The Blackhead Range is made up of the third, fourth, and fifth highest mountains in the Catskills:  Black Dome (3890 feet), Blackhead (3840 feet), and Thomas Cole (3840 feet).  The Range is located in the northern Catskills (north of Hunter Mt) in Greene County. 

Summary: This 9.4 mile out and back hike takes you through the Blackhead Range. The area got its name because when viewed from a distance the tops of the peaks appear Black due to the spruce/Balsam Summits. The hike starts out on the Black Dome Range trail. There is an overall elevation gain of over 2700 feet on this moderate/difficult hike.

Park at the trailhead on Barnum Road of the Maplecrest Road. Find the red-blazed Black Dome Range Trail that follows an old road for about .45 miles. Turn left off the road and register for the hike. Follow the red trail which climbs steadily for 1.6 miles over two hills named Caudal and Camel's Hump. On the way up the Caudal there is a lookout off the trail to the right. It offers some nice views to the south. Some parts of this trail are steep while others have switchbacks to help keep the climb manageable.

Near the top of the Camel's Hump is another more popular lookout to the right. This also offers views to the south but they are more extensive. Continue on the red trail for another .85 miles to the summit of Thomas Cole Mountain. The descent from Camel's Hump into the col is not very difficult. There are very few views along the way. At one point as you walk along the flat area in the col between the Hump and Cole, Thomas Cole Mountain is directly in front of you. The final ascent up Thomas Cole is steep in parts and rather long. There are no views from the summit.

Continue on the red trail for .8 miles to the summit of Black Dome. The descent into the Col and subsequent ascent of Black Dome are both steep and you will repeat them as you retrace your steps back to the parking area! Just before the summit on Black Dome is another lookout again to the south. Continue on this trail for 1.25 miles passing through the col on the way to Blackhead Mountain.

The descent into the Col and subsequent ascent of Black Dome are both steep and you will repeat them as you retrace your steps back to the parking area!  The summit of Blackhead as no views but as you ascend the western flank of Blackhead there are great views back to the west at Black Dome. After reaching the rock and trail junction that mark the summit, turn around and retrace your path back to the parking area.

Blackhead Loop

Another hike through part of the Blackhead Range is a 7 mile loop from Big Hollow Road.  This loop has an overall elevation gain of over 2800 feet and also includes some rock scrambles.  It is shorter than the out and back hike, but is more difficult and you miss a few of the views west of Camels Hump.

Park at the trailhead at the end of Big Hollow Road. Find the red-blazed Black Dome range Trail and hike .6 miles. At this point bear left on the yellow-blazed Batavia Kill trail. Follow this yellow trail for .9 miles where it meets the blue-blazed Escarpment Trail. Take a right and follow this trail for 1 mile until the junction with the yellow-blazed Blackhead Mountain Trail. This is the summit of Blackhead Mountain. Go right on this trail and descend .65 miles to the col between Blackhead and Black Dome.

 Go straight ahead on the red trail and follow it for .6 miles to the summit of Black Dome. As you climb over the steepest rock scrambles, hold on and look over your shoulder. The exposed rock you see on Blackhead is where you were just a little while ago. (You can skip the next part about Thomas Cole Mountain if the two Blacks were your goal for the day.) From the summit of Black Dome you continue for another rather uneventful .8 miles to the summit of Thomas Cole Mountain. To return, retrace your route back to the col between Black Dome and Blackhead. Turn left to stay on the red trail and proceed back to the parking area.

 Black Dome Range Trail (Red Discs)

Also known as Blackhead Range Trail.

0.00 Marked trail starts on Elmer Barnum Road at its junction with County Route 40. Proceed easterly along Barnum Road (driveable for 0.7m with parking at the end). 

1.10 Turn left off old road following red markers.
3.55 Summit of Thomas Cole Mt. (3940').

4.30 Summit of Black Dome Mt. (3980'). View to the south.

4.90 Pass yellow Blackhead Mt. Trail. Continue left steeply downgrade.

5.30 Spring.

6.15 Pass yellow Batavia Kill Trail going right to lean to (0.65m),

6.65 Trail turns right after parking area on Big Hollow Road.

7.00 Cross stream.

7.75 Trail ends at junction with blue Escarpment Trail between Burnt Knob and Acra Point.

Map above courtesy of Andy Arthur

CNY Hiking HOME PAGE

Catskill Forest Preserve

Catskill 3500 Club

Escarpment Trail

Long Path

contact CNY HIKING by email at contact@cnyhiking.com

(c) 2006-today CNY Hiking - All rights reserved.  Any use of information from this site without permission is strictly forbidden.