Burnt Knob to Windham High Peak back to Acra Point via Big Holow(Catskills)

Got out of work early Saturday afternoon and headed south to enjoy a beautiful section of the northeast Catskills that I haven't hiked in a couple of years.  My game plan was to park at the trailhead at the end of Big Hollow Road and hike up the Black Dome Trail north to the Escarpment Trail.  Wasn't sure how much time I'd have, but wanted to head west over Burnt Knob to Windham High Peak and then back east over to Acra Point.  On the drive down along Route 23(near the WHP trailhead), I pulled over to the side of the road to capture some of the early fall color.

Arrived at the parking area at the end of Big Hollow Road at about 2:30pm and quickly set out on my way. The red blazed DEC trail enters the woods on the north side of the road and immediately comes to a footbridge crossing the Batavia Kill.

Paused for a few moments to enjoy the peaceful stream, where low water is typical during the late summer.

Rocks help keep your feet dry at a smaller stream crossing.

The initial part of the hike passes through a dark, conifer forest before emerging into a deciduous forest.

After a touch over 1 mile and a barely noticeable 700 foot acent, the red trail meets up with the blue blazed Escarpment Trail.  This is located in the col between Burnt Knob and Acra Point.  I turned left(west) here, heading up towards Burnt Knob.

After a couple of steeper stretches, a side path leaves the trail, dropping down to an open ledge.  This ledge provides an up close view of the Blackhead Range, towering directly above the valley.

3940 foot Blackhead Mountain with 3400 foot sub summit Arizona Mountain, peaking out beyond to the south.

A zoom look at Black Dome, the highest of the three main peaks at 3990 feet.

 Acra Point's long ridge directly to the east.

Continuing north along the Escarpment Trail leads a short distance on to another side path to a viewpoint.

This vista is sweeping and visually stunning, with the broad valley stretching out all the way norht towards the Adirondacks.

The Mohawk Valley.

A slight turn to the left, provides a great shot of Windham High Peak, hovering over the valley.

After a few minutes soaking in the views, I continued west along the trail.

After a couple of small ups and downs another side path emerges at a southwest view point.

This ledge provides a spectacular view out over the Black Dome Valley.

Windham High Peak looks awfully impressive just to the west. 

After dropping down into the col at about 2900 feet, I began a steady climb up towards Windham High Peak.

Early fall colors.

Catskill sandstone.

Ascending up and over 3500 feet.

Just below the summit is a large, protruding rock ledge that provides even broader valley views to the north than those enjoyed on Burnt Knob.

The view northwest.

The views go on forever from up here.  This is the northern most 3500+ foot peak with nothing but the broad valley stretching out in front of you.

Continued on a scant .15 mile further up to the 3524 foot summit of Windham High Peak.

The summit cone on Windham High Peak.

After hitting the summit of Windham High Peak, I turned around, retracing my steps back off the mountain, towards Burnt Knob.  Such a gorgeous afternoon. 

While looking at my maps, I realized that I had not hit the true summit in my other visits here.  The trail actually crosses a shoulder of the 3180 foot summit, so I bushwhacked a short distance uphill(N-NE) until I arrived at a high point.  Wooded and unremarkable, but pretty easy going.

A few minutes later I was back on the trail and with a little time left, I decided I'd head the short distance beyond the col towards Acra Point.  The trail up to Acra Point is fairly easy with only a couple of steeper grades.

A side path on the Acra Point ridge provides great views from a large rock ledge to the south and west. Unfortunately, the late afternoon sun obscured the view towards Burnt Knob, which is quite spectacular under normal conditions.

The ridge line towards Blackhead Mountain, cloaked in fall color.

The trail continues east to an overgrown north facing viewspot, before finally beginning a descent down off the summit.  Just before the descent, a high point can be found only a few yards off the trail.  This is the 3100 foot summit of Acra Point.

Turned around here, heading back down to the red blazed Black Dome Trail.  Arrived back at the car with about 20 minutes to spare before sunset.  Hiked about 8.8 miles RT.