8 miles turn left onto NY 23A East, turn left onto North Lake Road after 2.9 miles, after 2.2 miles turn right onto Scutt Road, the pull-off for the trailhead will be on the right.
Kaaterskill Falls – This is a very popular trail and busy on the weekends, but worth it with the beautiful sight of a 231-foot waterfall – the highest cascading waterfall in the state. The 1.69-mile trail is mostly easy but does have a moderate section and takes about 1 hour to complete out-and-back. To get there from Hotel Vienna head southeast on Route 296, after 7.2 miles turn left onto 23A East/Main Street, after 7.3 miles turn left onto North Lake Road, after 1.8 miles turn right onto Laurel House Road, the trailhead begins after .5 miles at the end of the road.
Windham High Peak – This moderate out-and-back trail provides great views from the top that stretch many miles through the Catskills. At 3,524 ft. in elevation and 7.3 miles round trip, the hike takes about 4 hours to complete. Just a short drive from Hotel Vienna is the trail’s starting point; to arrive there, head north on Route 296 for .7 miles, turn right onto Route 23 East and after 2.5 miles take a left onto Cross Road, the parking lot is along Route 23 and the trailhead begins just across the street.
Difficult
Blackhead Mountain – This is an exciting trail and only recommended for advanced hiking as some spots see a 1,300-foot elevation gain in less than a mile – be prepared to climb! This trail is 5.6 miles round trip and begins on the Black Dome trail before transitioning to the yellow-blazed Blackhead Mountain trail. To reach the trailhead from Hotel Vienna head south on Route 296, after .9 miles continue onto Maplecrest Road, after .2 miles turn right onto County Road 40, after 1.8 miles turn left onto County Road 56, after 4.3 miles the parking area is on the right.
Bearpen Mountain – This 4.8-mile out-and-back trail takes about 3 hours to complete. With an elevation gain of about 1,700 feet, it is rated as moderate to difficult. It’s all worth it though when you reach the peak and have a beautiful view of the Delaware County area. This is a good hike for spring and fall when the trees aren’t as lush, and you have unrestricted sightlines for a larger portion of the hike. The route is easy to follow as it follows a road used by ATVs and snowmobiles. Take a scenic drive from Hotel Vienna to reach this trailhead. From the hotel head north on Route 296, after .7 miles turn left onto Route 23 West, after 4.1 miles turn left onto County Road 17, after 4.5 miles turn right onto Route 23A, after 2.6 miles turn left onto Route 42 South, after 11.9 miles turn right onto Gooding Road, after 1.2 miles turn left to stay on what has become Crump Hill Road, after 5.1 miles turn left onto Elk Creek Road, after 1 mile take a right onto County Road 3, go 3.5 miles until you reach the end of the road and the trailhead.
