The Shandaken Brook Lean-To is a lean-to shelter in the Big Indian Wilderness of the Catskill Mountains in New York State. The lean-to is on the Seager Big Indian Trail and can be accessed most closely from the Dry Brook Trailhead Parking lot.
Shelter Features
It is one of the only shelters in the region that has three and a half walls instead of only three, making it partially enclosed. It is one of the older lean-tos in the region as well, leading to the roof sagging a bit. It is right up against the Shandaken Brook and has a fire pit close to the shelter's entrance.
Mountain Access & Usage
This shelter is often used when peak bagging Fir, Big Indian, Eagle, and Balsam (also known as FIRBBIE) for the Catskill 3500 club requirements. Previously, before permission was revoked, it also would have been used to access Doubletop and Graham as well. It is technically closest to Eagle, though not far from Big Indian.
This shelter serves as a good midway point when traversing the four mountains as it is a short detour off of the Pine Hill West Branch Trail, though to get back on the route the hiker will need to ascend what they had down-climbed the night before.
Water
The shelter is very close to the Shandaken Brook which means that water is plentiful and not a concern at this shelter.
