Catskills or Fahnestock?

[Linda Frank]

If you had a choice for a three-day weekend of hiking within the next few weeks, which area would you choice to focus upon: The Catskills or (Clarence) Fahnestock Memorial State Park?  

Both have so much to offer.  We've never been to either area.  Would love to do both if we could wrangle two 3-day weekends.  No brainer then. Duh. 

But for now we have to make a choice.  Any thoughts appreciated.  Oh, also...any suggestions for hikes in either of those areas.  We'd like to hike each day, so putting together a selection of three goodies would be ideal.  

Thanks much for any input.

Linda

[njHiking.com]

We haven't been to Fahnestock yet so I can't compare, but have been to the Catskills a few times (we'd like to go more but there are just sooo many places in this world to check out it's hard to get to it all!).

We've hiked out of the North/South campground a couple times, and Slide Mountain. I have an older post from 2009 here: "Catskills Weekend – Escarpment Trail and Slide Mountain". And if you go, make sure you get the NYNJTC Catskill Trails map set.

 

--Dawn

[Paul]

I don't have experience with fahnstock, but I can tell you that it still gets chilly in the Catskills in the early spring. 5 degrees and windy in early April taught me that. Spent the night shivering and watching the tent billow.

By May, it should be pretty nice, though.

North-South Lake and Kaaterskill falls is a great three day weekend.

[Daniela Wagstaff]

Having hiked both places, I would, without a doubt, the Catskills.  Of the places I have hiked there, I couldn't even begin to say which I liked the best - loved them all!  Just keep in mind if you are going over a holiday weekend, or any weekend in the summer, it can get pretty crowded.   And, speaking from experience, you want to avoid driving through New Paltz, NY to get to the thruway on your way home.   My GPS took me that way once when I was in the southern part of the Catskills and that was a very, very bad idea.  It took HOURS of sitting in traffic in New Paltz to get to the thruway.  I haven't had problems like that with any of the other routes.

[Paul]

The Saugerties exit is a good way to get to the southern Catskills.

Campsites fill up fast in North lake; often can't even get a spot after Memorial day. But you can backpack without a reservation. Maybe set up a backwoods basecamp.

[Linda Frank]

Thanks for your responses all.  The Escarpment Trail reads interesting to do, Dawn, and I just reread  Daniela two hikes there (both last summer and most recently).  With those three alone, my hiking dance card will be filled for a good three-day stay there.  Thanks, too, Paul especially w/the advisory re the cooler-than-surrounding temps up there.  I'll plan accordingly.

Nothing was written in stone re Fahnestock vs. Catskills.  Both are similar enough in drive time for us w/the Catskills maybe a tad closer.  So that's a plus, too. I'd say The Catskills is looking like the 'winner'.

Dawn, you mentioned in your blog post that you stayed overnight.  May I ask in what town you stayed?  We'd like to stay as close to whatever trails/hikes we ultimately plan on doing.

Speaking of travel time, thanks, Daniela for the New Paltz warnings.  Will do.  Or not do as is the case.  And w/the recommendation of really good Mexican food, from you, Dawn, that gives the Catskills another positive vote.  Anything we can do - naturally - to ward off any possible rattlesnakes slithering up behind us, I'm sure can be aided by some good Mexican food the night before...if you get my drift.

(No...that was NOT meant to be a pun.)  Nevertheless..........

Thanks again. 

Linda

[njHiking.com]

We stayed in Catskill, NY, at a Quality Inn on Rt 23. We usually go with a something basic like that, as we're not big on B&Bs nor are we into camping. It wasn't too far from North South if I recall. I'm sure you can find nicer places to stay, we just are pretty functional in our lodging choices.

We've also stayed at the Catskill Mountain Lodge in a basic standard room. That trip we did North-South area hikes as well, I think. There was a diner-type restaurant on the property, and a mexican place down the road... but it was probably almost 15 years ago so I don't know if that's there.

All this Catskillls discussion is making me want to go back.

Dawn

[Linda Frank]

njHiking.com said:

"We usually go with a something basic like that, as we're not big on B&Bs nor are we into camping....we just are pretty functional in our lodging choices."

Dawn

Dawn, your tastes in lodging mimic ours totally. Basic, functional, no bells & whistles. Our idea of four-star dining is a pizzeria that serves extra-thin crust brick-oven style or any diner w/a good salad bar. And RVing is about as close to "camping" as we'll ever get.  Hoping to do that in the fall.

Thanks for the recommendations and if we go, it'll be the first 3-day weekend that looks promising weather wise.  Right now, that appears to be this upcoming weekend so we'll be clearing off the kitchen table early tonight and breaking out the maps! 

I know...I'm a big tease. ;)

Linda