Cornell anchors the middle of the Burroughs Range, and the trail to it is the red-marked Wittenberg-Cornell-Slide Trail through the Slide Mountain Wilderness. The standard out-and-back from Woodland Valley, written up here, runs 8.85 miles with 2,514 feet of climbing, and it turns very difficult past the trail junction at 2.39 miles. Popular loops pair Cornell with Wittenberg, and stronger parties keep going to Slide Mountain.
The connection to Wittenberg is a narrow ridge called Bruin's Causeway, named for the animal tracks often found along it. Just east of the summit, the Cornell Crack is a V-shaped rock scramble that most hikers take with packs off. It ranks among the harder scrambles in the Catskills and is treacherous in winter. In icy months, ice axe, crampons and snowshoes are the kit, and some sections are poorly marked, so stay alert.
The mountain also sits on a watershed divide, shedding water toward the Hudson, the Esopus and the Neversink. Start early, since weekends bring crowds to this stretch, and note that the Long Path shares the ridge. Plan for a full, tiring day on rocky ground rather than a casual stroll.
