North Mountain (Catskills) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids North Mountain |
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North Mountain from North Point
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,186 ft (971 m) |
| Prominence | 60 ft (18 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | NE of Haines Falls, New York, U.S. |
| Parent range | Catskill Escarpment |
| Topo map | USGS Kaaterskill Clove |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | Unknown |
| Easiest route | Trail |
North Mountain is a cool peak in the Catskill Mountains of New York. It sits right on the edge of two towns, Catskill and Hunter, in Greene County. This mountain is part of a big, steep cliff area called the Catskill Escarpment. Nearby, you can find Cairo Round Top to the northeast and Artists Rock to the southeast.
Exploring North Mountain
North Mountain looks out over the North-South Lake State Campground. This area used to have famous hotels like the Catskill Mountain House. Because of this, North Mountain has always been a popular spot for hikers.
You can reach the mountain by several trails that start from the campground. All these trails eventually connect to the Escarpment Trail. This main trail goes right over the top of North Mountain. The Long Path, a very long hiking trail that stretches about 350 miles from New York City to Albany, also follows the Escarpment Trail here.
Amazing Views from North Point
One special spot on North Mountain is called North Point. It has many open rocky ledges. This area is about 2,900 feet high and is about half a mile (800 meters) below the very top of the mountain.
From North Point, you can see amazing views! You can look down at the lakes, other mountains like Kaaterskill High Peak, and the Hudson River with its wide valley. These beautiful views were often painted by artists from the famous Hudson River School.
Unique Forest Life
The top of North Mountain is special because it has a type of forest called a boreal forest. This is one of the lowest places in the Catskills to find such a forest. Here, you'll see trees like red spruce and balsam fir. These trees usually grow in much colder, northern places.
