This is the right spot for Long Path questions. The Path doesn't get as much use as the other long distance trails, but does provide some nice hikes.
I have done a few Long Path sections south of the Catskills. Many LP sections are road walks and not appealing to me. The NY/NJ Trail Conference publishes a
Long Path Guide which and has trail descriptions and parking locations. A new revision was released 1/28/05.
I have hiked the section in the Shawangunks from Sam's Point to Jenny Lane. A few years back there was an alert concerning car break-ins at the Jenny Lane trailhead parking lot, however, I have not heard of any recent incidents. I have never had a problem there. The section from Jenny Lane to the Peters Kill Carriage Road is especially nice in mid to late June when the Mountain Laurel is in bloom. There is a short Long Path section from the High Point Trail junction to Mud Lake which has been closed by the land owner. There has been
some discussion of rerouting the Long Path along the High Point trail. Then a new trail would be built down Lewis Ravine (aka Witch's Hole), and up the Vernooy Kill valley through the Lundy Estate which was acquired in 2000. The new trail would rejoin the current Long Path at Vernooy Falls. I have not seen any schedule for the trail relocation.
A section with nice views and interesting geology is on Schunemunk Mountain. There was an earlier
Schunemunk thread. I have hiked the section on the ridge top, but I have never used either of the Long Path trailheads.
Although you did not ask about them there are some nice LP sections in the Catskills that get overlooked:
Vernooy Falls to Bangle Hill.
Tremper to Silver Hollow.
The sections north of Route 23 as far as Huntersfield.
Huntersfield has become one of my favorite Catskill peaks, has nice views including a sunrise view at the lean-to very near the summit.
There are no real pitfalls. The ridge tops do tend to be dry with few water sources so it is best to carry your own.