Wittenberg Mountain

Wittenberg Mountain is a mountain in the Slide Mountain Wilderness in the Catskill Mountains of New York. It is one of three main peaks that comprise the Buroughs Range. At 3,780 feet above sea level, it is one of the Catskill 3500 peaks required by peakbaggers to join the Catskill 3500 club. It is neighbored by Cornell Mountain and Slide Mountain, and is often grouped with the two. The Wittenberg Cornell Slide trail passes over the summit.

Popular Routes

Wittenberg is very close to Cornell and is often grouped together when climbing. The most popular route to climb it is from the Woodland Valley Campground, but it also can be done from the Slide Mountain Parking lot as part of a Slide, Cornell, and Wittenberg Out and Back. For very ambitious hikers, Wittenberg can be done as part of The Catskill Nine, though it is often the first to get orphaned if the hiker becomes exhausted after a long day of bushwhacking. No matter how the peak is approached, it is considered one of the more difficult climbs in the Catskills, with elevation gains nearing or exceeding 3,000 ft. to summit.

Summit and Views

According to some, Wittenberg provides one of the best views in the Catskills. The summit itself has a partially bald spot which allows a view over the trees. The view is unique in that it offers views to the east down the Catskill Escarpment at the Ashokan Reservoir and the Hudson River.

Water

The Burroughs range is notoriously dry, with no major water sources to speak of. To the west towards Slide Mountain, the first reliable water source is a spring most of the way up it's eastern face. Towards Woodland Valley Campground water can usually be found on the way up about 1.7 miles before reaching the summit.

New York Long Path

The peak of Wittenberg is traversed as part of the New York Long Path, though the route quickly diverges from the Wittenberg Cornell Slide Trail and heads into the town of Phoenicia towards Mount Tremper.