The Incredible Hike In New York That Will Lead You To An Abandoned Plane Crash
By Lea Monroe|Updated on September 22, 2023(Originally published February 04, 2023)
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Lea Monroe
Author
Writer for Only In Your State. Scribbling about all things New York and Buffalo related while also keeping you updated on the latest travel news! Inquiries: Lmonroe@onlyinyourstate.com
If you’re planning on hiking in the Empire State, there are several amazing hikes that are worth tackling very first. But if you’ve been exploring New York for a while now, you may be ready to take on something that’s more unique and above an easy difficulty level. Bringing you down into the Catskill Mountains, you’ll be surprised at what you’ll find on one of the tallest mountains in the region. The Overlook Mountain plane crash site is a startling and eerie spot. You may want to visit it with a friend in tow.
Head to the adventurous area of Greene County and you'll find what was once believed to be the tallest mountain in the region, Kaaterskill High Peak.
This is the starting place of your adventure, but it's certainly not the most impressive thing you'll spot on your journey.
The mountain is one that's considered to be difficult to hike, with a length of eight miles round trip and generally taking anywhere from 5 to 6 hours to complete.
As you can imagine, this is not for the faint of heart. We recommend that only experienced hikers, and those not easily spooked, take on this difficult trail.
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And while the view from the summit won't allow you to see too much, it's what you'll find along the way to the top that keeps drawing hikers to this spot.
That's right! The Overlook Mountain Trail plane crash sites are jarring and unexpected. Something about those mountains is apparently extremely distracting to plane pilots.
The most popular plane crash ruins to visit on the mountain can be found just south of Kaaterskill's summit, along the trail you'll take to get to Hurricane Ledge.
Back on May 26, 1983, a man from Watertown by the name of Rex Miller crashed his plane into Kaaterskill High Peak. Unfortunately, while Miller was trying to make his way back home from Poughkeepsie, he encountered bad weather while flying and would crash into the mountain roughly 3,400 feet above the ground. Today, the remains of Miller's plane (and supposedly even one of his shoes) can be found roughly 500 feet away from Kaaterskill's summit on the way to Hurricane Ledge. There's something very chilling about knowing you're on the site where such a terrifying event occurred.
The second crash is one that's a bit harder to reach but can be found towards the beginning of the hike.
Apparently, the 80s was a bad year for flying through the Catskills because on June 25, 1987, another plane crashed into Kaaterskill High Peak. Down on the mountain if you follow the Snowmobile Loop Trail, you'll discover the remains of a cargo plane that crashed into the mountain. The cargo plane had two passengers aboard that did not survive the crash, they too were flying on a cloudy night that had less than ideal weather conditions. Those who wish to see this plane crash will have to trek through muddy areas and even prepare themselves for bushwhacking. But for lovers of the macabre, it certainly pays off. You'll be able to spot the wreckage from the crash, though we can't promise it's not haunted by the souls of the deceased.
With so much history waiting for you on Kaaterskill High Peak, it's not hard to see why so many people are curious to explore these trails for themselves.
The Overlook Mountain Trail plane crash sites are a fascinating thing to come upon in the woods and thrill seekers will find just what they're searching for in these startling remains.
Who's ready to climb up to the top of the 23rd tallest mountain in the Catskill Region to discover some fascinating and slightly eerie pieces of the past?
Would you ever take on this Overlook Mountain Trail plane crash hike? Or have you been? If you have, let us know in the comments! We love to hear the first-hand experiences of our readers.
To experience more unique and somewhat spooky hiking trails, check out these seven trails in New York that will lead you to extraordinary ruins!
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