Hunter Regional Trail System

All Phases

The Hunter Regional Trail (HRT) system is an ambitious 11-mile vision designed to connect the natural and historic wonders of the Town of Hunter. Under the leadership of the Hunter Area Trail Committee (HATC), this growing trail network will link Kaaterskill Falls in Haines Falls to Hunter Mountain through public and private lands, weaving together the communities of Hunter, Haines Falls, Tannersville, and surrounding areas.

With each completed phase, the dream of a continuous trail becomes more tangible. On April 22, 2023, the HATC celebrated another milestone during Celebrate Trails Day with the opening of Luke’s Bridge and the Hunter Branch Rail Trail. Let’s explore each phase of the HRT development.

HRT Phase 1: Kaaterskill Rail Trail (KRT)

KRT volunteers during the June 2012 opening
Phase 1 established the foundation of the HRT system. In 2009, the KRT Committee formed following the Mountaintop Community Resource Strategy, prioritizing a trail along the Ulster & Delaware Railroad corridor between the Mountain Top Historical Society (MTHS) and Kaaterskill Falls.

Thanks to collaboration with landowners and organizations like NYSDEC, the Catskill Center, and the NY-NJ Trail Conference, the trail officially opened in June 2013. The KRT links directly to the top of Kaaterskill Falls and to several trails around the DEC North-South Lake campground.

Highlights:

  • Connects MTHS to Kaaterskill Falls
  • Completed with property easements
  • Direct route along historic railbed completed in 2017 (1.5 miles total)

Surroundings:

  • Flanked by the Mountain Cloves Scenic Byway
  • Access to North-South Lake Campground

HRT Phase 2: Kaaterskill Wild Forest Enhancements


Building on Phase 1’s success, Phase 2 improved public safety and access in the Kaaterskill Wild Forest. In 2017, NYSDEC invested nearly $1 million to upgrade infrastructure near Kaaterskill Falls.

Key Improvements:

  1. 115-foot pedestrian bridge over Spruce Creek
  2. New trail to the middle pool of the falls
  3. Stone staircase blending into the natural landscape
  4. Expanded parking
  5. Viewing platform above the falls
  6. ADA-friendly wide and smooth surface trails with rest stops

Over 125 attendees celebrated the upgrades in September 2017, highlighting a shared commitment to trail safety and accessibility.

HRT Phase 3: Trail Expansion to Tannersville


Phase 3 connects the Kaaterskill Rail Trail at MTHS to the Huckleberry Multi-Use Trail in Tannersville. Agreements were secured with three landowners, and the Town of Hunter received a $75,000 NYSDEC Smart Growth Grant to kick off planning and construction.

Progress:

  • Trail work through Cortina Mountain Estates
  • Sidewalk connector across Route 23A linking northern and southern segments

This phase builds essential connectivity and pedestrian access between key recreational zones.

HRT Phase 4: Crossing the Schoharie


This planned segment for the future follows another portion of the Ulster & Delaware Railroad. Plans include constructing a major pedestrian bridge over the Schoharie Creek near the former electric light dam.

Challenges & Alternatives:

  • Extensive permitting and funding needed for bridge and trail construction.
  • Possible “Share the Road” coordination with NYSDOT for temporary access

Historic Features:

  • Intact stone abutments from the original railroad remain visible.

This phase poses some engineering and access challenges but offers dramatic historical and scenic value.

HRT Phase 5: Hunter Branch Rail Trail (HBRT)


Celebrated on April 22, 2023, Phase 5 opened the HBRT and Luke’s Bridge. This segment is a 1.4-mile trail connecting Clove Road (off Route 214) to the site of the former Camp Jened near Dolan’s Lake. This section follows the former Hunter Branch of the Stony Clove & Catskill Mountain Railroad, discontinued in 1939.

Signature Feature:

  • A 90-foot pedestrian bridge (Luke’s Bridge) over a tributary of the Schoharie Creek
  • Preserved original stone abutments

History:

  • Originally built in 1881 as a narrow-gauge railway connecting Phoenicia to Hunter
  • Served regional sawmills and furniture factories

The parcel is owned by NYC DEP and permitted for trail use by the Town of Hunter.

About the Hunter Area Trail Committee (HATC)

The HATC formed in 2016, evolving from the original KRT committee. It unites local, county, and state agencies with nonprofit organizations to coordinate the vision, funding, and construction of the HRT. In 2025, the HATC was formalized as an official committee of the Town of Hunter.

Members Include:

Together, they aim to build a continuous, accessible, and sustainable trail network for year-round recreation and heritage preservation.

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