Slide Mountain — Catskills

What to bring

Day-hike essentials for this trail. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Slide Mountain is the roof of the Catskills, the highest peak in the range and a classic climb for hikers working through its high summits. The popular loop pairs the direct trail up Slide with the scenic Curtis-Ormsbee Trail to make a circuit rather than a simple out-and-back. Reviews rate it highly for the satisfaction of standing on the range’s high point, with a consistent note that snow and ice hold on the mountain long after the trailhead is clear.

What to Expect on the Trail

Starting from the trailhead near Big Indian, the route climbs steadily through northern hardwood forest that shifts to spruce and fir as you gain elevation. Many hikers go up the direct Slide Mountain trail and descend by the Curtis-Ormsbee, which adds a bit of distance and some of the loop’s better viewpoints. The footing is rocky in stretches, with a few short, easy scrambles over ledges as you approach the summit ridge.

The summit is the high point of the Catskills in every sense. A rock ledge just below the top offers the best open view, looking out across the surrounding high peaks and valleys, and a plaque set into the rock honors the naturalist John Burroughs, who celebrated this mountain in his writing. Burroughs called Slide the great peak of the region, and hikers still climb partly to stand where he once wrote. The true summit is more wooded, so the ledge is where hikers stop to take in the scenery and rest.

The Curtis-Ormsbee descent is a highlight in its own right, a well-built trail with a couple of viewpoints that many hikers prefer to the more direct route. Combining the two trails into a loop is the classic way to hike Slide, giving a more varied outing than retracing the climb, though the loop does add distance over a straight out-and-back.

How Hard Is This Trail, Really?

Challenging is a fair rating, though the difficulty is steady rather than extreme. The climb is a sustained effort with rocky footing and a few short scrambles, but there is no single terrifying pitch, and reasonably fit hikers handle the loop in around four to five hours. The elevation and the length make it a real workout rather than a casual walk.

The bigger variable is the season. Slide holds snow and ice near the summit well into spring, and hikers repeatedly stress that microspikes or similar traction are essential in the colder months, when the upper trail can be treacherous without them. Mud is common lower down after rain and snowmelt. The honest read is a strenuous but manageable climb whose main hazard is winter conditions lingering on the high summit.

Best Time to Go

The trail is open year-round, but the most comfortable window runs from late spring through fall once the snow has melted out. Summer is green and popular, while fall brings crisp air and color to the high forest, with the clearest views from the summit ledge. These drier, snow-free months are when most hikers tackle the loop.

Early spring is deceptive, since the trailhead can look ready while the summit is still deep in snow and ice, so shoulder-season hikers should carry traction and be prepared to turn around. Winter ascents are rewarding but serious, demanding full snow gear for the high, cold summit. In any season, checking recent trail reports for snow conditions up high is smart planning before committing to the climb.

Before You Go

Parking is at the Slide Mountain trailhead near Big Indian, a free lot of moderate size that fills on nice weekends, so arriving early helps you secure a spot. There are basic facilities at the trailhead, but no services once you start, so carry water and food for a strenuous half-day. Note that a free self-issued permit or trail register may be in use, so follow any posted requirements.

Carry enough water for the climb, since reliable sources are limited on the ridge, and pack a layer for the cooler summit. Traction devices are the single most important thing to bring in the shoulder seasons, given how long snow and ice linger. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas, though the rocky scrambles and distance are worth considering with a dog along.

Slide Mountain sits in the heart of the Catskills near Big Indian, part of the Burroughs Range of high peaks, within reach of the New York metro area. Its status as the highest point in the Catskills makes it a bucket-list climb, and hikers chasing the range’s high summits often pair it with the neighboring peaks of Cornell and Wittenberg for a bigger objective, a longer traverse that links the three highest Catskill summits in a single demanding day.

Word from the Trail

Slide Mountain earns strong marks from the many people who hike it, with the large majority rating it a rewarding climb and pointing to the summit ledge view and the satisfaction of the range’s high point as the draw. The recurring practical advice is consistent: hike the loop with the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail, carry traction in the colder months, and expect a steady, rocky effort rather than a casual walk.

That is the fair summary of the highest peak in the Catskills. It offers a strenuous but manageable climb to a fine summit view, best done as a loop for variety, with winter conditions the main thing to plan around. Time it for snow-free trail or bring the right traction, carry enough water, and Slide Mountain rewards the effort with the top of the range underfoot.

Gear for this hike

Our day-hike checklist — the picks that show up again and again from tested gear roundups. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

LOWA Renegade EVO GTX MidGORE-TEX, 3 widths, resolableCheck price on Amazon →Hydro Flask Wide Mouth 32ozinsulated, durableCheck price on Amazon →Osprey Talon 22ventilated back, pole carryCheck price on Amazon →Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight Watertight .7day-hike specific, waterproofCheck price on Amazon →Black Diamond Spot 400-Rrechargeable, comfortableCheck price on Amazon →Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacketdurable, trail + everydayCheck price on Amazon →Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Midweightlifetime warrantyCheck price on Amazon →Black Diamond Pursuit Trekking Polescork grip, lightweightCheck price on Amazon →Sawyer Squeeze Water Filterultralight, standard threadsCheck price on Amazon →Sawyer Premium Permethrin Insect Repellent Spraytreat clothing; kills ticksCheck price on Amazon →Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Long Sleeve HoodyUPF 50, hood + thumb holesCheck price on Amazon →