Windham high peak and Burnt knob is a moderate to strenuous hike in the Catskill Mountains. The views are pretty good and the escarpment trail is well-maintained. The trailhead is also near to other hikes like the Blackhead, Black Dome, and Thomas Cole Mountains. Overall, this hike is very good and somewhat challenging at the same time. A great hike to do if you are ever near the area.
Windham High Peak And Burnt Knob Important Information
Trail Map: Trail Map 1, Trail Map 2
Suggested Phone GPS Apps: Alltrails.com, Avenza Maps, Google Maps
Difficulty: Moderate To Strenuous
Distance: 7.3 Miles
Elevation Gained: 2,000 ft
Portable Toilet At Parking: None
Trail Breakdown
Red Trail
Blue Trail
Viewpoint
Blue Trail
Second Viewpoint
Burnt Knob Lookout
Windham High Peak
Blue Then Red Trail Going Back
https://www.mapmyhike.com/workout/3589558918
Note: The information is just an approximation.
Parking
Start Of The Hike
It was a pleasure to be here on a beautiful day like today. Although the parking lot was very small, I could see people using the sides as another place to park their cars. This was not a popular hike or so it seems as I was the only car parked here. There wasn’t another soul in sight but it was all good as I often prefer to hike alone and be alone in solitude.
Red Trail
I walked dead center to the bridge, and as I turned to the side to take a picture of the water, my backpack hit the railing and almost pushed me off to the river down below. I have no idea why they only have one railing when they created this bridge. I saw the same design in other hikes in the Catskills Mountains and I am not impressed at all.
Red Trail
The red trail turned into a slight incline which wasn’t a problem and was very manageable. Unfortunately, massive amounts of insects or mosquitoes came swarming by. Those mosquitoes were annoying and their bites were very itchy but I had a rain jacket that was lightweight which I used to protect myself 99% of the time and I managed to get by rather safely.
Red Trail
I hurried upwards, hoping the elevation gain would make the mosquitoes leave me alone. I was correct, some of them couldn’t handle the elevation gain and I was left with a miniscule amount of insects that was following me. I kept going upwards without rest while hoping that the mosquitoes will continue to dwindle down in numbers as I reached higher and higher elevation.
Red Trail
The red trail was a straight shot upwards without any hints of flat terrain, just a continuous ascent to the top of the mountain. I had no choice but to hurry up and quicken my pace as I would like the mosquitoes to leave me alone. The weather was cold enough that the rain jacket I was wearing was very comfortable and not hot. I shudder to think what would happen if I was hiking underneath a hot summer sun while these mosquitoes were attacking me.
Intersection
Intersection
Blue Trail
The blue trail was a slight ascent, not as steep compared to the red trail and it was quite manageable. There were only a few mosquitoes that were following me and by this time, I have gotten used to their company. They couldn’t pierced through my clothes and as such they were not a problem at all. By this time, I could enjoy and appreciate the hike and my surroundings without constantly thinking about the swarming insects that were out to get me.
Blue Trail
It was a nice trail, very well maintained and very easy to follow. Nothing out of the ordinary and the trees surrounding me were quite beautiful in their own right. Shrubs and various types of grasses could be seen growing on the sides of the trail, while the light of the sun continuously shined down to lit up my path.
Blue Trail
The trail became steeper and harder with each passing moment. The once flat terrain that I loved so much became rugged and steep that my pace slowed down considerably. The light of the morning sun shined brighter than ever, illuminating my path, and making it easier to walked through the footpath. The trail was well maintained as well, a good indication that hikers still frequently go to this place.
Blue Trail
Near the top, the footpath became even steeper with big boulders and rocks spread all over the place. I walked slowly, trying to be more careful while conserving my energy. Those insects took most of my energies as I was frantically trying to get up the mountain to avoid them. Now I could feel the fatigue setting in on my body as my shoulders began to feel the heaviness of my backpack and my breathing became deeper and deeper as time goes by.
First Lookout
The forceful gust of winds blew away all the insects that were following me. At this height and with the wind protecting me, the insects could not even get near me. I sat alone at the edge of a cliff, just admiring the beautiful landscape in front me. All of my fatigue and worries seemed to be melting away as if the wind would take each one away with each passing moment. I sat in stillness, just dreaming and wishing I could stay like this for all of eternity.
Viewpoint
I could feel my body slowly recovering from the onslaught that it had just been through. The heaviness that I felt was no more as my body felt lightweight and ready to start hiking again. Still, I stayed for a few more minutes, I just wanted to enjoy the views a little longer. There was no hurry and I may not be back here for a long time.
Blue Trail
Flat terrain and then a gentle descent greeted me after the lookout. My body felt good and replenished from resting and I could feel new vigor surging inside me as if I could conquer many more mountains on this day. I walked downward with a nice quicker pace than before and I felt invincible as I covered a great distance in a very short time.
Blue Trail
The narrow footpath headed to the top of the mountain as I braced myself for the next obstacles that I may face. Dead brown leaves scattered through out the trail as if no one had been here for quite a while. The sound of crunchy noises and bones splitting could be heard with each footstep that I made, they came from the brown leaves that were getting destroyed by my boots as I stepped on them on my way up.
Second Lookout
I found another lookout after the ascent but this time, I didn’t want to stay too long as my body still felt good and ready to hike some more. It was nice that these vistas offer some sort of sanctuary from the insects that were bothering. The mighty winds blowing forth was just too much for those little insects that they could not get near me even if they wanted to.
Blue Trail
Flat terrain to the next viewpoint.
Burnt Knob Lookout
Burnt knob lookout was rather small and it maybe able to fit roughly 3 normal sized people. It was a decent viewpoint but my body still felt good and energized that I took a look at it and moved on.
Blue Trail Descending
It was one of those trails where I already knew that I would go down and then go back up again in order to reach the next mountain. While before I would have gotten annoyed, I have come and got used to it by now. I went down slowly, not rushing anything and just trying my best to conserve my energy for the ascent upwards.
Blue Trail Ascending
The ascent to Windham Mountain was actually a lot harder than the other ascents I’ve done in this hike.
Blue Trail Ascent
As expected, the terrain started going upwards. It was a footpath filled with dead brown leaves that hid the rocks and boulders underneath. I tried my best to be careful as I was hiking alone and this trail did not look popular at all. But the sun shined down upon me as if it was helping me by lighting up the way. I moved up the trail until I got to the top.
Windham High Peak Lookout
I looked straight ahead and didn’t see any mountains at all, all I saw was the silver horizon greeting me from afar. The cool wind blows intermittently, cooling my body and replenishing my energies again. I did not stay long however as I wasn’t at the top yet so I kept moving on.
Windham High Peak Marker
The marker that symbolizes I was at the top.
Windham High Peak Second Lookout
The lookout was blocked by lots of trees.
Blue Trail Going Back
I took a quick rest before heading back. There was nothing interesting or peculiar. It was the same trail that I went with to get up and now I was taking the same trail to get back.
Red Trail Going Back
I met the small insects or mosquitoes again as they swarmed all around me. They were happy to see me as they kept buzzing around all over my head. There were many more this time around as if the mosquitoes called for reinforcements. I walked downward to the parking lot but I was too tired to quicken my pace. My jacket was providing ample protection that I did not mind their presence anymore.
End Of The Hike
It was a good hike but it would have been better without the mosquitoes. There were a lot of them. I think all hikers would agree that these little buggers can make a good hike turn into a terrible one. Well, it was mosquito season so it was hard to complain. Maybe next time I will come here during the Fall or on colder days where mosquitoes aren’t rampant.
Well, cya all next time in the next adventure.
For more hikes similar to this one, you can go to my Best Hikes In Catskill, New York page.