Inspiration point and boulder rock hike is an easy hike that is near the North-South Campground. The hike is somewhat easy with a lot of viewpoints. The outlooks are pretty decent and the hike itself is very enjoyable. This hike is often overshadowed by the escarpment trail in the North-South lake campground but this is still a very good hike to do in the Catskill Mountains. People can also take a small detour and go to Kaaterskill Falls if they have a lot of time.
Inspiration Point And Boulder Rock Important Information
Trail Map: Trail Map 1, Trail Map 2
Suggested Phone GPS Apps: Alltrails.com, Avenza Maps, Google Maps
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 5 Miles
Elevation Gained: 1000 ft
Portable Toilet At Parking: Yes
Trail Breakdown
Yellow And Blue Trail
Red Trail
Kaaterskill Hotel Site
Blue Trail
Inspiration Point
Sunset Rock
Blue Trail Going Back
Schutt Road
https://www.mapmyhike.com/workout/3578881996
Note: The information is just an approximation.
Parking
Start Of The Hike
Of all the things that drive humanity to hike, it would be to find a little bit of peace. Peace from all the worries that a person may have accumulated, to get away from it all, and to find oneself again. I got out of my car and into a very wide parking lot. The parking lot could fit a hundred or more cars but no idea why as the trail in here was very short and not that popular at all. I packed my hiking gear and camera equipment and readied myself for another splendid time with nature.
Yellow And Blue Trail
Across the road was the yellow and blue trail. Flat and even, the trail was very kind and very beginner friendly. I walked effortlessly on the footpath littered with tiny pebbles and rocks while the morning light caressed my skin, warming me up a little bit from the morning coldness from the air around me.
Yellow And Blue Trail
The trail was very well maintained with hardly any dead leaves on the footpath and with trail markers everywhere that were very easy to see. Huge and towering trees surrounded me, a common plant specie that I often see in this area. The trees were like towers, just shooting up to the sky with very little branches or twigs sprouting on their sides.
Bridge
The wooden bridge was strong, sturdy and most of all appeared to be new especially when compared to the other wooden bridges that I had seen on the Catskills Mountains. I traced my fingers on the rough and coarse railings, trying to get a feel on how strong the bridge was.
Intersection
Intersection
Red Trail
Wide and flat, the red trail was very friendly on the knees and legs as if this trail was meant for tourists and beginner hikers. I love such trails as they allow me to take it easy and appreciate my surroundings or nature much more.
Red Trail
After a few minutes, the red trail continued to be flat and even that I barely noticed any slopes on incline as I walked on it. The trail was very well maintained with an abundance of trail markers and signs that were meant to lead hikers to their intended destination.
Unmarked Trail
I took an unmarked trail just by looking at my phone GPS. The map in my phone said that there was a hotel site or ruins nearby.
Kaaterskill Hotel Site
The place where the hotel ruins was supposed to be was just empty space. There were no ruins, no structures, nothing but open land and grass growing on the flat terrain.
Kaaterskill Hotel Area
I searched a little bit more but there was nothing to see. Just a nice piece of land with plants growing peacefully undisturbed.
Blue And Red Trail Intersection
Blue And Red Trail Intersection
Blue Trail Going South
Another set of signs.
Blue Trail
The trail became narrow and the once wide terrain that was very friendly on the legs became a little bit more wild or untamed. Before it seemed like I was walking on my neighborhood park instead of going deep into a forest but now, there was some sort of wilderness that could be felt as I traveled through the trails.
Blue Trail
The morning sun shined upon the land, caressing it with its gentle and warm rays with the light and shadows play upon the footpath as if they were dancing to the rhythm of the wind. The trail became a slight downward descent or a loss of elevation which certainly meant that I will have to climb or ascend at a later time.
Inspiration Point Lookout
To the left of the footpath was inspiration point and there was small ledge that could fit a handful of people. I sat upon a sturdy rock while looking at the mountain filled with green trees in front of me. The mountain often looked like a green carpet in my eyes with little bumps and shadows all over its surface area.
Inspiration Point Views
The morning breeze blew in, swaying the shrubs, bushes and trees back and forth as I just sat there relaxing and enjoying every moment of it. The wind was cool, refreshing and taking away all of the fatigue that my body has accumulated. I had plenty of time, there was no need to rush so I just sat there looking at the beautiful valley in front me without a care in the world as if I had all the time for all of eternity.
Inspiration Point Vista
The morning had been bright and blue that to stay at this ledge for some time was truly enjoyable and very relaxing. I didn’t even want to move. I just wanted to stay there for some time and enjoy the scenery. But I knew I had to let go at some point and move on but there was always a part inside of me that said, “just stay a little longer, enjoy nature a little more.”
Blue Trail
The blue trail was mostly flat, sometimes it descends downward but only for a little bit.
Sunset Rock Views
Sunset rock was a big ledge that could accommodate a lot of people so if ever I was in a large group, this would be where I would take them to rest or to enjoy the scenery. There were plenty of shade as well, not that I needed it because the morning sun was rather nice and gentle to my skin.
Sunset Rock Vista
Viewpoint in a different angle.
Sunset Rock Lookout
There was plenty of time to just day dream, enjoy the scenery and let time passed me by but I still had plenty of energy and my body wanted to keep moving so I decided not to spend too much time here. It was a good lookout and I think a lot of people would enjoy it.
Blue Trail
Plenty of signs on the blue trail. It remained flat and a little bit going downwards.
Additional Lookout
There were additional lookouts at the end of the blue trail. They had no names, nothing written on the map or gps and they basically look at the same direction also.
Vista
Closer view or different angle of the valley.
Views
I stayed for a few more minutes at the last view point since I may not be back here for some time. The views were not amazing when compared to the other high elevation hikes in the area but the views here were good enough for me. I don’t desire anything magnificent or amazing. The simple things in life are often good enough for me as I find them very enjoyable.
Layman Monument
Layman Monument
Blue Trail Ascending
All the short downward descents I previously did accumulated as I was facing a steep slope that I need to do in order to get back to the parking lot. I think I rested too much as my body felt asleep and didn’t want to hike upwards at all. I didn’t have a choice. I took out my hiking sticks and hiked the trail upwards one small step at a time. I was slow but before I knew I was at the top.
Blue Trail Signs
Intersection
Blue Trail Going Up
I debated whether I should go to Kaaterskill falls as this was the intersection to do it. It would be a short hike as well but I decided not to as I’ve been in that place plenty of times.
Kaaterskill Falls Parking Lot Bridge
People that parked in the Kaaterskill Falls parking lot will use this bridge to get to the waterfall. The parking lot is also near the north-south lake camping grounds.
Blue Trail Registration
The start of the trail where you can register for the hike
Schutt Road
I had a choice whether to hike back using the yellow and blue trail or hike back using Schutt road and I chose the road. It wasn’t the smartest thing to do as I found out that the hard cemented road was actually very rough on the knees and legs. The soft ground was perfect for hiking as it wouldn’t give too much ricochet or feedback to the knees. I felt a little bit pain on my legs, knees and ankles when I arrived back at the parking lot.
End OF The Hike
It was the end of another adventure, the end of another hike. All in all, it was a very easy hike that I enjoyed very much. Next time I am here and I don’t have a lot of time to hike, I will remember to do this one. A short and sweet hike that is great for beginners and for people that love nature as well.
For more hikes similar to this one, you can go to my Best Hikes In Catskill, New York page.