Ulster County High Point Trip Report
Slide Mtn (4,180 ft)
Date: November 23, 2001
Author: Ken Akerman
Shortly after 7 am, I began hiking to the summit via the Slide-Cornell-Wittenberg Trail. This trailhead is
located off the east side of Ulster County Road 47, 9.4 miles south of Big Indian, New York.
Trailhead elevation is about 2,300 feet and there is a large parking area here.
The trail is marked by round blue blazes all the way to the summit of the mountain. From the trailhead, hike
for 0.7 mile on a relatively steep and narrow trail, then turn right and hike for a while on a wider trail.
Follow the trail markings as the trail makes a sharp left up the steep face of the mountain. The trail reaches
the summit of Slide Mountain after about 2.75 miles. The highest point of Slide is marked by the concrete
base of an old ranger's station. From there, continue a short distance up the trail to a rock shelf that
overlooks mountains to the east and northeast. Hike around and below to the front of this rock shelf to
view a plaque erected in memory of early-20th century author and naturalist John Burroughs, who wrote
about many of his ascents of this mountain.
The total hiking distance to the summit of Slide Mountain and back is 5.5 miles, and I completed this ascent
in about 2 hours and 40 minutes. The weather was clear and dry and relatively warm for late November.
The only snow on the mountain was a very light cover beginning at about 400 feet below the summit.