New York State Route 296
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 296 (NY 296) is a short state highway located entirely within both the Catskill Park and Greene County
. It connects NY 23A
in the village of Hunter
with NY 23
near the Windham hamlet of Hensonville.
Despite its brevity, it offers plenty of scenery to the driver as it climbs up from the Schoharie Creek
valley and descends again into the Batavia Kill watershed.
, one of the Catskill High Peaks
, as it does. After a couple of miles it levels off through a mix of woods and fields.
In this section, views of the Blackhead Range
, the rooster-comb signature of the northern Catskills, begin to offer themselves to the northeast. The offices of Black Dome Press, a small publisher of local-interest books which takes its name from the highest of the three peaks, are located along the highway. The only intersecting road of note is Greene County Route 23C, which leads back through East Jewett
to 23A at Tannersville
.
A mild descent takes the road to a junction with Barnum Road, which leads steeply up to the trailhead
at the west end of the Blackheads and a common starting point for hikers
trying Thomas Cole Mountain
. Bicyclists also favor 296 due to its relatively light automotive traffic, scenery and challenging hills.
After Barnum, the road squeezes past Van Loan Hill and begins to descend more sharply, making several large switchbacks into Big Hollow. Windham High Peak
, the northernmost Catskill High Peak, can be seen through the trees at some points across the valley. Upon reaching the bottom, the road passes through the tiny hamlet of Maplecrest, crosses the Batavia Kill and turns northwest to Hensonville, where it ends at 23.
Greene County, New York
Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Its name is in honor of the American Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene. Its county seat is Catskill...
. It connects NY 23A
New York State Route 23A
New York State Route 23A is an east–west state highway in Greene County, New York, in the United States. It serves as a alternate route of NY 23 through the northern Catskill Mountains...
in the village of Hunter
Hunter (village), New York
Hunter is a village in Greene County, New York, USA. The population was 502 at the 2010 census.The Village of Hunter is in the northwest part of the Town of Hunter on Route 23A.- History :...
with NY 23
New York State Route 23
New York State Route 23 is an east–west state highway in the eastern portion New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 26 in the Central New York town of Cincinnatus to the Massachusetts state line in the Berkshire Mountains, where it continues east as...
near the Windham hamlet of Hensonville.
Despite its brevity, it offers plenty of scenery to the driver as it climbs up from the Schoharie Creek
Schoharie Creek
Schoharie Creek in New York, USA flows north from the foot of Indian Head Mountain in the Catskill Mountains through the Schoharie Valley to the Mohawk River. It is twice impounded north of Prattsville to create New York City's Schoharie Reservoir and the Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project.Two notable...
valley and descends again into the Batavia Kill watershed.
Route description
From the oblique angle at which it intersects Route 23A, 296 climbs almost immediately past tiny Hunter Airport, offering a view of the rarely-climbed north side of Rusk MountainRusk Mountain
Rusk Mountain is a peak located in the towns of Jewett and Lexington in Greene County, New York, USA. At 3,680 feet in elevation, it is the 20th-highest peak in the Catskill Mountains and considered a member of the Catskill High Peaks...
, one of the Catskill High Peaks
Catskill High Peaks
The Catskill High Peaks are all of the mountains in New York's Catskill Mountains above 3,500 ft in elevation whose summits are separated either by one-half mile or a vertical drop of at least 250 ft between it and the next nearest separate summit...
, as it does. After a couple of miles it levels off through a mix of woods and fields.
In this section, views of the Blackhead Range
Blackhead Range
The Blackhead Mountains range is located near the northern end of the Catskill Mountains, in Greene County, New York, where it divides the towns of Windham and Jewett...
, the rooster-comb signature of the northern Catskills, begin to offer themselves to the northeast. The offices of Black Dome Press, a small publisher of local-interest books which takes its name from the highest of the three peaks, are located along the highway. The only intersecting road of note is Greene County Route 23C, which leads back through East Jewett
Jewett, New York
Jewett is a town centrally located in Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 953 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Judge Freeborn Jewett.- History :The town was first settled around 1784....
to 23A at Tannersville
Tannersville, New York
Tannersville is a village in Greene County, New York, USA. The village is in the east-central part of the town of Hunter on Route 23A. The population was 539 at the 2010 census.- History :...
.
A mild descent takes the road to a junction with Barnum Road, which leads steeply up to the trailhead
Trailhead
A trailhead is the point at which a trail begins, where the trail is often intended for hiking, biking, horseback riding, or off-road vehicles...
at the west end of the Blackheads and a common starting point for hikers
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
trying Thomas Cole Mountain
Thomas Cole Mountain
Thomas Cole Mountain is a mountain located in Greene County, New York.The mountain named for Thomas Cole , an artist who lived in the area, and is regarded as the founder of the Hudson River School....
. Bicyclists also favor 296 due to its relatively light automotive traffic, scenery and challenging hills.
After Barnum, the road squeezes past Van Loan Hill and begins to descend more sharply, making several large switchbacks into Big Hollow. Windham High Peak
Windham High Peak
Windham High Peak is a mountain located in Greene County, New York.The mountain is part of the Catskill Mountains.Windham High Peak stands within the watershed of the Hudson River, which drains into New York Bay....
, the northernmost Catskill High Peak, can be seen through the trees at some points across the valley. Upon reaching the bottom, the road passes through the tiny hamlet of Maplecrest, crosses the Batavia Kill and turns northwest to Hensonville, where it ends at 23.