Willowemoc
Willowemoc - Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail
| Quick Look | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Round trip | Total climb | Internet Maps | |
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7.0 mi. | 2013 ft. | MSR Maps | Google Maps |
Take the Beaverkill Rd. toward the Lew Beach and Turnwood area. Keep driving even when the road turns
to gravel and dirty. After about 30 minutes you will see the Zen Monastery on the left. After this
is the parking area for Cradle Rock Ridge on the right. Continue on until you see the small parking area
for the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail on the Right. Park your car and sign in at the register. The hike through
to Mongaup Pond is about 6.5 miles. You, of course, can turn around at any point and return to your car. You
can park another car at the end of the trail at the Mongaup Campgrounds. Just after the trail register you
cross the Beaverkill on a rather unique steel cable suspension bridge. The bridge has wooden decking which
is showing its age but still seems safe. You now begin a long and sometimes challenging ascent of the
Beaverkill ridge. The highest point on the ridge is almost 3200 feet! The trail offers very few views
of the valleys surrounding the ridge. After about two miles the trail opens up into a small clearing.
Walk to the left of the trail to a rock ledge. THe views to the east are the only ones you will find
on this hike! As you continue you will descend the Beaverkill Ridge and then ascend east Mongaup Mountain.
At the three mile mark just before this ascent a red marked trail to Long Pond branches to the left. There
are no signs to mark this trail but the markers are clear. After ascending east Mongaup you descend quite
a bit before ascending Middle Mongaup Mountain. At this point you may decide to go off trail for less than
half a mile to ascend the main summit of Mongaup Mountain. The trail continues down now to the state
campgrounds. At the T-junction at Mongaup Pond turn right and stay on the blue trail until you reach the
loop road. Turning right is the shortest way to the park entrance. After less than a mile, you will see
the main buildings.
(The image at the left shows the profile of the hike. Remember that all vertical profiles are
relative!)