Customer Reviews

Catskill Trails: A Ranger's Guide to the High Peaks

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I picked up this book to replace some of the outdated Catskill Guides I already have. This book is much more than I expected. It is well-organized and a pleasure to read. The routes are always interesting and the author provides much more information about the Catskills' environment. I also like the fact that hikes range from really easy to quite difficult. A few of the places that Henry picks are real gems that I didn't even know about. The pictures are good too. The book is a great size for taking on the trail.

A couple of my friends have this book, and I was thinking about buying it for myself. I was surpised to see such an odd review saying that this book encourages hikes on private land. I took a look through my friend's book and there is no mention of going on private land. I've been to Platte Clove (the area in question, I believe) and there are more than one way into the area. It is among the most spectacular places in the Catskills and for the author to ignore it would be a disservice to anyone interested in the Catskills. I'm not sure what kind of chip the person who wrote that review has on his shoulder, but it obvious that he/she is making up at least part of the review.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Catskills.

I really liked this book. As a hiker I enjoyed getting to know the Catskills better as I walked a few of the trails. The book does a great job of explaining not just what is along the trail, but why it is there -- something you don't find in many hiking guides. In addition, this book is fun to read. I've read most of the book without going on the trails, and find it almost as good as being there myself. The book motivates me to get out there and go to these places. I'd recommend this book to anyone who hikes in the Catskills or even just lives near them or visits them.

As a novice hiker and my first time visiting the Catskills, this book provided me with essential information about hiking through the beautiful Catskill Mountains. It is provides clear and concise trail maps to any destination imaginable and also has breath taking pictures of various points of interest. The author truly captures the natural beauty of the area with his words and photographs. I would recommend this book to any hiker or anyone with an interest for the Catskills.

Please be aware that although the title and description do not indicate, this is part of a two book set. This book covers the northern Catskills the other, the southern. I received this book only to discover that the area I was interested in hiking in was not covered by the book.

Great trail guide! Easy to read maps, great natural history of the area and absolutely energy-filled fun!

Growing up with the Catskills in my back yard, I figured this book wouldn't be able to tell me something I did't already know. Boy, was I wrong. The author gives great detail of each of the hikes in the book. Like the best places to park and even the best places to stop and take some breath taking photos. Also, the book gives some of the geology and natural history of the mountains. I thought I knew a lot, but I defintely learned a great deal more through this extensive trail guide. Now, I never go hiking without it!

We bought a house in Delaware County and have been using this book quite a bit to familiarize ourselves with numerous trails in the area. Nothing is truly comprehensive, but this comes close.

This book is a lot different (and better) than most guides. I bought this one and liked so much I bought the other Catskill Trails book also. There is a lot of history and ecology here and I learned more about the mountains than from any of my other guidebooks. The pictures are nice and the trail selections among the best the Catskills have to offer. At times, you really do feel like you are hiking with a ranger!

I bought this guide prior to going up to the Catskills near the area of Tannersville, Hunter Mountain and the Catskill Falls, and the guide was a great help in finding nice trails in the area with great text and indicative sketches of the trails.
However, you will need a decent topographical map with compass indications and height measures, which is not provided with these crude maps. Therefore, you should seriously consider the Catskills Mountain Guide as it has a great map of the entire Catskill region, but with less detail for each specific area.

Seems to have all the info except "how to reach the trail staring from HW exit". I was expecting direction starting from nearest highway exit and was not able find. I live in Long Island, and not familiar with Catskill area so direction is very important for me. I do not like to waste time searching for trailheads.
In spite of this -ve things, I gave 2 starts because it has lot of historic data.