But backpackers have done weekend trips due to the easy availability of a state-owned campground at Devil's Tombstone, near the single road crossing at Stony Clove Notch.

While some of the peaks east of Stony Clove Notch had been climbed for quite some time, according to Catskill forest historian Michael Kudish, the modern Devil's Path was first cut from the Old Overlook Road to Mink Hollow in 1929, shortly after the state acquired the property.

[2] Despite an original idea to continue the trail on over North Dome Mountain and Mount Sherrill to the west that led to a sign (still in existence) erected at the proposed junction site, those two peaks remain trailless today.

It offers a shorter route to the eponymous feature for those planning to skip Indian Head Mountain, the first peak on the trail's itinerary.

Today the portion joining the trail is part of the Long Path, leading down through the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development's Platte Clove Preserve.

The trail then runs around through an increasingly boreal forest to the mountain's north slope, where a view cut (somewhat controversially) by DEC in the past offers a preview of later, more expansive vistas to the south.

It is another half-mile from here to the summit, across mostly level stretches of trail save another steep cliff at 3,500 feet (1,067 m) in elevation (where special DEC regulations banning fires and camping except during winter take effect).

The trail starts climbing again almost right out of the notch, alternating between challenging ledge scrambles (although not as serious as the ones on Indian Head) and level sections over the next 0.4 mile (640 m).

These take over shortly after the 3,500-foot (1,100 m) contour is crossed again, and the mountain's southern summit offers a sweeping panorama of the Catskills that has been considered by many to be one of the best views in the region.

Slide Mountain and all the major peaks around it are visible across the flat valley of Esopus Creek and Ashokan Reservoir in central Ulster County.

The trail then descends 0.75-mile (1.21 km) down through switchbacks, rock chutes and some more scrambles to Pecoy Notch, about 2,900 feet (884 m) above sea level.

The eastern slope of Sugarloaf is similar to its counterpart at Twin, except it offers more chutes to surpass and climb, plus some sections where the trail passes narrowly between large rock outcrops.

The rock chutes here are some of the most challenging on the entire Devil's Path, and they have led to the nickname "Suicide Mountain" by those using it as a route up in winter.

While there are no views, the 2.25 miles (3.62 km) are the longest high-elevation level walk in the Catskills, surrounded entirely by boreal forest, with only 200 feet (62 m) of elevation loss (or gain) along the way.

This section is less popular for day hikes[citation needed] since it does not offer easy access from cols, and less of the rocky, steep terrain found to the east.

After crossing just below the outlet of Notch Pond, the trail shortly begins to climb and switchback, passing a massive pair of stone outcrops known as the Devil's Portal.

A small cairn on the left side of the trail marks the beginning of the old narrow-gauge railbed used by most hikers to reach the elusive summit of Southwest Hunter.

After going through another level area a half-mile long with impressive rock outcrops to one side, the Devil's Path reaches another superb viewpoint over the cirque that gives rise to the West Kill.

The trail branches off to follow the water for a few hundred feet, then slowly begins traversing up the huge mountain, the sixth-highest in the Catskills.

The trail remains level through the boreal woods, then begins to climb seriously to Buck Ridge Lookout, another 0.7-mile (1.1 km) from the cave.

A DEC sign there gives mileage in both directions despite the lack of a junction — a legacy of a plan to later extend the Devil's Path over North Dome and Mount Sherrill.

Many common hiking routes, particularly those made by aspiring members of the Catskill Mountain 3500 Club, use part of the Devil's Path and its connecting peaks.