Peekamoose Valley, located in the southeastern Catskill Forest Preserve, is a popular recreation destination that encompasses 275 acres of the 30,100-acre Sundown Wild Forest. The Peekamoose Blue Hole is a popular swimming spot within the forest that was formed over centuries by sand and gravel swirling in a whirlpool. This unique geological depression in the streambed rock of the Rondout Creek attracts many visitors seeking its clear, cool waters and the picturesque setting. There is a brief 0.6-mile trail from the parking lot to reach the hole, but parking is extremely limited due to this location’s popularity during summer. Roadside parking is prohibited and will result in tickets or towing.
Special regulations protect the area’s natural resources, including restrictions on campfires, alcohol, and noise, and a $10 permit is required for all visitors, such as campers, hikers, picnickers, and anglers, between May 15 and Sept. 15.
Other popular trails in the valley include the Peekamoose–Table Mountains Trail, a 9-mile-out-and-back trail that offers views from both mountain summits; and the Long Path, a scenic long-distance hiking route that runs along the Peekamoose–Table and Bangle Hill trails and is made up of roads and trails that stretch from the George Washington Bridge to the Adirondacks.
