On Saturday, September 6, hundreds of New Yorkers will trade their hiking boots for work gloves as they converge on the Catskill and Adirondack Parks for a day devoted to trail clearing, litter removal and campsite care.
The event, called Adirondack & Catskill Park Day, is organized by Parks & Trails New York in partnership with the state Department of Environmental Conservation. It comes at a moment when public lands across the state are seeing record visitation, stretching the capacity of fragile trails, lakeshores and forests.
Volunteers — ranging from seasoned hikers to first-time visitors — will spread out across two of the state’s most iconic landscapes. In the Catskills, projects include trash collection at Kaaterskill Falls, light trail work at Meads Meadow and clean-up along the East Branch of the Neversink River.
Adirondack & Catskill Park Day has been framed as more than a one-off volunteer event. Organizers say it is part of a broader push to cultivate a culture of stewardship, ensuring that heavily visited trails and campgrounds remain accessible, safe and sustainable for future generations.
Founded in 1985, Parks & Trails New York has become the state’s leading advocate for green space, championing everything from the expansion of multi-use trail networks to the protection of its 1,500 miles of bike paths and river walks.
Events
Catskill Park Projects:
• Big Pond (Hosted by Catskill Mountainkeeper), 10:30 a.m.– 12:30 p.m. Trail walk and clean-up along this popular Catskill destination. Trash bags provided.
• Meads Meadow, Overloop, Overlook Connector Trails (Hosted by Catskill Mountain Club) 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Trail maintenance and light clean-up along 1.75 miles of scenic trail.
• Kaaterskill Falls & North South Lake (Hosted by Catskill Center) 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Trash pick-up and stewardship education at one of the park’s most visited sites.
• Denning Rd. Trailhead (Led by Catskill 3500 Club) 9 a.m. – noon. Educational hike and campsite clean-up along the East Branch of the Neversink River.
• Alder Lake – Finger Lakes Trail. 10 a.m.– 3 p.m. Hike with trail work including trimming, blowdown removal, and issue reporting.
