Mount Hayden State Forest is an 844-acre state forest located on the northeast boundary of the Catskill Forest Preserve in Greene County, New York. This expansive area is characterized by its rich, mature woodlands and varied mountainous terrain, offering a diverse natural environment for outdoor pursuits. Its integration into the larger Catskill Forest Preserve provides a significant segment of a major long-distance hiking trail. The forest is a destination for several sports like hiking and road cycling.
20
Routes
4.7
(13)
Average rating
278
People visited

4.3
(3)
53
hikers
4.02km
01:03
20m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
hikers
11.4km
04:14
800m
600m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
hikers
4.87km
01:41
430m
0m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.80km
01:55
550m
20m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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15
riders
63.7km
02:37
390m
390m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

8
riders
65.2km
03:16
920m
920m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

8
riders
36.3km
01:50
590m
590m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4
riders
29.5km
01:33
460m
460m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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Mount Hayden State Forest is an 844-acre state forest located in Greene County, New York, on the northeast boundary of the Catskill Forest Preserve. It features mature woodlands and varied mountainous terrain, integrating into the larger Catskill trail network.
Mount Hayden State Forest offers opportunities for hiking and road cycling. It is also a destination for primitive camping and hunting. More information on activities can be found in guides like Hiking in Mount Hayden State Forest.
Popular hiking routes include the challenging 10.8-mile (17.4 km) Thomas Cole Mountain – Viewpoint loop and the moderate 7.5-mile (12.1 km) Thomas Cole Mountain – Black Dome loop. The 7.0-mile (11.3 km) Windham High Peak Overlook loop is another favored option.
Mount Hayden State Forest offers varied terrain, and specific easy routes can be explored. For detailed information on less strenuous options, consult the Easy hikes in Mount Hayden State Forest guide.
The forest provides various trails suitable for different skill levels. For specific routes designed for families, refer to the Family-friendly hikes in Mount Hayden State Forest guide.
While specific dedicated road cycling paths directly within the state forest are not detailed, the broader Catskills region offers various scenic country roads for cycling. Information on routes can be found in the Road Cycling Routes in Mount Hayden State Forest guide.
Mount Hayden State Forest is characterized by rich, mature woodlands and its position within the mountainous Catskill region. It provides access to adjacent Catskill peaks and offers scenic mountain valleys.
The forest is home to abundant wildlife. Larger mammals such as deer, bear, and bobcat can be observed, along with smaller mammals like porcupine and fisher, and hundreds of bird species.
Yes, Mount Hayden State Forest offers opportunities for primitive camping. This allows visitors to immerse themselves in the natural environment.
Mount Hayden State Forest is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 1,000 visitors sharing their experiences. Routes in the forest have an average rating of 4.66 out of 5 stars.
Komoot offers several guides for the area, including Hiking in Mount Hayden State Forest, Easy hikes in Mount Hayden State Forest, Road Cycling Routes in Mount Hayden State Forest, and Family-friendly hikes in Mount Hayden State Forest.
For inquiries, contact the DEC Region 4 Stamford Office at +1-607-652-7365 during business hours. The official website for Mount Hayden State Forest is dec.ny.gov/lands/70499.html.

