Hike Hunter and Rusk Mountains — Catskills in New York

What to bring

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TL;DR: Hunter and Rusk Mountains is a 7.6-mile out-and-back that bags two Catskill 3500 peaks in one push. Hunter Mountain is the second-highest peak in the Catskills at 4,040 feet with a fire tower and the best summit infrastructure in the range. The approach is steep and unrelenting from the Devil’s Tombstone trailhead. Parking fills by noon on good weather days.

What to Expect on the Trail

Hunter Mountain is the Catskills peak with the most summit infrastructure — a fire tower, a lean-to, and enough flat ground at the top to eat lunch comfortably. Getting there is the hard part. The trail from Devil’s Tombstone campground on Route 214 climbs 2,100 feet in about 3 miles, with the steepest sections concentrated in the first two miles. The terrain is rocky and rooted throughout, typical Catskill fare that demands consistent footwork.

The summit fire tower is usually open and adds a panoramic view above the treeline. Without the tower, Hunter’s summit is wooded and the views are limited to what you can see through the canopy. The tower makes the difference between a good hike and a great one.

Rusk Mountain sits on a spur trail about 1.5 miles from Hunter’s summit. It’s a trailless peak — one of the Catskill 3500 peaks that requires bushwhacking to reach the summit canister. Rusk adds significant time and navigational challenge. Most day hikers skip Rusk and focus on Hunter alone unless they’re actively working the 3500 list.

The trail passes through classic Catskill forest — beech, birch, and maple in the lower elevations transitioning to balsam fir and spruce near the summit. The boreal zone at the top has a distinctly different feel, darker and quieter, with that sharp fir-needle smell that marks high elevation in the northeast. In winter, the balsam fir branches hold snow in perfect Christmas-tree form and the trail feels like walking through a different world entirely.

The lean-to near the summit is a useful rest stop and a potential overnight option for hikers who want to catch sunrise from the tower. It fills on popular weekends, but midweek it is often empty. The lean-to has space for about six people and a fire ring.

How Hard Is This Trail, Really?

The challenging rating is accurate and confirmed by hikers across all seasons. The continuous steep elevation gain begins at the trailhead and never truly relents until you reach the summit ridge. The rocky bald sections near the top are technically demanding, especially when wet or icy.

Winter dramatically elevates the difficulty. Glare ice on the exposed rock, deep snow drifts, and sustained winds at the summit push this into serious terrain. Non-winter visitors find it a hard but manageable workout that’s comparable to Wittenberg-Cornell in effort.

If you’re looking for a gauge: anyone who handles Slide Mountain comfortably is ready for Hunter. If Slide felt like your limit, Hunter will push past it.

Best Time to Go

Clear days in any season deliver the best summit views from the fire tower. Fall foliage from the tower is exceptional — you’re looking down at the color from 4,040 feet. Summer weekends are crowded. Winter is rewarding but requires full traction gear and an early start.

Parking fills completely by noon on good weather days. Arrive before 8 AM to guarantee a spot. The Devil’s Tombstone campground parking area has limited capacity and no overflow lot. Midweek visits eliminate the parking stress entirely.

Before You Go

The Devil’s Tombstone trailhead is on Route 214 between Hunter and Tannersville. No entrance fee. Limited parking — maybe 15-20 cars. Restrooms are available at the campground when it’s open (seasonal). No facilities in winter.

Cell service is unreliable on the mountain. The trail is well-blazed with yellow DEC markers to Hunter. The spur to Rusk is unmarked — bring a GPS or compass if attempting it. Water is available from streams in the lower sections but unreliable near the summit. Carry everything you need.

The nearest town with food and gas is Hunter or Tannersville, both within 10 minutes. The drive from the NYC area is about 2.5 hours via the Thruway.

Dogs are allowed on leash on the main trail to Hunter. The steep rocky terrain and winter ice make this a hike for experienced trail dogs only. Water is available from streams in the first mile but unreliable higher up. Carry at least a liter per person — the sustained climbing on a warm day will drain your supply faster than expected.

Hunter Mountain also hosts a ski resort on its north side. The hiking trail approaches from the south and the two sides of the mountain have completely different characters. Do not attempt to hike up the ski trails — the hiking trailhead is at Devil’s Tombstone, not at the ski area base.

Word from the Trail

The fire tower on Hunter is the thing that makes this hike special. Most Catskill summits are wooded — you climb for hours and get a view through trees. Hunter gives you the full circle. The Blackhead Range to the northeast. Slide Mountain to the south. The spine of the Devil’s Path stretched out below you. On a clear fall day, the tower view is arguably the best single vista in the Catskills.

On crowded days the summit can feel busy, but the ledges around the tower have enough room to spread out. Find a spot on the rocks south of the tower for the best Slide Mountain angle. The lean-to is first-come-first-served and makes an excellent base for sunrise if you are willing to carry overnight gear up the steep approach. Most Catskill hikers have a favorite peak. For hikers who value the view above everything else, Hunter is usually the answer.

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