On a day with showers forecast for mid-afternoon, Carol and I returned to a longtime favorite, the Escarpment Trail near the North-South Lake Campground on a high plateau at 2200 ft. Easy hiking here rewards with stellar views. Due to a construction project, the usual off-season parking spot by South Lake was not available, so we had a 1 1/2 mile walk along paved roads and connecting footpaths to reach the Escarpment Trail. Along the way we skirted the shore of North Lake, with its water level very low.
Kaaterskill High Peak and Roundtop could be seen across the mud flat along the edge of the lake.
We then headed north on the Escarpment Trail, mostly easy walking except for one sharp scramble.
A neat overhang along the trail.
Looking down from the top of the one steep scramble on this section of the Escarpment Trail.
This pitch pine flat is one of my favorite sections on this wonderful trail.
Almost like walking on a sidewalk.
Approaching Artists Rock under a long-armed oak.
The Escarpment is a steep face of sedimentary rock, many miles long, that rises dramatically from the Hudson River Valley. The view from Artists Rock and similar vantage points is......vast.
Looking north to Rip's Rock and Cairo Roundtop.
Farther along, the trail led along the base of Sunset Rock. To get
there, you follow the main trail north, then double back along a spur
trail.
Wild crags.
A geocache is hidden somewhere on this cliff. We found it on our second pass after a futile initial effort.
The mellow path to Sunset Rock.
Sunset Rock is the favorite of many a hiker, artist and photographer.
Kaaterskill High Peak - long considered the highest of the Catskills
until it was shown that Slide Mountain and a number of other peaks are
taller - and Roundtop are seen beyond North and South Lakes, with
Plateau and Hunter Mountains in the distance on the right.
Carvings on Sunset Rock.
South Mountain is seen just to the left of the lakes.
Zoom on Kaaterskill High Peak and Roundtop.
Signage at the Sunset Rock spur junction.
Looking back up after dropping down the steep scramble - classic Catskill sandstone ledges.
