Former railroad recreation trail

Catskill Scenic Trail

About 13.9 road mi

A 26-mile, hard-packed former rail corridor for walking, cycling, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and other nonmotorized recreation, with a Roxbury access about 13.9 road miles from Arkville Station.

The place

About Catskill Scenic Trail

Catskill Scenic Trail extends the Delaware & Ulster story directly: Catskill Revitalization Corporation owns and maintains both the operating railroad and this 26-mile former railroad corridor. The official trail history says the path follows the former Ulster & Delaware alignment and was cleared, de-tracked, and surfaced with cinders and gravel in the 1990s.

The route passes farm fields, small towns, and stretches along the West Branch of the Delaware River. Its hard-packed surface, wide path, and slight grade support walking, jogging, cycling, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing, but a system-wide description does not guarantee a smooth or universally accessible surface at every road crossing and segment.

This guide uses the official Route 30 access at the base of Hardscrabble Road, north of Roxbury, because it is one of the trail organization’s named parking locations and is the practical eastern pairing for Arkville. The trail can close in sections for upkeep, and the official maintenance page and map—not an old photograph—control the selected-day plan.

What stands out

Rail corridor continuity

See how CRC preserved one part of the former route for trains and another as a public recreation trail.

Farm-and-river landscape

Choose a short out-and-back through the same Western Catskills geography that shaped the railroad.

Flexible trip length

Make the stop as short or long as the train schedule, weather, daylight, and group ability allow.

Pair it with the train

Why it belongs in a Delaware & Ulster Railroad trip

The measured drive from Arkville Station to the Hardscrabble Road/Route 30 access is about 13.9 miles. Treat the trail as a flexible walk or ride before a later train or after an early one; never let an out-and-back distance consume the railroad’s 20–30-minute arrival buffer.

Before you go

Plan your visit

  • Length and surfaceThe official trail site describes 26 miles with a hard-packed cinder-and-gravel surface, a wide path, and a very slight grade. Surface quality and road crossings vary.
  • Roxbury accessThe official directions page permits parking along Route 30 at the base of Hardscrabble Road, north of Roxbury. Use current signs and leave room for road and trail users.
  • Other named parkingDesignated parking is also published at Bloomville on Route 10, Stamford at Railroad Avenue and South Street, and Route 30/Ferris Hill Road south of Grand Gorge.
  • Current conditionsSections can close for maintenance. Check the official maintenance page before starting, especially after storms or during active repairs.
  • Choose an out-and-backThe trail is not a short attraction loop. Decide the turnaround time before leaving the car and keep enough energy and daylight for the return.
  • FacilitiesThe official trail pages do not promise restrooms, water, food, staffed help, or secure storage at the Hardscrabble Road access. Arrive self-contained and use nearby town services responsibly.
  • AccessibilityA slight grade and hard-packed surface can help some visitors, but the site does not publish a complete accessibility survey of crossings, gates, parking, firmness, width, or slope. Ask CRC about a specific segment.
  • Shared useExpect walkers, runners, cyclists, horseback riders, and seasonal winter users. Slow down, announce passing, control children, and follow current posted rules.

Continue into Catskills nature writing

Add John Burroughs’ Woodchuck Lodge

Add short dawn-to-dusk nature trails and a carefully timed event-day Lodge tour near Roxbury.

View the guide →

Useful answers

Frequently asked questions

How long is Catskill Scenic Trail?

The official trail site describes a 26-mile corridor. Most train-day visitors should choose a much shorter timed out-and-back.

How far is the Roxbury access from Delaware & Ulster Railroad?

The measured road route to Route 30 at Hardscrabble Road is about 13.9 miles from Arkville Station.

Where can I park?

The official directions page names Route 30 at Hardscrabble Road, Route 30 at Ferris Hill Road, Bloomville, and Stamford parking options. Follow current signs and park considerately.

What can I do on the trail?

The official site lists hiking, biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, walking, jogging, and snowshoeing. Posted rules and current conditions control each segment.

Is the trail wheelchair accessible?

The site describes a wide, slight-grade, hard-packed path but does not publish a complete accessibility survey. Contact CRC about the selected access, surface, crossings, gates, and grade.

Are restrooms or water available?

The official pages do not promise either at the Hardscrabble Road access. Plan as an unstaffed trailhead and use nearby town services before starting.

Trust and accuracy

Sources

Source checked 2026-08-14. This free guide has not yet been confirmed by the venue. Current hours, prices, services, and accessibility can change; confirm time-sensitive details directly.