North-South Lake is the biggest and most popular state campground in the Catskill Forest Preserve, offering extraordinary scenic beauty, and historical sites, such as: Alligator Rock, Kaaterskill Falls, and the former site of the Catskill Mountain House.
An abrupt change in elevation occurs from about 540 feet above sea level at the base of the escarpment to approximately 2,250 feet at the site of the former Catskill Mountain House. The provinces around the lakes have long provided visitors with exceptional views of the surrounding countryside. It is said that on a clear day, five states can be viewed from the escarpment.
Here is a revised map of the North-South Lake Campground and the various trails of the Kaaterskill Clove. Further revisions of this map will be needed for 2016, to reflect the additional new trails being added around Kaaterskill Falls.
TheΒ Harding Road Trail is an old carriagewayΒ built to the former Kaaterskill Mountain House,Β long abandoned but still largely remaining 25-foot wide road cut into the side of South Mountain, running 2 miles from Palenville to the old carriageway looping around South Mountain.Β Additional parking is available along Whites Road.