The Town of Hunter is again contending with severe trailhead congestion near Kaaterskill Falls, where parking lots along Laurel House and Scutt roads have been “packed the last several weekends,” according to Sergeant Robert Haines of the Town Police Department.
Despite infrastructure upgrades and expanded parking, demand has routinely overwhelmed the lots that provide access to the popular hiking destinations of Kaaterskill Falls and North-South Lake campground. On high-traffic days, Haines said, officers have closed both roads to prevent further gridlock.
“The Town of Hunter has asked NYSDEC to take the lead on managing traffic at the Laurel House Road parking lot, with assistance from Town of Hunter Police as needed,” Supervisor Sean Mahoney stated in an email. Mahoney was absent from the April 22 Town Board meeting while attending a separate meeting with Greene County legislators to discuss a proposed county-wide ambulance service.
For the past four years, the Town has assumed parking enforcement duties on state land without reimbursement from the State. Mahoney said that a long-term plan is in development but contingent on available Town staffing.
This spring, Mahoney revived a set of guidelines for visitors that he posts annually on Facebook. The post includes parking alternatives such as the South Lake Campground, the Kaaterskill Rail Trail behind the Mountain Top Historical Society, and Harding Road in Palenville. A towing campaign and local partnerships—including support from the Kaaterskill Trolley Co.—have helped reduce illegal parking along Route 23A, where cars have previously created dangerous conditions.
Still, pressure remains, as the State is chronically understaffed. There are only two full-time forest rangers that typically cover the parking lots and trails, including emergency response.
Town Historian Dede Terns-Thorpe said that while it is encouraging to see more people enjoying the natural environment, “trail use today is almost out of control.” Terns-Thorpe, who worked at the Hunter Mountain Fire Tower and Devil’s Tombstone campground in the 1970s, also pointed to the pandemic’s lasting impact. “ People couldn’t stay cooped up in their homes,” she said. “It’s wonderful to see so many people using our natural environment, but I worry about the heavy use our forests are getting daily.”
Mahoney warned that starting Memorial Day weekend, any vehicles parked illegally along Route 23A will be towed to the Town of Hunter impound lot at Town Hall.
“We ask all visitors to the Kaaterskill Falls area and our Town to only park in legal parking areas and to be advised of all special regulations when visiting these sensitive locations,” he said.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation did not respond to requests for comment. Whether a sustainable solution will be in place before the height of the summer season remains uncertain.
Max Oppen is a contributing journalist. Send correspondence to reporting@theoverlooknews.com.