Of the five segments of the Hunter Regional Trails, this is the one with a very popular destination at the end of it.

The trail follows the old Ulster and Delaware grade through the Kaaterskill Wild Forest, which means it is flat in the way only a railroad can be flat. About a mile and a half, creek views most of the way, a few bridges. The trailhead sits near the Mountain Top Historical Society, which is your best bet for parking when the other lots are full.

The eastern end puts you at the Laurel House lot and the observation platform for Kaaterskill Falls. There's no legal parking on 23A itself, so the real bottleneck is the Laurel House Rd lot, and however you get there, the last stretch down to the falls is a descent followed by a climb back out. This trail is the one part of the trip that stays flat the whole way in.

What to expect

Level grade the whole way, no scrambling, no route-finding. Good for an easy trail run and for anyone who wants an pleasant walk outside.

Not a stroller trail, though. The surface is gravel with the occasional leftover railroad tie still in the grade. Fine on foot, genuinely annoying on wheels. If you want flat and smooth, the Huckleberry is the one.

Getting there

Coming from the shop on Main Street in Tannersville, head east on 23A toward Haines Falls. Park at the Mountain Top Historical Society (42.1953, -74.0922), or at the Laurel House Road lot at the falls end (42.1958, -74.0634).

Good to know

• Flat is the point. These are old railroad grades. If Catskills elevation has put you off hiking here, start on one of these.
• Leashed dogs are welcome along the whole system.
• No day-use fee.
• Cell service is mostly good out here, though it goes spotty in places. Do not count on it as your only navigation.
• The falls end gets busy. Going early is the usual answer.
• Winter: the trails aren't plowed or maintained, but these stay walkable when the high peaks turn into an ice problem. Good for snowshoes or cross-country skis. When it is icy, microspikes make the difference between a nice flat walk and a careful shuffle.
• Apps are not gospel. The system is on AllTrails as a list of the Hunter Regional Trails, which is a fine starting point, though the tracks are not always exact. We carry the NY-NJ Trail Conference Catskill Trails Map ($17.95, printed on Tyvek so it survives being sat on in the rain) and we are happy to help you find a route on it.
• Official info: the Town of Hunter keeps it at townofhunterny.gov/hunter-regional-trails.

Nearby

West of here the Cortina Connector carries on toward Tannersville, but isn't open quite yet. The whole system is mapped on the Hunter Regional Trails page.

We are on Main Street in Tannersville, minutes from most of these trailheads. If you are not sure which segment fits your group, stop in and ask. It is a five minute conversation and we would rather you end up on the right piece of trail than the busiest one.