A challenging jungle adventure through some harsh terrain.
Hiking route description
The Van Benschoten Trail in the Catskill Mountains was first established in the 1920s by Golden Van Benschoten, ranger of the old Moon Haw Hunting Club.
Active during the Prohibition era, Camp Moon Haw was famous for being a hideout for Kingston attorneys engaging in gambling and other escapades until it was reportedly burned down by angry spouses.
The Monhoe area where the Van Benschoten Trail is located was named after two Indian chiefs who “transferred their lands to the settlers.” Since then, there have been multiple claims to the land, notably its original owner, Andrew Perry Every, a War of 1812 veteran who after the war Received this land as a gift.
Nelson Shultis owned 3,000 acres before selling most of the area to the state. Nearby Shultis Lane tells the story of the family’s historical ties to the area, including Wittenberg’s famous lumber mill.
The Van Benschoten Trail is an intense bush route, a mix of old woods roads, stream crossings, abandoned trails, weak fires, ox cart paths, huge boulders, loose dirt, lots of rock landmarks, cliffs and caves, as well as one of the steepest headwalls in the Catskills.
My understanding is that Benschoten is pronounced with a hard “k”, which is “ben-SKO-ten”.
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Van Benschoten Trail
Please note: This route is extremely challenging and requires excellent backcountry navigation skills.
The Van Benschoten Trail hike includes…
- old woods road
- a bullock cart road
- Challenging, beautiful terrain
- Cliffs, caves, lost soil, sewage
- Perhaps the steepest col in the Catskills?
- Multiple return route options
Fall is probably the best time to hike this trail, when the leaves have fallen from the trees and winter scenery is in full view, without the added stress of snow and ice.
one Comprehensive breakdown Provided in the hiking notes below 11 photos.
Van Benschoten Trail Elevation Gain
The altitude of this hike is 3000 feet (approximately 900 meters). The picture below gives a good idea of how steep it is near the top…
Van Benschoten Trail hiking time
This hike takes 5-6 hours.
Van Benschoten Trail Notes and Gallery
Beginning at the classic Moonhaw section (see below for location), the route begins on the winding west side. private property Wraps, which are very important to avoid. cross unnamed stream from dinkbefore connecting to the old orange paint shine The Van Benschoten trail is correct. or…
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The mother mountain of this hike is Wittenberg.
How does LMK go if you take this hike…
