The
Catskills may
be reached via
the New York,
Ontario and
Western Railroad
from Weehawken,
by changing
cars at East
Branch to the
line of the
Delaware and
Northern Railroad.
The Delaware
and Northern
Railroad runs
along the western
boundary of
the Park, through
the upper portion
of the valley
of the east
branch of the
Delaware River,
connecting with
the Ulster and
Delaware Railroad
at Arkville.
The southern
portion of
the Park is
accessible from
the New York,
Ontario and
Western Railroad
without change:
the Neversink
valley from
Liberty, the
Willowemoc
valley from
Livingston Manor,
and the Beaverkill
valley from
Roscoe.
A
branch of the
New York, Ontario
and Western
Railroad also
runs through
the Rondout
valley from
Summitville
to Kingston,
and, from the
stations at
Ellenville and
Wawarsing, highways
lead to the
southeast part
of the Park.
The
Catskill region
offers excellent
opportunities
for camping
and the enjoyment
of life in the
open. As liberal
a policy as
is possible,
under the constitutional
restrictions
placed upon
the Forest Preserve,
has been adopted
by the Conservation
Department to
promote the
recreational
use of these
lands by the
people. Camping
is permitted
anywhere on
State land,
except at public
campsites having
a resident Caretaker,
for a period
of three nights
without a permit.
For longer periods,
a permit must
be obtained
from the local
Forest Ranger
or District
Forest Ranger.
For complete
information
regarding the
regulations
governing the
use of the Forest
Preserve, Recreation
Circular 2 should
be consulted.
To
make more readily
accessible the
interior of
the Catskill
Region, a system
of hiking trails
and log lean-to
shelters described
in Recreation
Circular 9 “Catskill
Trails” has
been developed
by the Department,
while for the
convenience
of the rapidly
increasing host
of automobile
campers a system
of large public
campsites is
being developed
along the principal
motor routes
of the region.
The latter are
provided with
fully protected
systems of pure
water, individual
fireplaces,
tables, benches,
the most approved
sanitary facilities,
and, where bathing
possible, with
bathhouses.
No charges of
any kind are
made for use
of public campsites
in the Forest
Preserve or
the facilities
there.
The
Conservation
Department
does not have
for rent on
these or at
other points
in the Adirondack
or Catskill
regions tents,
cabins or other
camping equipment.
Rules
governing the
use of the campsites
are as follows:
1.
ALL PERSONS
MUST REGISTER
WITH THE
CARETAKER
IN CHARGE
OF THE
CAMPSITE.
No tents
shall
be erected
or maintained
except
under
permission
from the
Caretaker,
who will
assist
campers
to sites.
2.
Temporary
tent platforms
are permitted
provided
they are
placed
and removed
at the
same time
as the
tent.
3.
No firearms
shall
be used
on the
campsite
at any
time.
4.
Quiet
must be
observed
between
10 p.
m. and
7 a. m.
Campers
arriving
or departing
between
these
hours
must be
quiet.
Failure
to observe
this rule
will be
sufficient
cause
to deny
a camper
the privilege
of the
campsite.
5.
Fires
except
in stoves
must be
built
in fireplaces
provided
for that
purpose
and nowhere
else.
On sites
where
fuel is
limited,
the caretaker
in charge
of the
campsite
is authorized
to prohibit
fires
for any
purpose
except
cooking
and smudges.
6.
Lighted
matches,
cigarettes,
cigars,
or burning
tobacco
must not
be deposited
or left
where
they may
cause
fires.
7.
No official
sign posted
or structure
maintained
shall
be defaced.
8.
Peeling
bark or
cutting
or injuring
trees
is prohibited.
Nor shall
anyone
on any
public
campsite
in the
Forest
Preserve,
or on
Forest
Preserve
land adjacent
thereto,
cut, pluck,
remove,
destroy
or otherwise
injure
or disturb
any tree,
shrub,
bush,
flower,
plant,
fern,
moss,
lichen,
any part
thereof.
9.
Camps
and adjacent
grounds
must be
maintained
in clean
and sanitary
condition.
Garbage
and refuse
must be
either
burned
or deposited
in the
receptacle
provided.
Waste
materials
must not
be thrown
into the
water.
10.
All tents
must be
occupied
continuously.
Caretakers
are authorized
to remove
any tent
left unoccupied
for a
period
of 48
hours.
11.
All dogs
must be
tied up
or confined
in a manner
satisfactory
to the
Caretaker
in charge
of the
campsite.
12.
No one
will be
permitted
to bathe
or swim
on any
public
campsite
bathing
area during
the hours
of darkness.
13.
All persons
will be
held responsible
for compliance
with these
rules
and any
person
violating
them or
injuring
State
property
will be
held liable
for damages
and penalties.
A
short
description
of each
campsite
follows:
Beaverkill
Campsite: This
is one
of the
largest
of the
Catskill
public
campsites
and is
located
on the
stream
of the
same
name,
one of
the most
noted
trout
streams
of the
east.
In the
vicinity
of the
campsite
the State
owns
approximately
two miles
of stream
which
is one
of the
few sections
of the
stream
open
to public
fishing.
At the
campsite
a deep,
natural
pool
close
to the
old and
picturesque
covered
bridge
which
spans
the stream
permits
of excellent bathing.
Bathhouses
have
been erected
close
by for
the accommodation
of the
public.
One of
the finest
springs
in the
entire
Catskill
region
supplies
water
for the
campsite.
To
reach
the Beaverkill
Campsite
turn north
from State
highway
route
17, two
miles
west of
Livingston
Manor.
The campsite
is about
five miles
from this
point
over hard
surfaced
roads.
The
nearest
town of
size to
the campsite
is Livingston
Manor,
but excellent
small
stores
at Beaverkill
Post-office
carry
full lines
of food
supplies
and fresh
farm produce
may be
obtained
within
a short
distance
of the
campsite.
Woodland
Valley
Campsite: To the
readers
of John
Burroughs,
the name
Woodland
Valley
is a
familiar
one.
Here the
great
naturalist
and writer
spent
much
of his
time and
the quiet
beauty
and wildness
of the
place
seem
to have
held an
irresistible
appeal
for him.
His ascents
from
the Valley
to Slide
Mountain,
highest
of the
Catskill
peaks,
are commemorated
by a
bronze
tablet
set in
the rock
near
the summit.
The trail
which
he traversed
is now
an important
link
in the
trail
system
maintained by the
Department
and has
its beginning
a short
distance
from
the campsite.
The campsite
itself
lies
in a beautiful
mixed
forest
between
the macadam
highway
and the
Woodland
stream.
Native
brook
trout
may be
caught
in the
stream
and about
five
miles
distant
the Esopus
provides
some
of the
finest
trout
water
in the
entire
Catskill
region.
Woodland
Valley
is reached
by turning
south
from
State
Highway
Route
28 one
mile
west of
Phoenicia.
Five
miles
on a good
macadam
road
brings
one to
the campsite.
Devil’s
Tombstone
Campsite: The Devil’s
Tombstone
campsite,
which
derives
its
name
from
a boulder
of peculiar
shape
in the
vicinity,
is located
in the
scenic
Stony
Clove
and
may be
reached
by turning
north
from
State
Highway
Route
28 at
Phoenicia
or south
from
State
Highway
Route
23 two
miles
east
of Hunter.
The
campsite
is located
at the
southerly
entrance
to the
Clove,
a narrow
defile
between
Hunter
and
Plateau
Mountains,
through
which
the
highway
passes.
Just
north
of the
campsite,
in the
heart
of the
Clove,
the
Conservation
Department’s
sky
line
trail
over
Indian
Head,
Twin,
Sugarloaf,
Plateau
and
Hunter
mountains
crosses
the
highway. |
From
the collection
of Jack Obecny
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