Catskill Center Protects Platte Clove Viewshed and Expands Platte Clove Preserve with Acquisition of Key Parcel

ARKVILLE — The Catskill Center has secured the last undeveloped parcel of land at the head of Platte Clove in the Town of Hunter, adding 3.6 acres to the existing 208-acres of Platte Clove Preserve. This acquisition ensures the continued preservation of this historic and scenic area and will help manage visitor use in the future.

“The opportunity to acquire this critical piece of land at the head of Platte Clove adjacent to our Platte Clove Preserve is a major step forward in our mission to safeguard one of the Catskills’ most treasured landscapes,” said Jeff Senterman, Executive Director of the Catskill Center. “Platte Clove has long been a place of inspiration, adventure, and ecological significance, and this addition will help ensure its natural integrity while improving our ability to balance preservation with responsible recreation.”

The Catskill Center has been at the forefront of land preservation in the Catskills for over five decades. As a nationally accredited land trust, the Catskill Center protects more than 2,000 acres through conservation easements and manages over 300 acres of its own preserved land. This recent acquisition builds on a long history of land stewardship in the Catskills, which began in 1974 with the donation of the first 100 acres that would become the Platte Clove Preserve.

Today, the Catskill Center’s Platte Clove Preserve is a renowned outdoor recreation destination, offering unparalleled scenic views, an impressive waterfall, and extensive hiking connections to the greater Catskill Park and surrounding state Forest Preserve lands. Visitors to the preserve can access a vista depicted in some of America’s most iconic 19th-Century landscape paintings at a designated site on the Hudson River School Art Trail, explore the 61-foot Plattekill Falls via the Waterfall Trail, or embark on longer treks along the Overlook Trail, which links to Devil’s Path, Echo Lake, and Overlook Mountain. On the north side of Platte Clove Road, the preserve is crossed by other popular trails, including the Long Path and Huckleberry Point Trail.

As the popularity of the entire Platte Clove area has grown in recent years, so too has the strain on its roads, public access areas, trails, and natural areas. Increased visitation has put added pressure on this historically and ecologically significant landscape, making thoughtful, sustainable management more critical than ever. The newly acquired 3.6-acre parcel is a pivotal addition, giving the Catskill Center the space and flexibility to better manage visitor flow, provide more interpretation, protect sensitive habitats, and ensure that the area remains both accessible and environmentally resilient well into the future.

Securing this land was made possible through the generosity of a dedicated donor, who provided key financial support to cover a significant portion of the cost. However, to complete the acquisition, the Catskill Center drew from its general operating funds and is now seeking additional support from donors to fully cover the expense of protecting and managing this key parcel of land. Donations can be made at catskillcenter.org/donate.

The Catskill Center looks forward to working with the Town of Hunter, Greene County, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, our local elected officials, and community members to protect, interpret and manage visitation in this area.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “Working collaboratively with partners like the Catskill Center is critical to advancing New York State’s efforts to protect open space. DEC is grateful to the Catskill Center for its efforts to protect and enhance access to the magnificent Platte Clove Preserve. As New York State works to meet its goals to preserve 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030 while providing additional opportunities to access the outdoors, acquisitions like this parcel in Platte Cove strengthen our ability to protect scenic and ecologically important areas, provide high quality visitor experiences, and boost local economies.”

Sean Mahoney, Supervisor of the Town of Hunter said, “The Town of Hunter applauds the Catskill Center for their continued dedication to preserving the natural beauty and ecological integrity of Platte Clove located within our Town. This acquisition is a significant step in ensuring that one of the most breathtaking and historically rich areas of the Catskills remains protected for future generations. As visitation to our town and region continues to grow, we recognize and appreciate the importance of thoughtful stewardship and sustainable management. We are grateful for the Catskill Center’s leadership in conservation and look forward to working together to balance preservation with responsible recreation.”

Daryl Legg, Greene County Legislator said, “I am very excited about the purchase of the property next to the old Griswold Farm by the Catskill Center. This creates an excellent opportunity for strengthening the relationship between the NYSDEC, Catskill Center, and the Town of Hunter for improving access to the popular trailheads at the top of Platte Clove. In addition, the County has a project to repair the Devil’s Kitchen Bridge just to the east of this property and the purchase of this property creates new opportunities to assist with this work. The purchase of the property is a win for everyone on the mountaintop.”

David Kukle, President of the Mountain Cloves Scenic Byway said, “Exciting news and applause for all that made this happen, a positive beginning for 2025. The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development’s savings of this unique property, adjacent to Catskill Center’s Platte Clove Preserve and the Mountain Cloves Scenic Byway, located at the head of Platte Clove Gorge (Devil’s Kitchen) and the historic stone arched bridge is very important as this property is central to the history and future experiences of Platte Clove. This purchase will go far in furthering the missions of the Catskill Center within the Catskills. We look forward to the plans that the Center is developing that will enhance the safety, educational and interpretive learning experiences for the visitors that visit our sensitive natural resources. Their foresight of planning and investing in the protection of sensitive lands needs to be replicated throughout the Catskills where necessary.” 

Land Trust Accreditation 

The Catskill Center is an accredited land trust, having recently renewed accreditation with the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. Accreditation is a distinction of the Catskill Center’s excellence and ability to permanently protect the natural spaces we love. The existing 208-acre Platte Clove Preserve was generously donated to the Catskill Center by the Griswold family beginning in 1975 for the permanent protection of the extraordinary flora, fauna and geologic and historic features present on the property. Today, visitors can enjoy miles of hiking trails, a stop on the Hudson River School Art Trail, and a stunning 61-foot tall waterfall. To learn more, visit www.catskillcenter.org/platte-clove-preserve.