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 for viewing the Catskills from) 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 4 sections that follow. Click on the descriptions to jump right to that section.
- Hiking trails in the immediate Saugerties area (just scroll down a little further, to "SECTION 1".
- Hiking trails in neighboring towns, within a reasonable drive from Saugerties
- Kid-friendly (not too stressful) hiking trails
- Catskills hikes you can sign up for, with expert guides - "Hike with Us".
But first, an important notice for hikers who are also campers.
In the Catskills and Adirondacks, while primitive camping is allowed, campsites must be at least 150 feet from the nearest road, trail or body of water. Camping for more than three nights or in groups of 10 or more requires a permit.
For any questions, please visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7872.html. This page is a worthwhile quick read and includes information about bear canisters, fires and "leaving no trace".
SECTION 1. We first list trails in the immediate Saugerties environs
Falling Waters Preserve
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Level of Difficulty: easy ... OK for family hikes. Photo by Nancy Campbell. |
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 to 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. Photo by Rebecca Hung. |
For the latest status regarding hiking on the Saugerties Lighthouse trail, generally, the hiking trail is open sunrise to sunset. The riverside deck at the lighthouse itself is open weekdays:
M-W, 9 a.m. to sunset
Th-F, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Closed weekends.
Be alert for tides and changing weather conditions. No large groups. Trailhead parking space is limited. The lighthouse Bed and Breakfast is accepting guests with reservations for overnight stays. Tours of the lighthouse will resume Memorial Day weekend on Sunday afternoons through Labor Day weekend. The Saugerties Lighthouse Tours page link is https://www.saugertieslighthouse.com/visiting/tours/.
For the latest Saugerties Lighthouse info, visit https://www.saugertieslighthouse.com
Esopus Bend Nature Preserve
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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. |
Huckleberry Point
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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. |
Note that Platte Clove Road (access road) is typically closed each winter (December through at least February.)
Ulster Landing County Park Hikes
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Level of Difficulty: easy (one trail is handicap accessible) Photo by Michael Rider. |
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.
- Woodstock
- Kingston
- Kingston Point Rail Trail
- Sojourner Truth State Park Trail - In November 2023, Governor Hochul announced completion of a waterfront trail and pavilion at Sojourner Truth State Park. A paved, ADA-compliant River Pavilion Trail leads from the Hudson River Brickyard Trail/Empire State Trail to the waterfront, near the park’s northern entry. The trail features a small overlook area where visitors can rest while enjoying expansive views, including the Kingston-Rhinecliff bridge to the north. For more information, please visit the Sojourner Truth State Park website.
- Red Hook - Poets' Walk Park
- Kaaterskill - Kaaterskill Rail Trail
- Haines Falls - North-South Lake Campground and Day Use Area
- Highland - Walkway Over the Hudson
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/canoeing (see Kayaking/Canoeing webpage) and bicycling (see bike routes webpage).
Section 3. Trails that are Kid-Friendly
The Saugerties Macaroni Kid site has a good list of trails that are kid-friendly / not too stressful.
https://saugerties.macaronikid.com/guides/602ece1980912e2052fb8e55/macaroni-kid-hikes%3A-a-guide
