Hiking

Mount Tremper. Two easy trails lead to the summit of Mount Tremper, where an early-20th-century fire tower stands. The red-blazed Phoenicia Trail, the much shorter but steeper of the two, begins off Route 40 about 1 mile southeast of Phoenicia and climbs the western side of the mountain for 2¾ miles to the 2,740-foot summit. The 4.2-mile Willow Trail starts just west of the post office in the village of Willow, on Route 212 about 5 miles southeast of Phoenicia. Rte. 40, Phoenicia, New York, 12464. 607/256–3000; www.dec.ny.gov/lands/79221.html.

Slide Mountain. Stretching over 47,500 acres, the Slide Mountain Wilderness is the largest and most popular wilderness area in the Catskills. The area includes Slide Mountain—which, at 4,190 feet, is the range's highest peak—and encompasses several forest preserves. Its 35 miles of hiking trails take you over lofty peaks with spectacular views. The most straightforward way up Slide Mountain is via the Phoenicia East Branch Trail, an easy hike that begins just south of the village. You'll trek 2.7 miles and climb 1,780 feet to the summit, where a plaque commemorates naturalist and poet John Burroughs, whose accounts of climbing this mountain helped spread its fame. Off Rte. 28, Phoenicia, New York, 12464. 845/256–3000; www.dec.ny.gov.