Hiking: Shandaken Brook Lean-To | Catskill Mountains, NY | 4/26/2011
The Shandaken Brook Lean-to is located on Shandaken Brook at the every end of the Dry Brook River Valley in the Catskills. It's accessible via the trailhead in Seager and is about a 2 mile walk along old roads for the most part from there. The majority of the hike is over private land, with the lean-to located soon after you reach the Forest Preserve boundary.
The hike starts from the trailhead along an eroded roadway. The walking for the most part is fairly easy, though there are some sections where the trail has be relocated away from the old road that are washing out. Also the trail makes several stream crossings which are difficult at best and almost impossible, if not impossible in higher water. We were there after the spring flows had dropped a bit, but the water was still high and the main creek crossings were still a challenge. Be ready to ford the stream or expect to spend a bunch of time scouting the stream for a good place to cross.
After about a mile of following the old road, the trail takes a sharp left up the hill on an older woods road. From here, it follows this road all the way to the lean-to site, a distance of about a mile. Along the way you do pass a small flume that the creek flows through and it is well worth the short walk down from the trail. Just remember that it is private land, so be mindful and make sure you don't make a mess.
A word of caution though, if you are there with higher water and are scouting the riverbank for a crossing, it is easy to miss the trail as it takes the hard left turn up and away from the main creek. If that's the case, you'll end up rejoining a road, but there will no longer be any yellow markers and you'll have to backtrack down until you find the trail heading up the hill.
There are no real steep sections of the trail and it is a fairly easy walk. It's almost exactly 2 miles each way for a 4 mile round trip hike.
I lucked out with the first really hot and sunny day of the year. I think it was about 75 degrees in the woods and basically cloudless. As expected, I finished the day with a sunburn, even with a hat and a bit of sunblock. That said, it was great to be outside enjoying the sunshine and reveling in the warmer temperatures.
The Shandaken Brook Lean-to is an older lean-to that has a partially closed in front. That's something you don't see in the Catskills and only occasionally elsewhere in areas with trail shelters. This lean-to is scheduled for reconstruction though, as it is quite old and definitely showing its age. By the end of this summer there should be a new lean-to nearby and the old one should be removed.
Trip Details
NYNJTC Catskill Trails Map #142
Mileage - 2 miles from Seager Trailhead to Shandaken Brook Lean-to / 4 miles road trip
Elevation - Approximately 500 vertical feet of climbing between trailhead and leanto
Outdoor Hiking, Backpacking and Camping Guide Services:
The hike starts from the trailhead along an eroded roadway. The walking for the most part is fairly easy, though there are some sections where the trail has be relocated away from the old road that are washing out. Also the trail makes several stream crossings which are difficult at best and almost impossible, if not impossible in higher water. We were there after the spring flows had dropped a bit, but the water was still high and the main creek crossings were still a challenge. Be ready to ford the stream or expect to spend a bunch of time scouting the stream for a good place to cross.
After about a mile of following the old road, the trail takes a sharp left up the hill on an older woods road. From here, it follows this road all the way to the lean-to site, a distance of about a mile. Along the way you do pass a small flume that the creek flows through and it is well worth the short walk down from the trail. Just remember that it is private land, so be mindful and make sure you don't make a mess.
A word of caution though, if you are there with higher water and are scouting the riverbank for a crossing, it is easy to miss the trail as it takes the hard left turn up and away from the main creek. If that's the case, you'll end up rejoining a road, but there will no longer be any yellow markers and you'll have to backtrack down until you find the trail heading up the hill.
There are no real steep sections of the trail and it is a fairly easy walk. It's almost exactly 2 miles each way for a 4 mile round trip hike.
I lucked out with the first really hot and sunny day of the year. I think it was about 75 degrees in the woods and basically cloudless. As expected, I finished the day with a sunburn, even with a hat and a bit of sunblock. That said, it was great to be outside enjoying the sunshine and reveling in the warmer temperatures.
The Shandaken Brook Lean-to is an older lean-to that has a partially closed in front. That's something you don't see in the Catskills and only occasionally elsewhere in areas with trail shelters. This lean-to is scheduled for reconstruction though, as it is quite old and definitely showing its age. By the end of this summer there should be a new lean-to nearby and the old one should be removed.
NYNJTC Catskill Trails Map #142
Mileage - 2 miles from Seager Trailhead to Shandaken Brook Lean-to / 4 miles road trip
Elevation - Approximately 500 vertical feet of climbing between trailhead and leanto
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You can find more information about this hike on:- The NYNJ Trail Conference's Catskill Trails Map Set
- National Geographic's Trails Illustrated Map for the Catskill Park
- Catskill Mountain Information Page
Outdoor Hiking, Backpacking and Camping Guide Services:
Advice and Recommended Gear:
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