Escarpment Trail to North Point & Ashley Falls

This might be our single favorite loop in the Catskills. Starting from the beach at North-South Lake, hitting the Escarpment Trail to North Point, dropping down to Ashley Falls, and walking back along North Lake Road - it gives you everything the Catskills have to offer in 7 miles.

We parked at the beach area at North-South Lake and headed out toward the Escarpment Trail. The climb from the lake up to the escarpment is the main elevation gain for the day - steady switchbacks through hardwood forest. It's a workout but nothing brutal, and you know the views are coming.

Once you hit the Escarpment Trail and turn north toward North Point, the hike transforms. You're walking along the edge of a cliff line with massive Hudson Valley views opening up to the east. The trail alternates between forest sections and cliff-edge overlooks where the exposure is real - you're looking straight down hundreds of feet to the valley floor. On a clear day you can see all the way across to the Berkshires and Taconics.

There are several named overlooks along the way and each one is better than the last. We kept saying "okay THIS is the best view" and then rounding the next corner to an even wider panorama. The Escarpment Trail is the crown jewel of the Catskills trail system and this section proves why.

North Point itself is the climax. It's a rocky outcropping that juts out from the escarpment with 270-degree views - the Hudson Valley sprawling below and to the east, the Catskill peaks rising to the west and south. We sat here for a long time. It's the kind of viewpoint that makes you go quiet.

From North Point we descended toward Ashley Falls. The trail drops steeply off the escarpment - rocky and a little tricky in spots, especially if it's wet. Ashley Falls is a beautiful cascade tucked into a ravine - not huge but photogenic, with water sliding over layered rock ledges. In spring after snowmelt it's really flowing. We visited in early fall and it still had good flow.

The walk back along North Lake Road is the easy cooldown portion. It's a flat road walk along the edge of North Lake back to the parking area. Not the most exciting hiking but after the escarpment and the descent, our legs appreciated the flat ground. Plus the lake views are nice.

We finished back at the beach at North-South Lake, which is the perfect ending. On warm days you can jump in the lake to cool off. We did. Best post-hike move possible.

Total distance was exactly 7.02 miles on our GPS. Took us about 4.5 hours with plenty of stops for views and photos. This loop has it all - cliff-edge views, summit panoramas, a waterfall, lake walking, and a beach to end at. If you can only do one hike in the Catskills, this is a serious contender.