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Plateau Mountain

The ascent from Devil's Tombstone is one of the quickest and steepest in the Catskills. The highest point is at the far end of the plateau. The ascent from the Sugarloaf side is also steep but allows the bravest hikers to do both mountains in one day with one car.

Trailhead Coordinates
Name	Coordinates
Route 214 (Notch Lake)	N42.1595 W74.2034
Silver Hollow Road	N42.1376 W74.2113
Roaring Kill	N42.1512 W74.1315
Prediger Road	N42.1339 W74.1043
Mink Hollow Road	N42.1432 W74.1580

Quick Look - Notch Lake out and back
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Location	Internet Maps
	6.6 mi.	2270 ft.	N42.1380 W74.1747	AllTrails

Park at the Devil's Tombstone State Campgrounds on Stony Clove Road and pay the seasonal parking fee. Cross the road to the red-blazed Devil's Path. Begin a 1900 ft. ascent for 1 mile. Steps and switchbacks don't really make this climb any easier! At the top of this ascent there is nice view over to Hunter Mountain. At this point the trail levels out into a....plateau. The highest point is at the far eastern end about 1.9 miles away. From the summit there is no real view. Continue on for a short distance as a view of Sugarloaf Mountain opens up in front of you. To return to the parking area and enjoy the descent!

Quick Look - Warner Creek out and back from Notch Inn Road
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Location	Internet Maps
	8.2 mi.	2560 ft.	N42 08.28 W64 10.48	AllTrails

Turn onto Notch Inn Road just south of the Devil's Tombstone Campgrounds on Green County Route 214. On some maps and GPS this may be marked as Silver Notch Road. Once you turn on the road continue to drive until the road begins to level off. You will see "Privately Maintained" signs at some point. Park in one of the pulloffs along the road BEFORE these signs. If you want to park at the small parking area at the dead end, make sure you get permission from the owner of the house at the end of the road. Be sure NOT to block the driveway of any of the private homes on the road. Start walking on the woods road following the aqua blazes of the Long Path. The new trail actually relocates and eliminates this section on the Long Path so many of the blazes may be painted over. After about .5 miles, look for the sign for the new blue-blazed trail on your left. Turn here and follow this trail to the Devil's Path.

The trail continues for about 1.3 miles climbing unnamed mountain to almost 3400 feet! This includes many switchbacks to moderate the climb. There area a few places to get a view but most are blocked by vegetation in the spring and summer. After the top of this mountain, there is a descent of about .5 miles into a col before the final assault on Plateau. The climb is almost 500 feet in .5 miles. Near the top the trail levels so the steep spots before that can be very steep. There are several nice viewpoints and lookouts along the way. At the top the trail meets the Devil's Path as the long Path turns left at this point.

Turn right and hike .5 miles to the summit of Plateau and then keep hiking an extra .1 miles to a rock that gives a great view of Sugarloaf and the surrounding mountains and valleys. You will know when you are at the right rock when you get the view and the Devil's path seems to drop straight down! Turn around and follow the Devil's Path back to the junction with the Warner Creek Trail. Turn right and follow the Warner Creek Trail back to the yellow spur trail. Walk down Notch Inn Road to your car.

Quick Look - Warner Creek Loop from Notch Inn Road
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Location	Internet Maps
	8.2 mi.	2560 ft.	N42 08.28 W64 10.48	AllTrails

Turn onto Notch Inn Road just south of the Devil's Tombstone Campgrounds on Green County Route 214. On some maps and GPS this may be marked as Silver Notch Road. Once you turn on the road continue to drive until the road begins to level off. You will see "Privately Maintained" signs at some point. Park in one of the pulloffs along the road BEFORE these signs. If you want to park at the small parking area at the dead end, make sure you get permission from the owner of the house at the end of the road. Be sure NOT to block the driveway of any of the private homes on the road. Start walking on the woods road following the aqua blazes of the Long Path. The new trail actually relocates and eliminates this section on the Long Path so many of the blazes may be painted over. After about .5 miles, look for the sign for the new blue-blazed trail on your left. Turn here and follow this trail to the Devil's Path.

The trail continues for about 1.3 miles climbing unnamed mountain to almost 3400 feet! This includes many switchbacks to moderate the climb. There area a few places to get a view but most are blocked by vegetation in the spring and summer. After the top of this mountain, there is a descent of about .5 miles into a col before the final assault on Plateau. The climb is almost 500 feet in .5 miles. Near the top the trail levels so the steep spots before that can be very steep. There are several nice viewpoints and lookouts along the way. At the top the trail meets the Devil's Path as the long Path turns left at this point.

Turn right and hike .5 miles to the summit of Plateau and then keep hiking an extra .1 miles to a rock that gives a great view of Sugarloaf and the surrounding mountains and valleys. You will know when you are at the right rock when you get the view and the Devil's path seems to drop straight down! Turn around and follow the Devil's Path back to the junction with the Warner Creek Trail. Continue straight ahead on the Devil's Path for 1.4 largely flat miles to Danny's Lookout where the Devil's Path begins its plunge down to Notch Lake. Carefully continue on the Devil's Path for another 1.3 miles as you lose 1725 feet at a 25% grade. When the Devils Path intersects Route 214, turn left and walk south on the shoulder of the road for 1.4 miles to Notch Inn Road,. Turn left and walk back to your car.

Quick Look - Warner Creek Loop from Notch Lake
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Location	Internet Maps
	9.2 mi.	2600 ft.	N42 08.28 W64 10.48	AllTrails

Drive to the Notch Lake parking area near the Devil's Tombstone Campgrounds on Green County Route 214. Be sure to walk south to the park office to pay the seasonal parking fee. Cross the road to the red-blazed Devil's Path. The climb from the road to Danny's Lookout where the trail levels is 1730 ft. in 1.3 miles which averages out to a 24% grade. There are some steps and switchbacks along the way but they don't really make too much difference. At the top of this ascent there is nice view over to Hunter Mountain and down the valley. At this point the trail levels out into a....plateau. The highest point is at the far eastern end about 1.9 miles away. From the summit there is no real view. Continue on for about .1 miles to a view of Sugarloaf Mountain in front of you. Turn around and walk back .6 miles to the junction with the Warner Creek Trail. Turn left on the blue Warner Creek Trail and walk 2.9 miles to the yellow spur trail that turns right and goes out to Notch Inn Road. On the way down there is a short climb and there are some views when the leaves are off the trees. Walk down Notch Inn Road to Route 14 and turn right heading north toward Notch Lake. The walk on the road is 1.4 miles on a slight uphill.

Quick Look - Roaring Kill out and back
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Location	Internet Maps
	6.3 mi.	2500 ft.	N42 08.28 W64 10.48	AllTrails

In Tannersville take Bloomer Road which is on the Hunter side of town. Continue on Bloomer until the junction with Platte Clove Rd. Bear right here onto Elka Park Rd. Follow the signs to the trail head. The road deteriorates quickly to dirt and the parking is limited. Take the yellow-blazed Roaring Kill trail from the parking area. After only .25 miles this trail branches left to Pecoy Notch and right to the Mink Hollow Trail. Turn right and continue about 2.5 miles to the junction with the red-blazed Devil's Path. Turn right on the Devil's Path and be prepared for a long, hard climb up to Plateau. Continue for 1 mile and 1200 feet of vertical climb to the lookout near the summit of Plateau. Proceed onward for another .2 miles to the highest point on Plateau. Retrace your steps to return to the parking area. When you reach the junction of the Devil's Path and the Mink Hollow Trail you may continue straight ahead. This will put you on the path to Sugarloaf if you dare.

Quick Look - Elka Park (Plateau, Sugarloaf, Twin)
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Location	Internet Maps
	8.3 mi.	4440 ft.	N42 08.28 W64 10.48	AllTrails

In Tannersville take Bloomer Road which is on the Hunter side of town. Continue on Bloomer until the junction with Platte Clove Rd. Bear right here onto Elka Park Rd. Follow the signs to the trail head. The road deteriorates quickly to dirt and the parking is limited. Take the yellow-blazed Roaring Kill trail from the parking area. After only .25 miles this trail branches left to Pecoy Notch and right to the Mink Hollow Trail. Turn right. The trail ascends gently through hardwood forests and, at times, over rock strewn areas. It rolls some with a few ups and downs along the way. In more than one spot hikers have walked off the trail to get a view or collect wood. Watch carefully that you stay on the main trail. In several spot there are views of Plateau Mountain rising on your right. The mountain in quite impressive and this gives you some idea of the climb to come! One lookout is especially nice and allows you to take pictures before a slight descent. Continue for about 2.5 miles to the junction with the red-blazed Devil's Path.

Turn right on the Devil's Path and be prepared for a long, hard climb up to Plateau. Continue for 1 mile and 1200 feet of vertical climb to the lookout near the summit of Plateau. The climb is strenuous with near vertical parts in places. Most of the trail has switchbacks to soften the ascent somewhat. Proceed onward for another .2 miles to the highest point on Plateau. There is little to see from this spot but it is the highest point on the mountain. Retrace your steps to the rock which allows a fine view of Sugarloaf Mountain in front of your and other peaks to the right and left. return to the parking area. When you have rested briefly, retrace your steps to the Mink Hollow trail and get ready for the ascent up Sugarloaf.

The ascent of the Devil's Path up Sugarloaf will remind you a lot of the ascent up Plateau. The vertical gain of 1200 feet is almost identical and the hiking distance is about the same. One mile and 1200 feet may not sound too impressive but the climb itself is quite a challenge made all the more challenging by your recent climb up Plateau. As you ascend and get near the top of the climb a large boulder acts as a lookout to Plateau and the other surrounding peaks and the valley below. This is even more open than the one on Plateau and so the view is better. Once you get to the summit of Sugarloaf there isn't much to see so continue on the Devil's Path toward Twin.

The Devil's Path leads down Sugarloaf and in about 1.2 miles you will be at Pecoy Notch. From here you can turn left on the Pecoy Notch trail and go back to the parking area. Since you are looking for more of a challenge, continue straight ahead on the Devil's Path. The distance is ONLY about .7 miles and the vertical gain is ONLY about 800 feet since Twin has the lowest elevation of the three mountains. These facts belie the difficulty that awaits. This short climb is one of the most challenging in the Catskills. The trail becomes steep almost immediately with several areas of open rock face to negotiate. In several other areas the trail seems to end until you look UP to see a marker almost directly above. These near vertical areas require some leg strength and upper body strength to push and pull your way up. Some views are available as you look over your shoulder back at Sugarloaf but you will be busy climbing and there are better views at the top.

Near the summit of the western peak of Twin the trail flattens and provides some relief from the difficult climb. In this area is a "cave" made by an overhanging rock ledge. Next to the cave the trail continues through a narrow passage which requires a good toehold and handhold to push and pull yourself up. The trail winds briefly and then reaches the summit on an open expanse of rock. This lookout provides GREAT views back to Sugarloaf and Pecoy Notch. In fact the view is very open for a 180 degree or more view of the entire area. The east peak of win is visible and Indian Head can be seen if you walk out onto the ledge. After taking some pictures and relaxing a little retrace your steps back down to Pecoy Notch. The way down is easier than up but still requires great care.

At the junction with the Pecoy Notch trail turn right to get back to the parking area. The trail starts as a scramble over many rocks but softens as you move father down. In about .4 miles is a beaver pond on the left which offers views back to Sugarloaf and Twin. In another .5 miles you arrive at Dibble's Quarry. here hikers have crate oversized chairs out of the discarded bluestone that litters the area. This open area provides unobstructed views of Roundtop, Kaaterskill High Peak and parts of the Hudson Valley. In .7 miles the trail ends at the Roaring Kill Trail. The parking area is only .25 miles away!

Quick Look - Elka Park and Mink Hollow
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Location	Internet Maps
	7.65 mi.	2565 ft.	N42 08.28 W64 10.48	AllTrails

In Tannersville take Bloomer Road which is on the Hunter side of town. Continue on Bloomer until the junction with Platte Clove Rd. Bear right here onto Elka Park Rd. Follow the signs to the trail head. The road deteriorates quickly to dirt and the parking is limited. Take the yellow-blazed Roaring Kill trail from the parking area. After only .25 miles this trail branches left to Pecoy Notch and right to the Mink Hollow Trail. Turn right and continue about 2.5 miles to the junction with the red-blazed Devil's Path. Turn right on the Devil's Path and be prepared for a long, hard climb up to Plateau. Continue for 1 mile and 1200 feet of vertical climb to the lookout near the summit of Plateau. Proceed onward for another .2 miles to the highest point on Plateau. Retrace your steps to the junction with the Mink Hollow Trail> Turn left and follow the Mink Hollow Trail and road 2.1 miles to Roaring Kill Road. Turn right and walk 1 mile back to the parking area.