The Catskills - The Catskills Six - Friday, Balsam Cap, Rocky, Lone, Peekamoose, and Table Mountains
The Catskill Six is a difficult hike over 4 trailless peaks in the Catskills and two trailed peaks, all of which are part of the Catskill 3500 peak list. Those peaks are (in the order we hiked) - Friday, Balsam Cap, Rocky, Lone, Peekamoose, and Table Mountains.
The hike can be done from a number of different points, but for this hike we decided to start at the the Denning Trailhead in order to make a loop hike out of the trip. All told our trip was about 18.5 miles long and at least half of that was bushwhacking off trail.
This is a difficult hike that requires map reading and navigation skills. The vast majority of the bushwhacking route does not have a defined herd path and you will need to be able to navigate on your own through some of the deepest wilderness of the Catskill Park.
From the Denning Trailhead, we followed the Phoenicia East Branch Trail to the Peekamoose Table Trail, and from there, we started bushwhacking up the Neversink River when we reached the river crossing on the trail. This is one of the longer ways to do these peaks, but it means it is a loop hike and you only need on vehicle to make the hike. You’ll also need a good map for this hike. We recommend the Trail Conference’s Catskill Trails Map Set (we carry the paper and app versions)
From the Neversink trail crossing, we made our way up the Neversink River following what’s called the Fisherman’s Path. This path is an unmarked herd path that starts off fairly easy to follow, but eventually disappears as you continue upstream. By then, you’re just bushwhacking along the river. At a certain point, we turned off and began ascending to the summit of Friday Mountain. From Friday Mountain, we traveled across the trailless peaks of Balsam Cap, Rocky and Lone Mountains, before reaching the trail on Table Mountain. From there we hiked south to Peekamoose Mountain, before backtracking to the summit of Table and from there, descending the Peekamoose Table Trail back to the Phoenicia East Branch Trail, and then to the Denning Trailhead.
Definitely a long day, but well worth it to traverse one of the Catskills deepest wilderness and most wild collection of trailless peaks.
For more information on this hike:
Map 143 of the NYNJ Trail Conference's Catskill Trails Map Set
National Geographic’s Trails Illustrated Map for the Catskill Park
For more Catskill Park Information, visit the Catskills Visitor Center.
Don’t know where to start with hiking, backpacking, and camping? We can help you! Visit our professional Outdoor Hiking, Backpacking and Camping Guide Services Company at Hike On Guides. Especially for a hike like this, let us guide you along a true Catskills bushwhack!
Gear we used on this hike:
Hydration and nutrition for this hike: