Slide Mountain Quarry Road
Brutal bluestone quarry climb to Catskills' highest peak
This brutal quarry road climbs the flanks of Slide Mountain, New York’s highest peak, accessing a network of abandoned bluestone operations that supplied building material to New York City for decades. The route starts innocuously near Winnisook Lake but quickly becomes a rock-strewn nightmare of loose shale and exposed bedrock. Massive bluestone blocks still litter the mountainside where quarrymen abandoned them when the operation closed in the 1930s. The road ends at a spectacular overlook of the Catskill High Peaks.
Expert-level technical driving requiring modified 4WD with low gearing, skid plates, and quality tires. The loose shale surface offers zero traction, and several sections climb at angles that will test your nerve. Spring runoff makes things worse with washouts and debris flows. Best attempted in late summer when dry conditions prevail. No camping allowed in this wilderness area, but the industrial archaeology and summit views reward those willing to tackle one of New York’s most challenging backwoods routes.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Expert |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Rock |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 8 mi / 12.9 km |
| Duration | Half day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 3980 ft |
| Best season | July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Built 4WD with low-range, skids, AT tires |
| Nearest town | Phoenicia, NY |
| Land manager | New York State Department of Environmental Conservation |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Jeep Wrangler or 4Runner handle Slide Mountain Quarry Road?
Not without modifications. This trail demands a built 4WD with low-range, full skid plate coverage, and aggressive AT or MT tires at minimum. Stock rigs risk frame contact on the sharp bluestone rock faces and lack the articulation for the steeper technical sections.
When is Slide Mountain Quarry Road actually accessible?
July through September is the reliable window. Spring runoff and mud make the lower sections a mess well into June, and early snowfall can shut the upper elevations down by October. Don't push the shoulder seasons on an Expert-rated trail at nearly 4,000 feet.
Do you need a permit to run this trail?
No permit required, but the trail falls under New York State DEC jurisdiction. Standard NY State land rules apply — no motorized travel off designated routes, pack out everything, and respect any posted closures, which the DEC does enforce in the Catskills.
What's the hardest section and what makes it so serious?
The quarry climb itself is the crux — steep, loose, and jagged bluestone slabs with minimal recovery room on the ledge sections. With 2,400 feet of gain over 8 miles and no bailout options near the top, a mechanical failure high on the trail means a difficult and expensive extraction.
Is there any cell service on the trail, and how far is the nearest gas from the trailhead?
There is zero cell service on this trail — download your maps offline before you leave. Phoenicia is the nearest town and has a gas station roughly 10 miles from the trailhead, so fuel up there; don't count on anything closer.
Trail track
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