06/05/2026
Announcement:
The Catskill Scenic Trail will be closed for an extended period from Benjamin Road (Delaware/Schoharie County line) to where the trail crosses State Hwy 23 at Turk Hill Rd in Grand Gorge. The Catskill Revitalization Corporation, which owns and maintains the trail, has recently been awarded grants totaling almost $1.5 Million to do much needed major capital improvements on the eastern half of the trail. This project is funded in part by the Recreational Trails Program, an assistance program of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, and the Roxbury Downtown Revitalization Initiative through the NYS Department of State and will cover all the necessary improvements on the CST that have been identified between South Gilboa and downtown Roxbury. Included in these grant projects will be the complete rebuilding of nine (9) bridges contained in this long section which are all critical for keeping the trail open and safe long-term, and is the reason such a large sum was sought and procured in the first place. Without this scale of funding, it would eventually become essentially impossible to keep the trail viable that connects Stamford and Grand Gorge/Roxbury. Although the grant funds have been awarded (meaning the cost of the project will be reimbursed to CRC at the end), we still must wait for final approval to be given by the state to proceed with the work. The condition of the bridges has been monitored by the CRC as they have been continued to deteriorate for years, and recently concerns have been raised about the condition of the bridges between Benjamin Rd and Turk Hill Rd. Since trail closure and full replacement of the bridge decks in this location is imminent, short-term expensive repairs on the bridges are simply not affordable or practical at this point for the CRC. Therefore, starting today June 5th this section of trail will be closed as preparations are made for the permanent upgrades that will make the trail last for generations to come. Please recognize, the CRC will be making an unprecedented investment here of $1.5 Million in the Catskill Scenic Trail, which requires navigating multiple bureaucracies and will take many months to complete once the projects are finally started. Currently, the other almost 24 miles of the 26 total miles of the trail will remain open, and as the projects proceed, we will always aim to keep as much of the trail open as possible, but close what is necessary section by section to keep the public safe. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we embark on this monumental process to preserve and improve the CST. Catskills Junction
