Catskills Summit Backpacking & Camping Weekend

Backpack the high peaks of the Catskills in this Weekend Adventure

Spend a weekend camping and hiking the best peaks in the Catskills: Slide, Panther, Wittenberg and Cornell Mountains!

The summit-seeking hiker has plenty to choose from in the Catskills: thirty-five of them are more than 3,500 feet high, and two of them are over 4,000 feet high. In general, the mountains are steep-sided and flat-topped and thickly forested. Wildflowers and lush ferns on the floor of the forest, the high forest canopy, and the abundant wildlife make our hike in the woods an escape, an adventure, and an education.

We will leave New York City on Saturday morning, drive north, and head into the heart of the mountains to the Catskill Wilderness Area. A true backpacking experience: we will share the load of all the gear and food, and hike into our camp spot, eight miles from the trailhead. Our total mileage will be about 16 miles for the weekend.

The hike is a rugged experience over steep shale and great elevation changes. Breathtaking views from ten viewpoints offer sweeping vistas of the wilderness for miles.

Our first day’s journey ends that evening in a valley by a woodland creek. We will kick our boots off, relax around the campfire and enjoy a delicious meal prepared by your Outdoor Bound Guides.

Sunday will bring a new trail, as we pack up camp and explore more spectacular terrain. After a full weekend’s adventure, we return to the city around 6:00 PM. You will be pleasantly tired and restored from your weekend in the wilderness.

Please review the Intensity Level, to make sure this trip is appropriate for you.

Event Details

Saturday Depart 73rd Street and Broadway at 8:00 AM; backpack into camp
Sunday Another eight mile hike out; return by 8:00 PM
Need a Tent? Rent one from us for $15. Tents are double-occupancy; you will be paired with someone of your own gender.
Need some gear? Go to Tents & Trails and tell them you are signed up for Outdoor Bound’s Catskills trip and you will receive a 10% discount. Visit our Partners page for store details.

Want to share this event or trip?

Rucksack or large backpack (45 liters or 3500 cubic inches)
Hiking boots
Hiking socks
Quick-drying clothes: T-shirt, long-sleeve shirt, pants, hiking shorts
Hat
Lightweight gloves
Headlamp or small flashlight
Sleeping Bag—rated to at least 30 or 40 degrees
Sleeping pad
Toiletries
Flip-flops or comfy shoes for the campsite
Money for snacks on the road
Polypro tights (optional)
Trekking poles (optional)
Liner socks (optional)
Small towel (optional for swimming)
Bathing suit (optional for swimming)
Tent (or rent from us for $15)
Small pillow (optional)

Bring your lunch, three liters of water and snacks for Saturday. All other meals provided.

You will need to have extra room in your pack, as we will be distributing all the food, tents and cooking gear amongst the group.

Intensity Levels

This event or trip is Intensity Level 4.

Overview

Adventures at All Skill Levels

We offer adventures for everyone, no matter what your skill level. This guide will help you decide which trip is right for you.

Activity

How long (in hours) you may be active every day during the trip.
Distances

You should feel confident that you would be able to complete these distances every day of your trip.
Surfaces

What types of terrain you may encounter and should be prepared for on your trip.
Elevation Change

The largest elevation change you may encounter on your trip.
Altitude

The highest elevation you may reach on your trip.

Intensity Levels

This event or trip is Intensity Level 4.

Level 1

Laid-Back, Unhurried, Restful

Welcome to the outdoors! These trips are designed to introduce you to new challenges and new adventurers. Take in the scenery, tackle moderate elevation, experience some local flavor, and enjoy your day out of the office.

Activity

You can expect to be active for one to three hours. Take a long walk around Central Park to make sure you’re comfortable being outdoors and active for at least a two-hour period.
Distances

For our Level 1 trips, you’ll be walking or hiking less than three miles. Think about this distance in terms of the width of Manhattan. Walking from the Hudson to the East River via 14th street is just under two miles.
Surfaces

You’ll be walking on flat terrain. This means there will be limited rocks and a few tree roots.
Elevation Change

There will be little or no elevation change on this trip. To simulate the change in elevation, trying walking three flights of stairs and back.
Altitude

Less than 3,000 feet.

Intensity Levels

This event or trip is Intensity Level 4.

Level 2

Easy Active — Perfect for Active First-Timers

Level 2 trips will give you a taste of what hiking is all about. Test yourself on intermediate terrain, including light rock scrambles and ascending multiple peaks. The trips will invigorate you and inspire you to continue strengthening your hiking skills.

Activity

You can expect to be active for four to six hours. Prepare for the trip by jogging three miles around Central Park.
Distances

Plan on getting starter miles under your belt. You’ll be doing up to six miles on this trip. You can imagine this distance in terms of the full Central Park loop, which is 6.1 miles.
Surfaces

You’ll be hiking on rolling terrain. You can expect rock surfaces, steeps, roots and small boulders.
Elevation Change

There could be up to an accumulative 1,500 feet per day.
Altitude

From sea level to 6,000 feet.

Intensity Levels

This event or trip is Intensity Level 4.

Level 3

Moderate — for Novices and Above

Level three hikes will challenge you with a faster pace and longer distances. This hard work allows you to see more terrain and higher vistas. You should expect to be tired and fulfilled on the van ride home.

Activity

We’ll be out on the trails for five to eight hours. Prepare for this trip by maintaining your daily fitness regime that includes both cardio and strength.
Distances

Be ready to cover some serious distance. We may hike up to ten miles today before heading back to the city. This is the distance between Battery Park and Washington Heights in Manhattan.
Surfaces

We’ll be walking on rolling or mountainous terrain. This will require navigating various rock faces and trail conditions including steep inclines and uneven ground.
Elevation Change

There could be up to 2,000 feet per day.
Altitude

From sea level to 10,000 feet.

Intensity Levels

This event or trip is Intensity Level 4.

Level 4

Vigorous — Recommended for Fit Travelers with Basic Skills

Deep inside you is a desire to push past your limit. On these hikes you’ll be challenged by some of the steepest elevations and technical terrain available. These trips are for endurance athletes and those who wish to push their physical abilities.

Activity

You can expect to be active for six to nine hours. You can best prepare for a Level 4 trip by maintaining your intense fitness regiment, trying to get your mile time below 7 minutes, and hiking consistently on the weekends.
Distances

Level 4 hikes can be up to 16 miles. This is the distance between Wall Street and Yonkers.
Surfaces

These trails will be mountainous with exposed terrain, uneven trails and steep ascents/descents. Most hikes will require not only hiking boots but also additional gear like hiking poles and headlamps.
Elevation Change

There could be elevation change of up to 3,000 feet per day and possible altitude.
Altitude

From sea level to 14,000 feet.

Intensity Levels

This event or trip is Intensity Level 4.

Level 5

Strenuous — Very Fit or Experienced Travelers

Prepare yourself for the ultimate outdoor experience. If you yearn to touch the sky and think the rewards outweigh the risks and extreme conditions, this is what you’re looking for. Over the course of multiple days you will be called upon to prove you belong among the best.

Activity

You should be ready for at least ten hours a day of pain, challenge, and constant small victories.
Distances

You should expect to be hiking for at least twelve miles a day. Prepare for this by racing in triathlons, training for a marathon and up keeping your hiking skills.
Surfaces

On Level 5 trips you will be trekking in remote mountains with exposed terrain and loose features.
Elevation Change

There could be elevation change of 5,000 feet per day.
Altitude

Altitude change could also reach up to 14,000 feet.

This trip is not for the inexperienced hiker. You need to be in strong hiking shape, and prepared to climb over 4000 feet in vertical elevation, several times. You must have hiking boots and appropriate packs. No shoulder bags or inappropriate footwear.

Why Outdoor Bound?

Experienced, Fun & Qualified Guides

From cycling across the United States to leading horse treks through New Zealand to scaling Nepalese peaks, Outdoor Bound guides have real-world outdoor experience. Collectively, they have hiked, biked, climbed and kayaked tens of thousands of miles around the globe.

Whether their professional backgrounds are as teachers, personal trainers, artists, environmentalists or business leaders, they all have an extensive knowledge of the natural world and local history. Each guide has also passed a rigorous guide certification program and is trained in wilderness first aid or as a Wilderness First Responder.

Diverse & Interesting Groups

There is no typical Outdoor Bound participant. While ages typically range from 20 to 50, those who come to experience outdoor adventure range from singles to couples, from lawyers to waiters. They are a mix of women and men. While the group is always diverse, you will certainly feel welcome. Our guides go the extra mile to make the atmosphere of each trip social and fun. Many people in the Outdoor Bound community have forged lasting friendships as a result of our trips.

New Experiences

Skydiving, ice-climbing, hot-air ballooning, skiing and hiking every weekend are just a few of Outdoor Bound’s year-round adventures. These trips are accessible to everyone, including the novice, who might feel a little uneasy, the young urban professional trying to get away and even the adrenaline junkie looking for a new rush.

Environmental Awareness

“Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures,” is the Leave No Trace motto embraced by Outdoor Bound. From purchasing bamboo T-shirts to printing with soy-based inks on recycled paper, Outdoor Bound strives to create the least environmental impact possible while on trips and in the office.

Outdoor Bound Catskills Summit Backpacking & Camping Weekend

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