Last week, I had the chance to attend the 2025 Greenways & Trails Summit hosted by Parks & Trails NY. My friend Michelle and I represented the Hunter Area Trails Coalition (HATC) at the 3-day conference and came away with new energy, ideas, and connections that we’re excited to bring back to the Catskills.
One highlight was a group ride along the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, a perfect example of how a well-connected greenway can revitalize communities and strengthen outdoor culture. Another was a presentation on the planned extension of the O&W Rail Trail from Kingston to Port Jervis. Seeing the long-term vision and community buy-in behind these projects gave us fresh insight into how we might shape the future of our own trails here in Greene County.
At HATC, our mission is to stitch together the three segments of the 11-mile Hunter Regional Trails system: the Kaaterskill Rail Trail, the Huckleberry Rail Trail, and the Hunter Branch Rail Trail. One exciting step forward is the Cortina Connector, tentatively planned to open in 2026, which will link the Kaaterskill and Huckleberry trails. It’s just one part of a bigger push to make Hunter a more walkable, hikeable, bikeable, trail-connected town.
The conference also left me thinking deeply about public awareness: how we engage the local community and visitors alike in trail advocacy. Over the coming months, I’ll be working to apply some of the strategies we learned to support this effort.
Here at Camp Catskill, we’re proud to be part of this movement. We believe trails aren’t just for recreation — they’re infrastructure for a healthier, more connected Catskills.
