North Mountain (Catskills)

North Mountain
File:North Mountain Catskills.jpg North Mountain from North Point
Highest point
Elevation
Prominence
Coordinates
Geography
Location	Catskills, New York, U.S.
Parent range	Catskill Escarpment
Topo map	USGS Kaaterskill Clove
Climbing
First ascent	Unknown
Easiest route	Trail

North Mountain is a peak in the Catskill Mountains of New York, on the border between the towns of Catskill and Hunter, in Greene County. It is part of the Catskill Escarpment.

It overlooks the North-South Lake State Campground, an area where resort hotels such as the Catskill Mountain House were once located, and thus has long been a popular climb with hikers. It can be reached by several trails from the campground area, all of which eventually lead to the Escarpment Trail, which crosses the summit. The Long Path, a 350-mile (560 km) long-distance hiking trail from New York City to Albany, is contiguous with the Escarpment Trail.

File:North Point.jpg

North Point

Most hikers stop, at least for a while, at North Point, an area of many open ledges located at 2,900 feet (880 m), along the trail about a half-mile (800 m) below the summit. The views of the lakes, other mountains such as Kaaterskill High Peak and the Hudson River and its valley are expansive. They were sometimes the subject of paintings by members of the Hudson River School.

The summit is also one of the lowest in elevation in the Catskills to feature a boreal forest of red spruce and balsam fir.