7 Best Kid-Friendly Catskills Hikes Near Margaretville
There are trails for every age and ability within a 20-minute drive of Peek-a-Blue. Here are our favorites, ranked from easiest to most challenging.
Easy — Strollers and Toddlers Welcome
1. Andes Rail Trail (15 min drive)
A flat, grassy path that follows the old Delaware & Northern railroad bed. It’s the smoothest trail in the area for an all-terrain stroller. As a runner myself, I find this is the best spot for a flat morning 5k before the family wakes up.
2. Pakatakan Trail (10 min drive)
An easy creekside walk near Dry Brook. Kids love the water access—they’ll want to throw rocks in the creek the entire time. Shaded and cool even in the heat of summer.
Moderate — Ages 5 and Up
3. Dry Brook Ridge Trail — Lower Section (12 min drive)
The first mile climbs gradually through mixed forest. Turn around whenever the kids get tired. For those training for a race, this lower section offers a great heart-pumping climb without the full 5-hour commitment of the ridge.
4. Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower (15–20 min drive)
This is the fire-tower hike from Peek-a-Blue — near Arkville / Margaretville, in Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest. It is a half-day, not a one-hour kid walk.
The route we use is the popular Mill Brook Road approach (Dry Brook Ridge Trailhead, outside Arkville). Per the Catskills Visitor Center:
- Follow the blue Dry Brook Ridge Trail about 2.2 miles to the junction with the Balsam Lake Mountain Trail
- Follow the red Balsam Lake Mountain Trail about 0.75 miles to the tower
- Return the same way — a moderate ~6-mile round trip
Summit elevation is about 3,723 feet. The tower is restored and open; the DEC Fire Tower Challenge describes this Mill Brook Road hike the same way (moderate, six miles round trip). Best views are from the tower cab, not from the trees at the summit.
Kids who already hike a few miles can do this with snacks and an early start. Toddlers belong on the Andes Rail Trail instead. Download maps at the cabin — no cell service on the ridge. Weekend trailheads fill; go early.
Host notes from a recent hike — fog, a picnic at the tower, and what the climb felt like — are in Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower, a foggy Sunday.
A shorter approach exists from Beaverkill Road, but that road is only seasonally maintained and is the wrong default from Margaretville. Use Mill Brook Road from the cabin.
5. Millbrook Ridge Trail (18 min drive)
A loop trail through forests and meadows. Less trafficked than Balsam Lake, so you’ll likely have the trail to yourselves.
Challenging — Experienced Hikers
6. Dry Brook Ridge — Full Traverse (12 min drive)
The full ridge hike covers 6-8 miles with significant elevation gain. Not for toddlers, but incredible for experienced hikers looking for a workout.
7. Slide Mountain via Phoenicia Trail (40 min drive)
The highest peak in the Catskills (4,180 ft). Rocky, rooty, and rewarding. A bucket list summit for anyone staying in the central Catskills.
Trail Tips
- Check for Ticks: They are active May through September.
- Start Early: Popular trailheads like Balsam Lake fill up by 10 AM on summer weekends.
- No Service: Cell service is non-existent on most trails. Download your maps at the cabin before you head out.