Plateau Mountain via Devil's Tombstone Campground (Catskill Park)

Plateau Mountain via Devil's Tombstone Campground (Catskill Park)

Hike Type: Out-and-Back

Distance: 6.80 miles

Elevation: 2,037 feet

Time: 3 hours, 12 minutes (2 hours, 53 minutes moving)
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge 2025, Catskill 3500 Club

The Hike

After finishing up the "kinda Bachelorette party but really just wedding planning" weekend, I had a fully open Sunday for some hiking before making my grand return to New Jersey. I had hoped to climb Plateau Mountain in the Catskills on the way up a couple days ago, but thunderstorms prevented me from achieving that. After looking at the stats, I decided I'd do Plateau today and if I had energy left, which I should, I cal also hike the mountians I had planned for today afterwards (Twin & Indian Head). I had a SILLY wake up at 1:45am and was out the door at 2:00am (I giggled setting the alarm because it was so silly). I was shockingly awake for the drive and even saw a shooting star near Worcester! I stopped for food and fuel at the Lee rest area. I started to see early daylight around 4:00am once I was on I-87, and then I had a wonderful drive through the Catskills, passing Hunter Mountain just before the trailhead. There were a few other cars at the trailhead including one van, and it was just a little too dark for me to start without a headlamp, so I got to have a little power nap.

After my nap, I explored the parking area, which had a lovely pond, picnic spots, and some water spigots. My stomach was NOT happy, which was a solid bummer, and I was mentally preparing to take care of a code brown once in the woods. I got suited up a little after 5:30am and crossed the road to start my hike. It was a humid 61 degrees, and it was time to climb!

[5:41am - Devil's Path]

The Devil's Path climbed up some stairs to enter the woods and passed the trail register (I was good and signed it!). I took about 10 spider webs in the first 5 feet of the hike, but thankfully that was the bulk of it. The trail began on a wide footbed through some warm, humid air, and then began to zig zag and steepen up many rock steps, soon switching to a more rugged uphill climb. 

I realized I didn't lock my car which was a solid bummer, but I had already done too much work to turn around. The trail was a calf steep which had my legs on fire! I knew this would be a steep climb, but I don't think I fully comprehended how steep it was going to be. I climbed through a loose, wobbly stretch as the footbed narrowed around 0.5 miles. There was an occasional lukewarm breeze that was the only thing keeping me alive!

There were some obstructed tree views as I ascended another loose graveley stretch steeply. I continued to remind myself that the name Plateau Mountain implies I will have a nice, long walking break, because I needed it! The trail slightly leveled out at an unpleasant grassy patch followed by a talus-y area. The trail then turned and steepened, but thankfully the worst was now behind me (at least the worst in terms of steepness...). 

I passed some fun, white, poofy flowers and then entered a stretch of overgrowth that was just not fun to swim through. After the dreadful stretch, the Devil's Path meandered through the woods past some really cool rock formations followed by one more stretch of loose, awful footing. 

Thankfully, that awful stretch led to the view! The trail kind of split just beforehand - the official trail turned right and easily hiked up stone steps to the viewpoint ledge, and a worn path on the left led to the steep wall of the ledge that was scramble-able up (I kind of read that the trail used to go this way, but I cannot confirm that). I went left for no good reason, hurting my shoulder in the process, but the view was worth it!

[6:38am - Devil's Path/Overlook]

The overlook was really wonderful in the morning, colorful light. It's fun to be in a mountain range that I'm not overly familar with - the only things I could identify were Hunter Mountain on the right with it's fire tower and Slide Mountain on the left. The drainages looked intricately carved between all the surrounding mountains and hills which was just wonderful!

To my absolute delight, the climbing for the hike was basically over! Turning back into the woods, I hiked along a wonderful, flat ridge that some would dare call a "plateau." The footing was good and soft and soon I came to a somewhat grown-in ledge view towards Kaaterskill High Peak.

Loudly buzzing flies were beginning to wake up, but thankfully they were no bother aside from their symphony of sounds. The trail meandered around some unproblematic ferns, eventually nearing (or entering) someone's heavily posted private land. There was an occasional gentle blaze and a few birds adding to the overhead buzzing, too. There were some webs here and there, but only when the trail was narrower.

There was a gentle small scramble and then the Devil's Path swung around a false summit and easily descended into a dark forest before rising past some really cool rock shelf-like formations (I wish I knew more geological terms), soon landing at the junction with the Warner Creek Trail.

[7:14am - Devil's Path/Warner Creek Trail]

The trail junction sign mentioned that the Tremper Mountain Fire Tower was 10 miles away, which was fun to see. Only 0.5 miles to the summit, according to the sign! The Devil's Path easily descended again before rising to a left turn off of what looked like an old trail or road corridoor, arriving at the summit shortly after!

[7:26am - Plateau Mtn. Summit]

The summit was simply the height-of-land on the trail, only marked by the word "PLATEAU" sharpie'd onto a faded red trail marker. I likely would have hiked right past it if the trail didn't begin to descend right after! I did a quick break there to grab a beef stick and swap out my Nalgenes, but I didn't stick around 1) because there was nothing to see and 2) the flies were getting a little close for my liking when standstill.

I ate my beef stick on the move (the Fatty brand with cheese in it... I was not a fan of the texture), easily descending and gently rising back to the junction with the Warner Creek Trail in the beautiful woods.

[7:39am - Devil's Path/Warner Creek Trail]

The return trip to the overlook was inconsequential, just wonderful, easy hiking. I found myself admiring all of the old blazes which made me wonder about something and gave me an idea. My wonder was is the plastic really better for the environment than a paint blaze, or does it not make much of a difference? My gut says a slab of paint MUST be better for the trees than a piece of plastic and two nails, but what I do know... My idea was a cool hiking patch challenge where you have to "collect" photos of all the different trail markers that NYSDEC uses (like yellow, blue, and red, and then the different "eras") - I might research this more.

I used the PeakFinder app at the medium grown-in overlook to find out that to the right of Kaaterskill High Peak was Sugarloaf, Twin, and Indian Head - the latter two I planned to hike afterwards!

[8:10am - Devil's Path/Overlook]

I soon came back to the main, wonderful overlook that was paired with a life-altering breeze (thank goodness). The view looked completely different with the sun fully shining and it was just as lovely. I took a quick standing break and mentally prepared for a rough descent.

Right away, a little snake spooked me and then I slid about 4 feet on one foot in the uppermost horribly loose section. I got a bug in my eye and smashed my toe against a shockingly hard rock in the overgrown stretch. The middle loose, gravelley section was still loose and gravelley, as was the lowest, which was just as horrible. It was dreadfully sweaty down low, and I got another bug in the same eye as before. Thankfully, after questioning all of my life choices, I reentered a hardwood forest, descended on stone steps, signed out at the trail registered, and made my way across the road back to the car.

[8:45am - End of Hike]

This hike was more tiring than I originally expected (my fault) and I found myself trying to convince myself to call it a day and skip Twin/Indian Head, but it was only 8:45am, I had a full change of clothes, I was about to eat and hydrate, and I would be really proud of myself if I rallied, so alas, I rallied! I also realized I did not need to take care of a code brown in the woods, so that was a win! I filled up a Nalgene at a water spigot and started my short-and-sweet drive over to the Devil's Path trailhead!

Step-by-Step

- Park at Devil's Tombstone Campground.

- Cross street and hike to Plateau Mountain via Devils' Path (red).

- At summit, turn around and return to car.

Map of Indian Head Wilderness (NYSDEC)

Photo Album