Catskills: Wittenberg + Cornell Mountains
September 4, 2021| near Phoenicia, NY
Region: Catskills, Slide Mountain Wilderness Area, Burroughs Range
The background: I had no plans Labor Day weekend so decided rather last minute it would be nice to get up to the Catskills to hike for one of the days. With the weather shaping up to be warm and sunny, I knew it would be a good decision. These two mountains are part of the Burroughs Range, as well as Slide Mountain. Since I had already climbed Slide Mountain last summer, I decided it was time to head back up there from the other approach to tackle these two. This would also be my “warm-up” for a few intense weeks in the Adirondacks High Peaks region that would follow…
The route: Out-and-back ~ 9 miles total, Wittenberg Mountain and Cornell Mountain from Woodland Valley; elevation gain 3,000+ feet. The trail is marked and well-maintained for the most part. There are no orange cannisters on these peaks.
See notes at the end for a longer day option to add on Slide Mountain, also part of the Burroughs Range.
Getting there: For GPS routing purposes, you can type in 1319 Woodland Valley Road, Phoenicia, NY, but note that the actual trailhead parking (if you’re not camping) is slightly before this exact address, to the right (if coming from the town of Phoenicia.) You will see a designated area for parking; however, in true Catskills and ADK fashion, the lot is not large and will fill up early fast on peak weekends.
In terms of the road condition, your car should make it just fine in 3-season weather, and you will not have (AT&T) cell service at the lot. Depending on the season you go, there may be a fee to park. We did not see a sign/place to pay, but I believe there will be a sign with the fee if it’s in season (If anyone knows the answer, please do let me know!) For information on the campground itself (where there is definitely a fee during spring/summer) check out the DEC site, here.
The hike: We arrived around 8:45AM, later than I anticipated arriving, but still with some parking spaces available in the lot. We picked up the trail across the street from the parking area, following the trail signs (it will lead you to behind the camp sites.) After crossing the bridge and signing in at the register, we began our ascent to our first stop, Wittenberg.
Concluding notes: This is a fantastic, moderate hike in the Catskills, filled with views and beautiful scenery as you meander up to the summits. This could also be fun as a traverse to include Slide (total of ~ 7 miles) if you have two vehicles to work with. But really, whichever approach you decide, you will not be disappointed.
