Halcott is a short but steep climb from The Shandaken Road. Watch out for the nettles which dot the hillsides in all but winter.

Quick Look - Halcott from Route 42
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Location	Internet Maps
	3.7 mi.	1731 ft.	N42.1800 W74.4383	AllTrails

Take Rt. 42 north from Shandaken off Rt. 28. Look for the parking area on the left. There is a waterfall here which makes it a popular area to visit. Halcott is slightly southwest of this point. Because of the terrain and the nettles, I had a tendency to wander north which made the trip longer. There are few paths here until near the summit so it is a real bushwhack. I took the path shown and got to the summit of Halcott Mt. (3537 ft.) in about 1.5 miles. (It seemed longer!) I met some other hikers at the canister and we tried to find an easier way down. We eventually found a small stream and headed down the stream bed. After another 1.5 miles we were back on the road. We hiked the .25 miles back to the car.

Quick Look - Sleeping Lion and Halcott from Route 42
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Location	Internet Maps
	4.4 mi.	2269 ft.	N42.1800 W74.4383	AllTrails

Take Rt. 42 north from Shandaken off Rt. 28. Look for the parking area on the left. There is a waterfall here which makes it a popular area to visit. Halcott is slightly southwest of this point. Start from the parking area and head along the stream for a little while. At some point you should head almost due north and maybe a little to the northeast to hit the end of the ridge. This avoids some of the steepest climbs. Near the summit there are some ledges but heading a little northeast will help you gain the ridge and then walk up to the top. The biggest problem are the briars and the nettles when they are in season! Find what looks like the highest point on Sleeping Lion and then set a course southwest toward Halcott. Depending on the season, the peak may be visible much of the time through the trees> Try to stay on the ridge between the two peaks. The distance between the peaks is about a mile and a half. When you get near the summit of Halcott look for the canister and sign in. The views from Halcott are all blocked by trees. From the top of Halcott head almost due east on a descent toward Route 42. Try to head back toward the parking area to avoid a stream crossing further downstream where the water may be too high to safely cross. Watch the steep areas of the descent as they can be tricky. As you approach the parking area you should come across a nice stream with a waterfall with several different levels. Cross the stream and head down toward the road. Pick the best place to cross this stream and walk up to Route 42 and then back to the car.