Backpacking the Burroughs Range Trail Loop in the Catskill Mountains of Upstate New York

#Backpacking #BurroughsRangeTrail #CatskillMountains
Located in the Slide Mountain Wilderness, in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York, the Burroughs Range Trail backpacking loop covers fifteen miles of trail and summits, Wittenberg Mountain, Cornell Mountain, and Slide Mountain, the highest peak in the Catskill Mountains.
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0:00 Catskill Mountains Backpacking Trip
1:18 Woodland Valley Campground
1:35 Burroughs Range Trail AKA Wittenberg Cornell Slide Trial
1:54 Hiking Trail Terrain
2:26 Dope Fall Foliage
3:25 Wittenberg Mountain Summit
3:44 Cornell Mountain Summit
4:30 Camping Restrictions
5:19 Water Sources
6:24 Mountain Spring
8:16 Slide Mountain Summit
8:29 Lookout Point
8:46 More DOPE foliage!!!
8:59 Slide Mountain Parking Area (start of the road walk section to Giant Ledge Parking)
9:12 Phoenicia East Branch Trail head
9:17 Hiking in the Rain
10:58 Thoughts and reflections
12:11 Campfire Restrictions
12:36 Which way should you hike?
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Our Route:
We parked at the Woodland Valley Campground. Parking is free this time of year since the campground had already closed for the season.
3.9 Miles: Burroughs Range Trail (Red Trail Markers) → Wittenberg Mountain 3780 FAS
0.7 miles to Cornell Mountain 3860 FAS
2.3 miles to slide mountain 4180 FAS (tent sites scattered between Cornell and Slide Mountain below 3500 FAS)
0.8 +1.3 + 0.8 to Slide Mountain Parking (there is a porta potty here just FYI)
Road Section to Giant Ledge Parking 1.9 miles
Take Phoenicia East Branch Trail (Yellow Makers) 0.8 miles + 2.5 back to Woodland Valley Campground.
Hiking Resources:
www.alltrails.com/trail/us/ne...
www.hikingproject.com/trail/7...
lnt.org/why/7-principles/
For more information call the Catskills Visitor Center at [phone]
g.page/CatskillsVisitorCenter...
Written version of this video → www.finerbub.com/adventure-blog/2019/11/6/backpacking-the-burroughs-range-trail-loop-in-the-catskill-mountains-new-york
Backpacking Gear:
Osprey Stratos 34 Backpack
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REI → www.rei.com/product/113327/os...
SCARPA Mojito Hiking Shoes
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REI → www.rei.com/product/146849/sc...
Nalgene 1.5 Liter Water Bottles
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REI → www.rei.com/product/155919/re...
BUFF Lightweight Merino Wool Multifunctional Headwear
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Garmin Fenix 5X GPS Watch
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Thermarest RidgeRest SOLite Sleeping Pad
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Thermarest NeoAir Sleepingn Pad
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Osprey Exos 58
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REI → www.rei.com/product/126709/os...
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent
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REI → www.rei.com/product/164193/bi...
Katadyn BeFree Water Filter
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REI → www.rei.com/product/116364/ka...
MSR Pocket Rocket 2 Ultralight Backpacking Stove
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REI → www.rei.com/product/114890/ms...
Budget Stove
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Black Diamond Spot Headlamp
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REI → www.rei.com/rei-garage/produc...
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Tenba BYOB 10 Camera Insert → amzn.to/35bQSBR
Manfrotto PIXI EVO Mini Tripod → amzn.to/2Fzn7zR
Pedco UltraPod Lightweight Tripod → amzn.to/3aIXFTY
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[@optimus163]

I've hiked Slide many times, but its been nearly 20 years since I've been up there. Back in the 70s the summit view was unimpeded since the trees were short / stunted. Views out over the Ashokan reservoir and to the North were incredible. Amazing to see how much the trees have grown now. Me and an ole friend camped on its ridge and summit in all seasons. Winter was the most incredible time to be on Slide. With 2 ft of fresh snow all the way up, cold winds and clear skies dropped the temps way below zero. Even though we were only 3 hours (with heavy packs) from the nearest road, the isolation was intense. We felt like were in Alaska or on some distant frozen planet. Surprisingly on that trip there was one other party camping in the snowy Mountain Spruce Firs just before the summit. We saw their tent but they were hanging inside. Fellow hardy men challenging the conditions. Our last great campout on Slide was on the long summit ridge where we were just over the 3500 ft elevation. It rained heavily part of one day but we perservered. The above 3500 ft No Camp rule was set because Catskill Summits were seeing threatened species of birds and more so the fauna and trees were getting trampled and in some cases cut down for firewood. Social trails and campsite clearings began to spread on top. From March to Dec 20 the 3500ft rule is in effect . However in Winter you can camp on summits as long as there is adequate snow cover.

[@FinerBub]

Thanks for sharing your experience! I wish I could have seen those views back in the day!

[@we.visuals]

Awesome video brothers. Im planning a hike in the next couple of weeks. You guys should make an updated video!

[@FinerBub]

Ah yes, it’s long overdue. Have fun on your trip!

[@usaryder74]

Good Intel. I am doing a portion this weekend. But starting from Slide mtn parking to Wittenberg and back.

[@FinerBub]

Nice! Glad you found it helpful

[@henryprice6112]

Wow! Like I said on my comment on your other video, your content is super great. This is exactly what I am looking for when I am researching an area to backpack. Your combined use of visual aids like the map as well as showing trail conditions/water sources/campsites was super helpful. This loop is exactly what I am looking for for the college club trip I’m leading . Any advice for doing this in late February?

[@FinerBub]

Thank you for the kind words! That's so nice of you to say. I haven't been there in February but I know that the Slide Mountain Trail is definitely hike-able with snowshoes, the other sections including the scrambles might require some sort of traction footwear like micro spikes. As for camping I'd just make sure you have appropriate cold weather camping gear, food and clothing and you should be fine for just one night. This is assuming that you have winter camping experience, if that's the case then you know what to bring. I would not go out there to sleep overnight without at least one person who has prior winter camping knowledge and experience. Thanks for commenting! I'm sure you'll have an epic time ✌

[@OntarioHikingTrails]

Looks like a really great hiking area this fall has been amazing in Ontario

[@FinerBub]

Thanks! I gotta get up there at some point! Appreciate you taking the time to comment

[@litchoutside9812]

Great video- BTW at the 12Min mark there is some animal running by left to right in the background. Too small to be Bigfoot 🙂

[@FinerBub]

Maybe it was Bigfoot’s baby 👽

[@orlym1775]

Thank you! I'm making this my 1st backpacking trip

[@FinerBub]

That's awesome! It's a beautiful area you're gonna have a great time!

[@HBTrails]

Looks like a beautiful place to hike. We are in Wurtsboro and have ventured further into the Catskills for new hiking trails

[@FinerBub]

Nice!

[@8656737s]

Lot's of ticks hope you checked yourself 😉

[@FinerBub]

Always do! Thanks for commenting!

[@pp77subs]

Great video. A question about the map that you show in the beginning and in the end, can you link where I can buy this map? Thanks.

[@FinerBub]

Thanks! And yeah, for sure! amzn.to/3grXrSq

[@GuadalupePicasso]

I hiked Slide and Cornell on a whim last summer. I parked at the Slide Mtn parking area, and didn’t read the signage well enough to know that also hitting Wittenberg was more than doable. It wasn’t until I was back at the parking lot, while talking sigh some other hikers that I realized my “mistake”! Also, is there a way to add Giants Ledge to this loop?

[@FinerBub]

Yeah it's hard to determine these kinds of things based on the signs alone. I had a similar experience back in 2014 or '15 on my first visit to the area. I spent a day just hiking Slide Mountain when there was so much more to explore. It's funny because the designation of "Tallest mountain in the Catskills" is such an attractive title that it's easy to overlook the other gems in the area. But yeah, going back a second time and doing the whole loop was awesome. I'd totally go back for a third. I guess you'll have to go back as well. Nothing wrong with visiting the same area more than once. Thanks for commenting and sharing your experience! As for giants ledge, you could do it. You just might have to backtrack a bit. I dunno if you can integrate it into a loop since there is some private property alongside the road that you might not be able to pass through

[@markmccarroll6652]

@@FinerBub It is said that Giant's Ledge is the best view in the Catkills by many..... plus it is one of the shortest loops and you can see a sunrise and sunset from the ledge so....could be a camp spot too and it's a short side trip off the Burroughs Range loop.

[@FinerBub]

Guess I’ll have to check it out

[@156Beach]

Great video! Heading there this weekend. I have a few questions: 1) From the top of Wittenberg to the primitive campsite after Cornell.. how many miles is that? 2)Is there any water sources near the beginning of that route you took? Any advice would be super helpful! 🙏

[@FinerBub]

Thanks! 1. Campsites are about two miles after the peak of Wittenberg. 2. Yes. You cross over a stream called Woodland Creek on a wooden bridge right at the beginning.

[@156Beach]

@@FinerBub thank you!

[@FinerBub]

@@156Beach Anytime!

[@junkyardtheory9112]

Great video! My 13 year old and I are thinking about tackling this trail on the first nice weekend in April. Are we crazy?

[@FinerBub]

Thanks! Nah, that sounds awesome! Might be a bit slushy but you’ll be fine as long as you layer up

[@seanburke4622]

How many moving hours did this take y’all? I’m trying to do this in one day tomorrow

[@FinerBub]

Maybe 12-15. Not that long. Definitely doable

[@markbak7925]

What was your brother's waterproof boots?

[@FinerBub]

Asolo Fugitive GTX. Check out my video on them. kzbin.info/www/bejne/poeYhK2oqbB0fZo

[@jaycreature3893]

ohhhh, and who filters water from a spring :)

[@FinerBub]

Paranoid folk I suppose