How to Hike to the Overlook Hotel in Woodstock, NY

The Overlook Hotel was once a sought-after destination of the Catskill Mountains in New York state in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The ruins stand today are a fun destination to hike to. The trail is accessible and quite a climb, but the scenic view at the top is well worth it.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Hiking shoes
• Hiking supplies
• Camera

1. Make sure you have all of your hiking gear that is seasonally appropriate. Pack food and water. Wear sturdy hiking shoes.
2. Follow the road, which is marked with red trail markers. This is a beautiful hike on a jeep road, a combination of fire road and pavement.
3. Climb for approximately 2.5 miles. It will be a steady gain in altitude, so take rests when you need them. Remember to pace yourself--the journey to the top is only half of your trip, you still have to hike back down.
4. After 2.5 miles, you will reach the ruins of the Overlook Hotel. The concrete shell is all that is left of the hotel. Let your imagination run wild and wonder what it was like over 100 years ago to vacation in this spot.
5. Near the Overlook ruins there is a new transmission tower, a unique contrast of old and new.
6. There is another trail that comes in from the left and leads to Echo Lake. Go straight to the fire tower. There is usually a steward at the tower in the summer months.
7. Near the tower is a short trail that heads to a scenic overlook, which has a gorgeous view of the Hudson Valley and the Ashokan Reservoir.
8. When you're done at the top, turn back around and come down the way you came.
9. Hike time, depending on your level, is about 3 hours. The elevation gain of the hike is 1,400 feet and the total distance is 5 miles round trip.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't forget to take your camera to snap pictures of the gorgeous view above.
• Make sure you leave early enough in the day so that you have daylight for your entire trip. You don't want to descend in the dark, unless you're familiar with the steep terrain.
• Be careful of the terrain in the winter. The steep terrain and ice on the trail can make this a dangerous hike.
• Be sure to have proper hiking gear for the season--dress in layers to be prepared for weather changes, which are frequent at that altitude.