Adirondacks State Park - Big Indian Wilderness Area

Big Indian Wilderness
The Big Indian Wilderness Area encompasses over 33,500 acres of "Forever Wild" Forest Preserve lands in the heart of the Catskill Park. The Big Indian Wilderness Area provides the user with the longest stretch of trail through uninterrupted virgin forest in the Catskills, offering numerous opportunities for solitude in a remote and rugged environment.

LOCATION
The Big Indian Wilderness Area lies in the northwest corner of Ulster County, just south of the Hamlet of Pine Hill, nearly evenly divided between the neighboring towns of Denning, Hardenburgh and Shandaken. Crescent-shaped, the area also straddles the divide between the Delaware and Hudson River Basins. It is hounded on the north by the Belleayre Mountain Ski Center, on the south by the Willowemoc-Long Pond Wild Forest and is immediately adjacent to the Slide Mountain Wilderness Area to the east.

TERRAIN
The Big Indian Wilderness can best be described as a rugged, mountainous area marked by deep glacial cuts resulting in a series of parallel, steep-sided hollows. The area is host to eight prominent peaks including Balsam, Fir, Haynes and Eagle, as well as several unnamed mountaintops. Elevations range from 1,500-3,860 ft.

ACCESS
The area is accessible from several trailheads that have parking lots:

From the East

Lost Clove Trailhead-Town of Shandaken, 2 miles south of Big Indian.

McKenley Hollow Trailhead-Town of Shandaken, 4 miles south of Big Indian.

Biscuit Brook Trailhead-Town of Denning, 13 miles south of Big Indian on CR 47.

From the South

Black Bear Road Trailhead-Town of Denning, 2 miles northwest of Claryville.

Mongaup Pond Trailhead-Town of Rockland, Sullivan County, at Mongaup Pond State Campground.

From the West:

Hardenburgh Trailhead-Town of Hardenburgh, on Beaverkill Road, 6 miles east of Turnwood.

Balsam Lake Mountain Trailhead-Town of Hardenburgh, end of Beaverkill Road, 8 miles east of Turnwood.

Seager Trailhead-Town of Hardenburgh, end of Dry Brook Road, 9 miles south of Arkville.

Rider Hollow Trailhead-Town of Hardenburgh, end of Rider Hollow Road.

From the North

(Access is limited due to parking constraints.)

Cathedral Glen Trailhead-Town of Shandaken, 1 mile south of Pine Hill. Take Bonnie View Ave. to Station Road and follow railroad tracks west.

Pine Hill-West Branch Trailhead-Town of Shandaken, 1 mile south of Pine Hill, take Bonnie View Ave. to Station Road to Woodchuck Hollow Road.

RECREATION
This area provides a variety of wilderness recreational opportunities ranging from hiking, snow-shoeing and primitive camping to hunting, fishing and trapping.

HIKING
All trail miles in this area are open exclusively to foot travel, affording the user seeking solitude the guarantee of an uninterrupted backcountry experience. Some suggested hikes include:

McKenley Hollow Trail (1.9 miles, red markers)
This trail, which provides access from the east to the Pine Hill-West Branch Trail, is at first deceptively easy but becomes a progressively strenuous climb.

Rider Hollow-Mine Hollow Loop (4.8 miles)
Beginning at the Rider Hollow Trailhead, follow red trail markers 0.4 mile to the Mine Hollow junction. Turn NE on yellow markers for a 1-mile ascent to the Pine Hill-West Branch Trail. Turn south. Follow blue markers 2 miles up and over the summit of Balsam Mountain, which provides a window view of the Hamlet of Big Indian. Proceed to the junction of the McKenley Hollow-Rider Hollow Trail. Turn NE on red markers, 1.4 miles back to the Parking Area.

Pine Hill-West Branch Trail (14.1 miles, blue markers)
This trail offers a moderate ridge hike spanning five peaks that is long and somewhat strenuous. The easiest approach is from the south. Spur trails provide access to lean-tos and water, allowing for excellent backpacking opportunities.

Mongaup-Hardenburg Trail (6.4 miles, blue markers)
With less dramatic ascents, the views from this trail are obstructed until after leaf drop. However, this moderate, mid-elevation hike usually provides a greater chance to observe a variety of bird and animal life. This trail is best used in conjunction with the neighboring trail network to the south in order to loop back to the point of origin for either a one- or two-day venture.

Be Prepared: Even on a day trip, take along a rain shell with a hood, a flashlight with spare batteries, a whistle, matches, map and compass, first aid kit, small tarp and extra, quick-energy food and water. Regardless of the season, dress in layers of non-cotton and wear sturdy hiking boots.

Leave Word: Spell it out! Leave a copy of your itinerary and map with a responsible third party.

Sign in and Out at Trail Register Boxes: This will help locate you in case of an emergency and also provide a record of the area's use.

PRIMITIVE CAMPING
To protect backcountry resources and ensure the quality of visual aesthetics, New York State law requires that all campsites be located at least 150 ft. from any water source, trail or road, unless otherwise designated by the Department. Fine buffer reduces unwanted conflicts between hikers, campers and wildlife and also reduces the threat of fouling the waters by camp chores. A designated site is either a lean-to or a site marked with a yellow "Camp Here" disc. There are six lean-tos located trailside throughout the area, each supported by a seasonal water source and pit privy.

State law also prohibits camping above 3,500 ft. in elevation from March 22nd to December 21st each year. During the winter months, the snow pack acts as a buffer, protecting the fragile summit environment.

A camping permit is required for one or more people to camp at the same site for more than three consecutive nights. Groups of 10 or more must also obtain a camping permit, regardless of the number of nights involved. These permits must be obtained from the local Forest Ranger in advance. In a Wilderness Area, group size is limited to a maximum of 12. This is enforced to protect the wilderness character of the area, minimize degradation and enhance the opportunity for other users seeking solitude. Larger groups may be accommodated in any of the Forest Preserve's Wild Forest areas such as nearby Balsam Lake Mountain or Willowemoc-Long Pond Wild Forests. Whenever possible, use a designated site to minimize your impact.

Water is relatively scarce in the Catskills. It is not unusual for the springs and streams in this area to run dry during the summer months.

The Department cannot ensure the purity of any water source. Giardia lamblia is a water borne parasite that causes a severe and prolonged intestinal disorder that has infected the water supply as a result of poor human sanitation habits. Boil all water for 2 minutes, filter or treat chemically.

Campfires are permitted below 3,500 ft. in elevation, but only dead and downed wood may be used. In a designated campsite, use the existing fire ring and burn wood no larger than that which can be snapped in your hands—it's sure to be dead, dry and will burn down to ash. NEVER LEAVE A FIRE UNATTENDED and MAKE SURE YOUR FIRE IS COLD BEFORE BREAKING CAMP.

Bear Precautions: Using nylon cord, hang all food, garbage and toilet articles 150 ft from camp, suspended a minimum of 15 ft above the ground.

Keep a clean camp. First strain, then distribute rather than concentrate, dirty dish or wash water 150 ft from camp and any water source. This disperses the physical impact and related odors that attract wildlife.

Human Waste: If available, use the privy. If not, dig a "cat-hole" 6-8 inches deep, a minimum of 150 ft from any water source. Cover waste with soil and leaf litter. Minimize the use of toilet paper and burn or pack it out. When appropriate, use leaves instead. Treat feminine products as you would all other garbage and pack out as well.

HUNTING, FISHING, TRAPPING
Hunting, fishing and trapping are uses compatible with the Forest Preserve. This area supports a thriving black bear population and stable white-tail deer herd, both of which are hunted in the fall. The eastern wild turkey is hunted in troth spring and fall. Furbearers, including beaver, fisher and coyote, are harvested annually. Hunting is prohibited in posted areas, including the Mongaup Pond Campground and the Belleayre Mtn. Ski Center.

The Big Indian Wilderness also harbors the headwaters of some of the finest fisheries in the Catskills: the Esopus Creek, the Beaverkill, the Neversink and the Willowemoc.