Trails

Besides the thirty-five 3500 foot peaks in the Catskills, there are many other smaller mountains to climb. In addition, there are hundreds of miles of trails to hike. There are also MANY other places to hike also. I have divided the Trails section into list of All Trail, the Catskills, the Shawangunks, Bear Mt/Harriman, East Hudson, West Hudson, New Jersey and Other Trails. The All Trails list is almost 250 different trails and may load slowly on your computer. The "divided" list should load more quickly.

You can view all the Trails here.

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Acra Point Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.1 mi	1100 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at trail head parking area on Black Dome or Big Hollow Road. Be aware that past a certain point this road is considered seasonal and may not be plowed or maintained. During the winter the trailhead parking is almost never plowed and parking is limited along the shoulders of the road. The trail head is just BEFORE the parking area on the right. Find the red-blazed Black Dome Trail and immediately cross the Batavia Kill on a bridge. After a short walk, re-cross the Batavia Kill and continue on the trail for about 1.1 miles. This second crossing has no bridge and can be tricky at times! Look over your shoulder occasionally to see the imposing presence of Blackhead, Black Dome and Thomas Cole Mountains. This walk winds its way upward through mixed hardwood and spruce forest until it meets the blue-blazed Escarpment Trail.

Turn right on The Escarpment Trail and head toward Acra Point. The terrain now is more rugged and steeper. There is a hint of views to both the north and south on both sides of the trail but they are not clear. Walk off the trail on the left to get a view to the north toward Albany or wait until just after the top of Acra Point. After about .7 miles you will be at the summit of Acra Point. The best views to the south and west are from a lookout BEFORE the summit. The path is well-traveled and is easy to find. When you walk out onto the rock shelf, you are treated to a spectacular view of the three mountains and the Camel's Hump. The views down the Black Dome Valley to the west are also excellent. From here you can also see Burnt Knob and behind and to the right Windham Mountain.

Continue on the Escarpment Trail for another 1.75 miles. The trail skirts a hill nearly as high as Acra. Views to the north from the trail continue to be elusive.The trail descends but has several short ascents before it heads down to meet the Batavia Kill Trail. The Escarpment Trail continues up over Blackhead Mountain. As you descend the trail toward the Batavia Kill Trail junction it looks very much as if you MUST ascend this mountain! Turn right on the yellow-blazed Batavia Kill Trail to return to the parking area. This trail goes on for about 1 mile and ends. Be sure to turn right and follow the red-blazed Black Dome Trail and the signs to the parking area about .6 miles away. If you turn left, you will be climbing to the col between Blackhead and Black Dome! Bridges span the widest and deepest water crossings near the end of the trail. There is also evidence of a dam and the foundations of a mill on the Batavia Kill.

Acra Point and Burnt Knob

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.2 mi	1320 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at trail head parking area on Black Dome or Big Hollow Road. Be aware that past a certain point this road is considered seasonal and may not be plowed or maintained. During the winter the trailhead parking is almost never plowed and parking is limited along the shoulders of the road. The trail head is just BEFORE the parking area on the right. Find the red-blazed Black Dome Trail and immediately cross the Batavia Kill on a bridge. After a short walk, re-cross the Batavia Kill and continue on the trail for about 1.1 miles. This second crossing has no bridge and can be tricky at times! Look over your shoulder occasionally to see the imposing presence of Blackhead, Black Dome and Thomas Cole Mountains. This walk winds its way upward through mixed hardwood and spruce forest until it meets the blue-blazed Escarpment Trail.

Turn right on The Escarpment Trail and head toward Acra Point. The terrain now is more rugged and steeper. There is a hint of views to both the north and south on both sides of the trail but they are not clear. Walk off the trail on the left to get a view to the north toward Albany or wait until just after the top of Acra Point. After about .7 miles you will be at the summit of Acra Point. The best views to the south and west are from a lookout BEFORE the summit. The path is well-traveled and is easy to find. When you walk out onto the rock shelf, you are treated to a spectacular view of the three mountains and the Camel's Hump. The views down the Black Dome Valley to the west are also excellent. From here you can also see Burnt Knob and behind and to the right Windham Mountain.

Retrace your steps back down to the junction of the Black Dome Trail and the Escarpment Trail. Continue straight ahead toward Burnt Knob. The summit is only about .5 miles from the trail junction but it is eroded and steep in some places. During the winter the snow conditions may make it almost impossible to negotiate. The best views are on the left of the trail just BEFORE the summit. Several short spur trails lead out to viewpoints. If you continue passed the summit you will descend slightly. Just before a steeper descent on the way to Windham High Peak look ahead for a nice view of this peak. The view is better in fall and winter when there are few leaves on the trees. Turn around and retrace your path back to the trail junction. Turn right to go back to the car.

Alder Lake: Bushwhack

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	10.3 mi.	2143 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take the Beaverkill Road from Livingston Manor and drive for about twenty minutes to the Alder Creek Road. Alder Creek Road is a left turn off the Beaverkill Road about two miles after it makes a sharp right turn near the Barkaboom Road that goes to the Little Pond State Campgrounds. Go to the end of Alder Creek Road and turn right into the access road to Alder Lake. Bearing left will take you over to the Millbrook-Arena Road on Cross Mountain Road. Park in the parking lot and walk back down the driveway/access road to a woods road that turns left up to another small parking area and then continues parallel to Cross Mountain Road for some distance. When the woods road begins to dip down to Cross Mountain Road, turn UP the hill and find your route to the top. You may find all woods roads along the way so feel free to explore. There are several different places where the ground levels and then continues up again. Eventually you will be on flatter ground near the summit where you will find some ledges. Walking along the ledges may reveal some glimpses over to Barkaboom Mountain. Walk around on the relatively flat summit and you may find a cairn that looks like it once marked property lines. When you are done on the top, turn south to head back to the parking area. Again, woods roads can be found but this area is full of prickers and the open woods roads allow them to grow more easily. The first part of the descent is gentle but then becomes very steep. Wander round to find your best route down. Watch for glimpses of Alder lake as you descend back to the parking area.

Alder Lake: Little Pond

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	10.3 mi.	2143 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take the Beaverkill Road from Livingston Manor and drive for about twenty minutes to the Alder Creek Road. Alder Creek Road is a left turn off the Beaverkill Road about two miles after it makes a sharp right turn near the Barkaboom Road that goes to the Little Pond State Campgrounds. Go to the end of Alder Creek Road and turn right into the access road to Alder Lake. Bearing left will take you over to the Millbrook-Arena Road on Cross Mountain Road. Park in the parking lot and walk back down the driveway/access road and cross Alder Creek Road. Finding the red-blazed Touch-Me-Not Trail can be tricky and once found it can be hard to follow in places as it is NOT clearly marked. The trail rises and falls over the shoulders of several mountains. After 3.5 miles you arrive at the Big Pond trail head parking area on the Barkaboom Rd. Walk down the access road to the main road. Turn right on the road and follow it for a short distance then make a left up into the woods. After another .75 miles, you will be near the top of Touch-Me-Not Mountain. At this point turn left and hike 1.15 miles to Little Pond Campgrounds on the blue Campgrounds Trail. This descent is a steep, at times, but short. Walk .85 miles down the access road/driveway to the Barkaboom Road and make a right. Walk a short distance to the Beaverkill Road and turn left. Walk on the Beaverkill Road for about 1.4 miles and make a left on Alder Creek Road. Alder Lake parking is about 2.5 miles away at the end of the road.

Alder Lake: Millbrook Ridge

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.6 mi.	1940 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

I had lived in Livingston Manor for 25 years before I managed to visit Alder Lake. Several people had told me how beautiful it is but I just hadn't made it there. The lake IS very pretty and is frequented by many people. Campsites dot the entire perimeter of the lake. The Alder Lake Loop Trail is about 1.6 miles and suitable for beginners with only a slight rise on one side. The hikes to the Beecher Lake overlook or to Balsam Lake Mountain on the other hand have several steep areas and can be quite a challenge. The distances, 8 and 13 miles respectively, may also be daunting for some. The map above shows the out and back route from Alder Lake along Millbrook Ridge to the Beecher Lake overlook. I have labeled some of the points of interest along the way. The Beecher Lake overlook is beautiful with a nice view of the lake and the Zen Buddhist monastery that is on its shores.

Take the Beaverkill Road from Livingston Manor and drive for about twenty minutes to the Alder Creek Road. Alder Creek Road is a left turn off the Beaverkill Road about two miles after it makes a sharp right turn near the Barkaboom Road that goes to the Little Pond State Campgrounds. Go to the end of Alder Creek Road and turn right into the access road to Alder Lake. Park in the parking lot and walk to the lake. The Coykendall mansion house that stood on the grounds has been removed by New York State as they did not have the money to maintain or restore it. Now only the stone work remains. As you walk toward the lake you may turn left or right to get on the red Alder Lake loop trail. After about .8 miles on this trail the yellow Millbrook Ridge trail breaks off heading east. The trail ascends very gently and after about 1.5 miles on the trail you arrive at the Beaver Meadow lean-to and spring. There once was a large beaver pond here but it is now being reclaimed and forming a meadow.

Back on the trail you will pass another pond on your right after which the trail climbs more steeply. After about 1.35 miles you are at the highest point on the ridge (3480 ft). The trail then descends slightly before another ascent to the overlook; a distance of another 1.1 miles. The return trip simply reverses your trip out. When you get to the Alder Lake loop trail, you can go the other way around to add a little variety.

Angel Falls

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	0.6 mi.	137 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Turn onto Route 55A from Route 55 just east of the TriValley School in Grahamsville, Take the first right hand turn as Route 55A continues around the Rondout Reservoir. Drive for a little over 4 miles and turn left on Yahweh Road just before Route 55A crosses a creek on a bridge. After 1.2 miles turn right on Shalom Road which is now a DEAD END. Park at the end of the paved road near the power right-of-way but avoid parking on private property or blocking the private driveway. The DEP signs are confusing with some saying TRESPASSING and others inviting hikers to hike. Walk down the old road which is now crumbling. This road stays above the stream bed for Tout Creek until it reaches the upper falls. You may walk to the stream above the falls before following the informal path that parallels the stream. Some paths lead down to the stream bed to points that give excellent views of the upper falls. These paths are DANGEROUS under the best conditions! Continue on the informal paths which parallel the stream until you get to the area of the lower falls. The lower falls do not have a drop as high as the upper falls but they are beautiful in their own way. Walk to the rock shelf that allows access to the top of the lower falls to take some pictures. Continue along the creek and observe the stone foundations built next to the falls. Walk out to the stream bed using great caution to get a glimpse of the lower falls. When you are finished, head up the steep bank back to the old road and your car.

Anthony's Nose and Bear Mountain

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.5 miles	2400 feet	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park in any of the parking lots at the Bear Mountain Inn off Route 202/9W. The two trails that allow access to Bear Mountain are the Appalachian Trail and the Major Welch Trail. Begin by walking passed the skating rink and down to the footpath around Hessian Lake. Stay to the left of the lake and look for the red on white blazes that mark the Major Welch Trail. Watch carefully for TWO of the blazes which signify the place where the trail turns left and into the woods. At first this trail slowly climbs passed the Overlook Lodge and the ascent seems easy. Look are definitely deceiving! Shortly the trail begins its real ascent which becomes steep and difficult at times with several short but interesting scrambles over exposed rock face. About 2/3 of the way up the mountain, the trail crosses Perkins Drive and then heads back into the woods. Near the top of the climb are several lookouts with spectacular views of the Hudson River and the Bear Mountain Bridge. The trail continues on to the top of the mountain and the Perkins Tower.

From here find the white blazes of the AT as it heads down the mountain. This trail is not as steep as the Major Welch as it winds its way down the mountain. The trail briefly intersects a road where you should turn right and follow it to a small parking area that overlooks the river. The trail turns right onto a road but immediately turns left and down into the woods. Continue following the AT. It will intersect the yellow blazed Suffern Bear Mountain Trail near the bottom. Turn left at this point and make your way back to the parking area.

At this point you can end the hike and feel very satisfied with the sights you have seen or you can set out to Anthony's Nose. Walk toward Hessian Lake but this time head to the right. Watch for the white blazes of the AT and the 1777 markers. You may take the tunnel under 9W and follow the AT through the zoo. This costs $1, is sometimes closed AND DOES NOT ALLOW PETS. You can also follow the shoulder of 9W to the Bear Mountain traffic circle. Cross here and head for the pedestrian Walkway on the north OR south side of the bridge. Take a moment to enjoy the views up and own the river. Straight ahead at the other end of the bridge rises Anthony's Nose. At the end of the bridge turn left and walk the shoulder of 9D for about .2 miles. Look for the white AT blazes and a trail head kiosk on the right side of the road. Here the AT turns up into the woods. The trail initially winds its way toward the rocky crag which is Anthony's Nose. Shortly it turns upward with several steep portions. A few level parts and switchbacks help you catch your breath. At the top the AT heads northeast to the left. Turn to the right on the woods road through Camp Smith. This trail is marked by blue blazes and heads directly toward your destination. Near the end of the trail there is an obvious blazed turn to the left. This DOES NOT lead to the Nose but does give some interesting views if the river and the surrounding mountains. Turn right at this T and you are at Anthony's Nose. Walk out to any of the prominent rock outcrops to get incredible views up and down the river. Be careful as there is no protection from a short but fast fall 900 feet to the river below. The views down on the bridge and to the water itself ARE breath taking. The way back is simply to retrace your steps perhaps taking the walkway on the other side of the bridge.

Anthony's Nose: AT from Route 9D

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	1.8 miles	790 feet	MSR Maps	GPSies

Travel north on Route 9D from the eastern end of the Bear Mountain Bridge. There are several places to park cars along the shoulder or in pulloffs. Be careful walking along Route 9D as the cars travel too fast and the road is too narrow. The trailhead is marked by a sign on the right side of 9D headed north just after the bridge. There is no trail register here but the markings are the white blazes of the AT. The trail initially winds its way toward the rocky crag which is Anthony's Nose. Shortly it turns upward with several steep portions. A few level parts and switchbacks help you catch your breath. At the top, after only .5 miles, the AT heads northeast to the left. Turn RIGHT onto this wide woods road to head toward Anthony's Nose. As you approach the edge of the cliffs, turn up to your right to get to the lookout. Return to your car by reversing the route.

Anthony's Nose: Camp Smith Trail from Route 202

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	2.1 miles	850 feet	MSR Maps	GPSies

Travel south on Route 9D from the eastern end of the Bear Mountain Bridge for about 1.1 miles and turn left on Route 202 (Jack Woods Road). Watch for the small parking area on the left. Park and start hiking north on the Camp Smith Trail. The trail immediately starts to gain some elevation, drops a little and then ascends to Anthony's Nose. At the top of the climb bear slightly to the left to get to the lookout. Return to your car by reversing the route.

Anthony's Nose: From South Mountain Pass

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.2 miles	950 feet	MSR Maps	GPSies

Travel north on Route 9D from the eastern end of the Bear Mountain Bridge for about 1.4 miles and turn on Manitou Road on the right. At the T turn right on South Mountain Pass Road. Drive .5 miles and watch for the small trail head parking on the right. Get on the wide woods road which is the Appalachian Trail.Follow the trail to the right as it starts level and then gains some elevation. At around 1 mile the AT heads right and down to the river. Continue straight ahead to Anthony's Nose. As you approach the edge of the cliffs, turn up to your right to get to the lookout. Return to your car by reversing the route.

Anthony's Nose: Phelps Mine and Camp Smith Trail

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.7 miles	2550 feet	MSR Maps	GPSies

Travel north on Route 9D from the eastern end of the Bear Mountain Bridge. There are several places to park cars along the shoulder or in pulloffs. Be careful walking along Route 9D as the cars travel too fast and the road is too narrow. The trailhead is marked by a sign on the right side of 9D headed north just after the bridge. There is no trail register here but the markings are the white blazes of the AT. The trail initially winds its way toward the rocky crag which is Anthony's Nose. Shortly it turns upward with several steep portions. A few level parts and switchbacks help you catch your breath. At the top, after only .5 miles, the AT heads northeast to the left. Turn onto this wide woods road to head toward South Mountain Pass trailhead. The road is wide but rocky. Follow the blazes as they turn left into the woods. Obey the posted signs which mark Camp Smith, an active Army National Guard training site! The trail rolls up and down and switches back and forth several times. After about 1 mile it meets another woods road. Turn left and walk out to the trailhead if you wish. On to the way back you will have to bushwhack up the mountain to find the mine. Look for an informal campsite and head up and east. The Phelps mine is clearly marked on the NYNJTC maps. At some point you may hit another woods road that leads directly to the mine.

As you approach the mine you will notice a slope of "rusty" tailings. Look up the right and walk in that direction and you will see an old, rusty fence surrounding the adit to the mine. At least one section of the fence is down allowing access to the mine adit. Be VERY careful around the mine entrance. The stones are loose and the mine is DEEP!. Outside the fence and a little to the right is an airshaft with a grate. Looking through the tailings and mine waste may reveal some mineral samples. The mine was originally opened as an iron mine but copper, zinc and sulfur were all extracted. When you have had enough, retrace your route back to the woods road and follow the At back to where you ascended from 9D. Continue straight ahead for .5 miles to Anthony's Nose. Depending on the season and the weather the views here can be quite different. They are always interesting but may be clearer or more beautiful on a particular day. The Bear Mountain Bridge is directly below and the Popolopen Gorge Bridge and footbridge below are visible. Bear Mountain with the Perkins Tower are directly across the Hudson. Looking south reveals Iona Island and Indian Point. Depending on the day you may see trains on the tracks on the west side of the river, pleasure boats and barges on the river and birds riding the air currents.

Return to the blue trail from Anthony's Nose and walk straight ahead to another viewpoint. This one has a USGS seal at the top. Continue on down the blue Camp Smith Trail. The trail descends for 1 mile until it reaches a trailhead on Route 202 north of the bridge. (Continuing along this trail for just under 2 miles will bring you to the start of the trail at the Hudson Highlands Gateway.) Along the way there are a few other viewpoints but none as nice as Anthony's Nose. At the trailhead turn around and retrace your path to Anthony's Nose and then to the trail that leads down and back to the car.

Ashokan High Point: Kanape Brook Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.1 mi.	2240 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at the Kanape Brook PA trailhead on the Peekamoose Road. Walk across the road and toward the Ashokan to pick up the trail. The first 2.7 miles is a rather gentle uphill walk. Much of the first part of the trail parallels Kanape Brook which can be heard as you walk along the trail. Several small bridges and culverts cross tributaries which increase the volume of the brook. The trail hear is a wide road typical of logging or quarrying roads that run throughout the Catskills. At the 2.7 mile mark make a pronounced left. The trail now narrows to a footpath but is marked and well-worn. You are immediately faced with a choice! The trail straight ahead continues upward fro about 1 mile to the Ashokan High Point. This trail gains about 1000 feet over the mile and there are several steep areas. Most of these areas have stone steps which make the climb easier. The trail to the left is longer but generally easier to climb. This 2.5 mile trail meanders up to the High Point. Once at the High Point itself you have a beautiful view of the mountains and valleys directly to the east. Depending on the foliage cover, you may be able to see a hint of the reservoir a little farther north or to the left as you gaze from the lookout. A little farther to the north and west the trail opens into several fields and can become hard to follow. Some visitors have built a fire circle surrounded by stone chairs. Walking to the north and east side of the field gives you a spectacular view of the Ashokan Reservoir. The view is NOT clear and is blocked by trees making the best viewing times when the leaves are not on the trees. Turning your gaze a little more to the north and west reveals the Burrough's Range with the unmistakable outline of Wittenberg, Cornell, and Slide Mountains. After taking in the view, head to the left of the fireplace and follow a path into the woods to pick up the trail again. This 2.5 mile trail meanders down from the High Point back to the trail junction where you met it the first time. There are several steep and rocky areas to negotiate. Along the way there is at least one prominent path leading northwest but seemingly into nowhere. When the trail bends sharply to the left you can head southwest on a bushwhack which is steep in many places but will cut some distance off your return trip. Back at the trail junction it is only a matter of following the main trail back to the car.

Ashokan High Point: Kanape Brook Out and Back

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.3 mi.	2140 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at the Kanape Brook PA trailhead on the Peekamoose Road. Walk across the road and toward the Ashokan to pick up the trail. The first 2.7 miles is a rather gentle uphill walk. Much of the first part of the trail parallels Kanape Brook which can be heard as you walk along the trail. Several small bridges and culverts cross tributaries which increase the volume of the brook. The trail hear is a wide road typical of logging or quarrying roads that run throughout the Catskills. At the 2.7 mile mark make a pronounced left. The trail now narrows to a footpath but is marked and well-worn. You are immediately faced with a choice! The trail straight ahead continues upward fro about 1 mile to the Ashokan High Point. This trail gains about 1000 feet over the mile and there are several steep areas. Most of these areas have stone steps which make the climb easier. The trail to the left is longer but generally easier to climb. This 2.5 mile trail meanders up to the High Point. Once at the High Point itself you have a beautiful view of the mountains and valleys directly to the east. Depending on the foliage cover, you may be able to see a hint of the reservoir a little farther north or to the left as you gaze from the lookout. A little farther to the north and west the trail opens into several fields and can become hard to follow. Some visitors have built a fire circle surrounded by stone chairs. Walking to the north and east side of the field gives you a spectacular view of the Ashokan Reservoir. The view is NOT clear and is blocked by trees making the best viewing times when the leaves are not on the trees. Turning your gaze a little more to the north and west reveals the Burrough's Range with the unmistakable outline of Wittenberg, Cornell, and Slide Mountains. To get back to your car turn around and retrace your path back to the parking area. The out and back allows a quick descent of the steeper sections for those who don't mind this sort of thing.

Ashokan High Point and Little Ashokan: Kanape Brook Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	9.8 mi.	2820 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at the Kanape Brook PA trailhead on the Peekamoose Road. Walk across the road and toward the Ashokan to pick up the trail. The first 2.7 miles is a rather gentle uphill walk. Much of the first part of the trail parallels Kanape Brook which can be heard as you walk along the trail. Several small bridges and culverts cross tributaries which increase the volume of the brook. The trail here is a wide road typical of logging or quarrying roads that run throughout the Catskills. At the 2.7 mile mark make a pronounced left. The trail now narrows to a footpath but is marked and well-worn. You are immediately faced with a choice! The trail straight ahead continues upward fro about 1 mile to the Ashokan High Point. This trail gains about 1000 feet over the mile and there are several steep areas. Most of these areas have stone steps which make the climb easier. The trail to the left is longer but generally easier to climb. Once at the High Point itself you have a beautiful view of the mountains and valleys directly to the east. Depending on the foliage cover, you may be able to see a hint of the reservoir a little farther north or to the left as you gaze from the lookout.

From the High Point you may be able to see a path directly down between some of the rocks or a path further on leading down. This is the way to Little Ashokan High Point. The walk is about .5 miles and there is drop of about 350 feet to the lowest point before climbing back up to Little Ashokan. Whether or not you can find the path is not too important. just walk in the general direction and watch for the numerous steep areas and actual cliffs. Little Ashokan is filled with blueberry and huckleberry bushes which can make walking interesting unless you are on show shoes. Near the highest point are several flat rocks that make a good viewpoint back to the High Point and over to the Mombaccus-Little Rocky ridge. Dropping down a little to some lower paths and walking around to the left offers some more views but the reservoir is hard to see unless the leaves are off the trees. Views may be possible but unobstructed views for photography are few. After wandering around some, head back to the High Point more or less the way you came. From the High Point continue on the main trail. In a short distance on the left you may get some views in a small clearing. A little farther to the north and west the trail opens into several fields and can become hard to follow. Some visitors have built a fire circle surrounded by stone chairs. Walking to the north and east side of the field gives you a view of the Ashokan Reservoir. The view is NOT clear and is blocked by trees making the best viewing times when the leaves are not on the trees. Turning your gaze a little more to the north and west reveals the Burrough's Range with the unmistakable outline of Wittenberg, Cornell, and Slide Mountains. After taking in the view, head to the left of the fireplace and follow a path into the woods to pick up the trail again. This 2.5 mile trail meanders down from the High Point back to the trail junction where you met it the first time. There are several steep and rocky areas to negotiate. Along the way there is at least one prominent path leading northwest but seemingly into nowhere. When the trail bends sharply to the left you can head southwest on a bushwhack which is steep in many places but will cut some distance off your return trip. Back at the trail junction it is only a matter of following the main trail back to the car.

Ashokan High Point and Little Ashokan: Kanape Brook Out and Back

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.5 mi.	2717 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at the Kanape Brook PA trailhead on the Peekamoose Road. Walk across the road and toward the Ashokan to pick up the trail. The first 2.7 miles is a rather gentle uphill walk. Much of the first part of the trail parallels Kanape Brook which can be heard as you walk along the trail. Several small bridges and culverts cross tributaries which increase the volume of the brook. The trail here is a wide road typical of logging or quarrying roads that run throughout the Catskills. At the 2.7 mile mark make a pronounced left. The trail now narrows to a footpath but is marked and well-worn. You are immediately faced with a choice! The trail straight ahead continues upward fro about 1 mile to the Ashokan High Point. This trail gains about 1000 feet over the mile and there are several steep areas. Most of these areas have stone steps which make the climb easier. The trail to the left is longer but generally easier to climb. Once at the High Point itself you have a beautiful view of the mountains and valleys directly to the east. Depending on the foliage cover, you may be able to see a hint of the reservoir a little farther north or to the left as you gaze from the lookout.

From the High Point you may be able to see a path directly down between some of the rocks or a path further on leading down. This is the way to Little Ashokan High Point. The walk is about .5 miles and there is drop of about 350 feet to the lowest point before climbing back up to Little Ashokan. Whether or not you can find the path is not too important. just walk in the general direction and watch for the numerous steep areas and actual cliffs. Little Ashokan is filled with blueberry and huckleberry bushes which can make walking interesting unless you are on show shoes. Near the highest point are several flat rocks that make a good viewpoint back to the High Point and over to the Mombaccus-Little Rocky ridge. Dropping down a little to some lower paths and walking around to the left offers some more views but the reservoir is hard to see unless the leaves are off the trees. Views may be possible but unobstructed views for photography are few. After wandering around some, head back to the High Point more or less the way you came. From the High Point continue on the main trail. In a short distance on the left you may get some views in a small clearing. A little farther to the north and west the trail opens into several fields and can become hard to follow. Some visitors have built a fire circle surrounded by stone chairs. Walking to the north and east side of the field gives you a view of the Ashokan Reservoir. The view is NOT clear and is blocked by trees making the best viewing times when the leaves are not on the trees. Turning your gaze a little more to the north and west reveals the Burrough's Range with the unmistakable outline of Wittenberg, Cornell, and Slide Mountains. After taking in the view, turn around and retrace your steps following the route you took on the ascent back to your car at the parking area.

Balsam Lake Mt to Alder Lake

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.8 mi.	2630 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at the trailhead at the end of the Beaverkill Road. The public road dead ends at this spot and a private road continues to the Balsam Lake Lodge. There are several choices to make when climbing this mountain. Find the blue-blazed Dry Brook Ridge Trail and hike about .9 miles. At this point turn left on the red-blazed Balsam Lake Trail. The climb is rather steep but after about .85 miles you will be at the summit. As you climb, you will see the trail to the Balsam Lake Mt lean-to on the left after about .5 miles. Walk another .1 miles and there will be an obvious piped spring on the right. Just above the spring the trail levels. Continue for another .2 miles and you will see the yellow-blazed Millbrook Ridge Trail to Alder Lake on the left. Continue for another .15 miles to the fire tower. The fire tower at the top offers a spectacular view in all directions. Balsam Lake Mountain is the westernmost in the Catskill Park and the tower offers an unhindered 360 degree view. Thirty-three of the other 34 peaks are visible with only Thomas Cole, hiding behind Hunter Mt., out of view.

Turn back on the Balsam Lake Mt. trail to the Millbrook Ridge Trail and turn right. This trail descends for a while and then ascends again. After 1.95 miles there is a lookout over Beecher Lake. There is a Zen Monastery on the shore. In another 1.1 miles including a short climb you will be at the highest point on the ridge. The elevation here is 3480 feet which means that it is one large boulder away from being another Catskill 35! In 1.35 miles you will be at the Beaver Meadow lean-to and spring. Several of these "beaver meadows" can be found along the trail and they all offer a home to a variety of wildlife. A walk of about 1.5 miles will bring you to the red-blazed Alder Lake Trail. Turn left or right and walk .8 miles to the Alder Lake parking area.

At Alder Lake you can reverse your steps and hike back to Balsam Lake. This makes for a LONG 15 mile hike. It may be more enjoyable to hike with a friend and leave a car at both trailheads. You could, of course, reverse this hike which would give a slightly different perspective. At Alder Lake be sure to look at the remains of the mansion built by shipping tycoon Samuel Coykendall. New York State recently removed all but the stonework after determining it would be impossible to restore the once stately edifice.

Balsam Lake Mt and Vly Pond

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.5 mi.	2900 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at the trailhead at the end of the Beaverkill Road. The public road dead ends at this spot and a private road continues to the Balsam Lake Lodge. There are several choices to make when climbing this mountain. Find the blue-blazed Dry Brook Ridge Trail and hike about .9 miles. At this point turn left on the red-blazed Balsam Lake Trail. The climb is rather steep but after about .85 miles you will be at the summit. As you climb, you will see the trail to the Balsam Lake Mt lean-to on the left after about .5 miles. Walk another .1 miles and there will be an obvious piped spring on the right. Just above the spring the trail levels. Continue for another .2 miles and you will see the yellow-blazed Millbrook Ridge Trail to Alder Lake on the left. Continue for another .15 miles to the fire tower. The fire tower at the top offers a spectacular view in all directions. Balsam Lake Mountain is the westernmost in the Catskill Park and the tower offers an unhindered 360 degree view. Thirty-three of the other 34 peaks are visible with only Thomas Cole, hiding behind Hunter Mt., out of view.

Continue your hike down the back side of Balsam Lake. At the trail junction turn right to return to your car. DO NOT get in your car. Walk to the other side of the parking area and pick up the Hardenburgh Trail to Vly Pond.

Basha Kill: Southern Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	10.4 mi.	520 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The Basha Kill is a 2400 acre wetland and wildlife preserve in the southern part of Sullivan County. Among other things it is home to at least 50 species of birds and especially bald eagles. The remains of the Port Jervis to Kingston branch of the O&W forms a rail trail on the southeastern shore. On the northwestern shore is the D&H Canal and the towpath. The two can be combined for a loop using Haven Road to cross the marsh on the northern end and Otisville Road to swing around the southern end.

Take Route 17/I 86 to exit 113 and head south on Route 209. After about 1.7 miles Haven Road appears on the left. Turn left here and drive to the parking area on the left to park. Start your hike by walking east on Haven Road through the marsh toward the rail trail on the eastern shore. Turned left or north on the rail trail. The trail here is relatively firm even when it has been raining. After about a mile watch for a trail to an observation tower and turn left on this unmarked trail. Within .1 miles you will be at the tower which is more of an observation platform. There are nice views over the marsh to the north and west. At Haven Road cross to the other side and to follow the rail trail south. The trail can be VERY wet in places especially after it rains so you may have to cross from one side to the other or use the banks to make it through this area. The banks are covered in barberry and some other thorny brush so making progress can be slow and painful. The rail trail dries out after this but still may have a few muddy spots along the way. There are views of the marsh all along the way. The trail is extremely straight which is not surprising given that it is the old railroad bed. At 3.7 miles there is one of the larger parking areas just off South Road and near the Basha Kill Winery. The water is more open in this area and people like to canoe or kayak from here. When you leave the parking area, continue on the trail which is often wet and muddy. In about .4 miles the Long Path markings appear to head to the right off the rail trail but this may be a dead end. Continue to head south on the rail trail and watch for a sign that says "Long Path". At about 4.3 miles the trail again may became wet and muddy. Turn left off the trail and walk out to the road. AVOID private property postings as there are a few in the area. Once on the road, continue south and at 4.5 miles the road will cross a small stream. Look to the left and see a beautiful waterfall. The posting in the area is unclear so read carefully before proceeding! Walk to the base of the falls and get a view of the water flowing down over a wall of rock. Walk back out to the road to continue. Walking on the road goes quickly and in about another mile at 5.5 miles into the hike there is a small parking area on the right with an observation deck. The deck gives a nice view of a stream flowing out of the Basha Kill. Turn right out of the parking area and walk to the intersection. Turn right on Otisville Road which runs out to Route 209. The D&H Canal towpath should intersect the road just before Route 209. If you cannot find the towpath, walk out to Route 209 and turn right on the road. Walk .2 miles on the road, to a sign for the Basha Kill and turn right down this dirt road. As you approached a flat area a path turns left across a field and into the trees. As you enter the trees and walk up a small incline turn right. This is the towpath. The canal and the towpath have an interesting history and I am sorry to say I don't know enough about it. The canal ran to the left or west of the towpath and in many places the canal is still very obvious. There are still stone walls on either side of the canal and even the trees that now grow in it cannot hide it. Head north and then east to get around a hill before heading north for most of the rest of the trip. The canal is now dry in most places but in some areas there is water which hints at the original purpose. In a few places you will see bridges of rock built across the canal. After the canal was no longer in use, these bridges were built across it to reach the towpath and the Basha Kill. At 7.5 miles a dirt road runs down to the Stonefield parking area and this continues for about .35 miles. Continue on the towpath when the road turns into a parking area and at 8.25 miles there will be a bridge that was built over the original canal. The span of the bridge no longer exists but the stonework that made up the abutments is still there. Also present are the stone walls that lined the lane that leads up to the bridge. A little further on the trail crosses a chasm on a wood bridge. Just to the left is another stone bridge that crossed the canal. At 10.1 miles there is a gate which leads out onto Towpath Road. This short road soon intersects Haven Road. Turn right and walk .3 miles back to the car.

Bear Mt. And Lion's Head (CT)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	13.2 mi.	3205 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Bear Mt. is the highest peak in the state but the highest point is further north and west on the shoulder of Mount Frisell which is mostly in Massachusetts.

Park at the AT parking lot .8 miles north of the Route 44/Route 41 junction in Salisbury, CT. on Route 41. The entrance to the parking area is VERY narrow and not well marked. The parking area will accommodate 8 to 10 cars and is a popular place for many day hikers. The trailhead has a large signboard and a privy maintained by the AMC. The first part of the trail to the Lion's Head is wide and pretty smooth and the elevation gain is minimal. Several turns and switchbacks make the climb even easier. At about 1.4 miles you will cross a running stream with cool, clear water. At just over 2.0 miles the Lion's Head Trail joined from the left coming in from Bunker Hill Road. From this junction the trail becomes rockier and harder to walk. It also becomes much steeper as it ascends the Lion's Head with the very last part being an open rock outcrop. After another .25 miles, at about 2.3 miles into the hike, you will arrive at the viewpoint known as the Lion's Head. The views from here are expansive but be prepared to share the view with others! Leave the Lion's head and continue on the AT north toward Bear Mt. At 2.64 miles the Bald Peak Trail joins the AT from the left. The AT in this area is not exposed but instead runs under a leafy canopy most of the way meaning that it is protected but has no views. Along the way to Bear Mt. there are several places to camp and a few water sources. The Riga Lean-to comes up at 3.0 miles into the hike, followed by the Ball Brook campsite at 3.5 miles and the Brassie Brook Lean-to at 4.25 miles. In another .6 miles you will arrive at Riga Junction where the Undermountain Trail comes in from Route 41. Continue on the AT to the junction with Bear Mt. Road at 5.0 miles. From here the trail becomes much rockier and steeper. The AT winds up and over many rocky outcrops offering some limited viewpoints. You arrive at the summit of Bear Mountain at about 5.55 miles and the elevation is 2330 feet. At the top of the mountain is a stone pyramid more than large enough to accommodate 20 people. You can walk to the top of the pyramid to get views to the north and east but the views west and south are limited. To hike a loop head down the north side of Bear Mt. on the AT. The AT down Bear Mt. To the north is very steep. Most northern sides of mountains in this area are steeper than their southern counterparts due to the way glaciation eroded the rock. At a little more than 6.0 miles you will cross the border into Massachusetts and then arrive at a trail junction. Straight ahead the AT leads to Sage's Ravine. Turn right on the Paradise Lane Trail which immediately begins to gain some elevation. At 6.5 miles you will pass the Paradise Lane Group Campsite. From here the trail is flat or slightly downhill for the next 1.15 miles until you reached the junction with the Undermountain Trail at 7.6 miles. Turn right on the Undermountain Trail and start toward the AT at the Riga Junction. At 7.9 miles there is a bog. At 8.6 miles you will be back on the AT where you should turn left to head back to the Lion's Head and eventually the car. A long 2.4 mile stretch of the AT put you back at the Lion's Head. The hike back to the car is downhill.

Bear Mountain: Bear and West Mountains

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.9 mi.	2540 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

width="649" height="815" The easiest place to park to start this hike is at the Bear Mountain Inn parking area next to Hessian Lake. Parking costs $6 per car but there is lots of it and bathroom facilities are available. There area several ways to get to the parking area but Route 9W north or south is the easiest way. You can also take Seven Lakes Drive from Long Mountain Parkway (Route 6). Stay on Seven Lakes Drive through another traffic circle. Park in the back parking area. Walk the outdoor ice rink but turn left up the hill before it. At the top of a short, steep hill there is a road which is also marked with the yellow blazes of the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail and the white blazes of the Appalachian Trail. Follow these blazes as the trail curves first to the right and then to the left as it descends and crosses a small stream. The trails then begin a continuous although not steep ascent. After only about .3 miles the AT turns to the right. Stay on the SBM Trail.

This trail continues to climb slightly before descending to cross Seven Lakes Drive after about .45 miles. It then continues to descend after meeting an old woods road until it meets the Doodletown Bridal Path after about .6 miles. Turn right here and follow the yellow blazes as the trail descends to Doodletown Brook after .5 miles. The brook is easily crossed in this area. On the left you may notice some paths down to another branch of the brook. These paths are created by other hikers looking for the Herbert Mine. Walk down to and across the brook and toward the rock to the south and slightly west. Watch for the LARGE piles of mine tailings and climb the hillside toward this mine debris. The main working of the Herbert Mine is a an open cut into the hillside which is impossible to miss. The cut appears to be 30 to 40 feet long and twenty feet high at the end. The cut in this area is filled with water but may go underground. When you have finished, walk up the hillside above the cut for a fresh perspective. There are several other pits and cuts in the area. Walk back west and northwest toward the brook. The SBM Trail is on the other side of the stream.

The trail now begins to ascend through laurel and begins to offer glimpses of some spectacular views. Wait since the best views are yet to come. There are several short buy steep climbs over rock piles before the trail breaks out into the open and continues to ascend to the summit of West Mountain and the West Mountain Ridge. After a little more than a mile it intersects with the blue blazed Timp-Torne Trail. You will want to turn right here to get back to bear Mountain but first turn left. In less than .1 miles is the West Mountain Shelter. The views from here are spectacular. Bald Mountain and The Timp are clearly visible. There is a nice view down to the Hudson River and on a clear day the Skyline of New York City can be seen. Retrace your steps and follow the blue and yellow blazes as they run concurrently.

In less than .25 miles the SBM trail turns left and heads south and west. Stay on the Timp-Torne Trail and in about the same distance the Appalachian Trail comes in from the left. The trails now wander along the ridge with interesting views on both sides. After 1.15 miles the trail split with the Timp-Torne Trail continuing on north and slightly west toward The Torne. Stay on the AT as it turns right and starts a long descent. Just before the descent are several views points over the Hudson River. Look carefully for the Bear Mountain Bridge. The Perkins Tower on the top of Bear Mountain can easily be scene straight ahead. It looks very close but there is a significant descent and ascent before reaching it. As you descend you will see the red Fawn Trail go off to the right. In .6 miles the AT crosses Seven Lakes Drive. Just before this the 1777W Trail crosses the AT. Turning right on this trail leads back to the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail which may be an easier way to return to the parking area.

After crossing the road the AT ascends to the top of Bear Mountain at the Perkins Tower. The trail does undulate at times but the net results is always up. After .5 miles the AT meets the road and runs along Perkins Drive for .4 miles before cutting back into the forest and starting the final ascent to the tower. There are several viewpoints along Perkins Drive which are quite nice. After about .5 miles of ascent, the Perkins Tower comes into view. The views from Bear Mountain are nice but the views from West Mountain are better. Bear Mountain is more talked about since Perkins Drive allows easier access than the trails to West Mountain

After taking in the walk back to the AT and follow it down the mountain to the parking area. The trail crosses the road twice and goes through the picnic area. After ,4 miles it joins a road for about .25 miles before again entering the woods and descending. in .4 miles the AT again meets the SBM Trail that you were on earlier in the day. Retrace your path for .3 miles back to the car.

Bear Mountain: Bear Mt and The Torne

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.4 mi.	3420 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The easiest place to park to start this hike is at the Bear Mountain Inn parking area next to Hessian Lake. Parking costs $6 per car but there is lots of it and bathroom facilities are available. There area several ways to get to the parking area but Route 9W north or south is the easiest way. You can also take Seven Lakes Drive from Long Mountain Parkway (Route 6). Stay on Seven Lakes Drive through another traffic circle. Park in the back parking area. Walk along the front of the outdoor ice rink and continue on the pathway on the left side of the lake. Just before the end of the lake, watch for the spot where the red on white blazes turn left off the pathway and start up the hill at about .5 miles. The Major Welch Trail can be steep at times and runs across several exposed rock faces. The rocks can be slippery even when dry but are treacherous when wet.

At 1.5 miles the trail ascends sharply and crosses Perkins Drive for the first time. Go across the road and pick up the trail slightly to the left. As you ascend now occasionally look over your shoulder. As you near the top of the climb wonderful views of the Bear Mountain Bridge will appear below. You can also Se up and down the river for some distance depending on the weather. At 1.71 miles cross Perkins Drive again and walk passed the tower to the lookout area. Here you can see the river below and get good views of the surrounding area. On a clear day it is possible to see the Manhattan skyline to the south. When you are done. walk on Perkins Drive through the parking area to the left of the tower. Look for the white blazes of the at coming up the hill. Turn left and descend until you meet Perkins Drive at 2,25 miles. As you walk down this section of the trail you will cross several rocky areas and walk through laurel "tunnels".

Walk down the road following the AT until it enters the woods on the right at 2.7 miles. Be careful of the vehicle traffic when the road is open. Continue to follow the AT and cross Seven Lakes Drive at 3.1 miles. Immediately after crossing the road look for the metal disks that are labeled 1777W. They should appear on your right just after crossing the road. Get on this trail and follow it until 3.88 miles where it again meets Seven Lakes Drive. Walk along the road following the blazes as the trail crosses over Rout 9W. Turn right at 3.95 miles and watch for Queensboro Lake and its dam at 4.05 miles. You will be on a paved pathway briefly until it becomes more rustic after it passes a building on your left. At 4.3 miles the trail intersects a woods road and the signage is unclear. Turn RIGHT onto the road and watch for the blazes as the trail shortly turns right at 4.4 miles.

At 4.7 miles the trail crosses a creek on an interesting "bridge". The exact nature of this bridge and some of the "structures" next to it are unclear. At 5.35 miles the trail splits. Straight ahead the trail leads to Route 9W. For now turn left and cross a substantial footbridge across Popolopen Creek. Follow the trail as it turns right unto a road and then immediately left up into the woods. At 5.5 miles the trail crosses Mine Road and then begins to wind around to the "back" of The Torne. From here the trail ascends STEEPLY up The Torne. There are several rocks scrambles and the ascent can be VERY tricky when the rock is wet or covered in ice or snow. As you ascend views of Bear Mountain and the Hudson River come into view. The Bear Mountain Bridge and Anthony's Nose are spread out below. The top of The Torne is completely open and has little vegetation making it ideal for viewing in all directions. You can look up and down the river and east and west. Don't miss the monument at the top constructed of rocks carried from the base of The Torne to the top to remember members of the armed services killed in the war in Iraq. When you are done retrace your steps carefully back to the bridge and up the hill to the trail you cam in one from the southeast.

> Turn to your left at 6.1 miles and to the east. Walk the trail along Popolopen Gorge and the creek. At 7.1 miles watch for a dam on your left. The view varies depending on the foliage on the trees. Continue on the trail until it meets the road at 7.27 miles. BE CAREFUL at this point as you walk the road up to the Bear Mountain traffic circle and cross over to the far side to get to Hessian Lake and the path around it at 7.55 miles. Follow the paved path around the lake by turning left and heading toward the Bear Mountain and back to the parking lot to complete the 8.4 mile trip.

Bear Mountain: Cornell Mine Trail to Bald Mountain

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.0 miles	1290 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park on Route 9W where it meets Route 202 from the Bear Mountain traffic circle. The parking is just after a small bridge over Doodletown Creek. Cross the road and get on the trail just to the left of the bridge. The blazes for the Cornell Mine Trail are blue and quite visible. Like all the trails in the park there is no sign that announces the beginning of the trail. After a short climb the trail levels and then rolls for a while. When the water levels are high the creek has several nice rapids and small falls. As you are walking you cannot help but notice that up ahead the land rises quickly. When the trail does start to climb it starts gently but rapidly increases in difficulty. Most of the climbing would be almost impossible without the switchbacks, Switchbacks add to the hiking distance but make the climbing easier. Just when you think the hardest part is over near the top, the last few hundred feet get steeper! Near the top the trail ends where it meets the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. Turn right on this red blazed trail. A short hike puts you on Bald Mountain facing directly toward Bear Mountain. The Perkins Tower is clearly visible almost two miles to the north. Just down from the summit of the mountain are several depressions and one tunnel that make up the Cornell Mines. At this point you can retrace your way back down the Cornell Mine Trail or use one of the trails on the other side of Bald Mountain to make a loop.

Bear Mountain: Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.4 miles	1200 feet	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park in any of the parking lots at the Bear Mountain Inn off Route 9W. The two trails that allow access to Bear Mountain are the Appalachian Trail and the Major Welch Trail. Anyone not familiar with the area will probably miss the point at which the Major Welch Trail leaves the paved loop around Hessian Lake. I recommend taking the Appalachian Trail up the mountain the first time and using the Major Welch to return. Head for the outdoor ice skating rink. As you walk from the rink to Hessian Lake, a paved trail leads up a hill. This was the access road to the old ski jump which has not been used for MANY years. Follow the white blazes of the Appalachian Trail as it winds its way up the mountain. In some spots there are some bare rock faces to climb up at angles over 40 degrees. Some people go around while others go right up the rock. The trail meets a dead end road with a circle that many people use to view the river valley below. Walk up the road for a short while watching for a SMALL sign for the tower on your left. As you head up to the tower there are several opportunities to walk off the trail to a lookout to take in the view. The trail crosses Perkins Memorial drive several times. You can lose the trail at times but just keep heading for the tower. The view from the top is very nice on a clear day. Be sure to look south. About two miles away is Bald Mountain which is also a popular destination for hikers. Walk around the tower clockwise and down the access road. Walk off to your right and try to find the red blazed Major Welch Trail. Just after this trail begins there are several spectacular lookouts. The trail then begins a rather steep descent toward Hessian Lake. This trail also has some open and bare rock faces to negotiate. There are several additional opportunities for views but none are as good as at the top. Eventually the trail meets the paved loop trail around Hessian Lake. Turn right for the short way back or turn left to enjoy a walk around the lake. Make a mental note of where the Major Welch trail meets the path so that you can reverse the loop next time.

Bear Mountain: Steps Trail Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	10.3 miles	2182 feet	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park in any of the parking lots at the Bear Mountain Inn off Route 9W. The three trails that allow access to Bear Mountain are the Appalachian Trail, the Major Welch Trail and the new Steps Trail. Anyone not familiar with the area will probably miss the point at which the Major Welch Trail leaves the paved loop around Hessian Lake. I recommend taking the Appalachian Trail or the Steps Trail up the mountain the first time. This route uses the Steps Trail and then forms a big loop around the bear Mountain Park.

Head for the outdoor ice skating rink. As you walk from the rink to Hessian Lake, a paved trail leads up a hill. This was the access road to the old ski jump which has not been used for MANY years. At the top of the first climb DO NOT turn left on the road but continue straight ahead to climb the Steps Trail. The "steps" are hundreds of stone steps cut on the mountain and placed by volunteers to alleviate the damage to the ecology from the large volume of visitors to this area. The trail meets a dead end road with a circle that many people use to view the river valley below. Walk up the road for a short while watching for a SMALL sign for the tower on your left. As you head up to the tower there are several opportunities to walk off the trail to a lookout to take in the view. The trail crosses Perkins Memorial drive several times. You can lose the trail at times but just keep heading for the tower. The view from the top is very nice on a clear day. Be sure to look south. About two miles away is Bald Mountain which is also a popular destination for hikers. You may also see West Mountain with its stone shelter. The skyline of New York City can be seen to the south.

Bear Mountain: The Torne from Popolopen Gorge

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.7 mi.	1415 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The easiest place to park to start this hike is at the Bear Mountain Inn parking area next to Hessian Lake. parking costs $6 but there is lots of it and bathroom facilities are available. There area several ways to get to the parking area but Route 9W north or south is the easiest way. You can also take Seven Lakes Drive from Long Mountain Parkway (Route 6). Stay on Seven Lakes Drive through another traffic circle. Park in the back parking area. Walk toward the outdoor skating rink and down the hill toward Hessian Lake. Walk around Hessian Lake on the right or east side. You will be walking north toward the Bear Mountain Traffic Circle. Leave the path and walk up toward Route 9W and the traffic circle. CAREFULLY cross the traffic circle and walk along Route 9W north as it leaves the traffic circle. Watch for three red on white rectangular blazes on the left side of the road. This is the beginning of the Popolopen Gorge Trail.

The P-G Trail more or less parallels Popolopen Creek and the sights and sounds are very pleasing. The trail rises and falls but continuously gains some elevation. At times you are closer to the creek than others. In a short distance is a dam on the creek and the remains of a mill with the millpond behind the dam. As you continue along the trail you will see a rather impressive hill on your right. This is The Torne, the object of the hike. You will also find "manhole" covers at regular intervals. These are access points for the West Point Aqueduct. The noise of traffic competes with the babble of the brook as the trail comes very close to Route 6 in places. On the far bank of the creek a stone "wall" is noticeable. This supports the Timp-Torne, 177 and 1179 trails that you will use on your return. After a little more than a mile, you will be at the junction with the Blue marked Timp-Torne Trail.

Make a left turn at this point and head down toward the creek. Don't worry about finding a way across. There is a brand new metal footbridge. Take some time to enjoy the sights and sounds of the creek before continuing on to the other side. After a slight ascent the trail turns left. The turn is marked but a woods road also goes left. This is typical of the area where trails and woods roads cross each other frequently. Generally the trails are well-marked but a map, compass and GPS can all be VERY helpful. In a short distance the Timp-Torne Trail turns left while the 1777 and 1779 Trails continue straight ahead. Turn left and ascend slightly to Mine Road. Go across the road and find the trail marking on the other side. Now get ready to climb.

The trail up the Torne is steep at times and, in several areas, passes over rock outcroppings with some tricky food and hand holds. CAUTION: Wet, icy and snowy conditions will make this ascent dangerous! The trail follows the pattern of short steep ascents followed by flatter areas for recovery. There are very few workarounds available. As you climb be sure to look around at the views back to Bear Mountain and down to the Hudson River. You can see the Bear Mountain Bridge and Anthony's Nose clearly. Of course, These views are not as good as the ones from the top. Continue on up until there is no more up. At the top of the Torne is a stone cairn. As the sign explains, the stones were all carried form the bottom of the hill to the top to commemorate the sacrifice of soldiers fighting overseas. The cairn is also decorated with many Boy Scout emblems as this is a popular destination for scout troop hikes.

From the top you can retrace your path back to the junction with the 1777 and 1779 Trails. You can also follow the Timp-Torne trail as it makes a sort of loop and continues on another route down the Torne. No matter which path you take you will cross over Mine Road again and meet up with the other trails. You can, of course, retrace your steps to the car but staying on the north side of the creek is a nice alternative. turn left on the Timp-Torne, 1777 and 1779. Notice the stone support beneath the trail that was visible from the other bank. The trail rises and falls on the way toward Brooks Lake. At one point you will come to a road. Turn right and continue on down the road watching for trail markers on the left side. When you turn into the woods you will see Brooks Lake appear almost immediately. This areas was opened in 2005 and is used by residents fro camping and day use.

Continue passed Brook Lake up to a road. Turn left on the road and immediately pick up the trail on the other side. The trail continues to the woods and then leads to another road. Walk down the road and turn back onto the trail on the right. This short trail leads to the West Redoubt of the Revolutionary War era Fort Montgomery. From the Redoubt, return to the main trail and walk UNDER the Popolopen Creek Bridge and Route 9W. After a short ascent, the Fort Montgomery visitor's center will be straight ahead. Take some time to walk around the fort. Only the stone foundations of the buildings remain but placards explain the fort's construction and significance. There are foundations for the barracks, guard house, powder magazine and necessaries. The sight of the North Redoubt and Main Battery are marked. A replicate 32 pound cannon is at the site of the main battery. The views from this area are beautiful and help to explain why a fort was erected at this site. When you are done, walk back to and behind the visitor's center. Walk down a little hill to the creek and an impressive suspension footbridge. From the footbridge there are incredible views of the Bear Mountain Bridge and Anthony's Nose on the left and Popolopen Creek and the Popolopen Creek Bridge on the other.

The trail continues across another much smaller footbridge and up and under the Bear Mountain Bridge. The view from under the bridge is interesting. The trail leads up through the museum and zoo. If these are closed or if you hike with your dog, take the trail to the right which leads up to the toll booths and bypasses the zoo. From here walk west toward the traffic circle and cross over Route 9W to Hessian Lake. Walk back the way you originally came at the beginning of the hike or continue on around Hessian Lake. On the other side look for the red trail markings of the Major Welch Trail that is one of the trails to the top of Bear Mountain. The Appalachian Trail and the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail also pass through this area. Return to your car on one of the many pathways.

Bear Mountain: The Timp to The Torne with Bear Mountain

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	14.3 mi.	4607 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The easiest place to park to start this hike is at the Bear Mountain Inn parking area next to Hessian Lake. Parking costs $7 but there is lots of it and bathroom facilities are available. There area several ways to get to the parking area but Route 9W north or south is the easiest way. You can also take Seven Lakes Drive from Long Mountain Parkway (Route 6). Stay on Seven Lakes Drive through another traffic circle. Park in the back parking area. Walk south toward the tunnel that goes under the road and watch for the red 1777E trail. Stay on this trail until the blue Cornell Mine Trail branches to the left and turn here to walk down to Route 9W. Walk along route 9W for a hundred feet and turn right into the woods along a small stream. You may want to walk down to the stream to tale pictures as there are several small waterfalls. The trail remains relatively flat for about a mile until it starts to climb Bald Mountain. The climb isn't too long and a few switchbacks make the trip easier if a little longer. In about .33 miles you will be at the end of the Cornell Mine Trail. Turn right on the red Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail and walk to the summit of Bald Mountain. At the summit there is a large open self of rock that has great views to the north of the Bear Mountain Bridge and West Mountain with its stone shelter. When you are done, walk back to the trail and head south.

The descent down Bald Mountain is steep in places and runs across some open rock but in manageable. At times you are surrounded by huge blocks of rock. Stay on the trail as it turns southwest and ignore the junctions with the red 1777 trail after about .7 miles. In another .2 miles turn right on the blue Timp-Torne Trail and ascend to the top of The Timp. From the top of The Timp there are nice views of Bald Mountain and Tompkins Lake below. On clear days you may also be able to see the New York City skyline. Leave The Timp and continue on the blue trail as it descends The Timp into the area between it and the West Mountain ridge. The climb up to West Mountain is steep at times but isn't very long. In about .8 miles you will be near the highest point and will arrive at the West Mountain shelter. The shelter is very busy during peak hiking times and is well-constructed out of stone. From here you can look back at The Timp and also have a chance to get another view of the city skyline. Take some pictures and then continue on the blue trail passing two trail junction with the yellow Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail. In about .35 miles the Appalachian Trail comes in from the left and runs along with the Timp-Torne Trail for some distance.

Continue on the ridge along the blue trail. There are nice views to the left including some down to the Anthony Wayne State park parking lots. Soon the AT breaks to the right and the trail travels along a rocky ridge before descending over some open rock. You will pass the junction with the red Fawn Trail and the white Anthony Wayne Trail. The Timp-Torne Trail then intersects Seven Lakes Drive which you must cross with EXTREME caution. This is about 2 miles from the West Mountain shelter. Cross Seven Lakes Drive and walk along the opposite shoulder and over the overpass. Cross to the other side of the road and head down the paved path toward Queensboro Lake. This paved road soon turns to dirt and then in about .4 miles a sign warns "Shooting Range"! At this point the trail turns right and you should follow it.

The trail roams through some woods and crosses a stream on a narrow "bridge" before paralleling the stream on the high bank. In about a mile it turn to the left and crosses a stream on a well-constructed bridge. From here the trail ascends some stone steps, turns to the right, follows a woods road and then turns left up a hill. It crosses Mine Road and then begins a series of switchbacks up to The Torne. From the bridge it is about .25 miles to the beginning of the ascent up The Torne. This ascent is STEEP and passes over several areas of open rock with little to hold onto and not much good footing. One area requires you to make a choice of making it up a 60 degrees sloping rock or up and over a 4 foot drop. Trying to ascend and descend The Torne when it is wet or icy is a recipe for disaster. The ascent is only about .2 miles. Just before the summit is a viewpoint that looks down over the Hudson and the Bear mountain Bridge. To the right Bear Mountain is visible. At the summit is a 5 foot rock cairn. The rocks were carried from the bottom of the hill to the top to commemorate soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. When you are done, retrace your oath back to the bridge and walk back up to the main trail.

Turn left on the red Popolopen Gorge Trail which parallels the creek high on the bank but eventually drops almost to water level. Near the end of this trail is an old mill dam which holds back the creek and forms a pleasing waterfall. After 1.3 miles, the trail ends at Route 9W. Cross the road carefully and turn right and walk up to the traffic circle. Find the best way to continue across the circle and to the walkway around the lake. You may turn left and return to the car or continue on around the lake to ascend Bear Mountain. If you do want to go up the mountain, turning right may be a better idea. The walk to the head of the lake is about .5 miles. Turn right here to continue around the lake. Around .3 miles watch for the red blazes of the Major Welch Trail as they turn left into the woods.

The Major Welch trail starts out mildly but quickly becomes steep and ascend over some open rock. One place is so steep a chain is provided to help pull yourself up. After .8 miles of some serious climbing, the trail crosses Perkins Drive and continues to climb to the summit of Bear Mountain. Along the way are several fantastic viewpoints that look down on the river and the bridge. In about .5 miles the trail passes the Perkins Tower to another excellent lookout. After taking in the views, walk to the left and look for the white blazes of the AT that you will follow back to the lake. The trail weaves back and forth, reaches a dead end road to a circular parking area and then continues its descent down the mountain. Continue to follow the trail and in about 1.35 miles you will be a the top of a downhill that lead back to the lake. Walk down the hill and take a right at the bottom of the hill. Walk passed the ice rink to the parking lot and your car.

Bear Spring: Central Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	9.3 mi.	1600 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Caution: The trails at Bear Spring State Park are primarily constructed for horses and snowmobiles. The wide well-kept trails are easy to walk but poorly marked. You cannot really get lost but you can wander around a lot.

Take County Route 206 to the top of Bear Spring Mountain near Walton, NY. Turn onto East Trout Brook Road and drive south. Pass Launt Pond on your right and then drive 1.3 miles further. Park on the left side of the road in the parking area. Cross the road to get on Trial 4 to the Fork Mountain ridge. The trail rises 750 feet from the road to the ridge over 1.2 miles. At the top of the ridge turn right or northwest to hike along the Fork Mountain Ridge. A little more than 2 miles into the hike and you will be at the first of three clear cut areas on the hike. No one has been able to tell me the reason for theses clear cuts but they are all done with state approval. The trail continues northwest over a few bumps and at 3.3 miles into the hike you cross West Trout Brook Road to continue on the trail. Continue almost directly north now toward Route 206 and cross the road again to walk through the main parking area. Follow the trail through the woods and out across a field. Look for the opening directly across the field. The trail parallels Route 206, crosses East Trout Brook Road and then ascends slightly before dropping to Wilson Hollow Road. This woods road is a grassy track and has never been paved but shows up on many maps with the same prominence as Route 206! At this point you will be at were at the second and largest clear cut area. Follow Wilson Hollow Road along the large clear cut area before the road entered the woods. Watch for Trail 11 on the right at about 6.8 miles into the hike. This trail leads back down to East Trout Brook Road and to another trail that will take you back to your car. It is an alternative route. Continue on the main trail/road passing another trail down within .6 miles of Trail 11. Continue to the McCoy Hill Shortcut at 7.7 miles. This trail turns right and runs along the edge of a field before descending through the forest to the last clear cut. Watch for a short path to the right that leads to a small field with a view over the clear cut and across to Fork Mountain. A little further down another trail comes in from the left. Stay on the main trail passing a pond and two final trail junctions before arriving at Middle Pond on East Trout Brook. Walk over the bridge and up to your car,

Bear Spring: East Trout Brook Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.3 mi.	1262 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Caution: The trails at Bear Spring State Park are primarily constructed for horses and snowmobiles. The wide well-kept trails are easy to walk but poorly marked. You cannot really get lost but you can wander around a lot.

Take County Route 206 to the top of Bear Spring Mountain near Walton, NY. Turn right on East trout Brook Road and drive south. Pass Launt pond on your right and then drive 1.3 miles further. Park on the left side of the road in the parking area. Walk down the wide path/road and across the dam that creates a small pond. Continue straight ahead up the hill on the wide grassy snowmobile/horse trail. The trail climbs steadily now toward the ridge. At .35 miles a trail marked "New Trail" comes in on the left. Continue straight ahead to .68 miles. You will be in an area that has been clear cut, one of several in the park. Turn right and continue climbing until the trail junction at 1.23 miles. Turn left up the hill to the ridge. The climb ends at 1.61 miles into the hike. The trail now "rolls" along the ridge and starts a turn from east to northwest at about 1.85 miles. At 3.0 miles pass by a turn to the left through a field. This trail leads back to the trail junction at the base of the clear cut and is a good "early out". Continue to 3.33 miles and turn left down another wide trail. This trail initially heads south but them goes through a switchback that again turns northwest. The trail loses 715 feet to a parking area on East Trout Brook Road at 4.6 miles. You can walk the road south from here to your car. Make a sharp left turn onto a trail marked "New Trail" to avoid the road walk. This trail heads southeast for 1.3 miles until it reaches the trail junction at 5.9 miles you passed earlier. The trail is longer than the road walk and does ascend briefly in a few spots. Turn right and walk back to the dam and across the top to your car.

Bear Spring: Eastern Trails

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.6 mi.	1253 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Caution: The trails at Bear Spring State Park are primarily constructed for horses and snowmobiles. The wide well-kept trails are easy to walk but poorly marked. You cannot really get lost but you can wander around a lot.

Take County Route 206 to the top of Bear Spring Mountain near Walton, NY. Park in the large pull off on the left hand side of the road just before the turn onto East Trout Brook Road. To start the hike, walk up the road to a wide woods road with a gate on your left. This is Wilson Hollow Road which is also Trail 2 on the horse trails map of the area. As you walk in on this wide trail, you will immediacies notice a clear cut area extending more than half a mile on your left. The trail will continue to rise a little as you walk with no steep uphill or downhill section. in the first 3 miles. At 1.3 miles Trail 11 will enter from the right as it climbs the ridge from just south of Launt Pond on East Trout Brook Road. At 2.3 miles Trail 3 joins from the right. This is where you will return after the loop. At this point the trail descends a little and then climbs slightly. Along the way the trail heads more to the southeast and a snowmobile trail comes in on the left from Downsville. Soon the trail begins to head down until at around 4 miles Trail 12 comes in from the left. Continue to bear to the right and follow Trail 2 as it continues to the lowest point on the hike, the junction with Trail 3 at 4.5 miles. Turn right here on Trail 3 to walk back up to the ridge to the area you passed earlier. At this point in the hike you may think you are in the wrong place but what your are looking at is ANOTHER clear cut area. After the turn Trail 3 climbs to a field that looks down over the clear cut area but also looks down the hollow for some good photographic opportunities. Continue on Trail 3 until it meets Trail 2 back on the ridge about 5.3 miles into the hike. Turn left and follow Wilson Hollow Road for the next 2.3 miles back to the car.

Bear Spring: Eastern Trails from trailhead

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.6 mi.	1253 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Caution: The trails at Bear Spring State Park are primarily constructed for horses and snowmobiles. The wide well-kept trails are easy to walk but poorly marked. You cannot really get lost but you can wander around a lot.

Take County Route 206 to the top of Bear Spring Mountain near Walton, NY. Turn onto West Trout Brook Road and park at the main trailhead parking on the left hand side of the road. To start the hike, get on the trail just to the left of the information kiosk. These trails are for horseback riding and are not marked like hiking trails.Continue on this trail through a field and down a hill to where the trail crosses East Trout Brook Road. Continue across and bear left where the trail splits. Ascend a hill to another trail junction on the other side. Turn left and walk down the hill to a woods road. This is Wilson Hollow Road which is also Trail 2 on the horse trails map of the area. As you walk in on this wide trail, you will immediacies notice a clear cut area extending more than half a mile on your left. The trail will continue to rise a little as you walk with no steep uphill or downhill section. in the first 3 miles. At 2.25 miles Trail 11 will enter from the right as it climbs the ridge from just south of Launt Pond on East Trout Brook Road. At 3.1 miles Trail 3 joins from the right. Turn here and skirt the edge of a field before entering the woods and heading downhill. For .8 miles the trail loses 460 feet to the lowest point on the hike. Another clearcut area will appear on the right as you near the end of this section. There are some nice vies down the valley. At the bottom of the hill turn left and start to climb back up to the ridge. In a little more than half a mile the trail splits and you should continue by bearing left up to the ridge. The trail makes an abrupt change in direction from east to northwest and at 6.3 miles you will be back to where you started the loop. Follow Wilson Hollow Road back almost to Route 206. Turn left up the hill and follow your route back to the main trailhead.

Bear Spring: Launt Pond Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.9 mi.	1027 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Caution: The trails at Bear Spring State Park are primarily constructed for horses and snowmobiles. The wide well-kept trails are easy to walk but poorly marked. You cannot really get lost but you can wander around a lot.

Take County Route 206 to the top of Bear Spring Mountain near Walton, NY. Turn onto West Trout Brook Road and park at the main trailhead parking on the left hand side of the road. To start the hike, get on the trail just to the left of the information kiosk. These trails are for horseback riding and are not marked like hiking trails.Continue on this trail through a field and down a hill to where the trail crosses East Trout Brook Road. Continue across and bear left where the trail splits. Ascend a hill to another trail junction on the other side. Turn left and walk down the hill to a woods road. This is Wilson Hollow Road which is also Trail 2 on the horse trails map of the area. As you walk in on this wide trail, you will immediacies notice a clear cut area extending more than half a mile on your left. The trail will continue to rise a little as you walk with no steep uphill or downhill section. in the first 3 miles. At 2.25 miles Trail 11 will enter from the right as it climbs the ridge from just south of Launt Pond on East Trout Brook Road. At 2.85 miles another woods road joins from the right. Turn right here walk down the trail to a nearly 180 degree turn at 3.0 miles. As you continue on this trail, a break in the trees on the left reveals another clearcut area. The trail ends, after 1.4 miles and a drop of 550 feet, at a parking area on East Trout Brook Road just south of Launt Pond. Turn right and walk .3 miles up to the pond. This is a favorite picnic and boating area during the season. Head back out to the road and turn left. Walk about a mile north on the road and gain around 300 feet. As you near Route 206, you will see the trail that you used to cross the road earlier in the hike. Turn left and follow your path from earlier back to the car.

Bear Spring: Northeastern Trails

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.0 mi.	1100 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Caution: The trails at Bear Spring State Park are primarily constructed for horses and snowmobiles. The wide well-kept trails are easy to walk but poorly marked. You cannot really get lost but you can wander around a lot. This hike is the result of some wandering.

Take County Route 206 to the top of Bear Spring Mountain near Walton, NY. Turn into the park on West Bear trout Brook Road which is the main entrance. Only a few hundred feet in there will be a large trail head parking area on the left. There is a large hand-painted wooden sign that shows the numbers horse trails. Memorize it since the copies, if there are any, at he trail junctions are useless. Note also that there are many additional trails and roads that form loops and are not shown on any maps.

Exit the parking area on the trail to the left of the sign which should be Trail 2. Almost immediately you will be at an open field with no clues where to go. Walk straight across the field to the trail on the other side. At .5 miles you will cross East Trout Brook Road and immediately be confronted with three possible trails. Bear to the left and up the hill. At 1.0 mile there will be a trail junction which is almost a T with no signs. Turn right to continue with this description or left which is the "correct" way to go. Bearing left the trail ascends to the top of a little plateau with open forest. The trail heads southwest but then turns northwest and descends right back to East Trout Brook Road. Walk .8 miles down the road to Launt Pond. Although this is a road walk the pond is beautiful and well worth the trip. Launt Pond is not on any of the main trails but can be reached by spur trails. After spending some time at the pond, walk down the road about .3 miles to the next big parking area on the left. Just before the parking area enter the woods on Trail 11. Trail 11 winds back and forth but travels mostly east and up to meet Wilson Hollow Road which is part of Trail 2. Turn left or north and follow the wide road for about 1.2 miles at which point you will be within sight of Route 206. As you approach this area you will see a large clear cut area on the left. Turn left up the hill and make the first right. If this looks familiar, it should. This is the area where you made a short loop earlier. Head back to the parking area on Trail 2 which is only 1`.1 miles away. Other loops are possible using Trail 2 which extends much farther south.

Bear Spring: Ridge Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.9 mi.	1447 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Caution: The trails at Bear Spring State Park are primarily constructed for horses and snowmobiles. The wide well-kept trails are easy to walk but poorly marked. You cannot really get lost but you can wander around a lot.

Take County Route 206 to the top of Bear Spring Mountain near Walton, NY. At the top of the hill turn onto West Trout Brook Road and drive south a short distance to the large parking area on the left. Walk just less than a mile south on West Trout Brook Road and turn left onto the trail that runs over Fork Mountain. This is the central ridge of the three at the park and serves as part of the Finger Lakes Trail. The walk SSE on the trail for another 2.4 miles until Trail 4 turns left off the ridge. The walk along the ridge rolls some but does not gain or lose much elevation. Trail 4 is steep and drops 655 feet in less than a mile. The trail ends at East Trout Brook Road. Cross the road to the parking lot and then walk down the trail to Middle Pond. Approach Middle Pond quietly as you may spot a blue heron, a beaver or other wildlife. Walk straight ahead and up the hill on the trail. At 4.6 miles a trail appears on the left but you should continue up the hill to 4.9 miles where the trail splits. Notice the large clear cut area on the left as there are several in the area. Keep to the left to take the McCoy Hill Cutoff to the top of the eastern ridge. There is at least one viewpoint along the way and at 5.7 miles you will walk through a field to meet the trail along the eastern ridge. Turn left on this trail and walk along the ridge. At 6.0 miles a wide woods road heads back down off the ridge to East Trout Brook Road. Further along at 6.6 miles, another trail heads down to the camping area at Launt Pond. Continue straight ahead and at 7.2 miles another large clear cut area will appear on your right. Another clear cut is visible on the hillside across Route 206. At 7.8 miles turn right and walk up a short hill. Bear right at the first form and walk up a little and then down to East Trout Brook Road. The final .4 miles is uphill and crosses a large field before you are back at the parking area.

Bear Spring: Southeastern Trails

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.2 mi.	1475 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Caution: The trails at Bear Spring State Park are primarily constructed for horses and snowmobiles. The wide well-kept trails are easy to walk but poorly marked. You cannot really get lost but you can wander around a lot. This hike is the result of some wandering.

Take County Route 206 to the top of Bear Spring Mountain near Walton, NY. Turn onto East Trout Brook Road which is a paved road that connects to Trout Brook Road and Route 30 at Shinhopple. Drive south on the road for about 2.2 miles passing Launt Pond on your right. Park at the roadside pulloff near Middle Pond. There will be a dam and bridge at the outlet of the pond which will allow you to cross East Trout Brook. You may also drive north on Trout Brook Road from Route 30 in Shinhopple. Bear right where West and East Trout Brook Roads separate. The parking area will be about 2.2 miles from where the roads diverge. It may be possible to park at the large parking area where the two roads separate but crossing East Trout Brook in this area on Trail 8 can be difficult in all but the driest times. There is no bridge!

After crossing the bridge at Middle Pond turn right and follow Trail 8 as it roughly parallels the creek.

Bear Spring: Trail 4

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	1.9 mi.	690 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Caution: The trails at Bear Spring State Park are primarily constructed for horses and snowmobiles. The wide well-kept trails are easy to walk but poorly marked. You cannot really get lost but you can wander around a lot.

Take County Route 206 to the top of Bear Spring Mountain near Walton, NY and watch for East Trout Brook Road on your left. Turn left on East Trout Brook Road heading south and passing Launt Pond on your right. After 2.2 miles park on the left side of the road in the parking area near Middle Pond. Cross the road and head up Trail 4 to the junction with Trail 5 on the ridge. UP is the operative word since Trail 4 is pro ably the steepest trail in the park. It only gains 690 feet but it does so in about 1 mile. Ignore the trail head signs that say .6 miles since a careful inspection will show this is "as the crow flies". The trail is steep with some very steep sections and near the top there is a switchback on the horse trail. Just before the junction with Trail 5 on the ridge is a sharp right turn. Once you are on top you can simply walk back to the car or make this part of a longer or MUCH longer loop.

Bear Spring: Trout Brook

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.7 mi.	527 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Caution: The trails at Bear Spring State Park are primarily constructed for horses and snowmobiles. The wide well-kept trails are easy to walk but poorly marked. You cannot really get lost but you can wander around a lot.

Take County Route 206 to the top of Bear Spring Mountain near Walton, NY and watch for East Trout Brook Road on your left. Turn left on East Trout Brook Road heading south and passing Launt Pond on your right. After 2.2 miles park on the left side of the road in the parking area near Middle Pond. Walk down to the dam and then turn right on the trail. The trail parallels Trout Creek for most of its length but moves away through fields and forest in places. The trail can be very wet at times. Walk as far as you like and then turn around to return. There are a number of ways to extend the distance and difficulty of the hike.

Bear Spring: Western Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	12.2 mi.	2100 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Caution: The trails at Bear Spring State Park are primarily constructed for horses and snowmobiles. The wide well-kept trails are easy to walk but poorly marked. You cannot really get lost but you can wander around a lot.

Take County Route 206 to the top of Bear Spring Mountain near Walton, NY. Turn into the park on West Bear trout Brook Road which is the main entrance. Only a few hundred feet in there will be a large trail head parking area on the left. There is a large hand-painted wooden sign that shows the numbers horse trails. Memorize it since the copies, if there are any, at he trail junctions are useless. Note also that there are many additional trails and roads that form loops and are not shown on any maps.

Exit the parking area on the trail across the road which should be Trail 7. Within .5 miles you will cross Beers Brook Road and the trail continues on the other side as it parallels West Trout Brook Road. The trail is wide open and grassy and wanders back and forth across the ridge and generally gains a little elevation. At 1.1 miles the trail bears to the right and continues until it meets the trail to the Houck Mountain towers at about 2.2 miles. Turn left and walk a short distance to the next junction and turn right staying on the horse trail marked with the blue horse trail markers. There are few markers that designate the trail numbers and at some point Trail 7 changes to Trail 6 at least according to the sign back at trail head. As you walk along the ridge for the next 3.25 miles to the south and then southeast, you may begin to wonder if you are going the right way. At the and of the ridge the trail starts to descend for about .45 miles to a switchback almost 6 miles into the hike! After the switchback, walk about .8 miles to the next switchback and then another ,5 miles to West Trout Brook Road. You will be about 7.3 miles into the hike and will have dropped almost 1000 feet from the ridge. Cross the road and walk a little to the right to continue on Trail 6. Now its time to regain that 1000 feet you dropped!

From the road the trail ascends briefly and then drops through a stand of spruce trees before climbing again to a trail junction within .35 miles of the road. Finally a trail that is clearly marked! Turn left on Trail 5 and start to climb over 900 feet for the next 1.3 miles. After this there are still some ups and downs but the trail remains relatively flat as it passes Fork Mountain at 9.5 miles into the hike. At 10 miles the trail starts to descend. Along the trail at about 10.4 miles you will pass a clear cut area to the left of the trail. Somewhere around 11 miles Trail 5 ends at West Trout Brook Road. You can walk the road back to the car or cross over to get back on Trail 7 and retrace your earlier route back to the car which is only a mile away.

Bearfort Ridge: Surprise Lake and West Pond

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.94 mi	1140 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park in the parking area on Route 210 just south of the New York border. Route 210 runs parallel to the western shore of Greenwood Lake and there are many marinas and boat ramps in the area. This parking area is hard to find as it looks like you are turning into the parking lot for one of the marinas on the side of the road away from the lake. From the parking area get on the blue State Line Trail and follow it up to the ridge. This area is popular and there may be no definite path defined. Keep watching for the trail markers as the trail ascends about 650 feet in the first .6 miles. This is almost a 20% grade and is a little steep. Near the top of the climb leave the State Line Trail and turn left on the yellow Ernest Walter Trail that travels along the ridge and to the shore of Surprise Lake where there is a nice viewpoint over the lake. Stay on the yellow trail as it descend some from the ridge and then climbs back to a lookout over West Pond about 1,5 miles into the hike. The trail can be wet at the lowest point of this descent at the end of Surprise Lake. Just after the viewpoint you will cross Green Brook and then turn almost due west off the trail to bushwhack to the highest point on the ridge which is Bearfort Mountain. There is no view from the summit so you can avoid this part if you are not completing a "list" of peaks. Back on the main trail there is an almost 180 degree turn as the trail begins to wrap around West Pond heading northeast. The trail continues almost flat as it follows the ridge line to a junction with the white Appalachian Trail at about 2.75 miles. Turn right on the AT and start to watch for the blue blazes of the State Line Trail on the right. Turn right at about 3 miles and descend almost 700 feet in the next .85 miles to return to your car.

Bearfort Ridge: Surprise Lake from Warwick Turnpike

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.3 mi.	1000 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

This trail follows Bearfort Ridge and leads to a secluded lake. The lookout from the ridge over Greenwood Lake is limited but nice. The route is challenging as it keeps the hiker on a spine of rock with many ups and downs.

Get on the Warwick-Greenwood Lake Turnpike. Near Greenwood Lake look for White Road that runs south. Just west of the intersection with White Road is a small parking area. If this lot is full there is another parking about a quarter mile west. Just out of the parking area there is a trail junction. Bear left on the white blazed Bearfort Ridge Trail and follow it as it ascends 630 feet in the next mile. Continue to follow the trail as it dips and rises along the ridge. Watch you footing on the rock spine that makes up most of this part of the trail At about 2.55 miles the trail meets the yellow Ernest Walter Trail. Turn right and walk to the shores of Surprise Lake for a nice view. Turn around and look for the orange blazes of the Quail Trail. This trail heads southwest and back to the car. It has its ups and downs for about a mile until at 4 miles it starts a serious downward trend. From here the trail drops over 500 feet in the last 1.3 miles until you are back at the parking area.

Bearfort Ridge: Terrace Pond from Warwick Turnpike

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.6 mi.	1000 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

WARNING: This trail is closed as of July 2011 due to an expansion of the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company's construction project. The new construction bisects the trail. Further construction may threaten even the AT in New Jersey!

This trail leads to a secluded glacial pond and the lookout from the ridge over Greenwood Lake is excellent. The New York City skyline is visible from the highest point. The route is challenging as it keeps the hiker on a spine of rock with many ups and downs and has several STEEP climbs.

Get on the Warwick-Greenwood Lake Turnpike. Near Greenwood Lake look for White Road that runs south. About a quarter mile west of the intersection and up the hill is a small parking area that is more of a pulloff on the north side of the road. Park here and walk across the road to get on the blue Terrace Pond North Trail. The first part of this trail runs through private property and the owners have been kind enough to allow access. For about a mile the trail ascends and the descends. Watch for an almost 90 degree right turn around 1 mile after which the trail drops slightly. In this area you will eventually start to walk UP a power line right-of-way. There are great views to the south and east along the way and the view ahead of what you are going to climb is impressive. In a short .2 miles the trail climbs about 250 feet which is close to a 30% grade! After this, the trail levels off and at 1.6 miles turns sharply off the power line and into the woods. The trail continues up slightly as it follows spines of rock until it meets the white Terrace Pond Circular Trail at about 2.1 miles. Walk to the cliffs on the south shore of the pond for a beautiful view. Above and behind you is an even higher area. This is Bearfort Mountain which is the highest point in Passaic County. You can take the short bushwhack to the summit. There are several informal paths to follow. To get back you may continue around the pond on the Circular Trail or simply retrace the path you took to the pond.If you choose to go around the pond, be aware that the east end can be very wet.

Beaverkill Headwaters from Wild Meadow Road

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.7 mi.	643 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

As you walk the first part of this route you will hear the waters of Fall Brook flowing roughly south. Once you get to the wetlands near the end the water will start to flow west with water feeding in from runoff from Doubletop. The headwaters of the Beaverkill are a little further north on the slopes of this mountain. The trail where it meets the Beaverkill has been eroded and crossing can be challenging even in drier weather.

Park at the end of Black Bear Road (Wild Meadow Road) in the snowplow turnaround ass long as there is no snow! Walk down the road which serves as the beginning of the yellow Neversink Hardenburgh Trail in this area. Walk by the hunting camp and continue on the trail on the other side. The trail can be very wet in places. Cross over a brook and head up a little gaining some elevation. The Fall Brook lean-to is about 1.7 miles into the hike. After passing the lean-to, a swampy area appeared on the right of the trail which leads into a series of beaver ponds and beaver meadows. Doubletop Mountain is in the background. This area is the headwaters of Fall Brook which runs south and the Beaverkill which runs north and west. The trail parallels the Beaverkill for a short distance and then ENDS at the edge of the stream. Linger for some time to take some pictures and dip a toe in one of the best trout streams in the United States. When you are done, turn around and retrace your route to the car.

Beebe Hill Fire Tower

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	1.7 mi.	400 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Beebe Hill State Forest is on Route 22 in Austerlitz. Turn north on Osmer Road and drive about 1.6 miles to BarrettPond on the left. The access road to the trailhead is just north of the pond. After parking you may walk through the gate and use the road to the fire tower. You may also use the trail to the left of the information kiosk. The trail is marked with a sign that says "Fire Tower 1 mile" although the distance is shorter. The trail crosses two bridges over small streams on its way to the tower. The first half mile has a few steep sections but it switches back and forth several times. After .5 miles or so you will be on the flat top of the hill and a lean-to will appear on the left. Continue to the end of the trail. There you will find an observer's cabin, another building and the tower. The tower can be climbed and the cab is open all year round. Despite the fact that the hill rises only about 300 feet there are great views in all directions. The best views are to the west where the Catskills can easily be seen.

Belleayre Mt: Ski Area from Lost Clove

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.7 mi.	2245 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Get on Route 47, the road that runs from Big Indian on Route 28 to Claryville. Turn onto Lost Clove Road just outside the village of Big Indian. Continue for 1.5 miles on Lost Clove Road until the designated parking area on the right. The road dead ends just after this. Walk straight ahead from the parking area onto the red blazed trail. This trail is an easement on private land so stay on the trail at all times. The trail climbs 1300 feet in the next 1.3 miles! It is very steep at times and just steep at others. The trail does follow an old woods road for most of its length which makes the going easier. Some areas have loose stone which makes the footing tricky.

After 1.3 miles the trail enters the forest preserve and shortly after that ends at the blue blazed Pine Hill West Branch Trail. Turn left on this trail. The walking gets easier and a lean-to will be on the right after only .3 miles. Continue passed the lean-to for about .5 miles to the summit of Belleayre Mountain. At this point the Pine Hill West Branch trail turns south toward Balsam Mountain. Walk over the summit, through the field and slightly to your right, and pick up the red blazed Belleayre Ridge Trail. After about .3 miles, there is another lean-to on the right. Just before the lean-to the Cathedral Glen Trail turns to the right. This trail leads down through the ski slopes to the railroad tracks in Pine Hill.

Continue straight ahead on the Belleayre Ridge Trail. The signs for the various ski slopes will start to appear and then ahead will be the lifts and Sunset Lodge. You can continue straight ahead and walk all the way out to Deer Run, the last lift and ski slope on the ridge. Along the way enjoy the view down the slopes into the valley and across to the opposite hills. Be sure to walk around to the "front" of the lodge which offers a nice view of Balsam Mountain. return be retracing the path you used to ascend the mountain.

Bellvale Mt: Mt Peter to Bellvale Mt

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.5 mi.	987 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

To park for this hike travel on Route 17A from Warwick to Greenwood Lake or vice versa. A little less than two miles north of the intersection of Routes 17A and 210 in Greenwood Lake there is a pulloff at the top of the hill on the south side near some rundown buildings. Park here but watch for broken glass! You may also see the white signs or blazes fro the AT as it crosses the road here. Find the trail and start to walk southwest on the AT. This route starts at Mt. Peter near Warwick, NY and travels southwest paralleling Greenwood Lake. The ridge is rugged but the elevation profile accentuates the small ups and downs and makes it look far worse than it is. It part of the AT that runs along Bellvale Ridge until it gets to Bellvale Mountain. Through hikers on the AT are often found here during the summer. There are at lead four good viewpoints along the ridge that look east and south across Greenwood Lake. Bellvale Mountain is a good point for the hiker without a car spot to turn around and hike back to the car. You may continue on the trail down a steep descent and go as far as you like. One objective would be a hike around Surprise Lake but this will add over 5 miles to the hike!

Big Pond: Around the Pond

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.8 mi.	750 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take the Beaverkill Road from Livingston Manor and drive for about twenty minutes to the junction of Beaverkill Road and Barkaboom Road. Turn left toward the Little Pond Campgrounds. Continue passed the turn to the campgrounds on the left. Watch for a sign for the parking area for Big Pond on the right. If you get to Big Pond, you should turn around and take the first turn on the left!. Park in the parking area and look for the trail register. The trail is poorly marked in places so keep an eye out for the trail markers at all times. When thee trail ahead starts the first climb turn off to the left and begin to bushwhack around the pond. On the north end and west side you will find some woods roads that lead out to Barkaboom Road. You may walk the road back to the car or walk back into the woods.

Big Pond to Alder Lake

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.3 mi.	1530 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take the Beaverkill Road from Livingston Manor and drive for about twenty minutes to the junction of Beaverkill Road and Barkaboom Road. Turn left toward the Little Pond Campgrounds. Continue passed the turn to the campgrounds on the left. Watch for a sign for the parking area for Big Pond on the right. If you get to Big Pond, you should turn around and take the first turn on the left!. Park in the parking area and look for the trail register. The trail is poorly marked in places so keep an eye out for the trail markers at all times. There are some short climbs but the trail skirts most of the tops of the hills. Once you get to Alder Creek Road you may turn around or extend the hike by walking over to Alder Lake. You may even decide to walk around the lake and beyond!

Big Pond to Cabot Mt (road loop)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.0 mi.	1605 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take the Beaverkill Road from Livingston Manor and drive for about twenty minutes to the intersection with Barkaboom Rd. Drive up the Barkaboom Rd for less than a mile and park at the forest preserve parking area. Walk down the access road and up Barkaboom Road for a short distance. The trail begins on the left and this is where the register is located. In the summer of 2006, there was a sign warning that the trail was closed at the other end. After bushwhacking the Catskill 35's, I didn't think this would be much of a problem and I never found the "closed" trail. After another .75 miles, you reach the top of Touch-Me-Not Mountain. At this point turn right and stay on the red blazed trail. After .5 miles this intersects with the yellow blazed Little Pond Trail. Stay on the red trail and get ready to climb! Cabot Mt is only 2970' high but the ascent is somewhat steep. The Beaverkill Vista gives a beautiful if somewhat restricted view of the Beaverkill valley. Turn around and descend Cabot. This time turn left on the Little Pond Trail which leads to the campground access road. Follow this road out to the bathrooms and main buildings. At this point you may take the blue Campground Trail 1.15 miles until it meets the red Touch-Me-Not Trail. Retrace your steps back to your car at Big Pond. You may also walk .85 miles out the Little Pond Campgrounds access road and turn left on Barkaboom Road. After .5 miles you will be back at the car.

Big Pond to Cabot Mt (trail loop)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.6 mi. (east side of Little Pond) 6.6 mi. (west side of Little Pond)	2260 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take the Beaverkill Road from Livingston Manor and drive for about twenty minutes to the intersection with Barkaboom Rd. Drive up the Barkaboom Rd for less than a mile and park at the forest preserve parking area. Walk down the access road and up Barkaboom Road for a short distance. The trail begins on the left and this is where the register is located. In the summer of 2006, there was a sign warning that the trail was closed at the other end. After bushwhacking the Catskill 35's, I didn't think this would be much of a problem and I never found the "closed" trail. After another .75 miles, you reach the top of Touch-Me-Not Mountain. At this point turn right and stay on the red blazed trail. After .5 miles this intersects with the yellow blazed Little Pond Trail. Stay on the red trail and get ready to climb! Cabot Mt is only 2970' high but the ascent is somewhat steep. The Beaverkill Vista gives a beautiful if somewhat restricted view of the Beaverkill Valley with Little Pond below. Turn around and descend Cabot. Turn right on the Little Pond Trail which leads to the campgrounds. Along the way there is a nice viewpoint about a quarter mile after the trail junction. The field has an old foundation and a small pond. I always think this would be a great place to have a cabin except for the long hike to get there! As you descend from this viewpoint there may be a few small streams to cross. There is also a beaver meadow on the left of the trail. When you get to the Loop Trail around Little Pond, you may turn left or right. Turning to the right allows you to circle Little Pond and adds .2 miles to the trip. Follow the loop trail to the bathrooms and main buildings. At this point find the blue Campground Trail behind the bathrooms. This trail is steep in places as it climbs back up TouchMeNot Mountain for about 1.15 miles until it meets the red Touch-Me-Not Trail. Turn right and retrace your steps back to your car at Big Pond. From the bathrooms you may also walk .85 miles out the Little Pond Campgrounds access road and turn left on Barkaboom Road. After .5 miles you will be back at the car.

Big Pond to Touchmenot Mt

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	2.4 mi.	916 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take the Beaverkill Road from Livingston Manor and drive for about twenty minutes to the intersection with Barkaboom Rd. Drive up the Barkaboom Rd for less than a mile and park at the forest preserve parking area. Walk down the access road and up Barkaboom Road for a short distance. The trail begins on the left and this is where the register is located. In the summer of 2006, there was a sign warning that the trail was closed at the other end. After bushwhacking the Catskill 35's, I didn't think this would be much of a problem and I never found the "closed" trail. After another .75 miles, you reach the top of Touch-Me-Not Mountain. At this point turn right and stay on the red blazed trail. After .5 miles this intersects with the yellow blazed Little Pond Trail. Stay on the red trail and get ready to climb! Cabot Mt is only 2970' high but the ascent is somewhat steep. The Beaverkill Vista gives a beautiful if somewhat restricted view of the Beaverkill valley. Turn around and descend Cabot. This time turn left on the Little Pond Trail which leads to the campground access road. Follow this road out to the bathrooms and main buildings. At this point you may take the blue Campground Trail 1.15 miles until it meets the red Touch-Me-Not Trail. Retrace your steps back to your car at Bog Pond. You may also walk .85 miles out the Little Pond Campgrounds access road and turn left on Barkaboom Road. After .5 miles you will be back at the car.

Black Rock Forest: Complete Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	10.4 mi.	2267 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

From the south, get on Route 9W on the west side of the Hudson River heading north from West Point toward Newburgh. From the junction with Route 293 near the Unites States Military Academy at West Point, drive 3.5 miles north on 9W. Look for Mountain Road and the Storm King School on your right. Turn onto Mountain Road and immediately make an almost 180 degree turn into the tunnel that passes back underneath Route 9W. Use CAUTION since the tunnel is VERY NARROW! Only one car can pass through at a time. Continue straight ahead on Reservoir Road until you get to the parking area on your right.

From the north, get on Route 9W south from Newburgh to West Point. From the junction with Interstate 84 in Newburgh , drive 8.5 miles south on 9W. Look for Old West Point Road on your right. Turn right onto Old West Point Road and follow it to the junction with Reservoir Road. Turn right and continue straight ahead on Reservoir Road until you get to the parking area on your right.

The trail and route description below are representative of the MANY variations you can use in this area. A combination of trails, woods roads and roads give the hiker an opportunity to custom tailor an outing.

Find the trailhead with maps and an overview of the area. Get on the red Duggan Trail and walk about .5 miles until it meets the blue Reservoir Trail. Turn left here and cross Ben's Bridge over the stream that is the outlet for the Upper Reservoir. Follow this trail for about .5 miles as it parallels the brook and climbs to the area near the Education Center. Passed the center the yellow trail begins to climb Mount Misery. Bear right onto White Oak Road and follow it .5 miles to the Aleck Meadow Reservoir. At the reservoir turn right and walk along the shore and across a small bridge just below the spillway. At this point you will be on the yellow Stillman Trail.

Follow the Stillman Trail for .5 miles as it ascends Black Rock. Follow the Stillman Trail for about .4 miles at which you will come to a confusing intersection of roads and trails with two separate gates. Stay on the Stillman Trail by passing through the first and second gates. Just after the second gate turn right. Continue on the Stillman Trail for 1.35 miles and watch for a white trail on the left. This is the Split Rock Trail. Turn left an follow this trail for .3 miles until it meets the Sutherland Road which travels in and east-west direction. Continue walking straight ahead on the Chatfield Road between the two ponds. After only about .15 miles turn right on the yellow Secor Trail. This trail joins with the blue Chatfield Trail in only about .25 miles.

Turn right on the Chatfield Trail and walk .3 miles to the white Scenic Trail. Stay on the Scenic Trail for .25 miles and watch for the blue Eagle Cliff Spur trail on the right. Walk a few hundred feet out to Eagle Cliff. Get on the red Rut Trail and walk .15 miles to the yellow Stropel Trail. Turn left and walk a few hundred feet back to the white Scenic Trail. Continue on this trail for .35 miles to the blue Spy Rock Spur Trail on the left. Walk a few hundred feet up to Spy Rock, look around and return. Walk for about .25 miles and turn left on Continental Road. About .5 miles up the Continental Road is the Chatfield Stone House. From here continue .1 miles on the road and turn right on the while White Oak Trail to the shores of Arthur's Pond.

Continue .15 miles across the outlet of Arthur's Pond and up a short hill to the yellow Tower Vue trail. Turn right here and walk .55 miles along the shore of the pond and back to the white Scenic Trail. Turn left and continue .2 miles on the trail which is also Bog Meadow road a this point. Turn right into the woods following the white Scenic trail as it heads south and the loops north and northeast again. After .5 miles and some climbing you will be at the top of Rattlesnake Hill. In another .7 miles you will crest Hill of Pines. After about .25 miles more you will cross the blue Swamp Trail and in only a few hundred feet the white Scenic trail ends at a junction with the yellow Stillman Trail. Turn right here to ascend .15 miles to the top of Mount Misery.

Descend .15 miles down Mount Misery and turn right on White Oak Road. In .17 miles you will be at the upper Reservoir. Turn left on Reservoir Road and walk .25 miles down to the Education Center. Another easy .55 miles on the road delivers you back to your car in the parking area.

Bramley Mountain (Glen Burnie Road)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	2.9 mi.	920 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

From Delhi, NY head north and east on Route 10. In East Delhi cross the river at the Fitches Covered Bridge and turn left on County Route 18. After about 2 miles turn right on Glen Burnie Road and start to look for DEP signs. After a little over .5 miles there will be a woods road on the left with a gate and some room to pull over on the side of the road. DO NOT park here and take this road. Drive a little further and you will find found another woods road with another pulloff on the left. This woods road will lead almost directly to the summit of Bramley Mountain. Follow the road fro about 1.1 miles and you will find that if you continue straight ahead the road will skirt the summit. You will have to bushwhack to your left to get to the summit. The prickers here can be rather thick at times! When you run into some cliffs find a way through them and walk the short distance to the summit. You will find the piers for the firetower are still in place and a USGS marker is located nearby. Walk south to s lookout with limited views. When you are ready, return the way you came.

Brock Mountain to Berry Brook Rd

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.4 mi.	1824 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

This is a one way hike that requires a car shuttle or you will have to double the distance. Another option is to have someone pick you up at the other end. Head out of Roscoe on Route 206. Turn right on Berry Brook Road just after the county line and drive for around 8 miles to the trail head parking on the right. Drop one car here and continue on Berry Brook Road to Route 30 on the Pepacton Reservoir. Turn left and continue around the reservoir to the junction with Route 206/Route 7. Turn left and drive 2.2 miles to a small parking area on the right side of the road. Park here and cross the road to pick up the blue-blazed Campbell Mountain Trail.

The trail is a wide woods road at the beginning and stays this way for most of its length. There is an immediate ascent through hardwood forest. Hiking this trail can be a real pain or a great pleasure depending on the trail maintenance. This trail is part of the Finger Lakes Trail system and is maintained by their volunteers. Blowdowns can be a problem but the bigger problem is the dense stands of prickers that can obscure the trail. For the first .5 miles the trail gains 450 feet with a few short but steep climbs. After that, it goes through the first of several switchbacks to give hikers a rest before gaining another 230 feet over the next .4 miles. At about 1 mile you reach the false summit of Brock Mountain which, on many maps and GPS units, is marked as Brock Mountain. In this area you may begin to notice piles of rock that do not look natural> There is a rather large quarry off the trail to the left. You may be able to find a woods road that leads to it but the bushwhack is easy. You will see piles of rock and a large and deep pit. When you have explored, work your way back up out of the pit and back to the trail. Back on the trail it is time to tackle the rest of the ascent up the "real" Brock Mountain. After a slight descent from the false summit, the trail ascends about 300 feet to the top of Brock Mountain at about 1.9 miles into the hike. The trail does not actually pass over the highest point on the mountain where there is purported to be a USGS benchmark but it tops out at about 2440 feet. As you start down the other side of Brock Mountain there will be a rather steep descent. Many of the trees are dead and this allows for some interesting views of the valley with another ridge beyond. Continue the hike over trail but be careful to pay close attention to where you are hiking! There are numerous paths and woods roads that cut across the main trail and the trail markers can be few and far between. At about 2.4 miles the trail heads north and then southeast after a short distance. This prominent switchback is not shown on the NYNJTC maps and can be a little confusing. At 3 miles the trail turns almost 90 degrees to the right and heads northeast. Shortly after this, at 3.3 miles, there is another 90 degrees turn to the right and the trail heads southeast. In both cases there are snowmobile trails or woods roads in the area of the turns. There are really no views along the way but the woods can be pretty in any season. In some places there are stone walls and the hint of a foundation. At 3.85 there is another 90 degree turn to the right onto an old road which is eroded but very recognizable with stone walls on both sides. The is a slight uphill but the trail is mostly level for the next .3 miles. At this point the Campbell Mountain Trail ends. To the right is the Little Spring Brook Trail that leads out to Route 206. Turn left onto the Pelnor Hollow Trail. In the next 1 mile the trail climbs over 400 feet through mixed hardwood and evergreen forest. There are some steeper climbs in places along this stretch. Near the top of this climb the trail levels and your reward is the Split Rock Lookout. At the lookout there is a large boulder and an area where part of the bedrock has separated. The views to the west are very good but there isn't much to see other than trees and mountains except for one house on the far ridge. The lookout is about 5.2 miles into the hike. From the lookout the trail ascends for about .1 miles at a 26% grade. This isn't very far but it looks like a WALL from the bottom. At 5.3 miles, turn left on the red Mary Smith Trail as the Pelnor Hollow Trail continues straight ahead. The Mary Smith Trail is an almost continuous downhill to Berry Brook Road. There are a few tricky descent through rocks and around trees. After 1.1 miles and a drop of over 500 feet you should be back at the car. When you come out of the woods and cross the power line right-of-way, watch for the point where the trail reenters the woods on the other side.

Budd Lake Fire Tower

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	.7 mi	115 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

From Route 46 in Budd Lake, NJ take Sand Shore Road north along the east shore of Budd Lake for a little more than 1.5 miles. Turn right on Fire Tower Road. Where Fire Tower Road crosses Lozier Road continue straight across. When the road branches follow the right fork and park at the dead end. Be sure to leave space for vehicles to pass through the gate especially during times of high fire alert. Walk north along the road for about .35 miles to the tower. Take some pictures and then retrace your path back to the car. Budd Lake is the largest fresh water lake in New Jersey so it may be worthwhile to visit the tower during a high fire alert so that you mat climb the tower with permission from the observer.

Burnt Knob

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.8 mi	1330 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at trail head parking area on Black Dome or Big Hollow Road. Be aware that past a certain point this road is considered seasonal and may not be plowed or maintained. During the winter the trailhead parking is almost never plowed and parking is limited along the shoulders of the road. The trail head is just BEFORE the parking area on the right. Find the red-blazed Black Dome Trail and immediately cross the Batavia Kill on a bridge. After a short walk, re-cross the Batavia Kill and continue on the Trail for about 1.1 miles. Look over your shoulder occasionally to see the imposing presence of Blackhead, Black Dome and Thomas Cole Mountains. This walk winds its way upward through mixed hardwood and spruce forest until it meets the blue-blazed Escarpment Trail.

When the streams are running high, you may be unable to make the second crossing after the bridge without running the risk of getting very wet at the beginning of the hike! The map shown was created at such a time. It shows a bushwhack route up the west side of the stream. The bushwhack meets the Escarpment Trail just west of the "official" point which is marked by a sign.

Turn left on The Escarpment Trail and head toward Burnt Knob. The terrain now is more rugged and steeper. There is a hint of views to both the north and south on both sides of the trail but they are not clear. The final ascent onto Burnt Knob is a little steep requiring some help from your poles or surrounding roots and trees. At the top of this short but steep ascent there is a nice view to the north of the valley and a view to the east toward Acra Point. Continue on this trail for a short distance until a short spur leads of to the right. This viewpoint offers an unobstructed view of the Black Dome Valley, Acra Point and the Blackhead Range. This is a good place to stop and enjoy a snack and the view. This area is only about .35 miles from the junction with the Black Dome trail and less if you did the bushwhack.

Continue on for another .35 miles until the trail starts to descend. From here you can see Windham mountain and get some views to the south. Return by retracing your path on the trail or the bushwhack. You can return on the Black Dome Trail even if you bushwhacked up. Before the first water crossing, turn right or west for a short distance until you come to the Batavia Kill. Cross here and walk up to the top of the ridge. You should find the track of your bushwhack up. Follow this track to bushwhack back to the trail register and the parking area.

Burnt Knob and Acra Point

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.5 mi	1730 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at trail head parking area on Black Dome or Big Hollow Road. Be aware that past a certain point this road is considered seasonal and may not be plowed or maintained. During the winter the trailhead parking is almost never plowed and parking is limited along the shoulders of the road. The trail head is just BEFORE the parking area on the left. Find the red-blazed Black Dome Trail and immediately cross the Batavia Kill on a bridge. Immediately re-cross the Batavia Kill and continue on the trail for about 1.1 miles where you will meet the blue Escarpment Trail. When the streams are running high, you may be unable to make the second crossing after the bridge without running the risk of getting very wet at the beginning of the hike! Look over your shoulder occasionally to see the imposing presence of Blackhead, Black Dome and Thomas Cole Mountains.

Turn left on The Escarpment Trail and head toward Burnt Knob. The terrain now is more rugged and steeper. There is a hint of views to both the north and south on both sides of the trail but they are not clear. The final ascent onto Burnt Knob is a little steep requiring some help from your poles or surrounding roots and trees. At the top of this short but steep ascent there is a nice view to the north of the valley and a view to the east toward Acra Point. Continue on this trail for a short distance until a short spur leads of to the left at about 1.4 miles. This viewpoint offers an unobstructed view of the Black Dome Valley, Acra Point and the Blackhead Range. This is a good place to stop and enjoy a snack and the view. From this viewpoint start your bushwhack to the top of the ridge by heading straight up the spur trail and climbing UP. The bushwhack up and along the ridge to the highest point is only about .3 miles. From the top head southwest and DOWN until you meet the Escarpment Trail. Turn left to head east toward Acra Point. Pass by the turn to the parking area on The Black Dome Trail and continue up the hill to the east. At about 2.7 miles watch for a spur trail to the right which leads to another nice lookout. This one looks down the Black Dome valley and has a great view of the Blackhead Range. Spend some time here and then go back to the Escarpment Trail and turn right to walk another .5 miles to the highest spot on Acra Point. Continue along the trail to 4.9 miles where you will meet the Batavia Kill Trail. Along the way there are several ups and downs. Turn right at the trail junction to get back to your car. This last part is 1.6 miles but it is all downhill!

Buttermilk Falls State Park (NY)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	2.0 mi.	760 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Head south on Route 13 from Ithaca, New York. Watch for signs for East Buttermilk Falls Road and Buttermilk Falls State Park on your left. The main Buttermilk Falls area is a popular swimming area and it may be hard to get good pictures of the falls from below. Walk through the swimming area to pick up the trail on the west rim of the gorge on the Gorge Trail. As you walk up the first set up steps you may be able to get better pictures. The main "falls" simply has water that passes over a wide expanse of harder bedrock and does not really fall. Over the years the stream has cut an interesting path through the rock forming the gorge. You will soon be at another falls without a sheer drop but one that is narrower and, therefore, seems to be faster flowing. As you continued along the path, you will see how the stream has meandered along the gorge and causing many different and interesting formations. Another falls will appear soon as the water passes through a narrow slot in the rocks. In several places the swirling water has cut circular "pools" in the rock which are deep with rather large diameters. More falls and more interesting formations appear along the way as the path continues climbing up the gorge. At the top of one set of steps you will see a nice three-tiered cascade. There is a lean-to on the right of the trail. Pass by the bridge that crosses the stream to make sure you see the whole gorge. There are several more falls and interesting rock formations and then you will be at Pinnacle Rock. Here a spire of rock has either pulled away from the gorge wall or, more likely, is of greater hardness than the surrounding stone. In any case, it is quite impressive standing tall right next to the path. The pattern of falls, plunge pools, and slots continues as you walk to the head of the gorge but they become less frequent as the stream volume deceases. Cross the next bridge to get to the Rim Trail on the east side of the gorge. This trail descends for most of its length but has at least one area that drops to the gorge before climbing again to the rim. In several places the trail meets a service road and the path was not well marked. The Rim Trail will take you back to the parking area.

Cabot Mountain from Beech Hill Road

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.2 mi.	917 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Head toward Lew Beach on the Beaverkill Road from Livingston Manor. Pass through Lew Beach toward Turnwood. Watch for a right hand turn with a road sign for Beech Hill Road. Drive up the road for about 2.6 miles and park at the parking area on the right. The hike to the Beaverkill Vista viewpoint and back is only be about 3 miles but part of it is steep. The first part of the trail is flat and actually descends a little and it almost always wet. At about .25 miles into the hike the trail starts to ascend and gains 575 feet over the next .5 miles. The grade is around 25% in most places! After this point the trail flattens out and rolls a little along the way to the viewpoint. At .85 miles you may notice what looks like a road off the trail on the left. I don't know much about it but it does look very much like a road. Continue without much change in elevation to 1.25 miles where the trail ascends again and then drops a little to the vista at 1.6 miles. Turn around to retrace your steps back to the car. The challenge on the way back is to descend safely on the steeper slopes but the return is almost always faster. We were back at the car by 2:40 PM having covered 3.2 miles in just under 2 hours. The trip up took 1 hour and 10 minutes. The return journey was completed in 45 minutes.

Campbell Brook: Campbell Brook Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.5 mi.	1622 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Head out of Roscoe on Route 206. As you crest Cat Hollow and start down the other side, there is a small parking area on the left side of the road after Jug Tavern Road. Park here and sign in at the trail registry. Walk down the woods road and cross a small brook which may be high when there has been significant rain or snow melt. In this area are several old foundations to explore. Walk along the trail by the brook and cross on the footbridge. The trail now begins to ascend Campbell Mountain and can be wet with running water. At about 1.2 miles there is a sharp turn or switchback to the left but it is well marked. The trail continues to ascend rather steeply and at 1.3 miles is a lean-to with privy. The highest point on the trail (2430 feet) is reached at around 1.9 miles. Continue on down the other side of the hill to Campbell Brook Road at 2.4 miles. Cross the road here and pick up the Trout Pond Trail on the other side. The trail continues to descend until you cross the bridge over Campbell Brook at 2.75 miles.From there it is a 1 mile climb to the highest point on the hike at 2510 feet. Head down the other side to Campbell Brook Road at 4.3 miles. From here it is a 3.2 mile road walk back to the car. Turn left on Campbell Brook Road. Make the next left onto Campbell Mountain Road. Turn right at the next intersection on Jug Tavern Road. Stay on Jug Tavern until it meets Route 206. Turn left and walk .7 miles downhill back to the car.

Campbell Brook: Campbell Mountain Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.2 mi.	1130 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Head out of Roscoe on Route 206. As you crest Cat Hollow and start down the other side, there is a small parking area on the left side of the road after Jug Tavern Road. Park here and sign in at the trail registry. Walk down the woods road and cross a small brook which may be high when there has been significant rain or snow melt. In this area are several old foundations to explore. Walk along the trail by the brook and cross on the footbridge. The trail now begins to ascend Campbell Mountain and can be wet with running water. At about 1.2 miles there is a sharp turn or switchback to the left but it is well marked. The trail continues to ascend rather steeply and at 1.3 miles is a lean-to with privy. The highest point on the trail (2430 feet) is reached at around 1.9 miles. You can turn around now or walk down to "tag" Campbell Brook Road. This is another .6 miles downhill which you must climb on the return trip. You can also continue and fashion a loop out of the trails and back roads in the area.

Campbell Brook: Campbell Mountain Out and Back

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.0 mi.	1270 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Head out of Roscoe on Route 206. As you crest Cat Hollow and start down the other side, there is a small parking area on the left side of the road after Jug Tavern Road. Park here and sign in at the trail registry. Walk down the woods road and cross a small brook which may be high when there has been significant rain or snow melt. In this area are several old foundations to explore. Walk along the trail by the brook and cross on the footbridge. The trail now begins to ascend Campbell Mountain and can be wet with running water. At about 1.2 miles there is a sharp turn or switchback to the left but it is well marked. The trail continues to ascend rather steeply and at 1.3 miles is a lean-to with privy. The highest point on the trail (2430 feet) is reached at around 1.9 miles. You can turn around now or walk down to "tag" Campbell Brook Road. This is another .6 miles downhill which you must climb on the return trip. You can also continue and fashion a loop out of the trails and back roads in the area.

Campbell Brook: Trout Pond to Route 206

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	12.4 mi.	2700 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

About half of this hike is on trails and the other half on back roads. Even the roads are scenic so you don't lose much walking along them. The initial part is the same as the Trout Pond hike.

Turn left on Morton Hill Road on Route 206 just after the Rockland flats. Bear right up Morton Hill Road until you see a parking area on the left near the sign indicates Russell Brook Road is closed. Park here and hike down Russell Brook Road half a mile to the actual trail head. Go over the bridge and look to your right to see a beautiful waterfall. Explore this area if you like. Back on the trail you may go to the left or right. Go to the right and walk another 1.5 miles to the head of Trout Pond. The trail is a gentle uphill all the way with the last quarter mile along the edge of the lake. At the head of the lake the trail branches right to Campbell Brook. Bear right on stay on the blue-blazed Trout Pond Trail. This trail continues for another 3.1 miles. On the way you pass over the shoulders of two unnamed mountains. Campbell Brook and Campbell Mountain Roads are the low points in between. The trail goes on for another 1.9 miles and up and down another mountain until it meets Route 206. Turn right on Route 206 and walk .7 miles up the hill until you turn right on Jug Tavern Road. After walking 1.8 miles along Jug Tavern make a left onto Campbell Brook Road. Continue walking on this road for 3.15 miles back to the car. Campbell Brook changes to Morton Hill Road after a short distance but there are no turns.

Colgate Lake to Stoppel Point

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	11.9 mi.	1947 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take Route 23C north from Route 23A in Tannersville. Stay on this road until it crests the hill at Onteora Park and passes the stone church at the top. Stop here for some very nice views of the Devil's Path. Continue down the other side of the hill to East Jewett. Turn onto CR 78 which should have a sign for Colgate Lake. Pass Colgate Lake on the right and park at the DEC parking area on the left. The gate marks the beginning of the yellow-blazed Colgate Lake Trail. The trail starts through a meadow with some nice views of the surrounding mountains. After about a quarter of a mile it enters the woods. The trail is mostly flat and winds its way in back of Lake Capra which is a privately owned inholding in the Catskill Park. There are several bridges of different types over various bodies of running water.

Along the trail watch for a beaver meadow on the left at about 2.5 miles. Walk out to the beaver meadow which was once a beaver pond. There is a nice view of Blackhead Mountain from here and the meadow itself is pretty. Just passed the meadow is a beaver pond and the trail skirts this area. A little further at about 3.1 miles is another meadow with another great view of Blackhead Mountain. A few hundred feet up the trail you can cut into the woods on several informal trails or you can make your own. There is a nice small, secluded waterfall here. Back on the main trail it is another 2.3 miles to the junction of the trail with the Escarpment Trail. This last part of the walk is more uphill as you ascend to Dutcher's Notch. You will be walking between the Escarpment on your right and another ridge on your left. On your immediate left is a deep ravine. The terrain is rugged and beautiful but offers no views.

At the junction with the blue-blazed Escarpment Trail, turn right and be prepared to climb. The trail takes you up to the Escarpment which was on your right as you were coming up the Colgate Lake trail. The trail climbs some but is not too steep. Once on the Escarpment the trail is mostly flat until Stoppel Point. All along the trail you can see that you are on a ridge and that there might be interesting views especially on your left. Keep walking and wait for some real viewpoints! At 1.2 miles is a great lookout right on the trail with views to the north and northeast. Back on the trail the climbing gets steeper now as you begin to ascend to Stoppel Point. In a little less than a mile you will find the wreckage of a two-seater Piper Cub right on the trail on the left. Passed the wreck only a few hundred feet is a lookout to the south and west.

Keep walking on the trail and pass the point where your GPS might indicate the location of Stoppel Point. Walk until you find a DEC signpost and a GREAT lookout to the north and northeast. To get back just retrace your steps. Another option is to park a car at the Schutt Road parking area near North South Lake State Campgrounds. You can then walk through over North Mountain and North Point and experience the rest of the lower end of the Escarpment Trail.

Colonel's Chair

Quick Look (Spruceton Trail)
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	9.0 mi.	2907 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

I have included the summit of Hunter Mountain on the map and profile. You can cut some time, distance and elevation by avoiding the climb to the peak. However, once you are as far as the Colonel's Chair Spur Trail the peak of Hunter is only a mile and a quarter further. The peak is the second highest in the Catskill's. It also has a fire tower which offers a spectacular view of most of the other peaks on a clear day.

Park at the large trailhead parking lot near the end of the Spruceton Road. This is the first of three parking lots and each is smaller than the previous. Find the blue-blazed Spruceton Trail which starts as a wide, gated road which follows Hunter Brook. After crossing a small bridge across the brook, you will come to a hairpin turn to the right. Look to your right as you ascend this trail for imposing views of West Kill. After 1.7 miles, the trail turns right off the road but remains fairly wide and well kept. In the winter water from the spring can overflow the trail forming ice flows that can be dangerous. In the other seasons this spring may cause the trail to be muddy. At the spring is a nice lookout which offers views of Rusk Mountain, West Kill, and, farther off, North dome and Sherrill.

Only .3 miles beyond the spring is the Colonel's Chair spur trail blazed in yellow. This trail descends almost 500 feet over 1.1 miles and ends up at the top of the Hunter Mountain ski area. Several areas are steep and, of course, must be ascended on the way back. As you walk you will notice colored and numbered trails. These are used for snowshoeing and mountain biking. Stay on the main trail which turns into a dirt road. You will pass on open area on your left which is a stone quarry. A little further on the right is a lookout and a sculpture of Rip VanWinkle. If you miss this, you can follow the signs from the ski lifts. Stay on the trail until you start to see ski lifts. At this point you can walk around to the top of the various lifts and slopes. The views of the surrounding mountains and those in the distance are beautiful. There are also great views of the village of Hunter in the valley below. Reverse your steps to climb back up to the main trail. At this point you can turn left to the summit of Hunter Mountain or right to get back to the parking area.

Crystal Lake

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	2.9 mi.	410 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

This area is a small New York State Wild Forest area between Roscoe and Fremont Center. Get on County Route 93. About halfway between the Roscoe and Fremont center watch for Tennanah Lake Road which heads north from CR 93. After the turn the parking area will be a short distance on the left. Depending on the season you may be able to drive up the access road and park in the small parking area. In the winter you will have to park on the side of the road as there is no maintenance.

Delaware Water Gap: Buttermilk Falls (NJ)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.2 mi	1340 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

One of the hardest parts of this hike is finding the location of the highest falls in New Jersey. From Route 209 in Dingman's Ferry, Pennsylvania cross the bridge on Route 739 over the Delaware River. Turn right almost immediately on Old Mine Road. Old Mine Road quickly becomes Walpack Flatbrook Road. Stay on this road for a little over 8 miles from the bridge. Mountain Road will be on your left but is poorly marked. The road surface is as poor as the marking and may be impassable for some vehicles at certain times. Drive carefully for about 1.5 miles and park in the parking area on the left. The falls is directly across the road from the parking area. At this point you could return to your car. The hike described here takes in a few more points of interest but is not easy.

From the base of the falls hike up the trail using the wooden steps to access an observation platform about halfway up the falls. Near the top there is another platform which gives limited views to the north. Continue on the trail across a bridge and up the west side of the stream. Hike for about .9 miles and before taking a right on a woods road. This first part of the trail is steep in parts. The next 1 mile of the trail is almost flat and remains woods road for most of the way to the shores of Hemlock Lake. Along the way the trail passes by a pretty beaver pond. At the shores of Hemlock lake turn left on a dirt road and walk by the northern and eastern shore of the lake. The lake is a popular place to swim even though all the "beaches" are rocks. The trail will gain some elevation over the next .75 miles until it intersects the Appalachian Trail. Walk straight ahead across the AT and follow the paths and roads down to the shores of Crater Lake. Local legend says the lake was formed by a meteor impact but it seems entirely too shallow for this to be true. This is another popular bathing area since there is a road on the other side that runs directly to the lake. Return to the At and turn right. As you hike along the AT for the next .8 miles the trail rises only slightly. On your right is Paradise Mountain. Turn left to start to descend back to the junction with the woods road you used earlier. Stay straight ahead at the junction and walk back down the hills and the wooden steps to the parking area.

Delaware Water Gap: Buttermilk and Hidden Falls (NJ)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.5 mi	1490 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

One of the hardest parts of this hike is finding the location of the highest falls in New Jersey. From Route 209 in Dingman's Ferry, Pennsylvania cross the bridge on Route 739 over the Delaware River. Turn right almost immediately on Old Mine Road. Old Mine Road quickly becomes Walpack Flatbrook Road. Stay on this road for a little over 8 miles from the bridge. Mountain Road will be on your left but is poorly marked. The road surface is as poor as the marking and may be impassable for some vehicles at certain times. Drive carefully for about 1.5 miles and park in the parking area on the left. The falls is directly across the road from the parking area. At this point you could return to your car. The hike described here takes in a few more points of interest but is not easy.

From the base of the falls hike up the trail using the wooden steps to access an observation platform about halfway up the falls. Near the top there is another platform which gives limited views to the north. Continue on the trail across a bridge and up the west side of the stream. Hike for about .9 miles and before taking a right on a woods road. This first part of the trail is steep in parts. The next 1 mile of the trail is almost flat and remains woods road for most of the way to the shores of Hemlock Lake. Along the way the trail passes by a pretty beaver pond. At the shores of Hemlock lake turn left on a dirt road and walk by the northern and eastern shore of the lake. The lake is a popular place to swim even though all the "beaches" are rocks. The trail will gain some elevation over the next .75 miles until it intersects the Appalachian Trail. Walk straight ahead across the AT and follow the paths and roads down to the shores of Crater Lake. Local legend says the lake was formed by a meteor impact but it seems entirely too shallow for this to be true. This is another popular bathing area since there is a road on the other side that runs directly to the lake. Return to the At and turn right. As you hike along the AT for the next .8 miles the trail rises only slightly. On your right is Paradise Mountain. Turn left to start to descend back to the junction with the woods road you used earlier. Stay straight ahead at the junction and walk back down the hills and the wooden steps to the parking area.

Turn right and walk about .5 miles down the road. Turn right into the woods on an informal path. Cross over the stream and walk along bank of the small creek for several hundred feet. You should see Hidden Falls at this point. Some nice views of the falls can be had from above but the banks are steep and slippery. Scrambling up the banks is DANGEROUS! It is better to take your pictures from the base of the falls. When you are done, retrace your route back to the car.

Delaware Water Gap: Culvers Fire Tower

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.3 mi	800 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take Rt 206 south from Milford, PA and watch for the junction with Route 560. Drive 1.7 miles from the junction passing Kittatiny Lake on the right. Turn left on Upper North Shore Road. The road splits almost immediately into Sunrise Highway, a seasonal road, and Upper North Shore Road. Turn right into the parking area. Walk out the far endow the parking area and along Sunrise Highway. Watch for the blazes of the AT in about .25 miles. Turn right into the woods and begin to ascend the ridge on a trail that switches back several times. At the top of the trail there is a nice lookout over Culvers Lake. The trail turns left or northeast from here and follows along the ridge with minimal elevation gain the rest of the way. Around 1.6 miles you will spot a tower ahead but that is the communications tower. Just around the next bend is the fire tower. the official policy is that no one is allowed to climb the towers when an observer I not present. Fortunately, there are some nice views from the ground. To return the shortest way simply retrace your path up to then tower. Several other routes from Stokes Forest are possible and include other viewpoints like Sunrise Mountain.

Delaware Water Gap: Mount Minsi

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.51 mi.	1139 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

From Main Street (Route 611) in Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania turn south on Mountain Road. Drive up the hill and watch for Lake Road on your left. Drive in and park in the lot to been the hike. Watch for the white blazes of the Appalachian Trail which will take you to the summit. You will pass by Lenape Lake on your right as the trail slowly ascends through the forest. The trail is rocky at times but not very steep. After about 1.2 miles the trail turns and starts a steeper ascent. There is a nice viewpoint here down to the river and over to Mount Tammany on the New Jersey side. As you continue to climb another viewpoint is evident at 1.8 miles. Since you are higher here, the views are generally better. The next .25 miles gets you to the relatively flat top of the mountain. Continue your walk passing a small building in the area where you can see the steps to a fire tower. The trail goes near the edge of the cliffs and side trails lead nearer the edge. Walk to the viewpoints to get good views south on the Delaware River. Turn back to start down the mountain and walkabout .45 miles from the summit. Bear left on the Mt. Minsi Fire Road. The road is not an official hiking trail but is very obvious and gives a different route down the mountain. Around 2 miles from the top Table Rock will be on your right. This large, flat rock gives another viewpoint but is no better than the ones you have already experienced. The fire road will intersect the AT just short of Lenape Lake and you can follow the trail back to the parking area.

Delaware Water Gap: Mount Tammany

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.2 mi.	1190 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Exit Interstate 80 at the exit for the Kittatinny Point Visitors Center. Pass by the center and under Interstate 80. Park in the Dunnfield Creek parking area to begin your hike. Several routes are available. This one takes you up the Blue Dot Trail and down the Red Dot Trail although the reverse route is also interesting. In the parking area look for the kiosk and then spot the white blazes for the Appalachian Trail. After about .6 miles bear right on the green Dunnfield Creek trail but watch for another quick right onto the Blue Dot Trail. The trail gains about 850 feet over the next mile where it hits the Mount Tammany Fire Road on the ridge. The trail is rocky in many places and is a challenge but never very steep. Hike another .25 miles along the trail/fire road. The Blue Dot Trail ends and the Red Dot Trail begins at an incredible viewpoint on an open rock face. Walking down the rocks can be tricky but the views are even more rewarding.In wet or icy weather remain on the trail at the top where you will still have good views. The lookout allows you to look up and down the river. The descent on the Red Dot Trail is steeper than the ascent and there are some areas where you will have to scramble over rocks. Watch for additional viewpoints on the way down which give you another angle. The Red Dot Trail will return to the parking area but you will have to watch carefully as several informal paths confuse the issue.

Delaware Water Gap: Sunfish Pond by Tammany Fire Road

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	10.8 mi	1944 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at the Dunnfield Creek parking area off I80 just over the New Jersey border in the Delaware Water Gap. Take the Red Dot Trail from the parking lot and get ready for a steep climb! In 1.4 miles from the parking area the trail gains 1130 feet. There are several viewpoints along the trail that look upstream through the water gap. The best reward is the open rock face near the top that acts as a lookout.Walk out carefully onto the rock face to get a good view up and down the river. The Blue Dot Trail begins where the Red Dot Trail ends at the lookout. Walk about .25 miles on the Blue Dot Trail at which point it will turn left and start down off the ridge and back to the parking area. Continue straight ahead on the Tammany Fire Road. This unmarked path stays largely on top of the ridge as it meanders for about 3 miles until it meets the Turquoise Trail to Sunfish Pond. The fire road is relatively easy to follow but there are no markings of any kind. Turn left on the blue Turquoise Trail marked by a cairn but little else. The blazes are few and far between. After about .8 miles or so on the trail it meets and starts to follow a woods road around the pond. Be sure to watch for blazes as the trail bears left to a high point overlooking Sunfish Pond. From this viewpoint head out on the Turquoise Trail which soon ends at the Appalachian Trail. Turn left to go around the pond. This part of the trail is EXTREMELY rocky and hard to walk. Continue on around the lake on the AT. At the southwest end of the lake pick up the green Dunnfield Creek Trail and start to climb a little up to a small ridge. The trail does not climb all the way to the ridge but stays close to the creek as it heads southwest toward the Delaware River. The trail is very rocky and uneven for the first mile but begins to get smoother the further along. The trail follows most of the twists and turns in the shallow creek and you will cross back and forth to avoid the steep banks on one side or the other a number of times. In about 3 miles form the pond, there is a trail junction with the Blue Dot Trail up Tammany. A bridge here crosses the creek near what is sometimes called Dunnfield Falls. The Blue Dot Trail, Dunnfield Creek Trail and the AT all come together in this area. Continue on the AT back to the parking area.

Denman Mountain Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.4 mi.	950 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Turn onto Moore Hill Road just east of the TriValley School in Grahamsville, NY. Head north staying on Moore Hill Road for about 3 miles. Park in the parking lot at the corner of Moore Hill and Glade Hill Roads. The road straight ahead is not maintained in the winter but the lot is also always plowed. Walk across the road and onto the snowmobile trail which begins a slight ascent up a shoulder of Denman Mountain but soon levels off> It descends to a trail junction at about .5 miles. A left turn at this junction leads back out to Moore Hill Road and the road that cuts over to Denman Mountain Road. Turn right to stay on the trail around the mountain. At .85 miles there will be a path or woods road on the left that leads down to some interesting stone foundations. The road is lined with stone walls on either side. The snowmobile trail continues to descend for the next mile but is always lower than the mountain on the right. Since the trail is lower, the water draining from the higher terrain makes the trail very wet in places depending on the season. At about 1.95 miles there is the ruins of a house or cabin on the right side of the trail. You have been heading mostly north but the road for your return is to the east. At 2.15 miles there is another trail junction where you should turn right and then bear to the left. For the next 1.2 miles the trail wanders back and forth and up and down but always around the mountain. Finally, at about 3.3 miles the trail turns in an easterly direction and heads directly for the road. For the next 1.5 miles the trail undulates up and down but always heads east. At 4.8 miles, you should hit the road and turn right to head south and back to the parking area. There are some interesting cliffs and one large boulder right next to the road. The road continues heading south and mostly descends with a few ups and downs until you are back at the parking area.

Dickinson Hill Fire Tower

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.0 mi.	550 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Grafton Lakes State Park is on Route 2 between Troy and Petersburg. Turn north into the park entrance and look for North Long Pond Road. This road is the one you turn onto when you enter the "Winter Entrance" to the park. Drive a little over 2 miles to the parking area at the northeast corner of Long Pond. Just before the parking area you will pass the sign for the fire tower trail on your right. Walk back up the road from the parking area and turn left onto the trail. The trail is a wide woods road and multiuse trail that has no really steep sections. After about 1.25 miles the trail ends at Fire Tower Road near a private residence. Fire Tower Road goes directly to the tower but there is no parking on the road. Walk northeast on Fire Tower Road for a few hundred feet until you are at the gated access road to the tower on the right. Walk up the access road to the tower. The tower can be climbed year round and the cab is always open. There are 360 degree views with the best views of the Catskills to the west and southwest. The only drawback is the communications tower that shares the summit of the hill.

Dry Brook: German Hollow

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.3 mi.	1425 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

There are several different ways to access this area from the Margaretville and Arkville areas. The German Hollow Trail comes up to the Dry Brook Ridge trail from a side road off the Dry Brook Road. In Arkville turn south on Dry Brook Road. Watch for Chris Long Road on the right. Go to the end of the road and turn around. Park on the right side of the road opposite a house. There is room for two cars at most. The yellow German Hollow trail is a wide woods road to the Dry Brook Ridge trail and is about 1.6 miles long. The German Hollow lento is, at present, buried underneath several large trees that have crushed it! Once on the ridge you can turn around or hike the Ridge Trail to the Penguin Rocks.

Dry Brook: German Hollow to Lookouts

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.1 mi.	2240 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

There are several different ways to access this area from the Margaretville and Arkville areas. The German Hollow Trail comes up to the Dry Brook Ridge trail from a side road off the Dry Brook Road. In Arkville turn south on Dry Brook Road. Watch for Chris Long Road on the right. Go to the end of the road and turn around. Park on the right side of the road opposite a house. There is room for two cars at most. The yellow German Hollow trail is a wide woods road to the Dry Brook Ridge trail and is about 1.6 miles long. The German Hollow lean-to is, at present, buried underneath several large trees that have crushed it! Once on the ridge you can turn left on the Dry Brook Ridge Trail. Walk about a mile to the junction with the Huckleberry Loop Trail gaining about 300 feet along the way. Stay on the Dry Brook Ridge Trail for another mile and gain 225 feet until a short side trail leads to thee lookouts over the Pepacton Reservoir. .

Dry Brook: Hill Rd to Viewpoints

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.75 mi.	1663 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

There are several different ways to access this area from the Margaretville and Arkville areas. The Dry Brook Trail starts near the Agway store in Margaretville and proceeds over Pakatakan Mountain and to the viewpoints. The German Hollow Trail comes up to the Dry Brook Ridge trail from a side road off the Dry Brook Road. This route follows the upper Huckleberry Loop Trail from the Hill Road parking area. There are also two parking areas on Huckleberry Brook Road that can be used.

From Routes 28 and 30 in Margaretville get on Southside Road. You may also use BWS Route 10 if you are coming from the Pepacton Reservoir to the west. Watch for the turn onto Huckleberry Brook Road. It is about 2 miles from Margaretville and less than a mile from the junction of BWS Route 10 with Routes 28 and 30. After turning onto Huckleberry Road, watch for the turn onto Hill Road about a quarter mile up on the right. Continue on Hill Road for a little over 1 mile until you see signs for "wild forest". The parking area will be on the right and is small with only enough room for a few cars. This should not be a problem since this route is not as popular as it should be.

After parking, cross the road and sign into the register. The trail ascends not too steeply through a pine plantation where the trees are evenly spaced. The trail is wide as it overlaps an old woods road. The floor is covered with pine needles which makes it cushioned and easy to walk on. The pine plantation slowly gives way to hardwoods and then leads into more pines. At times the trail narrows as it leaves the meandering woods road. In places it is narrow enough to have briars and nettles in the trail! After a little more than 1.5 miles the trail ends at the blue Dry Brook Trail. Turning left will take to Margaretville so turn right to continue toward the viewpoints.

The trail on the ridge is relatively flat with several small ascents and descents. There are a few parts that pass by some large rocks but without any real "scrambles". After about 1.3 miles of walking, hints of a view appear on the right. Don't stop here since the lookouts are just ahead. The first lookout is a rock shelf with several levels. There are views from all levels but the ones from the lower levels are the least obstructed. The views ate to the west over Cold Spring Hollow and the Pepacton Reservoir. The trick is to hike this route on a clear day with little humidity so that the haze does not cloud the view. You may now walk another .7 miles the another set of viewpoints and the highest point on the ridge. The views aren't much different than the ones you have just taken in so you may want to immediately turn back and make your way back to the car. The trail back can be descended quickly especially after the turn onto the Huckleberry Loop Trail.

Dry Brook: Huckleberry Loop (complete)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	11.2 mi.	2940 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

There are several different ways to access this loop hike area from the Margaretville and Arkville areas. The Huckleberry Loop Trail crosses Hill Road and runs along Huckleberry Brook Road. There is a parking area on Hill Road and two on Huckleberry Brook Road. There is also a parking areas on Ploutz Road of the Millbrook Road but Ploutz Road is poorly maintained. This route starts at the Hill Road parking area and heads south to co the lower Huckleberry Loop Trail first and then proceeds up Dry Brook Ridge in a counterclockwise direction. The lower Huckleberry Loop Trail is NOT a trail for a good part of its length! Make sure you are willing to slog through heavy briars and undergrowth for about 3 miles!

From Routes 28 and 30 in Margaretville get on Southside Road. You may also use BWS Route 10 if you are coming from the Pepacton Reservoir to the west. Watch for the turn onto Huckleberry Brook Road. It is about 2 miles from Margaretville and less than a mile from the junction of BWS Route 10 with Routes 28 and 30. After turning onto Huckleberry Road, watch for the turn onto Hill Road about a quarter mile up on the right. Continue on Hill Road for a little over 1 mile until you see signs for "wild forest". The parking area will be on the right and is small with only enough room for a few cars. From the parking area walk up the road a few feet and turn right into the woods on the red Huckleberry Loop Trail.

Walk .3 miles south on the trail to the upper parking area on Huckleberry Brook Road. Bear right near the road, walk through a small open area and cross the bridge to the road. Walk west on the road for .8 miles to the lower parking area. Just passed the parking area on the left is a bridge over Huckleberry Brook. Sign the register here and get ready to start climbing right away. The trail soon merges with an old woods road and follows it until about .4 miles after the bridge. At this point it turns again and starts to climb the ridge. Be careful to make the turn to the right as the road continues straight ahead. For the next .85 miles the trail switches back several times as it climbs to the ridge line. Watch for some very large and very old hardwood and softwood trees. In addition, there are some impressive rock formation that show exceptionally clear sedimentary layers. At this point the trail begins to deteriorate. If you are lucky, someone will have cut down some of the briars, brush and undergrowth but the going will still be tough! For the next 3.5 miles you will have to hack your way through raspberry canes, briars, nettles, ferns and various bushes. You will do this without being able to see the rocks and fallen trees under foot that will trip you up. You will also be treated to several ascents and descents of small hills on your way to the parking area on Plover Road.

When you get to the trailhead on Plowboy Road you will have hiked about .4 miles but it will feel like half again as much distance. To get to Ploutz Road you will have dropped down from the ridge and then ascended to about 2400 feet. What awaits you is another 5 miles of hiking which starts with an ascent to the top of Dry Brook Ridge at almost 3500 feet. Walk across the road to the parking area and continue on the red trail. The trail now ascends for a little over a mile to the ridge. The ascent starts and ends easily but the parts in between can be steep at times! At the ridge the trail flattens and in about .35 miles you will reach the junction with the blue Dry Brook Ridge Trail. Turn left toward Margaretville and walk for about .8 miles to a viewpoint over Cold Spring Hollow and the Pepacton Reservoir. Another .7 miles of walking brings another set of lookouts with much the same view. Continue on the trail for another 1 mile until the junction with the red Huckleberry loop trail. Turn left on the trail and hike 1.55 miles back to the parking area on Hill Road. This descent is rather and you can make good time walking downhill. The trail descends not too steeply first through hardwoods and then narrows in several places as it leaves the meandering woods road. In these places some briars and nettles may encroach on the trail. After some more hard woods the trail merges with and stays on an old woods road that runs through a pine plantation where the trees are evenly spaced. The trail is wide as it overlaps an old woods road. The floor is covered with pine needles which makes it cushioned and easy to walk on. In at least one spot are some old foundations and in others stone walls.

Dry Brook: From Margaretville Trailhead

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.0 mi.	2065 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

This route starts at the Millbrook Trailhead and ends at the junction with the trail from Hill Road. Of, course, the hike could easily be extend by continuing out to the lookouts and beyond! In Margaretville get on Southside Road which runs parallel to Route 28 and head northeast. Park in the parking area alongside the road just after Fair St on the left. The trail starts across the road. The first 1.7 miles of the trail climbs Pakatakan Mountain and is wide woods road most of the way. A direct route up the mountain would be very steep so there are several switchbacks which also help to avoid some rather nice ledges and cliffs. The overall route shows a grade of about 12% but there are some short stretches that are around 20%! After the summit, your climb is still not over as Dry Brook Ridge is at a higher elevation. At about 2.6 miles the German Hollow Trail comes in from Arkville on the left. From German Hollow the trail climbs for another .5 miles when in inexplicably drops about 100 feet! From this point the trail turns almost due south and climbs nearly 200 feet in a little over .1 miles to Dry Brook Ridge. This is almost a 30% grade and you will feel it! To return to your car simply retrace your path. The Penguin Rocks viewpoint is only another mile along the ridge. The trail wanders back and forth and does gain an additional 225 feet of elevation but this can be a welcome respite from the steep ascent and subsequent descent of the ridge.

Dry Brook: From Millbrook Trailhead

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.2mi.	1630 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

This route starts at the Millbrook Trailhead and ends at the junction with the Huckleberry Loop Trail. The hike could be extended since another 1.3 miles will bring you to the Penguin Rocks lookout. You could also hike through to another trail head if you spot a car. The trail is deceptive since the elevation is gained over about three miles. However, the trail rises to 3460 feet and is #37 on the CHH list.

Get on the New York City road that leaves Margaretville and passes long the south side of the Pepacton Reservoir. After about 3.5 miles, watch for the Millbrook Arena Road on the left. Turn here and drive about 9.5 miles to the Millbrook trail head on the left. Park to begin your hike. Once you are on the Dry Brook Ridge Trail the hike is very straight forward as long as you stay on the marked trail. The trail starts up almost immediately over a small hill gaining 440 feet in the first .7 miles. It then drops almost 300 feet in the next .5 miles before starting up to the ridge. In the next mile the trail ascends to the ridge gaining 680 feet before leveling off at the top. For the next .9 miles the trail drops about 100 feet only to regain that elevation to the junction with the Huckleberry Loop trail coming up to the ridge from the west.

Dry Brook: Viewpoints from Millbrook Trailhead

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	9.4 mi.	22440 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

This route starts at the Millbrook Trailhead and is an out and back to the viewpoints over the Pepacton Reservoir. You could also hike through to another trail head if you spot a car. The trail is deceptive since the elevation is gained over about three miles. However, the trail rises to 3460 feet and is #37 on the CHH list. To get to the very highest point on the ridge you will have to bushwhack slightly to the north of the trail.

Get on the New York City road, Route 9/10, that leaves Route 28 just west of Margaretville and passes long the south side of the Pepacton Reservoir. After about 3.5 miles, watch for the Millbrook Arena Road on the left. Turn here and drive about 9.5 miles to the Millbrook trailhead on the left. Park to begin your hike. Once you are on the Dry Brook Ridge Trail the hike is very straight forward as long as you stay on the marked trail. The trail starts up almost immediately over a small hill gaining 440 feet in the first .7 miles. It then drops almost 300 feet in the next .5 miles before starting up to the ridge. In the next mile the trail ascends to the ridge gaining 680 feet before leveling off at the top. For the next .9 miles the trail drops about 100 feet only to regain that elevation to the junction with the Huckleberry Loop trail coming up to the ridge from the west. Continue passed this point for another 1.4 miles and you will arrive at the best lookout over the reservoir at 4.7 miles into the hike. Before this lookout there are several others but this one is the best. When you are done, turn around and follow your route back to the car.

Dry Brook: From Ploutz Road Trailhead

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.5 mi.	1380 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

This route starts at the Ploutz Road Trailhead on the Huckleberry Loop Trail and ends at the Penguin Rocks lookout. The trail rises to 3460 feet on Dry Brook Ridge which is #37 on the CHH list.

Get on the New York City road that leaves Margaretville and passes long the south side of the Pepacton Reservoir. After about 3.5 miles, watch for the Millbrook Arena Road on the left. Turn here and drive about 6.5 miles to Ploutz Road on the left. This road is ROUGH but there is a small trail head parking area on the right as you drive up the road. Park here to begin your hike. The trail is a no nonsense affair that goes directly up to the ridge. In 1.25 miles it gains over 1000 feet and then virtually levels off on the ridge. Just out of the parking area you will cross over two parallel stone walls. These walls delineate a lane that probably lead from a barn to a pasture. Turn left along this lane and you will see that it opens into a large area bounded by stone walls. Trees have grown up in the pasture but it purpose is clear. At the top of the ridge the Huckleberry Loop Trail intersect the Dry Brook Ridge Trail. Turn left and walk about 1.4 miles to the lookouts. There are several different lookouts. The best is the last from this direction. There is a large stone ledge with several levels. The views into the hollow and over to the Pepacton are unobstructed. The only problem is a persistent haze in the valleys. Retrace your path back to the parking area.

Enfield Glen: Robert Treman State Park (NY)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.0 mi.	1470 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Head south on Route 13 from Ithaca, New York. Watch for signs for Buttermilk Falls State Park. Drive another 2 miles south and watch for signs for Robert Treman State Park and Park Lane. Park in the main parking area to begin the hike. The trails here parallel the glen and can be done in either direction. From the parking area head north to get on the trail that runs along the north rim of the glen. The first part of the hike has a steep ascent to the gorge rim and does not have many points of interest for over a half mile! Enfield Glen is not as developed as some other parks which means there are fewer people but also that the trails are more rugged with fewer defined viewpoints. Along the way you may be able to walk down to the stream bed and photograph some of the numerous small falls and rapids on the stream. Some places you should use your better judgment and stay on the trail as trying to get to the stream bed is dangerous! After a variety of falls and rock formations you will pass a bridge that crosses to the rim trail on the south side of the glen. Bypass this bridge to continue on to the main attraction, Lucifer Falls. Continue to limb up the path and various stairs toward the head of the glen. You will soon be walking next to a railing and a high rock wall. As you round a corner, Lucifer Falls comes into view. It is truly impressive even with low water levels and has an impressive drop. After taking in the view, walk passed this viewing area and another falls will come into view. Around another corner is a stone bridge which leads to the path on the other side of the stream. Beneath the bridge is a narrow slot which channels water into another falls. You will eventually arrive at the upper parking area where you can turn around and head back along the south rim. Before turning around you can visit an old mill and the falls that powered it. Head back to the beginning of the rim trail and climb UP to the south rim of the gorge. The trail flattens at the top but still has its downs and ups. In one place the trail drops down an impressive set of stone steps to the level of the stream. It follows the stream briefly before climbing back up to the rim. There are several viewpoints along the way with one offering a nice view down to Lucifer Falls. Near the end of the trail you can see down to the gorge and the Lower Falls. There is a swimming area for the park which sort of ruins the appearance of the falls. Below the Lower Falls a small dam holds back some water to form a pool for swimming. The gorge below this is not as high as further up but has some nice features. On the other side is some artificial stonework and a stone building. Return to the main path and follow it through an area where there are some cabins. To cross the stream there is a walkway for hikers but cars have to drive through several inches of water and ford the stream to cross!

Fahnestock Mines

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.0 mi.	766 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Fahnestock Park on the east side of the Hudson River in Putnam County is beautiful in its own right. It is also the site of several historic iron mines.

From Route 9D on the east side of the Hudson turn east on Route 301 and drive 5 miles to the intersection of Dennytown Road. Turn south and rive for less than a mile to the parking area on the left near the now closed Sunken Mine Road. Walk for about .3 miles on the road and then turn right into the woods to start the bushwhack to the Denny Mine. Head southeast for about .2 miles over a small hill. The Denny Mine is a large pit in the eastern side of the hill. From here head northeast and in another ,2 miles you should pick up the road/trail again. You will pass by a pond on the left. Continue on the road for only about .1 miles to where the road crosses a stream. Turn left on an unmaintained trail. Just after you start up the trail, the long open pits of the Hamilton Mine will be on your right. You can walk up to these pits to "explore" and photograph them. BE CAREFUL as many are filled with water and a fall into one would be a problem. Continue on the path for about .3 miles and then start heading to the left and over the top of the small ridge. The Sunk Mine is on the southeastern side of the ridge and is hidden. There is a steep and "slippery" descent to get down to the mine which consists of several open trenches and one large opening cut into the hillside. Inspect these features with caution as they can be precarious places. You can follow the unmaintained path back to the road and then walk the road back to the parking area. You can also follow the path to its end, only a short distance, where it intersects the blue 3 Lakes Trail. Turn left and follow this trail back to the road and then to the parking area.

Falls Creek

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	2.3 mi.	765 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

This hike is all bushwhack with no defined trails and few paths. It follows a creek through a gorge that is beautiful but can be dangerous. Although the hike is just over 2 miles it can take between 2 and 4 hours to complete! It requires scrambling over large rocks and tree stumps, crossing the stream several times and climbing up and down steep banks. Choosing the right water level can be tricky. Too much water makes hiking up the creek bed dangerous and tricky but too little water means the falls are not interesting. Take State Route 17 west from Binghamton to Waverley. At Waverley head south on State Route 220 through Towanda to Monroeton. Turned west on Route 414 to a small town called Powell. Turn left or south on Brocktown Road. Crossed two bridges and turn right onto Weston Road along Schrader Creek on your right. When the road forks, stay to the right. Cross the first narrow cement bridge and KEEP going to the second narrow cement bridge. It is a total of about 6.1 miles from the turn onto Weston/Schrader Creek Road. You will be in State Game Lands 36. Park on the right just before the bridge.

The water in Falls Creek drains from a plateau with an elevation of just under 2000 feet. The elevation of the parking area is about 1200 feet. In 1812 coal was discovered on top of the plateau. By 1856 the coal was being commercially mined and the town of Barclay was well-established on the plateau. After the coal ran out, the area became a center for logging and tanning. Most of the large hemlock forests were removed to feed this industry centered at the town of Laquin on Schrader Creek. Due to all this industry the waters of Falls Creek like many in the area are highly acidic. To counteract the acidity the state has built a water treatment facility on the creek just before the water flows into Schrader Creek. A dam diverts water through a cistern filled with limestone. The water turns a device that grinds the limestone which then dissolves in the water to neutralize the acid. The rocks in the upper part of the creek have a distinctive orange tint from the acid but those in the lower part show almost no discoloration. To hike simply head up the creek. Walk in the creek bed or on the left or right banks as you see fit. There are a few small rapids and then some falls with drops of six to twelve feet. At about .55 miles there are three small but pretty water falls in a row. Just passed the third falls you will begin to hear and then catch a glimpse of Bradford Falls. Bradford Falls is ENORMOUS compared to the ones below it! It is at least 70 feet tall. The water drops over the edge into a pool and the falls is bordered by the high stone walls of an impressive gorge. Work your way up the creek bed and you may be able to stand at the base of the falls. The next challenge is how to get out of the gorge to continue hiking upstream. Walk back down the stream until you see a spot where you can work your way up the right bank (looking upstream). Any route will be a STEEP climb up a slippery bank.You can use some of the trees to pull yourself up. Walk along the high ground briefly before descending back to the creek. Just above Bradford Falls is Barclay Falls. This waterfall is not as high as the one below but has a higher volume of water or at least a tighter chute. Climb back up to the higher ground and get ready for another descent to an area above a series of cascades and chutes on the creek below. This area has a steep bank and there may be no safe way to get down to the creek bed. Climb back up the bank and walk the high ground before starting to work your way down a steep bank toward another cascade. Once you make it down the steep bank there is a more level area. There is a ten foot cascade in this area. Walk along a little path along the creek and you will catch a glimpse of another falls. At Laquin Falls the stream passes over a receding ledge and splits to form at least two streams of water. The flow is not great as it is high on the creek but the falls is interesting. The stream is almost flat at this point with a greatly reduced volume of water. You will be at 1850 feet and near the top of the plateau. This is the end of the hike up the stream. Cross the creek here and walk along the high bank on the other side until you find a woods road. Follow the road downstream as it parallels the creek. The road becomes more defined as it descends. When it meets Schrader Creek Road turn left and walk across the bridge to the parking area.

Ferncliff Forest

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	2.0 mi.	285 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Ferncliff Forest is a privately owned nature and historical preserve near Rhinecliff, NY. The land at one time was owned by the Astors. Presently it has a nice pond, two lean-tos, some ruins, and a tower. The tower is an International Derrick that was relocated from South Carolina several years ago. From Rhinecliff head south on River Road. When the road splits, bear left on Mount Rutsen Road and park in the first lot on your right. From Rhinebaeck head north on Route 9. Turn left onto Montgomery Street which becomes Mount Rutsen Road. Drive about 1.8 miles from Route 9 and park at the lot on your left. From the parking area follow the wide road to the pond. There may be brochures at the kiosk near the parking area but maps are hard to come by. East Tower Trail and West Tower Trail both go to the tower but are NOT well marked. Follow a trail or some paths north from the pond and then west and you should run into East Tower Trail. Follow this to the tower. The tower has some fantastic views of the Hudson River, Kingston Rhinecliff Bridge and the Catskills. There are some interesting building below and on the western shore of the river. There is no view from the hill without climbing the tower. Once you have taken in the views and taken some pictures, return to the ground and head south on the West Tower Trail. Heed the sign along the way that tells you to return to the parking area by the Circle Trail. The Circle Trail brings you to the shore of the pond. You may turn left or right to get back to the road that leads back to the car.

Finger Lakes Trail: Black Bear to Eastern Terminus

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	12.9 mi.	1285 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The Finger Lakes Trail starts in Allegheny State Park on the New York - Pennsylvania border and extends 576.5 miles to end in the Catskill Park at the beginning of the Table Peekamoose Trail off the Phoenicia East Branch Trail near the Denning trailhead. There are other side trails which increase the length of the trail system. Four hundred miles of this trail is also part of the Scenic North Country Trail. The Finer Lakes Trail Conference celebrated its 50th Anniversary on June 2, 2012. To commemorate the occasion the Conference set up a series of hikes that would cover the entire length of the trail. Hikes varied in length and difficulty from 4 to 14 miles. The last section is the one described here and is mostly a road walk from The parking area on Black Bear Road (Wild Meadow Road) near Round Pond to the eastern terminus of the trail 1.2 miles from the Denning trailhead.

This hike requires a car spot as it is almost 13 miles one way! From Route 17 (soon to be I86) get off at exit 96 and head away from Livingston Manor on DeBruce Road. Stay on this road as it changes names. In about 15 miles watch for Wild Meadow Road on your left across from Round Pond. This is where you will return to start your hike. At the end of the road turn right on the Frost Valley Road and continue to the end of the road. Turn left on the Claryville Road and drive all the way to the end of the road. From Route 28, turn onto the Frost Valley Road (Route 47) and continue on this road passed Panther and Slide Mountains. Pass the Frost Valley YMCA and continue to the end of the road and turn left on the Claryville Road. Drive all the way to the end of the road. From Route 55, turn north on the Claryville Road in the hamlet of Curry just outside of Grahamsville and drive all the way to the end of the road. Park one or more cars at the Denning trailhead and then drive back through Claryville. Turn right on the Frost Valley Road and drive about 1.5 miles taking a left turn onto Pole Road. The first road to the right across from Round Pond is Wild Meadow Road. Drive up the road and park in the first large parking area on the right. This is where your hike begins.

The hiking route is rather simple. You will now walk on the road back to where you parked at the Denning trailhead! The hike goes quickly since it is a road walk. Once you are through Claryville the road will eventually turn to dirt. There is at least one farm along the way and several picturesque streams. As you near the end of the road there is a slight uphill. At the Denning trailhead, continue passed your car and walk out the woods road at the end of the parking area. Walk about 1.2 miles along this trail to the junction with the trail to Table Mountain. Notice the sign for the eastern terminus of the FLT. Take a picture and return to the Denning trailhead.

Frick Pond: Big Rock and Flynn Trails

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.0 mi.	775 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Quick Lake is covered with trails. There are numerous possibilities for short of long hikes. The area is "relatively" flat and there are no "views". There is, however, some beautiful scenery.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about six miles then turn left on Mongaup Rd. Where the road splits bear left on Beech Mountain Rd. and park in the parking lot on the left. Find the red-blazed Quick Lake trail and follow it for .5 miles to the junction with the yellow-blazed Logger's Loop. Turn left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. You will cross over the bridge at the outlet to Frick Pond. This is a beautiful spot to take pictures in all four seasons and under most lighting conditions. Continue around the pond and at about .7 miles there will be a trail junction. Bear to the right and walk around the "back" of the pond on an unnamed trail. You will cross over several wooden "bridges" or "causeways" over running water and marshy areas. BE CAREFUL as these wooden bridges are usually in the shade, grow moss readily and can be VERY SLIPPERY. After another .5 miles of walking you will be at Times Square, a four way trail junction. Continue straight ahead on the Big Rock Trail. This is the most challenging part of the hike at the trail gains about 650 feet of elevation over the next 1.1 miles. At the highest point on the Big Rock Trail there is a trail junction with the Flynn Trail. Turning left will take you to Hodge Pond. Turn right to go down the Flynn Trail and back to your car. The walk is about 1.7 miles but it is all down hill. When you approach the gate at the bottom of the trail, continue to follow the trail to the left into the woods. The cabin straight ahead is private property and may be occupied.

Frick Pond: Flynn and Big Rock Trails

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.0 mi.	747 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Quick Lake is covered with trails. There are numerous possibilities for short of long hikes. The area is "relatively" flat and there are no "views". There is, however, some beautiful scenery.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about six miles then turn left on Mongaup Rd. Where the road splits bear left on Beech Mountain Rd. and park in the parking lot on the left. Walk across the road to pick up the Flynn Trail. The cabin straight ahead on the road is private property and may be occupied. The hike up the Flynn Trail is 1.7 miles that is all uphill. The elevation gain to the junction with the Big Rock Trail is around 600 feet so the grade is not too great. Turn left at the top of the Flynn Trail and head down the Big Rock Trail to the four-way trail junction called Times Square. The distance is right around 1.1 miles with a drop of around 580 feet. There are two options here to return to the parking area. Continue straight ahead around the "back" of Frick Pond on a well-defined but unnamed path. This trail has several wooden bridges and walkways that can be slick when wet. From Times Square to the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond is about .6 miles and almost flat. From the bridge walk up the hill to the right and along a trail that opens to a woods road. St the trail register turn right to stay on the trail and arrive back at the parking area.

Frick and Hodge Pond: Big Rock and Quick Lake Trails

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.3 mi.	1130 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Quick Lake is covered with trails. There are numerous possibilities for short of long hikes. The area is "relatively" flat and there are no "views". There is, however, some beautiful scenery.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about six miles then turn left on Mongaup Rd. Where the road splits bear left on Beech Mountain Rd. and park in the parking lot on the left. Find the Quick Lake Trail which leaves the back right corner of the larger parking area. Follow this out to the register box where you should turn right to continue on the Quick Lake Trail. At the first trail junction bear left and walk down to the bridge across the outlet from Frick Pond. Continue on around the pond and bear right at the next junction so that you wrap around the "back" of Frick Pond. Continue on this trail to Times Square, a junction with trails in all 4 cardinal directions. Walk straight ahead and start UP the Big Rock Trail which gains 600 feet in a little over a mile and meets the Flynn Trail. Turn left on the Flynn Trail and follow it .7 miles down to Hodge Pond. There is a woods rod that branches to the right along the way but you should avoid this. From Ridge Pond you may choose to walk around the pond to the left or right. Watch for the Flynn Trail as it branches off from the northwest corner of the pond. Follow the Flynn Trail for about .5 miles to Junkyard Junction where you should turn right to get on the Quick Lake Trail which will take you back to the parking area. In 1.4 miles a snowmobile trail will branch to the right. Stay on the Quick Lake Trail for another .2 miles to Iron Wheel Junction. The Logger's Loop is straight ahead but you should turn right to follow the Quick Lake trail back to the outlet of Frick Pond in about 1 mile. From Frick Pond follow the Quick Lake trail .5 miles back to your car.

Frick Pond: Logger's Loop Clockwise

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.7 mi.	408 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Quick Lake is covered with trails. There are numerous possibilities for short of long hikes. The area is "relatively" flat and there are no "views". There is, however, some beautiful scenery.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about six miles then turn left on Mongaup Rd. Where the road splits bear left on Beech Mountain Rd. and park in the parking lot on the left. Find the red-blazed Quick Lake trail and follow it for .5 miles to the junction with the yellow-blazed Logger's Loop. Turn left here to go to Frick Pond which is just .1 miles away. Follow the Quick Lake Trail over the bridge and bear left at the next trail junction1 to stay of red Quick Lake Trail. At about 1.5 miles you will be at Iron Wheel Junction which is marked by a set of ... iron wheels. The Quick Lake Trail turns left here and heads toward Hodge Pond. Turn right on the yellow Logger's Loop Trail. The trail ascends slightly and then begins a descent to Times Square at 2.75 miles. The name indicates that many trails cross at this point. Continue straight ahead on the Logger's Loop Trail which will bring you back to the trail junction near Frick Pond at 3.3 miles. Walk back out the way you came on the red Quick Lake Trail which will bring you back t the parking area.

Frick Pond: Logger's Loop Counterclockwise

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.7 mi.	408 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Quick Lake is covered with trails. There are numerous possibilities for short of long hikes. The area is "relatively" flat and there are no "views". There is, however, some beautiful scenery.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about six miles then turn left on Mongaup Rd. Where the road splits bear left on Beech Mountain Rd. and park in the parking lot on the left. Find the red-blazed Quick Lake trail and follow it for .5 miles to the junction with the yellow-blazed Logger's Loop. If you turn left here, Frick pond is just .1 miles. Turn right on Logger's Loop and follow it for .55 miles to Times Square. The name indicates that many trails cross at this point. Continue straight for another 1.2 miles to Iron Wheel Junction which is marked by a set of...iron wheels. Turn left on the red-blazed Quick Lake trail and stay on it for 1.1 miles to Frick Pond. In another .5 miles you will be back at the parking area.

Frick Pond: Flynn and Big Rock Trails and Logger's Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.6 mi.	908 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Quick Lake is covered with trails. There are numerous possibilities for short of long hikes. The area is "relatively" flat and there are no "views". There is, however, some beautiful scenery.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about six miles then turn left on Mongaup Rd. Where the road splits bear left on Beech Mountain Rd. and park in the parking lot on the left. Cross the road and start up the blue Flynn Trail which rises continuously but gently to a junction with the Big Rock Trail at 1.7 miles. The overall elevation gain is about 600 feet but the grade is less than 7%. At the junction turn left on the red Big Rock Trail which I also a snowmobile trail and walk just over a mile down to Times Square, a trail junction with trails in four different directions. When you reach the bottom, you will have dropped most of the elevation you gained on the Flynn Trail. Turn right on the yellow Logger's Loop which ascends about 200 feet to 3.7 miles into the hike. From here walk downhill to Iron Wheel Junction at 4.1 miles and turn left on the Quick Lake trail. This trail will take you to the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond at 5.0 miles. This is a good spot to stop and take some pictures of this pretty pond. The mountain to the right is Flynn's Point the high point in Sullivan County. Continue on the red Quick Lake Trail back to the parking area.

Frick Pond: Logger's Loop, Big Rock and Flynn Trails

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.6 mi.	908 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Quick Lake is covered with trails. There are numerous possibilities for short of long hikes. The area is "relatively" flat and there are no "views". There is, however, some beautiful scenery.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about six miles then turn left on Mongaup Rd. Where the road splits bear left on Beech Mountain Rd. and park in the parking lot on the left. Find the red-blazed Quick Lake trail and follow it for .5 miles to the junction with the yellow-blazed Logger's Loop. Turn left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. You will cross over the bridge at the outlet to Frick Pond. This is a beautiful spot to take pictures in all four seasons and under most lighting conditions. Continue around the pond and at about .7 miles there will be a trail junction. Bear to the right and walk around the "back" of the pond on an unnamed trail. You will cross over several wooden "bridges" or "causeways" over running water and marshy areas. BE CAREFUL as these wooden bridges are usually in the shade, grow moss readily and can be VERY SLIPPERY. After another .5 miles of walking you will be at Times Square, a four way trail junction. Continue straight ahead on the Big Rock Trail. This is the most challenging part of the hike at the trail gains about 650 feet of elevation over the next 1.1 miles. At the highest point on the Big Rock Trail there is a trail junction with the Flynn Trail. Turning left will take you to Hodge Pond. Turn right to go down the Flynn Trail and back to your car. The walk is about 1.7 miles but it is all down hill. When you approach the gate at the bottom of the trail, continue to follow the trail to the left into the woods. The cabin straight ahead is private property and may be occupied.

Frick and Hodge Ponds: Big Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.5 mi.	1260 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Quick Lake is covered with trails. There are numerous possibilities for short of long hikes. The area is "relatively" flat and there are no "views". There is, however, some beautiful scenery.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about six miles then turn left on Mongaup Rd. Where the road splits bear left on Beech Mountain Rd. and park in the parking lot on the left. Find the red-blazed Quick Lake trail and follow it for .5 miles to the junction with the yellow-blazed Logger's Loop. Turn left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail.

Frick and Hodge Ponds: Flynn Trail and Loggers Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.0 mi.	915 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Frick and Hodge Ponds: Loggers Loop and Flynn Trail

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.9 mi.	860 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Quick Lake is covered with trails. There are numerous possibilities for short of long hikes. The area is "relatively" flat and there are no "views". There is, however, some beautiful scenery.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about six miles then turn left on Mongaup Rd. Where the road splits bear left on Beech Mountain Rd. and park in the parking lot on the left. From the larger parking lot find the Quick Lake Trail to walk out toward Hodge Pond. At the first junction bear left to Frick Pond and cross over the bridge at the outlet to the pond. At the next junction the Quick Lake Trail bears left. Bear right around the back of the pond. You will encounter some wooden walkways that can be very slippery even when there is no ice. The next junction is Times Square at about 1.0 mile into the hike. Turn left on the yellow Logger's Loop Trail to begin an a gentle ascent over the next 1.2 miles. At 2.25 miles you will be at Iron Wheel Junction where you will continue straight ahead on the red Quick Lake Trail. Over the next 1.5 miles you will gain about 435 feet in elevation to Junkyard Junction at the 3.7 mile mark. None of the climbing is very steep but it is continuous. At Junkyard Junction turn right on the blue Flynn Trail which is mostly flat with a descent ear the end. At the yellow gate bear to the right in the Flynn Trail and walk down to near the shore of Hodge Pond. Turn right and follow the Flynn Trail to the outlet end of Hodge Pond at about 4.5 miles. You may turn left and go around the back of the pond which has some nice views and adds only a little mileage to the hike. From the outlet continue on the Flynn Trail as it climbs to the highest point on the hike at the Big Rock Junction at the 5.2 mile mark. Continue straight ahead on the Flynn Trail which goes back DOWN to the parking area. Near the end of the trail just before the iron gate turn left into the woods and stay on the Flynn Trail. This avoids a small cabin which is usually occupied.

The area around Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Quick Lake is covered with trails. There are numerous possibilities for short of long hikes. The area is "relatively" flat and there are no "views". There is, however, some beautiful scenery.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about six miles then turn left on Mongaup Rd. Where the road splits bear left on Beech Mountain Rd. and park in the parking lot on the left. Walk across the road to find the blue Flynn Trail. This trail begins to gain elevation immediately until you reach the Big Rock Trail junction at 1.7 miles. Continue straight ahead and then bear left at the next intersection to head down to Hodge Pond at 2.3 miles. Walk to the right of the pond and up a hill on an unmarked jeep trail. Continue around the back of the lake and watch for the blue markings of the Flynn Train appear on your right at about 2.85 miles.Turn right on the Flynn Trail and walk to Junkyard Junction at 3.4 miles. Turn left on the red Quick Lake Trail which begins a long descent to Iron Wheel Junction at 4.8 miles. Continue your hike by walking straight ahead on the yellow Logger's Loop which descends to Times Square at 6.0 miles. Turn right to walk around the back of Frick Pond over a series of wooden walkways. The walkways pass over some very wet areas and are a great help but they can be VERY slippery. At the end of this short trail you will be back on the red Quick Lake trail and should turn left to the out let of Frick Pond at 6.6 Miles. From the bridge over the outlet turn right up the hill to follow the Quick Lake Trail back to your car. Just after the trail register be sure to turn right as the way straight ahead may take you to a private cabin.

Frick and Hodge Ponds: Quick Lake and Flynn Trails (back)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.2 mi.	1000 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Quick Lake is covered with trails. There are numerous possibilities for short of long hikes. The area is "relatively" flat and there are no "views". There is, however, some beautiful scenery.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about six miles then turn left on Mongaup Rd. Where the road splits bear left on Beech Mountain Rd. and park in the parking lot on the left. Find the red-blazed Quick Lake trail and follow it for .5 miles to the junction with the yellow-blazed Logger's Loop. Turn left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. After .25 miles the Big Rock Trail will branch to the right. Stay on the Quick Lake trail for another .85 miles to Iron Wheel Junction. Logger's Loop is to the right. Turn left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail for another 1.6 miles to Junkyard Junction. Now turn right onto the blue-blazed Flynn Trail. As you approach Hodge Pond, you may turn left and walk around the back of the pond to walk to the outlet in .6 miles Take some time to look at all the little "wonders of nature" the pond has to offer. Face the pond at the outlet and turn 180 degrees to continue on the Flynn Trail. Walk .7 miles and the Big Rock Trail will come in on your right. Continue on the Flynn Trail for 1.7 miles until you are back at the Frick Pond Parking Area.

Frick and Hodge Ponds: Quick Lake and Flynn Trails (front)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.1 mi.	879 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Quick Lake is covered with trails. There are numerous possibilities for short of long hikes. The area is "relatively" flat and there are no "views". There is, however, some beautiful scenery.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about six miles then turn left on Mongaup Rd. Where the road splits bear left on Beech Mountain Rd. and park in the parking lot on the left. Find the red-blazed Quick Lake trail and follow it for .5 miles to the junction with the yellow-blazed Logger's Loop. Turn left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. After .25 miles the Big Rock Trail will branch to the right. Stay on the Quick Lake trail for another .85 miles to Iron Wheel Junction. Logger's Loop is to the right. Turn left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail for another 1.6 miles to Junkyard Junction. Now turn right onto the blue-blazed Flynn Trail. As you approach Hodge Pond, turn right and you will be at the outlet after .4 miles. Take some time to look at all the little "wonders of nature" the pond has to offer. Face the pond at the outlet and turn 180 degrees to continue on the Flynn Trail. Walk .7 miles and the Big Rock Trail will come in on your right. Continue on the Flynn Trail for 1.7 miles until you are back at the Frick Pond Parking Area.

Frick and Hodge Ponds: Mongaup Pond

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.6 mi.	1150 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Quick Lake is covered with trails. There are numerous possibilities for short of long hikes. The area is "relatively" flat and there are no "views". There is, however, some beautiful scenery.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about six miles then turn left on Mongaup Rd. Where the road splits bear left on Beech Mountain Rd. and park in the parking lot on the left. Find the red-blazed Quick Lake trail and follow it for .5 miles to the junction with the yellow-blazed Logger's Loop. If you turn left here, Frick pond is just .1 miles. Turn right on Logger's Loop and follow it for .55 miles to Times Square. The name indicates that many trails cross at this point. Turn right here onto the yellow-blazed Big Rock Trail. Continue on this trail for 1.1 miles until it crosses the blue-blazed Flynn Trail. Several areas on Big Rock have significant but not severe climbs. Turn left on the Flynn Trail and hike .45 miles to Hodge Pond. From here retrace the last .45 miles on the Flynn Trail until the intersection with Big Rock Trail. Turn left onto the snowmobile trail and get ready for a short climb. This trail meanders for about 2.3 miles until it intersects the paved Loop Road at the Mongaup Pond State Campsite. Turn right on the loop road and walk about .75 miles to the gatehouse. Walk out the access road for about 1.1 miles and make a right on Beech Mountain Road. After .3 miles, you will be back at the Frick Pond Parking area.

Frick and Mongaup Ponds: Quick Lake and Big Rock Trails

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.5 mi.	1260 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Quick Lake is covered with trails. There are numerous possibilities for short of long hikes. The area is "relatively" flat and there are no "views". There is, however, some beautiful scenery.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about six miles then turn left on Mongaup Rd. Where the road splits bear left on Beech Mountain Rd. and park in the parking lot on the left. Find the red-blazed Quick Lake trail and follow it for .5 miles to the junction with the yellow-blazed Logger's Loop. Turn left here and go to the bridge at the outlet Frick Pond. Cross the bridge and bear to the left at the trail junction to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. Continue on the Quick Lake trail to Iron Wheel Junction at 1.5 miles into the hike. Turn to the right to get on the yellow-blazed Logger's Loop Trail. The trail rolls some with a descent near the end. After 1.2 miles, you will be at Times Square. Turn left here at start up the Big Rock Trail which ascends 600 feet in 1.1 miles until it meets the Flynn Trail. Continue straight ahead on the snowmobile trail and continue your ascent to the highest point on the hike at about 2850 feet. The snowmobile trail now descends to the shore on Mongaup Pond. The distance "as the crow flies" is less than a mile but the trail is routed to avoid ledges that a snowmobile could not negotiate. Over 1.9 miles the trail drops about 700 feet. Turn right on the loop road and walk a mile to the gatehouse. Walk 1.1 miles to the junction with Beech Mountain road. Turn right and walk .25 miles back to the car.

Friday View

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	2.3 mi.	1500 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

From Grahamsville, turn onto Route 52A near the TriValley School. Stay on the road until the hamlet of Sundown where the road turns left. Bear to the right on Peekamoose Rd. and continue on the road looking for Moonhaw Rd. on the left. From Route 28, turn west on Route 28A and then head south. Turn right and head west on Watson Hollow Road, the road that goes to Peekamoose and Sundown. Watch for Moonhaw Road on the right after about mile. Turn onto Moonhaw Rd. and drive to the end. Park on the right just before the gates to the private driveway.

Since this is a bushwhack all the way your route may vary. From the parking area, cross Wittenberg Brook and turn right to walk parallel to the brook on a woods road for about .1 miles. Turn left and UP the mountain. The climb will be steep no matter what route you pick and there will be some rock scrambles and some ledges to negotiate. As you climb be sure to stop occasionally and look behind you for views of Friday and Balsam Cap. You may even get a view of the cabin on the shoulder of Friday. Your views will depend on the season and the leaf coverage. As you near the top of the unnamed mountain the underbrush gets VERY thick. It is almost impossible to push across the ridge to the northwest. Continue north or a little northeast to drop down off the ridge. You may find a woods road or path on the other side. Walk about .4 miles or so and then head back up and over the ridge in a generally southwest direction. long this walk you may have views of Samuel's Point. As you hit the top of the ridge push back through the brush and head for the edge of the ledges. Start to work your way down the hill north of your ascent route. This route is less steep and has less brush. You may find a woods road or two along the way. Once you are near Wittenberg Brook turn left or southeast to follow the brook back to the parking area.

Giant Ledge

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.2 mi.	1190 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at the trailhead on the Frost Valley Road just after Winnisook Lake on the hairpin turn. Find the yellow-blazed Phoenicia-East Branch trail and hike .65 miles to the blue-blazed Giant Ledge - Panther Mountain Trail. This ascent is rather gradual with a few short, steep areas thrown in. After about .75 miles, you reach Giant Ledge. Here there are a series of ledges that look to the east and offer a view of Wittenberg and Slide. The return hike simply reverses the trip out. The total distance is just over 3 miles making it perfect to get into shape.

Giant Ledge with bushwhack

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.5 mi.	1437 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at the trailhead on the Frost Valley Road just after Winnisook Lake on the hairpin turn. Find the yellow-blazed Phoenicia-East Branch trail and hike .65 miles to the blue-blazed Giant Ledge - Panther Mountain Trail. This ascent is rather gradual with a few short, steep areas thrown in. After about .75 miles, you reach Giant Ledge. Here there are a series of ledges that look to the east and offer a view of Wittenberg and Slide. Continue on the trail until you are in the col, the lowest point between Giant Ledge and Panther. Turn right to begin your bushwhack and walk down the slope to an area of flat ground at the base of the ridges. This is an interesting place to explore. There are several wetlands areas that are interesting. You can work your way up to the base of the cliffs and even climb up on the debris below. Keep heading on a course parallel to the cliffs and you will soon be back on the main trail back to the car. . The total distance is just over 4.5 miles making it perfect to get into shape.

Greystone Fire Tower

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	0 mi	0 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

This was a hard tower to find but an easy one to hike. There is an access road that goes directly to the tower. The map and profiles here show parking at then of the access road but this is not really necessary. At 92 feet Grid is the tallest tower in New Jersey. From Route 10 heading east toward Denville turn right on Miller Mountain Road. After only .25 miles, bear right on Zeek Road. Follow Zeek Road until it ends at Casterline Road. Turn right on Casterlione and then right again on the unmarked access road. Drive to the end of the road and park near the tower. You will have to visit this tower during fire season as it is fenced and cannot be climbed unless an observer is present.

Harriman: Almost Perpendicular and Claudius Smith Den

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.3 mi.	1926 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take Seven Lakes Drive southwest from the Long Mountain traffic circle near Bear Mountain. Pass through the Tiorati Circle staying on Seven Lakes Drive until the Reeves Education Center appears on your left. Take the next right and immediately turn right again onto Johnsontown Road. Park on the edge of the traffic circle at the end of the road.

Walk back toward the road from the traffic circle and look for the blue disc trail. The blue disc trail turns up the hill to the northwest just before entering the traffic circle. The first part runs along the access road for maintenance of a gas pipeline. The trail then cuts into the woods and parallels the pipeline briefly before heading more northwest. After about .85 miles of hiking a high rock formation appears on the left. You may go off the trail and up to the lookout where there are limited views. Back on the main trail continue to hike and almost immediately you will hit a very steep little climb which is hardly perpendicular! The top is about 960 feet in elevation and only a mile from the start of the hike. It offers excellent views particularly to the south and east. Continue your hike down from the viewpoint into a little "valley" surrounded by several high rock formations. The trail then ascends Pound Mountain and descends again as it approaches Elbow Brush at about 1.9 miles. Elbow Brush is a narrow passage between the bedrock and a piece that has pulled away over the years. This area can be avoided in one of several ways but it is interesting and not all that narrow. In this area there are other jumbles of rocks with some places to walk through. Continue to hike to the junction with the Tuxedo Mount Ivy Trail. This trail runs roughly east-west fut you want to continue on the blue disc trail. The blue discs may be hard to find as they proceed straight ahead and directly up the rock face to another viewpoint at 2.3 miles. Just across on the next hill you can see Smith's Rock but it is hard to determine where Claudius Smith's "den" is located. To get to the "hideout", go back to the trail junction and take the red Tuxedo Mt Ivy trail west to the base of the cliff that forms the lookout. You will would find the "den" there within a few hundred feet. It first appears as an opening on the right of the trail. You can walk into this "cave" and make your way to the other side. Back on the trail walk to the base of the cliff to find the rest of the den in the form of a rock overhang. There is a fire pit here. Smith was raised in Brookhaven on Long Island but his family moved to Smith' Clove (Monroe) in the early 1740's. His family was well-respected and when war broke out many became Loyalists. Claudius led a band of men who defended the Loyalists in Orange County and attacked the rebels. Eventually he became so notorious that Governor George Clinton offered a $1200 reward for his capture. Claudius Smith was hanged in Goshen, NY in 1179 as were two of his sons. After inspecting the den and rock formations, go back up to the blue disc trail. You will pass by a large rock that appears to have primitive petroglyphs painted on it. The scene depicts hunters with weapons attacking some animal with a series of trees in the background. On closer inspection the work looks more modern than ancient. Finding the blue disc trail after the lookout can be difficult. Walk down the open rock face watching for the markings which head off slightly to the right. There are only a few faded blazes on the rock. The trail starts to descend after crossing over another viewpoint and at about 3.4 miles start to look for the junction with the Victory Trail marked with blue V's. Turn left or west and hike a short distance to the trail junction with the Ramapo Dunderberg Trail heading southwest. This is relatively flat between some hills on the east and a drop off to the west. Begin looking for some evidence of the Black Ash mines like the tailings piles. At about 4.0 miles you will notice a tailings pile to the left of the trail. Walk up to it and find one of the openings for the Black Ash mine just behind it. The adit is flooded but still interesting. Walk down to the trail and continue south and find a second adit to the Black Ash mine very near the trail on the right. The trail continues to be open and easy to follow and at 4.7 miles there is a nice viewpoint down to Tuxedo and the Thruway. This lookout also has views to the hills beyond. The trail begins to descend as it approaches Tuxedo Park and the Thruway. Just after descending to a small parking area, turn left or south-southeast on the white Kakiat Trail which will help you complete the loop back to the blue disc trail and the car. The Dater Mine is near the trail junction with the blue disc trail. The Kakiat Trail follows a woods road and immediately begins to ascend to an old telephone line right-of-way. The ascent is only about .3 miles and about 200 feet. As you near the junction with the blue disc trail various paths and roads lead up the mountain toward the direction of the Dater Mine. From here it is only .2 miles to the blue disc trail and .7 miles back to the car.

Harriman: Boston, Garfield, Greenwood, Surebridge Mines

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	10.6 mi.	1825 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take Seven Lakes Drive southwest from the Long Mountain Circle near Bear Mountain. Pass through the Tiorati Circle staying on Seven Lakes Drive. Just passed Lake Tiorati there are two lakes, one on each side of the road. These are Lakes Askoti and Skanatati. Pull into the parking area on the right next to Lake Skanatati. This lake is larger than it looks as you will see when you hike along the shore and see it from above. The trails start to the right of the lake. Bear to the left on the Long Path marked with aqua paint. As you walk along this path there are several opportunities to walk down to the lake to get a better view. After following the shoreline of the lake the Long Path continues west and then turns north. At 1.1 miles the Long Path meets the yellow marked Dunning Trail.

Bear left on the Dunning Trail past the workings of the Hogencamp Mine on the right. There is a swamp on the left and some tailings from the mine. The trail ascends a hill to an area that overlooks Little Long Pond. Continue up the hill to a long flat area of bedrock. There are several large boulders lying on the flat area. these are called the Bowling rocks. The trail winds down and up until it meets the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail after about 1.2 miles. Just to the left up the RD Trail is the area known as the Bald Rocks. The exposed bedrock in this area has interesting striations. Continue on the Dunning Trail through this area.

In .25 miles the Dunning Trail meets and runs concurrently with the White Bar Trail for another .25 miles. At this point turn right to stay on the Dunning Trail. Stay on the Dunning Trail and in about .3 miles begin to look for mine tailings. This is the Boston Mine. There are two surface pits with their associated tailings. To find the Island Pond Road walk north or slightly northeast until you see the red triangles that mark the Arden-Surebridge Trail. Turn left on this trail and follow it until it meets the road. After several hundred feet the ASB Trail turns left. Continue on the road until it forks and take the left fork. The road appears to end but work your way through the laurel until you are almost at the lake shore. Here you will find an exploratory pit and a water filled trench. There are also some tailings from the Garfield Mine. Walk back out to where the road forks and take the right fork. This part of the road ends on the shore of Island Pond. The pond is beautiful and the ruins of an old stone ranger station can be found here.

Turn around and take the road back to where the ASB Trail meets the road. Turn left onto the trail. this trail heads southeast and then turns northeast as it heads toward the Lemon Squeezer about 1.6 miles away. The trail initially is relatively flat but then climbs to the top of a ridge. From here it goes up and down until the Lemon Squeezer. Stop here an spend some time investigating the lemon Squeezer. The AT ascends through this area but you will be returning to the ASB Trail after finishing at the Lemon Squeezer. Continue on the SB Trail and the Long Path for about .25 miles until the Bottle Cap Trail leaves to the left. The Bottle Cap Trail is marked by bottle caps nailed to the trees. The trail immediately ascends to the top of Surebridge Mountain. Continue on the trail over the top of the ridge and down the other side to a wet area to find the Surebridge Mine Trail. The total distance on the trail is about .6 miles and a stone cairn marks the road.

Turn left on the road and walk .6 miles to the Greenwood Mine. Watch for the white blazes of the AT on the right and almost immediately after that the tailings of the mine on the left and a mine opening on the right. The opening is filled with water. Continue on the trail to find another trench on the right. Turn right and walk up the hillside. Wander around looking for mine tailings. Above the mine tailings there will always be a mine working of some kind. The Greenwood mine has several trenches some with underground openings. Return to the road and walk .6 miles back to the Bottle Cap Trail junction. Stay on the mine road and watch for the first workings of the Surebridge Mine on the left. Walk off the trail to the left. There are several piles of tailings. Look for three different trenches at least one of which appears to extend underground. There are several exploratory pits and one deep shaft. The shaft is vertical but seems to turn horizontally at the bottom. Most of these workings are filled with water. Return to the mine road.

After .35 miles you will join the ASB Trail and the Long Path and the trail junction called Times Square. Find the Long Path and walk .4 miles over the hill to the Hogencamp Mine. Another .4 miles takes you to the Dunning Trail Long Path junction where you began the loop earlier in the day. Walk 1.1 miles back to the parking area.

Harriman: Bradley Mine

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	2.8 mi.	800 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take Seven Lakes Drive southwest from the Long Mountain Circle near Bear Mountain. Drive 3.7 miles and park at the Lake Tiorati parking area. Walk up to Arden Road which is closed during the winter. Walk on the road for .5 miles where the Long Path crosses the road. The road turns ninety degrees to the left at this point. Walk another .3 miles along the road and watch for a woods road that cuts up and to the right. Walk up the road and the entrance to the Bradley Mine cut will appear directly ahead. Walk into the cut to the end where the actual entrance to the underground is located. The mine is usually filled with water. It is possible to enter this cavern during the dry season. Notice the air shaft up and to the right. Walk back out through the cut and around the opening to the left. Walk up the hillside to find the opening to the air shaft. You can now wander over the hillside and up to the top of the hill. There are not too many additional evidences of mining activity. A large, flat work area is evident at the top and there is a nice view to the west. After looking around, retrace your steps to the road. Walk to road back to the car.

Harriman: Cranberry, Spanish, Silver, Lewis Mines

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.8 mi.	1477 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take Seven Lakes Drive southwest from the Long Mountain Circle near Bear Mountain. Drive 1.5 miles and park at the Silvermine Lake parking area. Walk about .5 miles northeast back up Seven lakes Drive. Just after an abandoned comfort station on the right is a brook that runs under the road. Turn left and walk up the left side of the brook. You may see an informal path where other hikers have walked but no specific trail exists. In .3 miles a woods road runs east-west. Turn left or west and walk a short distance to find the opening of the Cranberry Mine. The mine extends into the hillside for almost 100 feet. The adit has been walled up and an iron door once blocked the entrance. You may walk into the mine but it is VERY dark and a good light is a must! On the floor of the mine is the a single gauge railroad track used for ore carts.

Walk back out the entrance and head slightly northeast to find an iron door in front of a corrugated tin roof. This may have been a powder magazine or storage facility. Walk up the hillside and look for other piles of mine waste. There are at least two other shallow trenches and one air shaft. After investigating the mine workings, walk back down the mine road to the brook and back out to the road. Cross the road and follow the woods road to the bridge over the stream. This is the Silvermine Ski Road. Continue on the road for 1.1 miles to the junction with the AT and Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. Along the way you can visit the dam at the outlet of Silvermine Lake and there are several nice viewpoints for the lake.

Turn left on the trail and get ready for a short but steep ascent of Black Mountain. After the first part of the ascent there is a nice lookout over Silvermine Lake. Continue on the trail to the top of the mountain about .4 miles away from the trail junction. The summit of Black Mountain has a nice view of the Hudson River and of the Perkins Tower on Bear Mountain. Look for piles of tailings and a small, deep pit which is the Spanish Mine. Walk back up the hillside parallel to the trail to find another pile of mine waste and another pit or trench. Get back on the trail and descend the steep rock outcropping. At the base of this outcropping look for a path around to the other side of the rock face. The footing here is difficult. Walk along and look at the rock face. After a short distance, you will see a hole blasted into the side of the mountain with a small amount of mine waste below it. This is the Silver Mine although silver was probably never the object. Return to the main trail and hike back down black Mountain to the junction of the ski road and the AT and RD Trails.

Continue on the trails up and down over some varied terrain. After .8 miles, descend a rock area to the William Brien Memorial Shelter. This is a rock shelter with four wooden bunk beds. Turn right onto the yellow blazed Menomine Trail which winds its way back to the parking area along the western shore of Silvermine Lake. After 1.6 miles, you will be back to the Silvermine Lake parking area. Continue to follow the Menomine Trail through the parking and picnic areas to Seven Lakes Drive. Cross Seven lakes Drive and continue on the trail for .2 miles until it starts around Lake Nawahunta. Bear right on the Nawahunta Fire Road and watch for the opening to the Lewis Mine on the right opposite a swamp on the left. The trench that forms the Lewis Mine extends a short distance into the hillside. Back at the trail-road junction there is a stone foundation on the lake side of the trail. It is not clear what this may have been but its structure suggests it was a storage building. Walk back out to the road and return .4 miles to the parking area.

Harriman: Doodletown and The Mines

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.3 mi.	1850 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The easiest place to park to start this hike is at the Bear Mountain Inn parking area next to Hessian Lake. Parking costs $6 per car but there is lots of it and bathroom facilities are available. There area several ways to get to the parking area but Route 9W north or south is the easiest way. You can also take Seven Lakes Drive from Long Mountain Parkway (Route 6). Stay on Seven Lakes Drive through another traffic circle. Park in the back parking area. Walk toward the "tunnel" that goes under Perkins Drive. Bear to your right and head towards the other tunnel. Before entering, look at the sign which shows the settlement of Doodletown. These signs occur several times along the 1777 Trail that goes through this late 19th and early 20th century site. The building sites are all numbered, a plaque has been placed near all the major sites and some include an explanation and sketch of the building All the remaining buildings were razed in 1957 so that all that remains are the stone foundations, stone steps and the cemeteries. Enter the tunnel and get on the 1777E Trail.

After .5 miles on the 1777E Trail, you will reach the junction of the red blazed 1777 Trail to the right and the blue blazed Cornell Mine Trail to the left. Bear right onto the 1777 Trail. In another, .5 miles a sign pointing to the left indicates a path to a swimming hole and waterfall. Only a few hundred feet down this path is a bridge over a small stream. There is a nice cascade here with rapids and a deep pool at the base of the falls. The path continues but turn around after enjoying the babbling brook and return to the main path. All of the "trails" here are wide woods roads and some show signs of pavement. Back on the main path you will begin your walk through the Doodletown settlement. The first site is the foundation of the Steinman home. Further down the path is the area were the old schoolhouse stood on the right side of the trail. On the left side is a man made pond.

Continue up the road following the red dot on a white rectangle markings of the 1777 Trail. Where the trail bears to the left is the site of the Siegel home. Further up the road are the steps of the Dunkel house on the right. A little further up the road on the left is the lane that leads to the Herbert/Weyant cemetery. This is about .6 miles from the trail junction and the waterfall path. Many of the grave markers have the names of the members of these two prominent families. Walk back out to the main trail and continue on up the hill. There are numerous home sites marked by stone pillars, foundations or simple signs. As you continue on the road, you will see the outline of Bald Mountain on the left. The mountain looks steep and uninviting at first, however, the trail that you are on wraps around to the more gentle ascent on the opposite side. After walking up another small hill the signage indicates the end of Doodletown settlement. The wide and open road reverts to more of a trail but is still relatively easy walking.

After 1.4 miles from the cemetery lane the red blazed Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail crosses the 1777 Trail. Turn left here and be prepared for a path that is more of a trail; narrow and with more elevation changes. Soon you will be climbing Bald Mountain. The trail initially climbs a small rock outcropping and then descends into a hardwood forest and crosses a small stream. It then ascends to another higher point before dropping a little. The trail then begins the climb up Bald Mountain. Near the summit the trail undulates some before arriving at the summit. The summit is about .7 miles from the junction with the 1777 Trail. The views from the summit are magnificent. The Perkins Tower on Bear Mountain is clearly visible. The Hudson River lies below with the Bear Mountain Bridge, Anthony's Nose, Mount Taurus, Storm King and Breakneck Ridge to the north. From this point you can get back on the R-D Trail and follow it to the junction with the Cornell Mine Trail or you can walk north over the "edge" of Bald Mountain to look for the Cornell Mine.

To find the Cornell Mine walk north down the slope of the mountain and head slightly right or east. Look for many small to medium sized rocks in a pile. These are tailings from the iron mines. Many of these rocks will show "rust". You may find several open pits and gashes cut into the hillside. These are part of the mining complex but a more interesting mine is to be found. Further down the slope is the main entrance to the Cornell Mine which is cut directly into the bedrock of the mountain. The tailing from the mine lie below it on the slope. The mine adit is usually filled with water except in the driest times. The tunnel appears to be block just a short distance into the mine. After exploring, continue east along the slope looking for the red markings of the R-D Trail or the blue ones from the Cornell Mine Trail. If you hit the R-D first, turn left and continue down until the Cornell Mine Trail branches to the left.

Be careful as you descend the Cornell Mine Trail. The initial descent is steep and strewn with rocks some of which are covered by leaves. This can be a slippery, unstable situation leading to falls and injuries. The rocks grow into boulders lower down the trail until it flattens and the trail widens and passes through hardwood trees. After about .85 miles, there is a junction with a woods road . On top of a hill on your left is ANOTHER mine. Walk over toward this hill. If you skirt the top of the hill to the right, you will see the mine tailings. Walk to the top of the hill and look for a depression in the earth. This is not just a pit but a shaft sunk into the rock. The Edison is Thomas Edison who experimented with magnetically separating the iron from the ore. This "loop" is about .3 miles. Walk back to the trail and continue toward Route 202.

In about .5 miles the trail passes very close to Doodletown Brook and an area where there is a nice waterfall and swimming hole. In fact, this is the SAME place you were and the beginning of the hike but you are on the other side of the brook. Walk down to the brook to get a better look at the water. There are several areas of rapids and a man made dam. After exploring some, return to the trail. Route 202 is just .1 miles further down the trail. Just before the road is another nice section of rapids. At the highway turn left and walk a short distance on the left shoulder before turning left and continuing on the Cornell Mine Trail. Climb Grays Hill which was once part of the King's Road and then the Albany Road. Follow the blue trail markers as the trail turns off the paved path to the right and heads up through some brush. This part of the trail is often wet! In .25 miles you will be back at the junction with the 1777E trail where you were earlier tin the day. Continue straight ahead to retrace your steps through the tunnels and to the parking area only .5 miles away.

Harriman: Dunderberg Mountain Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.7 mi	2200 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

The parking for the trail head is on Route 9W about a mile south of the junction with Route 202. It is just north of the Anchor Monument on 9W. Once parked walk south on 9W for a short distance. Watch for a small stake with blaze markings. The blazes should be blue for the Timp-Torne Trail and a red circle on a white background for the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. Be prepared to ascend a steep grade up to the first level of the Dunderberg Ridge. Watch for a small laid stone tunnel on your left just as the steep climb begins. As you climb you will begin to get some nice views of the Hudson River, the towns that line it and the power plants that use the water for cooling. These views are nice but nothing compared to the ones you WILL get as you ascend to the top of the ridge.

The trail splits at the top of the short ascent. The blue blazed Timp-Torne trail goes left while the red blazed Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail heads off to the right. Both the trails parallel or cross railway beds that are the remains of an aborted spiral railway from the late 1890's. Although it was never completed much of the work that was done is still visible. Turn left an follow the blue blazes. This trail alternates flat sections along the railbed with steep but short climbs up to the next level of the ridge. Several areas have switchbacks to make the climbing easier. There are also several rock scrambles which keep things interesting. As you hike, keep a lookout for the tunnel entrance blasted into the mountain's rock. It will be on your right and is unmistakable. It was never completed and is a dead end. Just passed the tunnel is a great example of how the railway bed was built up and leveled off. After ascending to the highest point on the one side of the ridge the trail drops a little before the climb up to The Timp. The views from here are excellent to the south, west and north. Almost directly west is West Mountain. Look carefully to spot the West Mountain Shelter. From this point there are several options that vary slightly in distance and difficulty.

The first option is to turn around and return the way you came to the low area where the 1777 trail crosses the Timp-Torne Trail The 1777 trail crosses at the lowest point in the area. Turn left onto this trail and walk for a VERY short distance. Keep a lookout for the red blazed Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail on the right.

Another option is to continue down the Timp-Torne Trail off The Timp for a short distance to the junction with the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. Turn right onto the trail marked by the red circles on a white rectangle.

The longest, most difficult and therefore most rewarding option is to continue on the Timp-Torne Trail as it descends into a low area on the other side of the Timp. This is quite a drop from the top of the Timp and is steep at times. The blue trail intersects on old road and turns left following the road for a short distance. The trail then heads right into the woods, up a hill and toward the Torne. Continue on up the road looking for the red and white markers on the right that announce the beginning of the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. Follow this trail passed any other trails or roads that turn off of it. The trail skirts the lower edge of the Timp and passes many impressive talus slopes as it winds its way around the Timp. Eventually it turns left and heads STRAIGHT UP THE TIMP! This is a rather long and difficult climb which has few level areas until it nears the top of the Timp. Eventually you will be back at the junction with the blue Timp-Torne Trail near the top of the Timp. DO NOT turn but continue on the read and white marked trail.

The Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail rises and falls several times on the approach to Bald Mountain. The climb up Bald is steep at times but not impossible. Bald has views directly north to Bear Mountain which can be recognized by the Perkins Tower at the top. Looking down and in a northeasterly direction you can easily see the Bear Mountain Bridge. Below the summit of Bald are several depressions and one tunnel that make up the Cornell Mines. Continue on the red blazed trail and pass the point where the blue blazed Cornell Mine trail meets it from the north. You will soon pass over Dunderberg Mountain. This can easily be missed since it is not much higher than the other points on the ridge. As you continue to hike, you will begin to get a hint of the scenic views that the eastern end of this ridge has to offer. Several climbs pass through swampy areas and lead to the eastern end of the ridge. Apparently a forest fire swept through this area since most of the trees are dead and show scorch marks. The dead trees combined with the remaining rock outcroppings gives this area an eerie, desolate appearance. As you reach the top of the easternmost part of the ridge the Hudson comes into view along with the communities and industry that line its shore. The view from the ridge proper is virtually unimpeded but several side trails lead to lookouts with breathtaking views of the river.

The trail turns south and then west as it completes the loop back to where you started. A laid stone pylon is present in the area where the donkey engine was to be place for the spiral railway. From this area the trail is almost all graded railroad bed. Large angular stone do not make the best footing and do not cushion a fall. The trail flattens as it approaches the end. Here there are several more good examples of level railroad bed hinting at the work done on the railway.

Harriman: Dunderberg Mountain - The Timp Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.8 mi	2323 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

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The parking for the trail head is on Route 9W about a mile south of the junction with Route 202. It is just north of the Anchor Monument on 9W. Once parked walk south on 9W for a short distance. Watch for a small stake with blaze markings. The blazes should be blue for the Timp-Torne Trail and a red circle on a white background for the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. Be prepared to ascend a steep grade up to the first level of the Dunderberg Ridge. Watch for a small laid stone tunnel on your left just as the steep climb begins. As you climb you will begin to get some nice views of the Hudson River, the towns that line it and the power plants that use the water for cooling. These views are nice but nothing compared to the ones you WILL get as you ascend to the top of the ridge.

The trail splits at the top of the short ascent. The blue blazed Timp-Torne trail goes left while the red blazed Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail heads off to the right. Both the trails parallel or cross railway beds that are the remains of an aborted spiral railway from the late 1890's. Although it was never completed much of the work that was done is still visible. Turn left an follow the blue blazes. This trail alternates flat sections along the railbed with steep but short climbs up to the next level of the ridge. Several areas have switchbacks to make the climbing easier. There are also several rock scrambles which keep things interesting. As you hike, keep a lookout for the tunnel entrance blasted into the mountain's rock. It will be on your right and is unmistakable. It was never completed and is a dead end. Just passed the tunnel is a great example of how the railway bed was built up and leveled off. After ascending to the highest point on the one side of the ridge the trail drops a little before the climb up to The Timp. The views from here are excellent to the south, west and north. Almost directly west is West Mountain. Look carefully to spot the West Mountain Shelter. From this point there are several options that vary slightly in distance and difficulty.

The first option is to turn around and return the way you came to the low area where the 1777 trail crosses the Timp-Torne Trail The 1777 trail crosses at the lowest point in the area. Turn left onto this trail and walk for a VERY short distance. Keep a lookout for the red blazed Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail on the right.

Another option is to continue down the Timp-Torne Trail off The Timp for a short distance to the junction with the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. Turn right onto the trail marked by the red circles on a white rectangle.

The longest, most difficult and therefore most rewarding option is to continue on the Timp-Torne Trail as it descends into a low area on the other side of the Timp. This is quite a drop from the top of the Timp and is steep at times. The blue trail intersects on old road and turns left following the road for a short distance. The trail then heads right into the woods, up a hill and toward the Torne. Continue on up the road looking for the red and white markers on the right that announce the beginning of the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. Follow this trail passed any other trails or roads that turn off of it. The trail skirts the lower edge of the Timp and passes many impressive talus slopes as it winds its way around the Timp. Eventually it turns left and heads STRAIGHT UP THE TIMP! This is a rather long and difficult climb which has few level areas until it nears the top of the Timp. Eventually you will be back at the junction with the blue Timp-Torne Trail near the top of the Timp. DO NOT turn but continue on the read and white marked trail.

The Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail rises and falls several times on the approach to Bald Mountain. The climb up Bald is steep at times but not impossible. Bald has views directly north to Bear Mountain which can be recognized by the Perkins Tower at the top. Looking down and in a northeasterly direction you can easily see the Bear Mountain Bridge. Below the summit of Bald are several depressions and one tunnel that make up the Cornell Mines. Continue on the red blazed trail and pass the point where the blue blazed Cornell Mine trail meets it from the north. You will soon pass over Dunderberg Mountain. This can easily be missed since it is not much higher than the other points on the ridge. As you continue to hike, you will begin to get a hint of the scenic views that the eastern end of this ridge has to offer. Several climbs pass through swampy areas and lead to the eastern end of the ridge. Apparently a forest fire swept through this area since most of the trees are dead and show scorch marks. The dead trees combined with the remaining rock outcroppings gives this area an eerie, desolate appearance. As you reach the top of the easternmost part of the ridge the Hudson comes into view along with the communities and industry that line its shore. The view from the ridge proper is virtually unimpeded but several side trails lead to lookouts with breathtaking views of the river.

The trail turns south and then west as it completes the loop back to where you started. A laid stone pylon is present in the area where the donkey engine was to be place for the spiral railway. From this area the trail is almost all graded railroad bed. Large angular stone do not make the best footing and do not cushion a fall. The trail flattens as it approaches the end. Here there are several more good examples of level railroad bed hinting at the work done on the railway.

Harriman: Lake Sebago to Cascade of Slid

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.1 mi.	1310 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take Seven Lakes Drive southwest from the Long Mountain Circle near Bear Mountain. Pass through the Tiorati Circle staying on Seven Lakes Drive. Pass through the Kanawauke Circle and continue southwest on Seven Lakes Drive until the parking area for the Lake Sebago boat launch on the right. Walk out the driveway to Seven Lakes Drive and cross to the other side. The start of the Seven Hills Trail is marked by three blue on white blazes. The trail ascends Conklin Mountain for about .75 miles before turning right or southeast. Look to the left at this turn to see a high rock cliff with a boulder perched on top. This is Monitor Rock and is worth the short climb on the path to the left. After returning from Monitor Rock, continue up the woods road before making the turn on the trail. Watch for another path to the left and follow it to another set of boulders and a red brick "structure". Return to the woods road, turn right and go back to the area where the Seven Hills trail turns southwest. Make the turn and start to walk along the Diamond Mountain ridge.

After about .5 miles there is a nice lookout over Lake Sebago. Continue on the trail passing a large boulder called the "cracked diamond". The trail flattens as it passes over some exposed rock and starts to descend. The views here are not spectacular and include mostly featureless forest. After passing the area where the HST Trail follows the Seven Hills trail, the trail begins to descend and the descent is STEEP in several different places. The trail descends to a stream. Turn left and follow the blue blazes to the bridge across the stream. The trail soon bears to the right. Follow the white blazes of the Kakiat Trail to the left. Within .25 miles the black blazes of the Raccoon Brook Hills trail turns off to the left. Follow this trail down to the brook and cross it. At the base of the rock ledges and cliffs are several rock shelters once used by Native Americans. Numerous artifacts were recovered from these shelters and placed in the Harriman Museum. Retrace your path to the area of the bridge over the stream.

Follow the red blazes of the Pine Meadow Trail for about .25 miles until it meets the orange blazed HST Trail. Turn right on this trail and cross the bridge. Below the bridge is a cascade of water over several different drops called the Cascade of Slid. Follow the white blazes of the Kakiat Trail until it meets the yellow blazed Stony Brook Trail just before another bridge. The Stony Brook Trail parallels Stony Brook and is a nice, relatively flat walk beside a stream. This trail continue for a little over a mile until it meets the HST and then the Tuxedo-Mt. Ivy Trail. In about .3 miles you will be at the base of the Lake Sebago dam. Walk the .75 miles back to the parking area on the Seven Lakes Drive.

Harriman: Lake Skanatati to Pine Swamp Mountain

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.6 mi.	980 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take Seven Lakes Drive southwest from the Long Mountain Circle near Bear Mountain. Pass through the Tiorati Circle staying on Seven Lakes Drive. Just passed Lake Tiorati there are two lakes, one on each side of the road. These are Lakes Askoti and Skanatati. Pull into the parking area on the right next to Lake Skanatati. This lake is larger than it looks as you will see when you hike along the shore and see it from above. The trails start to the right of the lake. Bear to the left on the Long Path marked with aqua paint. As you walk along this path there are several opportunities to walk down to the lake to get a better view. After following the shoreline of the lake the Long Path continues west and then turns north. At 1.1 miles the Long Path meets the yellow marked Dunning Trail.

Continue north on the Long Path for about .2 miles. The trail ascends gently passed some really impressive rock formations and a cold mountain stream. Continue up the trail until you see a pair of glacial erratics on a hill above you. There was extensive mining in this area and you may see the opening of mine adits, mine pits and equipment. Turn around and hike back to the junction with the Dunning Trail. Turn right and follow the Dunning Trail west .15 miles. In this area there are extensive tailings from the Hogencamp Iron Mines. There are also open pits and at least one adit. The trail continues south and then west for .45 miles before turning abruptly north. In this area, there is a nice lookout over Little Long Pond. This is a good place to stop for a rest before continuing north.

Take the Dunning Trail north as it ascends about .3 miles to the Bowling Rocks. Here there is a long narrow open rock face with several medium sized boulders. All that is needed are some "pins". Continue walking another .35 miles to the Bald Rocks and the junction with the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. The Bald Rocks can be accessed from an unmarked trail just before the RD junction or turn left on the RD and walk up a slight incline to the Bald Rocks. At the trail junction turn right on the red marked RD Trail. This trail has many open rock faces some of which are flat but MANY of which are tilted. These areas can be slippery when wet, cold when windy and IMPOSSIBLE when icy. The trail descends into a swale with a small stream. There is a log bridge here. On the other side the trail ascends up a short rock scramble and then up an open rock face. The RD Trail goes up and over the top. At the top look down to you left to see a small pond often frequented by wildlife. Continue for several hundred feet on the RD Trail. Look straight ahead to see a large glacial erratic that looks a little like the prow of a ship. Return to the top of the rock outcrop and turn right. Watch for the blue L on a white background that marks the Lichen trail. The total distance from the Dunning-RD junction is about .35 miles.

The Lichen Trail runs to an elevated rock plateau and continues straight ahead off the plateau and down to the left. After wrapping around a rock outcrop to the right the trail ascends over...an open rock face. From this point is a nice lookout over Island Pond. The trail continues .35 miles along open rock and descends steeply down to the Arden-Surebridge Trail which is marked with red triangles. Turn right on the ASB Trail and continue over relatively flat but often wet ground for .45 miles to Times Square. This is a junction of four trails and a woods road. The trails are well marked but make sure you continue ahead and slightly to the right on the ASB Trail. This trail has its ups and downs as it continues .45 miles to the junction with the Dunning Trail. Pick your way across a stream that eventually empties into Pine Swamp and stay on the ASB Trail. South on the Dunning Trail are the remains of the Pine Swamp Iron Mine. This mine has an adit that can be entered in drier weather and a large stope.

The ASB Trail continues east for .5 miles and then turns directly south and starts to climb Pine Swamp Mountain. In .2 miles you will be at the top of the mountain. The climb is not difficult and proceeds along a wide woods road. From the top of Pine Swamp Mountain are several nice lookouts over the surrounding lakes. Directly south is lake Skanatati and just beyond the two part of Lake Kanawauke. Around to the left Lake Askoti is partly visible with Little Long Pond on the extreme right. After taking some time to enjoy the view and take pictures, get back on the trail and descend to the parking lot .35 miles away. This descent is steep in spots with one short rock scramble.

Harriman: Long Path to 1779 Trail Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	10.9 mi.	2170 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take I86, the Quickway, to the exit just before the Harriman toll plaza and get on Route 6 East. Drive a little more than 4 miles to the parking area on the left where the Long Path crosses the road. You may also take Route 6 West from the Bear Mountain traffic circle for less than a mile. In this case the parking area is on the right. From here the Long Path heads northeast toward Long Mountain and passes the Torrey Memorial on the way. Walk out the exit for the parking area and across the road since this hike heads in the opposite direction. The Long Path crosses almost directly across from the exit to the parking area. The trail follows wide woods roads in many places. Be careful as you hike since there are many fire roads and other paths that crisscross the trails and it is easy to get lost even with a map. The Long path heads almost directly southwest and climbs around 400 feet in the first 1.8 miles. Just before another climb there is a series of rock overhangs which are labeled "cave shelter" on the NYNJTC maps. Climb to the top of the rise and walk along a flat part of the trail to a rock shelter at 2.0 miles. The shelter faces west and the map marks it as a viewpoint. Like so many of the places that were once viewpoints the trees have grown to block most of the view. Descend to the junction with the yellow Menomine Trail but continue straight ahead to Hippo Rock at 2.3 miles into the hike. This rock really does look like a hippo from the front. Head back to the trail junction and turn right on the yellow Menomine Trail heading generally southeast. The trail is a long descent along a woods road and soon you will pass Lake Nawahunta. At 3.6 miles cross Seven Lakes Drive and head toward Silvermine Lake. Walk the trail along the west shore of the lake. Over the next .6 miles the trail gains 320 feet to the site of the Brien Memorial Shelter. The shelter is about 5.3 miles into the hike. Turn left onto the Appalachian Trail and starting up a short, steep rock climb. This trail is marked in white for the AT but also has red blazes as it is part of the Ramapo Dunderberg Trail. After reaching the top of the rock scramble, the trail flattens some with a few ups and downs. For about .9 miles from the shelter the trail rolls up and down slightly until at 7.2 miles it turns to the right. Now you are hiking southeast rather than northeast and starting up Black Mountain. After a short but steep climb there is a viewpoint over Silvermine Lake. Continue on to the summit at 7.7 miles into the hike. The views here include the New York City skyline. From the summit start down a very steep descent of almost 400 feet in .35 miles. A little further on turn left and head almost due north on the blue 1779 Trail. The trail parallels the Palisades Parkway which is just over a ridge to the right. There are no views but the 1.6 miles to Seven Lakes drive near the Long Mountain traffic circle is pleasant enough. At the traffic circle cross the road and head directly into the woods. DO NOT walk further up the road as the trail there is not marked and it will take you out of the way. Find a marker on a tree and then look ahead across the construction yard for another on a pole! Walk to the back left corner of the yard a find the trail and the markers. Enter the woods to continue the hike. The trail heads north toward the Popolopen Gorge Trail and Turkey Hill Lake just skirting a climb up Summer Hill. After about .6 miles, you may walk straight ahead on Summer Hill Road rather than take the circuitous route on the trail. If you want to stay on the trail, turn to the right. Be sure to turn left at the next trail junction! Just before you cross a small stream look for the trail on the left. It may be hard to spot since it is marked for an approach from the opposite direction. Stay on the trail and you will soon be at the dam for the lake. Continue around the west shore of the lake which has several spots to stop and take pictures. From the dam it is all uphill for the next .9 miles until you hit the Long Path again at 12.2 miles. Turn left on the Long Path and hike the .3 miles back to the car.

Harriman: ORAK Ruins from St. John's Church

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.7 mi.	1295 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take Seven Lakes Drive southwest from the Long Mountain Circle near Bear Mountain. Pass through the Tiorati Circle staying on Seven Lakes Drive. Pass through the Kanawauke Circle and continue southwest on Seven Lakes Drive until the sign for Lake Sebago Beach. Stay to the left and turn left to go toward Lake Welch Drive. Turn onto Lake Welch Drive and watch for St. John's Road, the first road on the right. Turn here and drive until you see St. John in the Wilderness Church on the left. Park in the parking lot. Walk back down the road for .3 miles toward Lake Welch Drive. At the end of the road just before Lake Welch Drive turn right off the road and begin to follow the aqua blazes of the Long Path. The trail alternates between trail and wider woods road in many places. It also makes several twists and turns and rolls over hills and at least one mountain. At .45 miles the trail bends sharply to the left and at .65 it turns onto a woods road to the right. The road also continues to the left and is a shortcut back to the church. After climbing a bit, you now descend to cross Beaver Pond Brook in a swampy area. Along but narrow causeway gets you across this area. Just after the causeway, notice the large grove of red pine which was probably planted in the area. At 1.2 miles the trail again turns to the left and parallels Pine Meadow Road. Stay on the trail as it rises to 1.7 miles and then turns right to cross the wide road. At 1.8 miles the trail tops out at Big Hill and the Big Hill Shelter. The shelter is the typical stone structure with dual fireplaces at the entrance and a pit in front. There is a limited view east to the Hudson. Here the Suffern Bear Mountain Trail comes in from the right and joins the Long Path for a short distance.

The trails now descend a rather steep slop. Watch straight ahead and you will see two large communications towers in the distance on Jackie Jones Mountain. To the left of these towers is a shorter fire tower where you are headed. At about 2.0 miles the Long Path bears right on a woods road. Follow the yellow SBM Trail to the left as it descends slightly and crosses a brook. At 2.15 miles the trail crosses Pine Meadow Road and begins the ascent up Jackie Jones Mountain. This mountain and Rockhouse Mountain are the highest points in Rockland County. At 2.7 miles , at the top of the mountain stands a now closed fire tower. Although the cab is closed, you can climb the tower for the view. Be careful as some of the boards look better than others. Also, if there is any wind at ground level it may be at a somewhat higher velocity near the top of the tower. The tower does offer good views for 360 degrees on the landing just below the cab. Back on the ground continue on the SBM Trail as it begins a descent passed the communications towers on the left. The trail bears to the right and passes over an open rock face. Maps mark this as a viewpoint but the view is limited by trees which have grown. The trail continues to descend and at about 3.0 mikes you will begin to see some stonework and foundations.

This marks the ruins of the ORAK mansion constructed in 1923 by an executive of the company that produced KARO syrup. The mansion was torn down years later but much of the stonework still remains. At first it doesn't look like much but keep walking toward the paved driveway. Bear right to what look like an open clearing. You are standing in what was once the dining room. To the left is a curved stone wall with excellent craftsmanship. The wall has and arched doorway and small, round windows. The owner liked ships and the sea and the dining room was built to resemble a ship. Walk back to and down the driveway. On the right are the foundations of other building. If you continue to walk on the driveway, the gatehouse, which is mostly intact, will be on the left. The trail at this point continues out to Gate hill Road or Route 106. Along the way is another mansion constructed by Rose Renard of Red Rose Tea fame. Turn around and walk back on the driveway. You may want to walk off to the right to see the remains of other outbuildings. When you are finished exploring, follow your route all the way back to the parking area and your car.

Harriman: Pine Swamp and Hogencamp Mines

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.1 mi.	850 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take Seven Lakes Drive southwest from the Long Mountain Circle near Bear Mountain. Pass through the Tiorati Circle staying on Seven Lakes Drive. Just passed Lake Tiorati there are two lakes, one on each side of the road. These are Lakes Askoti and Skanatati. Pull into the parking area on the right next to Lake Skanatati. This lake is larger than it looks as you will see when you hike along the shore and see it from above. The trails start to the right of the lake. Bear to the left on the Long Path marked with aqua paint. As you walk along this path there are several opportunities to walk down to the lake to get a better view. After following the shoreline of the lake the Long Path continues west and then turns north. At 1.1 miles the Long Path meets the yellow marked Dunning Trail.

Bear right on the Dunning Trail and walk .5 miles watching for the Pine Swamp on the right and tailings piles on the left. As son as you see the tailing cut up the hill to the left watching for the paths other hikers have used. You should end up in a small area with pine trees. Straight ahead is the cut of the Pine Swamp Mine with walls 20 to 30 feet high. The entrance to the mine is straight ahead. It may be a little wet getting to the adit but the ore vein ran upward in this mine. Walk into the mine and carefully climb upward. Stop to look at the drill marks on the walls. Near the top of the mine is an air shaft. Work your way back down to the entrance and turn right and climb up the hill. Watch for the opening of the air shaft an the hill. At this point you can return to the Dunning Trail and follow it to Times Square. At Times Square take the Long Path over the hill to the Hogencamp Mine. You may also walk cross country and bushwhack from the hill above the Pine Swamp Mine to Hogencamp Mountain.

From the Long Path find a path to the top of Hogencamp Mountain. This is easier than finding the trail to the top. There is a nice view in all directions from the top of Hogencamp Mountain even though its elevation is not particularly great. Work your way back down to the Long Path. As you walk along the Long Path toward the mine keep an eye out for foundations that indicate buildings that were once part of the extensive Hogencamp Mining Complex. Eventually you will be walking along a small stream and between some large boulders on the left and a rock out cropping on the right. Walk past this are and watch for a path that goes down and to the right. This path leads to the most interesting cut of the mine. This cut passes into the rock under the trail you were just hiking. It is filled with water so it is hard to determine the depth. When you are in the cut, turn around and let your eye follow the trenches that parallel the base of the hill.

Walk along the base of the hill and in and out of the trenches. Be sure to walk down to the Dunning Trail to see the tailings piles on the left. You will also see a pit with a large pipe emerging vertically from the pit which is filled with water. Walk back up toward the base of the hill and watch for a deep hole. You may also see some laid stone which may have been part of some foundation. You may return to the Dunning Trail and walk back to the junction with the Long Path where you started the loop. If you have some additional time, climb the hill and walk the ridge above the mine. There are some views of the surrounding countryside and of the mine below. Keep walking and you will intersect the Long Path above the mine where you were before. Walk down the Long Path and to the junction with the Dunning Trail. Stay on the Long Path and retrace your path to the parking area.

Harriman: Ramapo Torne and Russian Bear

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.8 mi.	1893 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take Seven Lakes Drive southwest from the Long Mountain Circle near Bear Mountain. Pass through the Tiorati Circle staying on Seven Lakes Drive. Pass through the Kanawauke Circle and continue southwest on Seven Lakes Drive until the parking area for the Reeves Brook Visitor's Center appears on the left. Walk to the back right of the parking area and walk briefly through a field on the red marked Pine Meadow Trail. Watch for the blue blazes of the Seven Hills Trail on the left. Continue along this trail as it rises over a hill and then descends to a junction with the orange blazed HST Trail. Turn right here and walk another .2 miles to the base of the Ramapo Torne. Turn left here and start a steep ascent to the first level of the Torne. Watch carefully as you ascend to the first level for the orange blazes that go to the left and start the ascent of the second level of the Torne. This is another steep ascent over some large, scattered boulders. At the top of the second level is one more short ascent to the very top of the Torne. Stop here to take in the views in all directions.

You can return to the trail junction and get on the blue Seven Hills Trail that leads to the HST Trail. The easier route is to continue over the Torne on the orange HST Trail. Stay on this trail as it rolls up and down. Before an obvious descent look straight ahead at the rock outcropping which is the Russian Bear. The trail descends to crosses a small stream and then begins to ascend up the Russian Bear. the trail winds around this tall rock outcropping to a set of stairs on the other side. The ascent is steep but short and the stairs help. Be sure to look back toward the Ramapo Torne for a great view. After taking in the views in all directions, follow the orange trail over the Russian Bear and watch for the black blazes of the Raccoon Brook Hills Trail.

Turn left on the black trail and walk along a steep cliff called the Pulpit. Look DOWN to the area below where you will soon be after a steep descent off the Pulpit. After the descent, look back at the Pulpit. This view makes the reason for the name more obvious. Continue on the black trail passed the white Reeves Brook Trail until it again meets the blue Seven Hills Trail. Turn left on this trail and walk a short distance until the trail starts to descend. Look ahead to the Ramapo Torne. This is Torne View. Retrace your steps to the trail junction but continue straight ahead on the blue trail. As this trail begins to descend it crosses the white Reeves Brook Trail. Turn left here and continue on this trail as it descends back toward the parking area. This trail is hard to follow at times so watch for the blazes on the trees and rocks. The trail follows a stream which has several small cascades along the way. As the trail descends an old woods road it meets the red Pine Meadow Trail. Turn left here and walk back to the parking area.

Harriman: Route 106 to Elk Pen

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	9.3 mi.	1936 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take Seven Lakes Drive southwest from the Long Mountain Circle near Bear Mountain. Pass through the Tiorati Circle staying on Seven Lakes Drive. At the Kanawauke Circle take Route 106 west passing between the two parts of Lake Kanawauke. The next body of water on the left is Little Long Pond. Just passed Little Long Pond on a slight upgrade will be a parking area on the right for up to ten cars. There are no trailhead markers but this is the place to park. After parking walk into the woods straight ahead and watch for the red markers of the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail.

Hike through some tress to an area with enormous and impressive rock formation. Hike up and through these formations for about .25 miles until you are on an exposed rock face with a good view of the surrounding terrain and the hills in the distance. Get back on the RD and hike across the rocky spine surrounded by a few trees. After another .25 miles you will be at Black Rock which also gives nice views. As you hike keep looking for the best views since they aren't always at specific named places along the way. In about .8 miles you will be at the Bald Rocks in an open area where many glacial erratics lie on top of strangely marked bedrock. Just after this area the yellow Dunning Trail turns left to Hogencamp Mountain and the Hogencamp Mine. To the left the trail leads to the White Bar Trail and on to the Nubian Trail near Valley of the Boulders.

Continue on the RD passing Hogencamp Mountain on the right. After ascending some open slabs of rock, take in the nice views of the immediate area, the hills and valleys afar and the little pond just below. bear right on the Rd and descend off the ridge for just a short distance. Ahead and slightly to the left will be a large glacial erratic sitting among some trees. Use you imagination to see the prow of a ship sailing into the forest. This is Ship Rock. You can continue on the RD to Times Square and return on the Arden-Surebridge Trail. It may be easier to retrace your steps back to the open rock faces and turn right on the Lichen Trail marked with a blue L on a white background. This trail has some nice viewpoints and is worth the walk. Keep a careful watch for the markers as they may be hard to spot. The Lichen Trail is only about .4 miles long. It passes over a rocky outcrop and then drops around it before rising over more open rock faces. At this point Island Pond can be seen at a distance on the left. At the bottom of a short, steep descent turn left on the red marked Arden-Surebridge Trail which runs concurrently with the aqua blazes of the Long Path.

In .8 miles you will hook up with a section of the white blazed Appalachian Trail just passed the Lemon Squeezer. Before this trail junction are several others that can mislead and confuse. An unmarked trail named the Bottle Cap is the first to appear on the right. Just a few hundred feet later the aqua blazes turn right as the Long Path leaves to the north. In this same area the white blazes of the White Bar Trail appear on the left. Stay on the red trail to an area where you will see some tight passages between the rocks. This is the Lemon Squeezer, The trail does not actually pass through the Lemon Squeezer but feel free to examine this area and walk through the tight "canyons". Just after this the red blazes turn abruptly left as the A-SB Trail turns south. Continue straight ahead on the Appalachian Trail as it works its way passed Island Pond. You will want to get a better view of this little pond but each potential viewpoint is blocked by trees. Stay on the AT as it descends to a flat area just above the pond. Walk to your right to a rock ledge and a beautiful view of this body of water. Return to the AT and cross the outlet of the pond on a small wooden footbridge. Observe the stonework that seems to form a sluice out of the pond.

The AT then ascends form the pond outlet and snakes its way over Green Pond Mountain. The ascent and descent have a few steeper areas but the switchbacks take car of most of these. As you start to descend, you may notice the sounds of traffic. At this point you are headed toward the Elk Pen which is adjacent to the New York State Thruway. After 1.4 miles on the AT and at the bottom of the hill near the Elk Pen turn left on the Arden-Surebridge Trail which runs along the surface of the old Arden Road once called the Harriman Flat Road. In .3 miles the A-SB turns left but you should continue straight ahead on the Stahahe Brook Trail and the Arden Road. After another .3 miles, this trail turns left into the woods just after crossing Stahahe Brook. Stop at the bridge to enjoy the sights and sounds of the brook running under the bridge. Bear right to stay on the Arden Road which now parallels the Thruway for .85 miles. At this point a marker commemorates the road and the builder by stating "showing the advantages of building flat roads in hilly country". Just after this memorial are the white marks of the Nurian Trail which will lead all the way back to the parking area. This trail crosses the Thruway on a raised overpass!

The Nurian Trail now climbs back over the Green pond Mountain Ridge and has a few challenging areas. In .8 miles it crosses Stahahe Brook on a double bridge where the Stahahe Brook Trail enters from the left. Be sure to bear right in this area turning east and southeast on the Nurian Trail. Within .25 miles the trail ascends slightly and then descends into a boulder strewn stream bed. This is the Valley of Boulders and is impressive for the number and variety of large rocks. the trail ascends steeply out of the valley but several switchbacks eliminate all but a few sharp climbs. In one area the trail ascends passed and through some large rock formations. The trail ascends some and joins several woods roads and other trails including the White Bar and Dunning Trails. The Nurian Trail will lead back to the RD just south of Black Rock. You can take the RD back to the parking area by retracing your steps. You may also turn right on the wide Island Pond Road as it come up on your right. After about 1 mile on this road you will be at Route 106. Turn left on the road and walk 1.2 miles back to car. Along the way you will notice a large parking area on the right for the White Bar trail as it turns south. This is the ONLY parking area with any signs or trailhead markers. Several more parking areas or pulloffs will be on the left.

Harriman: Torrey Memorial

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	1.2 mi.	360 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take I86, the Quickway, to the exit just before the Harriman toll plaza and get on Route 6 East. Drive a little more than 4 miles to the parking area on the left where the Long Path crosses the road. You may also take Route 6 West from the Bear Mountain traffic circle for less than a mile. In this case the parking area is on the right. From here the Long Path heads northeast toward Long Mountain and passes the Torrey Memorial on the way. Raymond Torrey was a founding member of the new York New Jersey Trail Conference and instrumental in the creation of the Long Path. The first part of the trail descends and crosses the Popolopen Torne Trail. Stay on the Long Path and start a short ascent up a hill. The trail flattens out at the top and the memorial is a message carved into the exposed bedrock at the top of the ridge. The views are good and you see the Perkins Tower on Bear Mountain. Turkey Hill Lake lies below with its rocky but secluded shores. This hike definitely has a lot to offer for very little effort.

Heberly Run: Waterfall Bushwhack

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.6 mi	688 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

From Route 118 turn north onto Central Road. In Center take a right onto Jamison City Road. in Jameson City continue straight ahead on T720 to Sate Game Lands #13. Park in the parking area at the end of the road where you can go no further. This hike is a bushwhack up Herberly Run to three different waterfalls. The waterfalls are more interesting after a heavy rain but this makes them harder to access.

To begin the hike walk over to the stream and start walk along the far bank or in the stream bed itself. Keep working upstream for about a mile when you will be in the area of Big Falls. Since you are probably below the falls at this point, you will have to work your way up a steep embankment to continue the hike. A path exists on the left bank looking upstream but it is slippery even when not very wet. Continue to walk up the left bank until around 1.9 miles when Twin Falls will appear. This falls is smaller than Big Falls but is pretty in its own right. Once you are done inspecting these falls try climbing out of the gorge on the right bank. This will take you to the upper drop of Twin Falls where you may be able to walk or wade across to the right bank and access the path along the left bank above the falls. At around 2.65 miles Lewis Falls should come into view. The gorge at Lewis Falls is deeper than at the other two falls and the banks are impossible to scale. Walk back downstream until you can work your way out of the gorge preferably on the right side. From here you can walk to the top of Lewis Falls. There is a path that follows Herberly Run and then Shanty Run until it cuts across the plateau and comes back down. The path is indistinct and not well marked! Cross the stream above Lewis Falls and walk out to Grassy Hollow Road. This is a grass and dirt road that the Game Commission opens during hunting season. It makes the walk back to the car fairly easy. Along the way you can hear Heberly Run and catch glimpses of the water.

High Falls (Frost Valley)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.7 mi	915 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

From the north or south use Ulster County Route 47, the Frost Valley Road, to drive to the Frost Valley YMCA Camp. The entire camp is private property that guests may hike without a fee. If you are not a guest, you may be asked to pay a day use fee. Obtain a trail map at the office. Walk the camp roads toward Lake Cole and pick up the blue Lake Cole Trail that passes between the lake and the main road. Walk to the end of Lake Cole and over the bridge across the dam. Pick up the yellow High Falls Trail and bear to the right where it splits. do NOT turn onto the red Line Shack Trail. The yellow High falls Trail ends at the blue Spring Ridge Trail but a path leads down to the falls which has an observation platform. If you are only interested in the falls, return the way you came. Walk back up the hill to the trail junction and turn left on the blue Spring Ridge Trail. Where the blue trail turns to the right bear to the left on the yellow Panhandle Trail. This is the first trail that gains any elevation as the rest are almost flat. The Panhandle Trail loops around to meet the red Line Shack Trail. When the blue Rocky Road Trail branches off to the left follow it downhill until it intersects the red Perimeter trail near the camp. Find some camp roads that will give you the most direct route back to your car.

High Falls (Philmont)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
>	1.2 mi.	240 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

High Falls is located on Roxbury Road in Philmont. Turn south on Roxbury Road from Route 217 which runs through Philmont. The parking area will be several hundred feet along on the left after ascending a small hill. A trail leaves the parking area and crosses a bridge. Stay on the Green Trail which leads to the overlook of the falls. There is also a Blue Trail and a Red Trail in the park. The Red Trail heads more uphill before ending up a the lookout. The Blue Trail is lower and a spur on that trail leads down to an unmarked trail along the stream bed. There is a bench on this trail opposite a small falls. It is possible to scramble along the rocks to get to an area across from the base of High Falls on the other bank of the stream. The viewpoint is quite good and offers a head-on view of the falls which has a drop of over 100 feet.

High Point: Lake Rutherford

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.8 mi	920 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park in the parking area off Route 23 just south of the park office and maintenance buildings. Find the white blazes of the Appalachian Trail and begin to hike southwest. The trail has its ups and downs and within about 1 mile the Blue Dot Trail turns off to the right. This trail descends steeply to Sawmill Lake which has a campground area. Walk down the trail until it starts the steep descent. At this point there is a great view to the west over the lake. Back on the main trail you will ascend top a small ridge at about .75 miles which has some nice viewpoints to the west and east. The trail now descends to around 2.75 miles to the area near Dutch Shoe Rock. A side trail leads left to a shelter and there are several viewpoints in this area. The trails starts a steep descent for about .25 miles and then regains some of that elevation to about 3.5 miles where the At and the red Iris Trail run together briefly. The trail junction is poorly marked but you should make an almost 180 degree turn to get on the Iris Trail to head northeast. This trail runs along the base of the ridge and has few views. At 4.4 miles watch for a sharp left where the trail turns north to avoid a restricted area. At around 5 miles the trail passes by Lake Rutherford and there are several spots to get views down to and across the lake. From the lake the trail starts to climb back up to the elevation of the parking area. The red Iris Trail ends at the AT and another yellow trail begins. Be sure to turn right on the AT to get back to your car.

Hodge Pond

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.1 mi.	850 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Quick Lake is covered with trails. There are numerous possibilities for short of long hikes. The area is "relatively" flat and there are no "views". There is, however, some beautiful scenery.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about six miles then turn left on Mongaup Rd. Where the road splits bear left on Beech Mountain Rd. and park in the parking lot on the left. Find the red-blazed Quick Lake trail and follow it for .5 miles to the junction with the yellow-blazed Logger's Loop. If you turn left here, Frick pond is just .1 miles. Turn left on Logger's Loop and follow it for .55 miles to Times Square. The name indicates that many trails cross at this point. Turn right here onto the yellow-blazed Big Rock Trail. Continue on this trail for 1.1 miles until it crosses the blue-blazed Flynn Trail. Several areas on Big Rock have significant but not severe climbs. Turn left on the Flynn Trail and hike .45 miles to Hodge Pond. From here you can continue on the Flynn Trail until it meets the Quick Lake Trail. At this point turn left and hike back to Frick Pond. This adds quite a bit to the distance! A quicker route is to retrace the last .45 miles on the Flynn Trail until the intersection with Big Rock Trail. Continue straight ahead for 1.7 miles to the parking area.

Hodge and Frick Ponds (Flynn and Quick Lake Trails)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.4 mi.	950 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Quick Lake is covered with trails. There are numerous possibilities for short of long hikes. The area is "relatively" flat and there are no "views". There is, however, some beautiful scenery.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about six miles then turn left on Mongaup Rd. Where the road splits bear left on Beech Mountain Rd. and park in the parking lot on the left. Find the blue-blazed Flynn Trail across the road and follow it for 1.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. Continue straight ahead toward Hodge Pond. In a short distance a woods road bears to the right. You may continue straight ahead on the trail to the pond. Bear right and then take the next left down toward Hodge Pond. Take the next right to walk around the back of the pond. The next right will put you back on the Flynn Trail. Continue on the Flynn Trail to Junkyard Junction where the Flynn Trail ends at the Quick Lake Trail turn left and stay on the Quick Lake trail for 2.1 miles to the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. Along the way you will pas through Iron Wheel Junction. Here the yellow-blazed Logger's Loop Trail goes straight ahead. Bear to the right to stay on the red-blazed Quick Lake Trail. After walking over the bridge at Frick Pond continue for about another .5 miles back to the parking area.

Hodge and Frick Ponds (Quick Lake and Flynn Trails)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.4 mi.	950 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Quick Lake is covered with trails. There are numerous possibilities for short of long hikes. The area is "relatively" flat and there are no "views". There is, however, some beautiful scenery.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about six miles then turn left on Mongaup Rd. Where the road splits bear left on Beech Mountain Rd. and park in the parking lot on the left. Find the blue-blazed Flynn Trail across the road and follow it for 1.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. Continue straight ahead toward Hodge Pond. In a short distance a woods road bears to the right. You may continue straight ahead on the trail to the pond. Bear right and then take the next left down toward Hodge Pond. Take the next right to walk around the back of the pond. The next right will put you back on the Flynn Trail. Continue on the Flynn Trail to Junkyard Junction where the Flynn Trail ends at the Quick Lake Trail turn left and stay on the Quick Lake trail for 2.1 miles to the bridge at the outlet of Frick Pond. Along the way you will pas through Iron Wheel Junction. Here the yellow-blazed Logger's Loop Trail goes straight ahead. Bear to the right to stay on the red-blazed Quick Lake Trail. After walking over the bridge at Frick Pond continue for about another .5 miles back to the parking area.

Hodge and Frick Ponds (Flynn and Big Rock Trails)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.6 mi.	950 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Quick Lake is covered with trails. There are numerous possibilities for short of long hikes. The area is "relatively" flat and there are no "views". There is, however, some beautiful scenery.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about six miles then turn left on Mongaup Rd. Where the road splits bear left on Beech Mountain Rd. and park in the parking lot on the left. Find the blue-blazed Flynn Trail across the road and follow it for 1.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. Continue straight ahead toward Hodge Pond. In a short distance a woods road bears to the right. You may continue straight ahead on the trail to the pond. If you bear right, then take the next left and walk down toward Hodge Pond bearing to your left. Return the way you came to the Big Rock Trail junction. Turn right and head down the big Rock Trail to Times Square. Continue straight ahead around the back of Frick Pond. There are several wooden bridges and walkways here that can be very slippery when wet. Make a left on the Quick Lake Trail to continue around the pond. You will cross the bridge over the out let of the pond. Head up the small hill and bear right at the trail junction to get back to the parking area.

Hodge Pond: Big Rock and Loggers Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.5 mi.	1110 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Quick Lake is covered with trails. There are numerous possibilities for short of long hikes. The area is relatively flat and there are only a few views. There is some beautiful scenery.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about six miles then turn left on Mongaup Rd. Where the road splits bear left on Beech Mountain Rd. and park in the parking lot on the left. Find the red-blazed Quick Lake Trail out of the main parking area. As you come out of the woods by the trail register, turn left on the woods road. After walking about .5 miles, you will be at a fork in the trail. Bear right onto the yellow-blazed Loggers Loop trail and head toward Times Square. At the trail junction known as Times Square, about 1 mile from the parking area, turn right on the red-blazed Big Rock Trail and get ready for a 1.1 mile climb of 600 feet to the junction with the Flynn Trail. Turn left on the blue-blazed Flynn Trail to head toward Hodge Pond. You will walk passed a gate on the trail and will arrive at another fork in the trail at about 2.4 miles. Bear to the right and walk a short distance to the area of the old Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp where you will see some old buildings just ahead. Turn left and walk down to the jeep trail around Hodge Pond. Turn right and walk around the back of the pond. The next right will put you back on the blue-blazed Flynn Trail. Walk up a small hill and away from the pond to another gate. Walk passed the gate on the Flynn Trail until the trail ends where it meets the red-blazed Quick lake trail at Junkyard Junction. You will be about 3.7 miles into the hike. Turn left and walk down the Quick Lake trail until you get to Iron Wheel Junction at about 5.25 miles. Continue straight ahead on the yellow-blazed Loggers Loop. This trail continues mostly downhill and back to Times Square at about 6.5 miles. Continue straight ahead and retrace your earlier route to get back to the car.

Hodge Pond Lookout

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.8 mi.	1020 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Quick Lake is covered with trails. There are numerous possibilities for short of long hikes. The area is relatively flat and there are only a few views. There is some beautiful scenery.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about six miles then turn left on Mongaup Rd. Where the road splits bear left on Beech Mountain Rd. and park in the parking lot on the left. Find the blue-blazed Flynn Trail across the road and follow it for 1.7 miles to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. Continue straight ahead toward Hodge Pond. In a short distance a woods road bears to the right. Bear right on the woods road. Shortly a trail will turn left and go down to Hodge Pond. Continue straight ahead and pass another woods road on the left. This road continues out to Shin Creek Road in Lew Beach. At this junction are some old cabins that are all that remains of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. Continue straight ahead and up the hill for about .5 miles. At 2.7 miles into the hike a woods road turns sharply to the right, climbs briefly and then levels off. Take this turn and continue walking until a large, pointed rock appears on the right. Walk just past the rock to a ledge that overlooks Hodge Pond and the hills to the west. By this time you will have hiked 2.9 miles. If you climb the ledges behind the lookout, you will be at the highest point in Sullivan County at just over 3100 feet. When you have taken in the site turns around and retrace your steps to the car. There are, of course, many other possible return routes that take in both Hodge and Frick Ponds.

Huckleberry Point

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.4 miles	1165 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Turn onto Bloomer Rd. off Route 23A just west of Tannersville. At the Y in the road bear left onto Platte Clove Rd. Continue on this road passed the Platte Clove Community and the Platte Kill Preserve. Turn into the parking lot for Kaaterskill High Peak on your left. You may also access Platte Clove Road from the east in West Saugerties. Be aware that this road is "limited maintenance" and may be "closed" from late fall to early spring. At the parking area Look for the aqua-blazed Long Path or the darker blue markers. The "trail" here is really a very wide woods road that is traveled by local landowners. It is wide and easy to follow but may be rocky and muddy in places. Continue to follow the markers for about 1.05 miles where the yellow Huckleberry Point Trail goes off to the right. Turn here and continue on the trail.

The initial part of this trail passes through and area that has stone piles and some deteriorated foundations which are evidence of how the land was once settled. At about .35 miles into the trail cross a small stream which can be high after heavy rains. The trail now begins to roll significantly with several ascents and descents. None of these are long or steep but they may surprise you. The trail also passes through a variety of hardwoods, evergreens and bushes. Several time you may think you are at the Point. After about 1 mile, the trail ends and you will be at Huckleberry Point. A series of rock ledges give views south the Overlook and Plattekill Mountains. The fire tower and TV antennae on Overlook can be seen. To the west is a view deep into Platte Clove. Looking down from these dizzying heights also reveals more of the Clove. To the east are views of the Hudson River. You may climb down the rock ledges for different views. Be careful since a fall from this elevation could be hazardous to your health. Some of the ledges are narrow with loose rock and little to hold onto. There is an informal trail that works its way to the east but few viewpoints are open. After enjoying all the views turn around and reverse your route back to the car.

Hudson Highlands: Breakneck Ridge and Mount Taurus

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.2 mi.	1940 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Get on State Route 9D on the east side of the Hudson River. Between Beacon and Cold Spring is a tunnel where the road passes under the railroad tracks. Just north of the tunnel is a parking lot which is often full on the weekends. Park along the road if the lot is filled. Walk south on 9D on the west side of the road. Just before the tunnel is another area to park. Turn off here and follow the trail UP! Your adventure is about to begin!

The first thing you will notice is that the views start immediately! Storm King Mountain is just across the river. Upriver you can see Bannerman Island with its castle. Looking north the United States Military Academy at West point can be seen. As you turn around to walk further up the trail the hike initially seems manageable as you walk through some trees on a dirt trail. As soon as you clear the trees you can see the task ahead of you! The trail rises some 1200 feet in about half a mile. Many of the ascent are just short of technical rope climbs. Using both feet and hands is often necessary. Fortunately, most areas have somewhat easier ascents to the left or right of the main trail. As you climb there are places to stop and rest. These spots also afford excellent viewpoints over the Hudson and the surrounding areas. There are several places where you will be sure you are at the top until you look a little further on and there is another ascent. In most cases there is a slight descent before the next ascent making things more interesting. Finally the trail winds its way around the last part of the mountain fairly close to the edge and makes the last ascent. The top here is fairly flat with plenty of areas to stop and get a snack and marvel at the views!

The trail continues on in a northeast direction toward Sunset Point and South Beacon Mountain. The fire tower on South Beacon is closed but is being restored. The entire hike is long and would be difficult to complete for some ! As you hike the trail goes through a series of rolling ascents and descents. Shortly after the "top" of the initial, steep climb is a trail to the left. This is the Breakneck Ridge Bypass Trail and offers the first opportunity to shorten the hike. Continuing on the trail there are several places where the paint marking are faint and where woods roads invitingly cross the trail. Stay on the Breakneck Ridge Trail as many of these other side routes take you FAR away from where you want to be. The next cutoff is the Notch trail which leads off to the right and down the ridge back toward Route 9D and Cold Spring. Turn right on the Notch Trail and begin to descend through several switchbacks and passed some impressive cliffs on the right. The trail leads through an open forest to the pond just north of the Cornish dairy barn just .5 miles from the start of the trail. Continue on down the trail for another .2 miles where the Undercliff-Overcliff Trail crosses. Turn left to go up and over Mount Taurus. This trail is seldom steep but ascends until it reaches its highest point on Bull Hill. At times it follows woods roads. In several places the walls that shored up the sides of the road are visible and in very good shape. Several switchbacks make the climb easier until after about 1 mile several viewpoints open up near the highest point on the trail.

Continue on this trail as it heads east and then south down Bull Hill. There are lookouts along this trail down into Cold Spring and across the river to West Point. You will pass by the quarry on your right and then descend an old road to the Little Stony Point parking area on Route 9D with the scariest part of the hike yet to come. Walk along Route 9D for 1.25 miles. There is NO SHOULDER and cars travel MUCH TOO FAST! Near the end of the trip walk through the tunnel to arrive back at your car after about 6.25 miles of hiking.

Hudson Highlands: Breakneck Ridge and Little Stony Point

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.0 mi.	1690 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

WARNING: This hike requires two cars or a walk along busy Route 9D which as no shoulder. Get on State Route 9D on the east side of the Hudson River. Between Beacon and Cold Spring is a tunnel where the road passes under the railroad tracks. Just north of the tunnel is a parking lot which is often full on the weekends. Continue on Route 9D to the parking area for Little Stony Point and Mount Taurus. Park one car here and then head north again to the tunnel. Park along the road if the lot is filled. Walk south on 9D on the west side of the road. Just before the tunnel is another area to park. Turn off here and follow the trail UP! Your adventure is about to begin!

The first thing you will notice is that the views start immediately! Storm King Mountain is just across the river. Upriver you can see Bannerman Island with its castle. Looking north the United States Military Academy at West point can be seen. As you turn around to walk further up the trail the hike initially seems manageable as you walk through some trees on a dirt trail. As soon as you clear the trees you can see the task ahead of you! The trail rises some 1200 feet in about half a mile. Many of the ascent are just short of technical rope climbs. Using both feet and hands is often necessary. Fortunately, most areas have somewhat easier ascents to the left or right of the main trail. As you climb there are places to stop and rest. These spots also afford excellent viewpoints over the Hudson and the surrounding areas. There are several places where you will be sure you are at the top until you look a little further on and there is another ascent. In most cases there is a slight descent before the next ascent making things more interesting. Finally the trail winds its way around the last part of the mountain fairly close to the edge and makes the last ascent. The top here is fairly flat with plenty of areas to stop and get a snack and marvel at the views!

The trail continues on in a northeast direction toward Sunset Point and South Beacon Mountain. The first side trail you pass is the yellow Undercliff Trail on the right followed by the red Bypass Trail on the right. Continue passed both of these to the blue Cornish Trail on the right. Descend this trail to the area of a pond and an old barn. This farm was associated with the Cornish Estate further down the trail. The barn is very interesting. Follow the Cornish Trail down to the river as it widens and becomes a paved driveway for the former Cornish Estate. A large cistern appears on the right and then the remains of a greenhouse. Walk down the driveway to the greenhouse. Not too much father along are the remains of the main house which was ravaged by fire. Vegetation and vines have recaptured most of the structure giving it a surreal appearance. The paved driveway continues down parallel to the river and the railroad tracks until it ends at a gate on Route 9D. Keep on the path as it winds its way back to the parking lots.

At the parking area, take the time to walk around Little Stony Point. This is an area of land that pushes out into the Hudson. Try turning right after crossing over the train tracks. This path will take you to a beautiful sandy beach right on the Hudson with incredible views north toward Storm King, Breakneck ridge and Pollepel Island. Continue on around the point in a counterclockwise direction. Take in the views as they change from north to west and then south. The fact that you are at river level gives an entirely different feel than viewing the same area from "above". As you walk notice the large rock outcropping on you left. This makes an excellent vantage point. Continue on around to the point where you started. Just as you see the footbridge over the tracks there is a trail to the left that leads to the top of the rock outcrop. It is an easy walk with only a few rough spots. Your reward are some beautiful views of the river below. When you are done looking up and down the river, retrace your steps to the car.

Hudson Highlands: Breakneck Ridge to Bypass Trail

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.2 mi.	1433 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Get on State Route 9D on the east side of the Hudson River. Between Beacon and Cold Spring is a tunnel where the road passes under the railroad tracks. Just north of the tunnel is a parking lot which is often full on the weekends. Park along the road if the lot is filled. Walk south on 9D on the west side of the road. Just before the tunnel is another area to park. Turn off here and follow the trail UP! Your adventure is about to begin!

The first thing you will notice is that the views start immediately! Storm King Mountain is just across the river. Upriver you can see Bannerman Island with its castle. Looking north the United States Military Academy at West point can be seen. As you turn around to walk further up the trail the hike initially seems manageable as you walk through some trees on a dirt trail. As soon as you clear the trees you can see the task ahead of you! The trail rises some 1200 feet in about half a mile. Many of the ascent are just short of technical rope climbs. Using both feet and hands is often necessary. Fortunately, most areas have somewhat easier ascents to the left or right of the main trail. As you climb there are places to stop and rest. These spots also afford excellent viewpoints over the Hudson and the surrounding areas. There are several places where you will be sure you are at the top until you look a little further on and there is another ascent. In most cases there is a slight descent before the next ascent making things more interesting. Finally the trail winds its way around the last part of the mountain fairly close to the edge and makes the last ascent. The top here is fairly flat with plenty of areas to stop and get a snack and marvel at the views!

Just after the summit the trail start to descend and the Breakneck Bypass Trail turns left. Turn here and be ready to keep turning sharply to the left as the Bypass Trail makes nearly a 180 degrees turn to parallel the Breakneck Ridge trail before heading a little more north and down the ridge. The trail descends almost 800 feet over the next .7 miles to a junction with the Wilkinson Trail. Turn left on a woods road and walk less than .5 miles to Route 9D. Turn left on Route 9D and walk the .15 miles back to the parking area.

Hudson Highlands: Breakneck Ridge to South Beacon Mountain

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.2 mi.	2995 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Get on State Route 9D on the east side of the Hudson River. Between Beacon and Cold Spring is a tunnel where the road passes under the railroad tracks. Just north of the tunnel is a parking lot which is often full on the weekends. Park along the road if the lot is filled. Walk south on 9D on the west side of the road. Just before the tunnel is another area to park. Turn off here and follow the trail UP! Your adventure is about to begin!

The first thing you will notice is that the views start immediately! Storm King Mountain is just across the river. Upriver you can see Bannerman Island with its castle. Looking north the United States Military Academy at West point can be seen. As you turn around to walk further up the trail the hike initially seems manageable as you walk through some trees on a dirt trail. As soon as you clear the trees you can see the task ahead of you! The trail rises some 1200 feet in about half a mile. Many of the ascent are just short of technical rope climbs. Using both feet and hands is often necessary. Fortunately, most areas have somewhat easier ascents to the left or right of the main trail. As you climb there are places to stop and rest. These spots also afford excellent viewpoints over the Hudson and the surrounding areas. There are several places where you will be sure you are at the top until you look a little further on and there is another ascent. In most cases there is a slight descent before the next ascent making things more interesting. Finally the trail winds its way around the last part of the mountain fairly close to the edge and makes the last ascent. The top here is fairly flat with plenty of areas to stop and get a snack and marvel at the views!

The trail continues on in a northeast direction toward Sunset Point and South Beacon Mountain. The fire tower on South Beacon is closed but is being restored. The entire hike is long and would be difficult to complete for some ! As you hike the trail goes through a series of rolling ascents and descents. Shortly after the "top" of the initial, steep climb is a trail to the left. This is the Breakneck Ridge Bypass Trail and offers the first opportunity to shorten the hike. Continuing on the trail there are several places where the paint marking are faint and where woods roads invitingly cross the trail. Stay on the Breakneck Ridge Trail as many of these other side routes take you FAR away from where you want to be. The next cutoff is the Notch trail which leads off to the right and down the ridge back toward Route 9D and Cold Spring. Bear left here to stay on the Breakneck Ridge Trail.

After a few miles the trail forks with a blue trail heading left. You may take this trail but continuing on for less than half a mile will bring you to Sunset Point. At Sunset Point a wooden observation platform looks out over the Hudson River. The view is somewhat the same as from other parts of the ridge. After taking in the view, return to the white Breakneck Ridge Trail north. In less than half a mile this trail intersects the yellow Wilkinson Memorial Trail. Turn right and follow both trails up an old woods road. After only a few hundred feet the white trail turns left and proceeds straight up the mountain. Turn left and get prepared for some more steep rock scrambles. After the first, most strenuous scramble, the trail levels some and continues to the fire tower. Along the way there are some nice lookouts but none compare to the summit vantage point.

The tower is in poor shape with no landings for the stairs. The stairs are "blocked" with a chain. The cab is barely intact. The summit is completely treeless and offers a 360 degree unimpeded view in all directions. Up river the Mid-Hudson Bridge can be seen. On a clear day New York City can be seen to the south. Walk around on the summit ridge to get the best views before turning back to retrace your steps. Use caution as you descend the rock scrambles you came up. At the Wilkinson Trail turn right and walk back down to where the Breakneck Ridge Trail parts from the Wilkinson Trail. This time turn right and stay on the yellow Wilkinson Trail to offer some variety. Alternatively follow the white Breakneck Ridge Trail back to Sunset Point and to the Wilkinson Trail from there.

The Wilkinson memorial Trail drops down to Squirrel Hollow Brook where it meets the blue Notch Trail. You could turn right and follow the Notch Trail out to Route 9D but this leaves more than a mile of walking along a busy highway. Turn left and follow the Wilkinson and Notch Trail for a little more than half a mile on a slightly uphill trek. At this point the Wilkinson Trail makes a sharp right and separates from the Notch Trail. Turn right to head back to where you parked the car. This trail heads mostly downward toward the river for about three miles. It has varied terrain through small clearings and darker forests. In the last mile there is a slight climb to the open summit of Sugarloaf Mountain. From here the trail descends sharply for several hundred feet. After this the trail continues to descend but the pitch moderates some and this is aided by several switchbacks at the upper end. The further you descend the gentler the pitch becomes until the trail ends abruptly on Route 9D less than a half mile north of where you parked.

Hudson Highlands: Breakneck Ridge to Sunset Point

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.0 mi.	2100 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Get on State Route 9D on the east side of the Hudson River. Between Beacon and Cold Spring is a tunnel where the road passes under the railroad tracks. Just north of the tunnel is a parking lot which is often full on the weekends. Park along the road if the lot is filled. Walk south on 9D on the west side of the road. Just before the tunnel is another area to park. Turn off here and follow the trail UP! Your adventure is about to begin!

The first thing you will notice is that the views start immediately! Storm King Mountain is just across the river. Upriver you can see Bannerman Island with its castle. Looking north the United States Military Academy at West point can be seen. As you turn around to walk further up the trail the hike initially seems manageable as you walk through some trees on a dirt trail. As soon as you clear the trees you can see the task ahead of you! The trail rises some 1200 feet in about half a mile. Many of the ascent are just short of technical rope climbs. Using both feet and hands is often necessary. Fortunately, most areas have somewhat easier ascents to the left or right of the main trail. As you climb there are places to stop and rest. These spots also afford excellent viewpoints over the Hudson and the surrounding areas. There are several places where you will be sure you are at the top until you look a little further on and there is another ascent. In most cases there is a slight descent before the next ascent making things more interesting. Finally the trail winds its way around the last part of the mountain fairly close to the edge and makes the last ascent. The top here is fairly flat with plenty of areas to stop and get a snack and marvel at the views!

The trail continues on in a northeast direction toward Sunset Point and South Beacon Mountain. The fire tower on South Beacon is closed but is being restored. The entire hike is long and would be difficult to complete for some ! As you hike the trail goes through a series of rolling ascents and descents. Shortly after the "top" of the initial, steep climb is a trail to the left. This is the Breakneck Ridge Bypass Trail and offers the first opportunity to shorten the hike. Continuing on the trail there are several places where the paint marking are faint and where woods roads invitingly cross the trail. Stay on the Breakneck Ridge Trail as many of these other side routes take you FAR away from where you want to be. The next cutoff is the Notch trail which leads off to the right and down the ridge back toward Route 9D and Cold Spring. Bear left here to stay on the Breakneck Ridge Trail.

After a few miles the trail forks with a blue trail heading left. You may take this trail but continuing on for less than half a mile will bring you to Sunset Point. At Sunset Point a wooden observation platform looks out over the Hudson River. The view is somewhat the same as from other parts of the ridge. After taking in the view, turn around and head back to where the blue trail split off. After only a few hundred feet on the blue trail, the yellow blazes of the Wilkinson Memorial Trail show up on the left. Turn here to head back to where you parked the car. This trail heads mostly downward toward the river for about three miles. It has varied terrain through small clearing and darker forests. In the last mile there is a slight climb to the open summit of Sugarloaf Mountain. From here the trail descends sharply for several hundred feet. After this the trail continues to descend but the pitch moderates some and this is aided by several switchbacks at the upper end. The further you descend the gentler the pitch becomes until the trail ends abruptly on Route 9D less than a half mile north of where you parked.

Hudson Highlands: Canada Hill

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	9.0 mi.	2130 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Get on State Route 9D on the east side of the Hudson River. Drive to a point just north of the Bear Mountain Bridge. Turn east on South Mountain Pass Road. About .7 miles up this narrow, dirt road is a small parking area on the right. The Appalachian Trail crosses here. Walk up the road and turn left into the woods to start the hike on the Appalachian Trail.

The first .2 miles of the trail are a little steep going about 160 feet. After this, the AT turns right and continued to climb steeply for another .2 miles gaining around 300 feet from the start of the hike. In several places the trail blazes all but disappear so that staying on the trail is difficult. Once you are up on the ridge the trail becomes a wide woods road for some distance. There aren't too many views from the ridge but the open forest especially near the top of Canada Hill is very pretty. You will pass by Canada Hill at about .8 miles and the trail continues toward the northeast. Around .9 miles, the Osborn Loop Trail appears on the right but you should stay on the AT. At 1.3 miles, a yellow trail comes in from the left but you should continue on the AT. Along the way there may seem to be the possibility of some viewpoints but all are blocked by trees. At 2.4 miles, the blue trail appears straight ahead and the AT turns right. Turn on the AT and start down off the ridge. Watch for the yellow Carriage Connector Trail which is further down the hill than you might expect. The yellow trail lies on a wide woods "road" that heads north where an unmarked path turns right and to the south to get to the White Rock lookout. The problem is that you have to hike more than a half mile north to pick up the path and then back a half mile on the path to the viewpoint. Since the viewpoint is just above the junction of the AT and the yellow trail it is possible to bushwhack up to the path and save some useless backtracking. Turn right off the trail and begin a rather steep ascent through some brush that can be thick at times. The path lies between the first climb and the cliffs directly ahead! Turn right on the path and hike to the top of the hill and to the viewpoint. The viewpoint looks south across Camp Smith, Anthony's Nose and the Hudson. When you are done, hike around the hill on the path. When the path gibes out, bushwhack down the hill and pick up the path again. Follow the path which follows a road back to the yellow trail.

As you walk along the yellow trail, notice that the road is supported by a stone wall on the right side. The construction is old but has stood the test of time. Further along the stone wall support changes to the left side of the trail where a stream would have cut into the road. The wall is higher and much more impressive here. The yellow trail ends at about 4.3 miles and you should continue straight ahead on the blue trail. Almost immediately you will see stone pillars with pipe railing on the left side of the road near a 90 degree turn. The pillars have depressions on top that act as planters. On a small hill to the right of the trail is a wooden gazebo with a stone foundation. It seems that the east side of the Hudson always "had money". As you continue the hike you will come to a junction with a red trail to Sugarloaf Hill. The trail is a dead end and the climb is short but steep gaining 200 foot over .2 miles. After the climb, the trail flattens and it is another .25 miles to the end of the hill and the viewpoint. The lookout points south and there are a few annoying trees in the way. The Bear Mountain Bridge is visible but it seems pretty far away! When you are done, head back down the hill. At the trail junction, turn right and head out on the trail at 5.5 miles into the hike. The blue trail runs between the hills and along a brook but at about 6 miles it starts to climb the ridge again. At 7.0 miles continue on the yellow trail toward Curry Pond. Curry Pond is small but pretty. Walk around the pond and follow the yellow trail as it starts the final ascent back to the AT on the ridge. The trail passes through some dense laurel, crosses a small stream and then makes a short but steep ascent through a cleft in the rock ledge. It flattens at the top and at 7.8 miles you will be back on the AT. There is about 1.3 miles of hiking left to get back to the car.

Hudson Highlands: Mount Beacon and Scofield Ridge

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.3 mi.	2590 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at the parking lot for Mount Beacon Park just south of the main center of Beacon on Route 9D. The hike starts on some groomed walkways and heads east on the red Casino Trail and up a series of metal stairs to a woods road at about .5 miles. Along the way look to you right and you will see the remains of the track of the elevated Otis Railway that took patrons to the casino that was perched on the lookouts at the top of the trail. The woods road winds back and forth through several switchbacks to mitigate the steepness of the mountain. The trail is eroded in many places with loose rocks.There are some viewpoints on the way up but the best ones are at the top. At about 1.2 miles you will be near the top of the mountain. Watch for the ruins of a red brick building. This housed the donkey engines which polled the cars of the elevated railway to the top. Some of the machinery is still present. You may be able to find pieces of track and cables. Walk to the viewpoints and imagine what is was like when the casino was in operation. You can inspect the foundations and get some idea of the size of the casino before getting back on the trail and heading southeast to about 2 mile. Turn right here on the white Breakneck Ridge Trail and follow it on a steep ascent to the South Beacon fire tower. The tower is in the process of being restored and is safe to climb to just below the cab. The view from the tower is 360 degrees. Retrace your steps to the Casino trail and walk to the junction with the yellow Wilkinson Trail. Turn left to begin to walk along Scofield Ridge The ridge is just over the county line and is the highest point in Putnam County. The trail may not pass over the highest point on the ridge and there is a lot of debate over where that point is located. You may want to bushwhack a little off the trail to find the highest spot and take in some great views. At about 4.0 miles a short side trail leads to a fantastic lookout which is worth the brief walk. The trail takes some sharp turns and descends steeply in spots crossing some other trails, paths and woods roads.

At about 4.4 miles the yellow Wilkinson Trail takes a hard right and starts to descend off the ridge. Turn left on a blue trail but avoid the white Fishkill Ridge Trail which extends out along Fishkill Ridge. The blue trail is short and at 4.7 miles you will be at Dozer Junction where the blue trail ends at the white Fishkill Ridge Trail that has looped around the ridge. Dozer Junction is aptly named since there is a bulldozer at the meeting of the trails. Turn left on the white Fishkill Ridge Trail as it ascends Lambs Hill for some more views. At 5.5 miles there will be another lookout and a junction with the red Overlook Trail. Stay to the left and continue to follow the white trail down the ridge. At around 5.7 miles you will cross over a road that goes to the Beacon Reservoir. The trail marking can be confusing here so look across the road to pick up the blazes and continue on the trail. For the next .5 miles the trail runs along a stream and there may be some waterfalls on the stream and the small tributaries depending on the volume of water. At 6.1 miles the white trail continues to the right. Bear left on the yellow Wilkinson Trail which will return you on a woods road to the top of the stairs which lead back down to the parking lot.

Hudson Highlands: Mount Taurus and Little Stony Point

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.6 mi.	1525 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Get on State Route 9D on the east side of the Hudson River. Between Beacon and Cold Spring is a tunnel where the road passes under the railroad tracks. Just south of the tunnel there are parking lots on both sides of the road at Little Stony Point. They are often full on the weekends. Park along the road if the lots are filled. The white blazed Washburn Trail leaves from the north end of the parking lot on the east side of the road. The trail starts as a rather broad road and goes uphill at a pretty good incline. In less than half a mile the trail turns to the right at the top of the hill and continues as trail not road. This is the site of an old stone quarry which appears as a "scar" on the landscape from Storm King or Breakneck Ridge. Walk around in the quarry and then return to the trail which follows the western and southern rim of the "crater". As you rise above the quarry take some time to look down into it for another perspective.

As you climb the trail don't ignore the views to your left. As you walk up the trail the views down to the Hudson and to the south toward West Point and Stony Point become better and better. Just before the trail turns up into the woods and away from the river, a lookout sits just to the right of the trail on a rocky ledge. It is worth the time to walk to this lookout and take in the views to the south. From this point the trail turns into the woods and begins a steeper climb towards the summit of Mount Taurus. Along the way views across the river become prevalent. At the top of one of the steeper sections the yellow Undercliff Trail crosses the Washburn Trail. This trail is a relatively new trail constructed by the NY-NJ Trail Conference. It connects Breakneck Ridge in the north to Nelsonville farther south. As you make the final climb up to Mount Taurus several lookouts provide views to the north and west. The summit of Bull Hill has too many trees to provide a clear viewpoint. As you descend Mount Taurus, there is a very nice lookout on the right on a spur trail. It is worth the short stroll out to this open area which gives pretty views to the south. As the Washburn trail descends an old woods road other lookouts provide more views to the north and west.

With a quarter mile the trail leaves the road to the right and continues on straight Down the hill while the road switches back and forth. The trail and road intersect several times until the green Nelsonville Trail leaves to the right. Bear left and continue your hike on the blue Notch Trail. This trail continues the descent and shortly makes a hard left and heads for Breakneck Brook. All along this trail there are signs that this area was once extensively settled. The trail becomes wider as it joins a woods road .The road is flanked by rows of stone and many stonewalls can be seen. At Breakneck Brook The notch Trail turns right and eventually heads up to Breakneck Ridge. The red Brook Trail turns left. before taking the red trail, turn right on the Notch Trail to investigate the ruins of a 19th century dairy farm. The ruins include many recognizable farm buildings including a stone barn with a stucco covered silo and a milking parlor. Just beyond the barn is a small pond with a long, low cement dam. When you have exhausted your curiosity, return to the Brook Trail.

The red Brook Trail is pleasant as it parallels Breakneck Brook. After a very short distance, the yellow Undercliff Trail crosses the Brook Trail. After another short section the Brook Trail continues out to Route 9D. The blue Cornish Trail bears left and eventually leads back to the parking area at Little Stony Point. Follow the Cornish Trail down to the river as it widens and becomes a paved driveway for the former Cornish Estate. A large cistern appears on the right and then the remains of a greenhouse. Not too much father along are the remains of the main house which was ravaged by fire. Vegetation and vines have recaptured most of the structure giving it a surreal appearance. The paved driveway continues down parallel to the river and the railroad tracks until it ends at a gate on Route 9D. Keep on the path as it winds its way back to the parking lots.

At the parking area, take the time to walk around Little Stony Point. This is an area of land that pushes out into the Hudson. Try turning right after crossing over the train tracks. This path will take you to a beautiful sandy beach right on the Hudson with incredible views north toward Storm King, Breakneck ridge and Pollepel Island. Continue on around the point in a counterclockwise direction. Take in the views as they change from north to west and then south. The fact that you are at river level gives an entirely different feel than viewing the same area from "above". As you walk notice the large rock outcropping on you left. This makes an excellent vantage point. Continue on around to the point where you started. Just as you see the footbridge over the tracks there is a trail to the left that leads to the top of the rock outcrop. It is an easy walk with only a few rough spots. Your reward are some beautiful views of the river below. When you are done looking up and down the river, retrace your steps to the car.

Hudson Highlands: Scofield and Fishkill Ridges

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	10.7 mi.	3380 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at the parking lot for Mount Beacon Park just south of the main center of Beacon on Route 9D. The hike starts on some groomed walkways and heads east on the red Casino Trail and up a series of metal stairs to a woods road at about .5 miles. Along the way look to you right and you will see the remains of the track of the elevated Otis Railway that took patrons to the casino that was perched on the lookouts at the top of the trail. The woods road winds back and forth through several switchbacks to mitigate the steepness of the mountain. The trail is eroded in many places with loose rocks.There are some viewpoints on the way up but the best ones are at the top. At about 1.2 miles you will be near the top of the mountain. Watch for the ruins of a red brick building. This housed the donkey engines which polled the cars of the elevated railway to the top. Some of the machinery is still present. You may be able to find pieces of track and cables. Walk to the viewpoints and imagine what is was like when the casino was in operation. You can inspect the foundations and get some idea of the size of the casino before getting back on the trail and heading southeast to about 2 mile. Turn right here on the white Breakneck Ridge Trail and follow it on a steep ascent to the South Beacon fire tower. The tower is in the process of being restored and is safe to climb to just below the cab. The view from the tower is 360 degrees. Retrace your steps to the Casino trail and walk to the junction with the yellow Wilkinson Trail. Turn left to begin to walk along Scofield Ridge The ridge is just over the county line and is the highest point in Putnam County. The trail may not pass over the highest point on the ridge and there is a lot of debate over where that point is located. You may want to bushwhack a little off the trail to find the highest spot and take in some great views. At about 4.5 miles a short side trail leads to a fantastic lookout which is worth the brief walk. The trail takes some sharp turns and descends steeply in spots crossing some other trails, paths and woods roads. At about 5 miles the yellow Wilkinson Trail start to descend off the ridge. Bear left on the white Fishkill Ridge Trail. This trail starts by traveling parallel to the ridge as it slowly rises in to the 6.3 mile point. This walk of about 1.25 miles along the ridge has some possible viewpoints especially near the turn at the end but better things are to come. The trail now turns almost 180 degrees and continues to rises almost to the top of Bald Hill;. The views from here are unobstructed. After this point the trail continues to rise and fall with a few more viewpoints along the way. At 7.8 miles there is another viewpoint and just passed this you will be at Dozer Junction. This trail junction has a large, yellow bulldozer! Continue on the white Fishkill Ridge Trail as it ascends Lambs Hill for some more views. At 8.6 miles there will be another lookout and a junction with the red Overlook Trail. Stay to the left and continue to follow the white trail down the ridge. At around 9 miles you will cross over a road that goes to the Beacon Reservoir. The trail marking can be confusing here so look across the road to pick up the blazes and continue on the trail. For the next .5 miles the trail runs along a stream and there may be some waterfalls on the stream and the small tributaries depending on the volume of water. At 9.5 miles the white trail continues to the right. Bear left on the yellow trail which will return you on a woods road to the top of the stairs which lead back down to the parking lot.

Huggins Lake

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.6 mi.	900 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Head north from Livingston Manor on the Beaverkill Road. Watch for the signs for the Beaverkill State Campsites and turn left on Campsite Road. At the bottom of the hill turn right to go down to the river. Cross the Beaverkill on the historic covered Bridge. The road will intersect Berry Brook Road. Turn right on Berry Brook Road and drive 2 miles north to the parking area on the right. The trail is not marked but travels its entirety along a woods road. The walk is easy and the lake is in a pretty setting. The road rises gently for 1.2 miles and then turns to drop down to the lake. Walk to the dam for a good look at the lake. Snakes like to sun themselves on the concrete dam. There are informal paths around the lake which you can explore before returning to the parking area.

Jensen Ledges

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	2.7 mi.	688 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

From Route 97 near Hancock, NY turn south on Lordville Road near Somerset Lake. The road heads south to the Delaware River and crosses to Equinunk, PA. Just before the bridge crossing turn left on Bouchouxville Road. This dirt road becomes narrow and very rough but ends in a small parking area. From the parking area get on the woods road that heads east and up the ridge. As you climb, keep looking to your right for some views down to the river. After walking only .9 miles, you will cross a small stream that cascades down the ledges and empties into the river. If there is enough water volume, it is worth working your way down the side of the falls to get some pictures. Back on the main trail, cross the brook and walk a few hundred feet before turning right and walking out to the first viewpoint. At this viewpoint, you will have beautiful views down to the river and beyond. This area has a HUGE rock cairn that sits atop a "pile" of laid up stone! There may also be some stone "furniture" just behind the viewpoint is the remains of a stone quarry. Walk a little further east and there is another viewpoint. Retrace yours steps back down to the car. Walk along the trail down to the river along a private property easement. At the railroad tracks cross carefully and walk down to the river. After taking pictures, return to the car.

John Boyd Thacher State Park

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.3 mi.	1008 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The main hiking attraction in the park is the Indian Ladder Trail along the Helderberg Escarpment. This trail extends around the rim of the escarpment and descends into the gorge below the rim. Other trails run throughout the park. The Long Path runs through one section. Most of these trails are wide and well-maintained and relatively flat. An overlook area allows motorists to park their cars and take in the beauty of the escarpment and the gorge. This area is a favorite of "birders" since eagles and hawks frequent the area to ride the updrafts. The park contains the Helderberg Escarpment which has two deposits of Devonian limestone. It is rich in fossils from a shallow see that covered this area during that period. This escarpment is the one pictured in the movie "Last of the Mohicans".

Start at the main parking lot at the park and find the Indian Ladder Trail. Descend the steps into the gorge. A fenced path runs along the limestone cliffs. Cracks are obvious in the limestone layers. Areas where the rock has been eroded away by water are clear. Small caves and underground streams riddle the rock face. Two different waterfalls cascade off the escarpment onto the trail below. Walk behind the falls but be careful since the limestone can be VERY slippery when wet. One area of the trail is almost obscured by overhanging rock. Climb out of the gorge to the escarpment rim. The trail continues along the rim in both directions. From the rim the views of the surrounding countryside and the other rim of the escarpment are magnificent! To extend the distance of the hike, cross over the main park road when you come out of the gorge and look for the forest trail. This trail start out by heading south but turns west until it intersects the Long Path. Turn right on the Long Path and continue north to the area of the gatehouse. Cross the main park road to walk back to the car.

Kelly Hollow

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.7 mi.	667 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

width="435" height="487" From NYC Route 9/10 on the south side of the Pepacton Reservoir take the Millbrook Arena Road southeast for about 5 miles. Watch for the trailhead sign for Kelly Hollow on the right. Pull into the small lot and park. The trail begins at the back of the parking area just beyond the kiosk. The entire trail network is marked as a cross country ski trail with yellow markers. As you enter the forest, follow the yellow markers to the left. This trail heads south and southeast for about 1.2 miles gaining some elevation as you go. The trail parallels a brook which may be almost dry or a rushing torrent depending on the season. This part of the trail is mostly a wide woods road. At 1.2 miles the trail turns almost 180 degrees and heads north and then southwest until about 2 miles. The overall effect takes you west but avoids an ascent and descent over a shoulder of Millbrook Ridge. This part of the trail is more trail than road and leads to an area where there is lean-to. At the lean-to is a pit privy and a beaver pond. After the lean-to, the trail loops around the pond and then heads south back to the Millbrook Road. This part of the trail is again a woods road in most places and parallels a branch of the stream. In one area a nice waterfall depends largely on seasonal rainfall. Just before you get to the road there will be a historic cemetery on your left. Walk out to the road and turn right. Walk about .25 miles back to the parking area. The whole trip is under 4 miles. There is a route marked "Short Loop".


Kelly Hollow and Millbrook Ridge

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.6 mi.	1705 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

width="338" height="629" From NYC Route 9/10 on the south side of the Pepacton Reservoir take the Millbrook Arena Road southeast for about 5 miles. Watch for the trailhead sign for Kelly Hollow on the right. Pull into the small lot and park. The trail begins at the back of the parking area just beyond the kiosk. The entire trail network is marked as a cross country ski trail with yellow markers. Start to the left up the more eastern trail which eventually leads to the beaver pond. The trail crosses a small stream and then passes through a gate as it follows an old woods road. After only .3 miles a road heads down toward the stream. It is not a marked trail but follow it down to the stream bed. There are unmarked paths on both sides of the stream. You can cross to the other side depending on the height and width of the water. Walk up the near side and take some pictures if you like. In some places the path may be almost blocked by trees and debris but you can find a way around them in each case. At about .8 miles, you may see a falls ahead and one on a small tributary to the left. Walk across the stream which will be smaller now and then walk over to the tributary to the falls. Walk back to the main stream where the falls forms a lower, smaller drop and an upper, higher drop. Shortly after this you will find a bridge across the stream that is part of the short loop. Take the trail up to the western branch of the main trail and start southwest and then south toward the beaver pond. The trail gains some elevation as it goes. The pond has a substantial dam and a beaver lodge. There is a lean-to with a privy near the outlet. Head down the trail toward the parking area and look for some nice view to the west of the hills beyond. On the right a hill or ridge rises from the trail. This is Millbrook Ridge that separates Kelly Hollow from the area near Alder Lake! Turn right or south-southwest and start UP the hill. The climb to the top of the ridge is about 1 mile but there is an 1100 foot elevation gain! There are at least three places where the land levels making you believe you are at the top. Sadly there mare few views along the way and the summit is a broad wooded plateau without much to see. At the top Alder lake will be to the southwest with Beecher Lake to the southeast. One at the top turn around and follow your route back to the main trail. Turn right on the main trail and walk back to the parking area. The trail crosses the stream again and then passes through several groves of large evergreen trees.


Lake Superior State Park

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.2 mi.	432 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

width="757" height="611" From Route 17B between Monticello and Fosterdale or County Route 55 between White Lake and Eldred turn on Dr. Duggan Road. From 17B the parking area will be passed the main entrance for Lake Superior State Park and on your right. From 55 the parking area will be before the main entrance for Lake Superior State Park and on your left. Park and walk to the left of the pavilion and into a field at the top of the hill. Walk across the field to Indian Field Road and turn right. There will be POSTED signs on your left but none on the right. Watch for POSTED signs to appear on your right and turn into the woods on a woods road just before the signs start. This is the Rocky Run Road which is part of the old Newburgh-Cochecton Turnpike. Walk along the wide woods road keeping the POSTED signs on your left for about 2 miles to the paved Pucky Huddle Road. Turn right on the road and walk several hundred feet to where Mallory Brook crosses under the road. The rest of the hike is a bushwhack down the brook and along the lake shore. You may return the way you came on the woods road or continue on the "whack".

Walk along the brook on the left side since the right has some rather steep cliffs in places. You may find a woods road or a path to use. Cross the brook before you get to the lakeshore as it begins to get wider there. Walk along the sore of the lake remembering to stop to take pictures when you like. You may find several places where people have pulled up a boat and camped. The stands of laurel near the lake may be thick and hard to push through at times so just walk further away from the shore. As you work your way closer to the outlet, you will see the beach on the opposite shore. You will also find more defined paths to walk on. At the outlet of the lake continue on the path that parallels the swampy brook that connects Lake Superior to the small pond where you parked. Keep an eye out for blue heron and beavers. You have the opportunity to take the "low road" around the shore of the pond or the "high road" on the ridge above the pond. Once at the dam at the lower end of the pond you will be a stone's throw from the parking area and your car.

Lenape Ridge Trail

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.1 mi.	1502 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

width="589" height="550" The trailhead is on Route 6 north just outside Port Jervis. There is a pulloff going up the hill on the right hand side by the Town of Deerpark sign. If you go as far as the power lines you have gone too far. Walk across the road and look for three red rectangles on a tree for the beginning of the Trail. The trail enters the woods and quickly connects to a woods road. There Rae many roads and informal paths in the area so be careful to follow the red trail markers. At .4 miles the trail abruptly makes a 90 degree turn northeast. The trail makes another 90 degree turn to the northwest at 1.2 miles and then starts to ascend to the ridge. At 1.6 miles there is a lookout to the north and wet and down into the Conrail cut through rocks. For the next 1.9 miles the trail follows the ridge line and dips and rises and some impressive rock formations. The red Minisink Trail ends at this point at a junction with the white Lenape Ridge Trail. Turn left on the white trail to hike back along the southeastern side of the ridge. The trail begins to climb to the highest point on the ridge at 4.2 miles and some nice viewpoints to the south and east are found here. Another lookout is at 4.5 miles above Heinlein Pond. From here the tower at High Point is clearly visible. The trail now begins a long descent off the ridge until at 5.3 miles it ends at the red Minisink Trail. Turn right here and follow the trail back to where your car is parked.



Leonard Hill Fire Tower

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.8 mi.	700 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Drive to Broome Center, New York in Schoharie County. Turn southeast on Leonard Mountain Road. Drive 1.2 miles on a seasonally maintained road until the signs for Leonard Hill State Forest. Park where you can which varies depending on the season. Start out and stay on the wide woods road that ascends the hill. After .65 miles at the top of the ridge the trail will turn right and begin to skirt Hubbard Hill on the left. Continue around Hubbard Hill staying on the road. Just after a slight descent the road will turn away from Hubbard Hill and start toward Leonard Hill where the fire tower is located. The total distance to the tower is about 1.7 miles. The tower is presently closed to the public and the first two flights of stairs are missing. Fortunately there is a nice viewpoint nearby that will have to do until the fire tower is restored. When you are done, retrace your steps back to the car. This hike can be combined with a visit to Vroman's Nose, the Middleburgh Cliffs or several other hikes in the area.


Little Pond Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	2.8 mi.	330 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take the Beaverkill Road from Livingston Manor and drive for about twenty minutes to the intersection with Barkaboom Rd. Drive up the Barkaboom Rd and park near the start of the access road to Little Pond State Park. When the park is open, be careful not to block the entrance. During the winter, parking here is not a problem as long as it is plowed and you do not block the access for snow plowing. Walk up the access road and around the pond on the hiking trail in either direction. Walk back down the access road to the car.

Little Pond to Berry Brook Road

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	10.4 mi.	3150 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

From Roscoe, drive north on Route 206 for about 3 miles. Turn right on Berry Brook/Holiday Brook Road and rive another 7.5 miles to the parking area for the Mary Smith Trail on the right. Leave one car here then drive to the end of the road and turn right on Route 30. When Route 30, turns left and crosses the bridge, turn right on the NYC roads. Drive about 2 miles and then turn right on Barkaboom Road. Drive almost to the end of Barkaboom Road to the access road for the Little Pond State Campsites. Park near the start of the access road to Little Pond State Campsites when the campsites are closed. When the campsites are open, drive up to the campsites, pay the fee and park in the lot.This description includes mileages from the beginning of the access road. Subtract 1 mile if you park in the parking area at the campsites.

From the bathrooms at the campsite walk on the loop trail on the north side of the lake to the head or inlet end of the lake. Turn right on the yellow Little Pond trail and walk 1.2 miles to the junction with the red Touch-Me-Not Trail. There is a nice viewpoint near the top of the Little Pond Trail. There is the foundation of an old house in this area and it seems this would be a beautiful spot to have a house although the access would be difficult! At the junction with the red Touch-Me-Not Trail turn left to climb Cabot Mountain. In the spring, summer and fall this climb is punctuated by nettles and prickers. In the winter, there is usually a lot of snow or a layer of thick ice. Eventually you will run out of "up" and you will be on the flat part of the trail that winds across the top of Cabot. At 3.6 miles there is a viewpoint on the left over Little Pond. You will have already gained 1150 feet from the car with the 480 feet over the last .5 miles on the climb up Cabot. The average grade in this climb is 25%!

Walk across the flat area on Cabot and then begin the first descent. After the first short descent, we walk across another flat area and then began the long, steep descent to Beech Hill Road. From the highest point on Cabot Mountain you will have hiked 1.25 miles and dropped 700 feet! You will now be 4.7 miles into the hike and should turn right and walk .2 miles on Beech Hill Road. Turn left on a private road and walk a short distance before turning left up the trail. You are now on the Middle Mountain Trail and climbing up Beech Hill. Many times on the hike you will climb to the "top" of a hill only to find that it is a false summit and there is more climbing to do. The walk up Beech Hill is like this with a little rise just before the actual summit. The walk from the private road to the summit of Beech Hill is about .6 miles and gains about 460 feet along the way. You will now descend Beech Hill so that you can ascend Middle Mountain! It is about .7 miles between the two summits but you drop 150 feet to then climb 280 feet to get to the top of Middle Mountain. At this point you will have hiked 6.25 miles and are ready for the descent down Middle Mountain to parking area on Mary Smith Hill Road. The descent down Middle Mountain is about 1 mile and you drop 730 feet to the parking area.

You are now ready to start the last section of the trail having already hiked 7.25 miles. The first .4 miles of the Mary Smith Trail averages a 24% grade gaining 480 feet. You will continue the climb to near the top of an unnamed hill that is higher than Mary Smith Hill. The trail actually never hits the top of this hill but travels along the north shoulder but still gets above 2900 feet. The summit of the hill is well over 2900 feet making it almost as high as Cabot and Middle Mountains! From the high point descend a little over 250 feet over the next mile to the base of Mary Smith Hill which is your last major climb. At about 9.3 miles you may want to stop at the Middle Mountain Lookout for some nice views.You will next hit the highest point of 2700 feet on Mary Smith Hill with only a downhill portion to complete the hike. At the bottom of the descent you are only .25 miles from the parking area. Although the drive back to your other car is annoying, at least you are driving and not walking!

Livingston Manor Cemeteries

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.4 mi.	1135 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hike describe here is on PRIVATE PROPERTY. Obtain permission from the owner before hiking. The hill just begin the Livingston Manor Presbyterian Church is called Round Top and forms part of a ridge of low hills that parallels Route 17 of the southwest side from exit 95 to exit 96. Since this is partly a walk on unmarked paths and woods roads and partly a bushwhack, your route may vary considerably. Park by the Presbyterian Church and walk up the highest paved road in Orchard Street Cemetery. Near the top of the hill turn left into the woods by some stone steps. You will find some woods roads some of which are built up with stone. When the road branches take the right fork and follow it up the hill passing some ledges on the left. Follow the road as it bends up the hills to the left and watch for a path to the right. Follow the path to the next woods road and turn right. You will soon find road on the left that is perpendicular to the road you are on. Turn left and walk up to inspect the remains of a stone quarry. Walk back down to the road and continue down a small hill bearing left and then right at the bottom. Turn left and the right on the next series of roads. You are trying to walk to the east of the next hill over from Round Top which is actually slightly higher. Bear to your left at the next junction and then continue to walk south on the woods road until it starts to turn west and wrap around the hill. Walk a little bit to the west on this road and then begin your bushwhack by turning left off the road and heading downhill and south. Your goal is to find a path or woods road that parallels Route 17 which is up the hill on your left. Continue to walk in this direction crossing several small streams along the way. As you walk up the next hill you should find a woods road that will take you to the Agudas Achim cemetery after walking about 2.3 miles. To get back you can walk down to Old Route 17 and walk back to Livingston Manor on the road. You may also simply reverse the route you used on the way out. Another possibility is to walk back to where you began your bushwhack and turn left to walk the woods road around the hill. Bear right at the next junction to follow the road up and over a hill. As you walk down the other side you should run into the route you used earlier and you can follow that back to your car. Of course, it is a bushwhack and there are MANY other routes to explore.

Livingston Manor Round Top

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.0 mi.	690 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hike describe here is on PRIVATE PROPERTY. Obtain permission from the owner before hiking. The hill just begin the Livingston Manor Presbyterian Church is called Round Top and forms part of a ridge of low hills that parallels Route 17 of the southwest side from exit 95 to exit 96. Since this is partly a walk on unmarked paths and woods roads and partly a bushwhack, your route may vary considerably. Park by the Presbyterian Church and walk up the highest paved road in Orchard Street Cemetery. Near the top of the hill turn left into the woods by some stone steps. You will find some woods roads some of which are built up with stone. When the road branches take the right fork and follow it up the hill passing some ledges on the left. Follow the road as it bends up the hills to the left and watch for a path to the right. Follow the path to the next woods road and turn right. You will soon find road on the left that is perpendicular to the road you are on. Turn left and walk up to inspect the remains of a stone quarry. Walk back down to the road and continue down a small hill bearing left and then right at the bottom. Turn left and then right on the next series of roads. You are trying to climb the next hill over from Round Top which is actually slightly higher. Walk up and over the hill. As you walk down the other side find roads that keep going left so that you can wrap around the base of the hill. Follow a well-defined woods road as it heads south and then turn right on the next road. Walk down a short distance and turn left into a clearing and follow the line of ledges here. You will run across another stone quarry in this area. Start to walk downhill and towards Route 17 until you find a trail that parallels the road on the ledges above it. Walk north on this trail until a wide woods road turns off to the left. Follow this road to a clearing that overlooks Exit 96. Follow the woods road passed the clearing and at some point cut up through the woods toward the summit of Round Top. Keep walking up and southwest until you are on top of some ledges looking town at the "business district" of Livingston Manor. Follow the woods road won the hill to the junction where you turned right at the beginning of the hike. Walk out to the cemetery road and back to your car.

Long Pond: Basily Road from Flugertown Rd

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.0 mi.	578 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Long Pond has several snowmobile trails that are ideal for hiking. They are wide and well maintained being free from blow downs. I am looking forward to snow shoeing this area during the winter. There are several options for longer or shorter hikes.

CAUTION: Until the beaver pond subsides, be prepared to get wet to make the loop or to turn around and do an out and back as shown on the map.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about nine miles then turn left on Flugertown Rd. just passed the hamlet of Willowemoc. The parking area for Long Pond is about 1 mile up on the right. The road is well paved. The first part of the trail is a short ascent. It looks a LOT steeper on the profile below than it really is! After about a mile, you can turn right and walked down to the pond. This is the nicest view of the pond that is right on the trail. Another .25 miles will bring you to a T. Left goes out to Flugertown Rd. and right leads to the lean-to and the other trails. If you like, turn right and walk about .65 miles to the lean-to. If you are so inclined, skip the lean-to and go straight ahead. After about a mile the trail intersect Basily Road. Turn left and follow the road. At the next intersection continue straight ahead and down a hill. Do NOT turn right as this leads toward Black Bear Road at Round Pond. After about half a mile you will be at the beaver pond. If the pond is low enough continue on and make a left onto Flugertown Road at the intersection. Follow this back to the parking area. If the pond is too high, turn around and retrace your steps to the car. Several variations are available.

Long Pond: Basily Road to Flugertown Road Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.0 mi.	597 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Long Pond has several snowmobile trails that are ideal for hiking. They are wide and well maintained being free from blow downs. There are several options for longer or shorter hikes.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about nine miles then turn left on Flugertown Rd. just passed the hamlet of Willowemoc. The parking area for Long Pond is about 1 mile up on the right. The road is well paved. The first part of the trail is a short ascent. It looks a LOT steeper on the profile below than it really is! After about a mile, you can turn right and walked down to the pond. This is the nicest view of the pond that is right on the trail. Another .25 miles will bring you to a T. Left goes out to Flugertown Rd. and right leads to the lean-to and the other trails. If you like, turn right and walk about .65 miles to the lean-to. If you are so inclined, skip the lean-to and go straight ahead. After about a mile the trail intersect Basily Road. Turn left and follow the road. At the next intersection continue straight ahead and down a hill. So NOT turn right as this leads toward Black Bear Road at Round Pond. After about half a mile you will be at the beaver pond. Cross the shallow water here in any way you like. Walking across the dam may work. At this point you may well be on private land. Head for the bridge across the field. The bridge is actually private and you should cross at the "ford" just to the left of the bridge. The water here is a little wider and deeper than at the beaver pond! After crossing the creek. stay on Basily Road which at this point is unpaved. It is a little over two miles back to the parking area. Eventually Basily becomes Flugertown and the road is paved. Several pull-offs and small parking areas mark places where the snowmobile trails intersect the road.

Long Pond: Flugertown Road to Basily Road Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.0 mi.	562 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Long Pond has several snowmobile trails that are ideal for hiking. They are wide and well maintained being free from blow downs. There are several options for longer or shorter hikes.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about nine miles then turn left on Flugertown Rd. just passed the hamlet of Willowemoc. The parking area for Long Pond is about 1 mile up on the right. The road is well paved. Start by walking out of the parking area and turning right to head north on Flugertown Road passing by some open fields and some streams that cross the road. The road changes from pavement to gravel and at 1.6 miles a snowmobile trail to the right leads to Long Pond. In this same area the Willowemoc-Hardenburgh Trail meets the road. Continue on the road and at some point the name officially changes to Basily Road. At 2.4 miles the road descends and turns right to cross a creek on a private bridge near the Peter's hunting camp. The owners have opened the bridge to hiking and snowmobile traffic so please respect their property. Cross the field and head toward the swampy area and beaver pond on the other side. Around 3.1 miles Basily Road bears left but you should bear right on a snowmobile trail. A little further along at 3.5 miles a road continues straight ahead but you should follow the snowmobile trail by bearing to the right. A spur trail to the Long Pond lean-to branches to the left at 4.2 miles. You may visit the lean-to but there are no views. To get the best views of the pond turn left on an unmarked path at 4.8 miles and walk down to the shores of the pond. The north end of the pond has some of the oldest bogs in the Catskills approaching 14,000 years. During the spring and summer winged blackbirds can be seen in the reeds. Back on the main trail walk up a short hill and then down the hill to your car. This last 1.2 miles section goes quickly.

Long Pond: Black Bear to Flugertown

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.9 mi.	532ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Long Pond has several snowmobile trails that are ideal for hiking. They are wide and well maintained being free from blow downs. There are several options for longer or shorter hikes.

This hike requires two cars OR you make park a car at either end and double the mileage! Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about fourteen miles then turn left on Black Bear Rd. near Round Pond. The parking area is up the hill on the right. The first part of the hike is on Basily Road which is seasonally maintained. After about 1.15 miles the road turns into a woods road which is also a snowmobile trail. From this point on the walking is almost flat or downhill! At about 2 miles into the hike you will come to a T. Turn left at the T and the woods road become more of a trail. At 2.15 miles there is a spur trail to thee left that goes to the lean-to. At 3.55 miles there will be a trail junction. Bearing right will take you out to Flugertown Road and back to your car. Bear left and continue on the trail to the parking area on Flugertown Road.

Long Pond: Flugertown Rd to Mongaup Pond

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	9.8 mi.	2210 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about nine miles then turn left on Flugertown Rd. just passed the hamlet of Willowemoc. After 1.3 miles, the road turns to gravel. Go another 1.1 miles and park somewhere along the edge of the road. There are no formal parking areas here but there are enough areas to park a few cars. The trail begins on the left side of the road. Depending on where you parked, you may have to walk one way or the other to find the trail. The trail begins as a gradual uphill through some pine forest and after .5 miles the red marked Long Pond Beaverkill trail goes to the right and the yellow marked Mongaup Willowemoc trail heads left. The latter is the shorter way to Mongaup and by far the easier walk.

Turn right on the red marked trail. This trail wanders back and forth and up and down through hardwood forest and pine trees. Several areas are almost completely overgrown with briars making it slow going and difficult at times. There are a few areas of nettles. During wetter times the trail sports several muddy areas. About halfway up the trail to the Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail, you will pass Sand Pond on your right. You will never know it though since the trail has no views at all. The trail begins an ascent near its end to gain elevation to the Mongaup Ridge. After about 3 miles, the trail ends on the Mongaup Ridge at the blue marked Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail. Turn left here toward Mongaup Pond Campsites.

This trail is a little more used but the markers are few and far between. Also, there are several steep descents and ascents along the way as the trail ascends the various Mongaup Mountains. There are even several switchbacks! After 3.3 miles, the trail turns right at Mongaup Pond. Turn left here on the wide snowmobile trail. Cross four wooden bridges. After the fourth look for the well-marked yellow-blazed Mongaup Willowemoc Trail on your right. Turn here. This is also a snowmobile trail so it is wide and fairly well groomed with some blowdowns across the path in some areas. At abut 1.7 miles a large wooden bridge crosses Butternut Creek. This creek flows well even in drier weather and has some beautiful areas along its banks. From this point it is about 1.1 miles back to the junction with the Long Pond Beaverkill Trail. On the way several woods roads and trail cross the one you are on. Ignore these and stay on the yellow marked trail. At the trail junction, turn right and hike the .5 miles back to the car.

Long Pond: Flugertown Rd to Round Pond

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	10.4 mi.	855 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about nine miles then turn left on Flugertown Rd. just passed the hamlet of Willowemoc. Drive up the road and watch for the trailhead Parking area on the right. Get on the snowmobile and cross a bridge. The trail rises for the first .6 miles and then drops slightly until, at 1 mile there is a short side trail to the right. Walk down to Long Pond to see a small but pretty pond. The north end of the pond has some of the oldest bogs in the Catskills dating back 14,000 years to the time the last glacier receded. Back on the main trail walk another .2 miles to the junction with the red Long Pond-Beaverkill Range Trail. The trail flattens out and at 2.5 miles the trail meets a woods road. Around 2.9 Niles the trail turns right as it meets Basily Road. The trail on Basily Road rises slightly and then, at .3 miles, begins a serious drop down to a trail head on Black Bear (Wild Meadow) Road. At the road make a right and continue down to Pole Road at 5.4 miles. Turn right on Pole Road and begin a long 4.1 mile walk back to Flugertown Road. Turn right on Flugertown Road and walk .85 miles back to the car.

Long Pond: Flugertown Rd

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.0 mi.	476 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Long Pond has several snowmobile trails that are ideal for hiking. They are wide and well maintained being free from blow downs. I am looking forward to snow shoeing this area during the winter. There are several options for longer or shorter hikes.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about nine miles then turn left on Flugertown Rd. just passed the hamlet of Willowemoc. The parking area for Long Pond is about 1 mile up on the right. The road is well paved. The first part of the trail is a short ascent. It looks a LOT steeper on the profile below than it really is! After about a mile, you can turn right and walked down to the pond. This is the nicest view of the pond that is right on the trail. Another .25 miles will bring you to a T. Left goes out to Flugertown Rd. and right leads to the lean-to and the other trails. Turn right and walk about .65 miles to the lean-to. Be sure to make the turn onto the spur trail to the lean-to. It is clearly marked but missing it leads to a VERY long walk. After the lean-to, retrace your steps to the T and continue straight ahead for about .6 miles to the road. The trail winds some but is well marked and is downhill all the way. Take a left on Flugertown Rd. and walk the 1.5 miles back to the car.

Long Pond Ironworks

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.4 mi.	745 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

This trail in Hewitt, New Jersey traces the Hansclever Iron Trail near the Monksville Reservoir. It is rich in history.

Take the Greenwood Lake Turnpike east from the intersection with Lakeside Road at the south end of Greenwood Lake. Drive a little more than three miles east and park at the visitor's center for the Long Pond Iron works. There are some groomed paths to the left of the visitor's center that wander between some historic building. Watch for thee blue blazes of the Sterling Ridge Trail which runs in conjunction with the Highlands Trail. At about .45 miles the trail turns right and crosses the Wanaque Reservoir on a bridge. Before making the turn be sure to inspect the ruins of the iron furnaces that dates back to the American Revolution! When you cross the river bear to the right on the yellow Hasenclever Iron Trail. This trail follows one of the routes used to transport iron ore from the mines to the furnace. Along the trail you will find placards explaining some of the historic spots. At abbot miles you will walk1 up a hill and a woods road turns to the left. Make the turn and continue northwest on the road until about 2.5 miles. In this Rae you will find the Patterson Mine. Watch for "rusty" rocks which are the tailing from the mines. There will be one or two shallow pits on the left of the road. On the right side of the road there are two or three deeper pits and a trench. Be careful around these since they are often filled with water and the sides are unstable. Back on the road continue to walk downhill until 2.8 miles when the woods road meets the Sterling Ridge Trail. Turn left on the trail to get back to the parking area. Along the way the trail parallels the Wanaque River which is a popular swimming area.

Loyalsock Trail: Smith's Knob

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.7 mi.	1482 ft.	MSR Maps	Google Maps

width="715" height="529" The Loyalsock Trail is a 59.3 mile trail in north central Pennsylvania in Lycoming and Sullivan counties . It stretching from the western trailhead just north of Montoursville to the eastern trailhead just north of LaPorte. It is well maintained by the Alpine Club Of Williamsport and is well marked with a distinctive yellow LT on a red can lid. The trail passes through main different geological and ecological areas and each is as interesting as the next. The hike described here starts near the western trailhead and takes and out and back and loop route to Smith's Knob.

Get on Route 87 going north from Williamsport. At between 9 and 10 miles the trailhead for the start of the Loyalsock Trail will appear as a pulloff on Route 87. Just passed this pull off is Little Bear Creek Road on the right. Turn onto this road and in less than 1 mile you will see a sign on the left for the Loyalsock trail to Smith's Knob. Just passed the bridge to the maintenance barns and across from the ranger's house is a pull off for several cars. Park here and then walk back down the road to the sign. Turn right up the hill, sign in at the register and begin your hike.

The first part of this hike is a long uphill with only a few places to catch your breath. At about .7 miles there is a viewpoint called Helen's Window that exposes a long, straight section of Loyalsock Creek. The trail continues until about 1.6 miles when it turns right onto an old woods road. This continues for about .1 miles where the trail turns left and begins a steep assault on Smith's Knob. At this point an alternate route continues straight ahead and is marked with a red X on a yellow background.

After climbing the short but steep slope the trial turns right toward the top of Smith's Knob. Near the pond on the right is a view to the right of the trail. There is no real view from the top but continue to walk east on the trail. When the trail begins to descend walk off the trail toward the obvious viewpoint to the left. This lookout offers beautiful views up and down Loyalsock Creek. At this point you may return the way you came or continue on the trail to complete the loop.

The descent on the other side of Smith's Knob is steep and eroded with several switchbacks. A little further along the trail is another Lookout called the DER View. This lookout offers more views up and down Loyalsock Creek and Loyalsock Valley. Continue on the trail being sure to stay on the marked LT trail. Be on the lookout for the trail marked by the red X's. This will be a sharp right turn and may have a NO HORSES sign marking it. This alternate route is not as well traveled as the main trail. There are several blowdowns and the markings are spread out further. This trail meets a woods road and travels along it for a short distance. Soon the road turns left and the trail bears right. In only a short distance the trail leads back to the junction with the main trail where the main trail turned up Smith' Knob. Follow the main trail back to your car.

Loyalsock Trail: Sock Rock

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.2 mi.	1460 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

width="705" height="709" The Loyalsock Trail is a 59.3 mile trail in north central Pennsylvania in Lycoming and Sullivan counties . It stretches from the western trailhead just north of Montoursville to the eastern trailhead just north of LaPorte. It is well maintained by the Alpine Club Of Williamsport and is well marked with a distinctive red LT on a yellow plastic. Each mile from the beginning of the trail is also denoted at the closest markers. The trail passes through main different geological and ecological areas and each is as interesting as the next. The hike described here starts at the western trailhead and is a loop that includes the Allegheny Front. This first part of the trail takes in Sock Rock and has some great views especially when there are fewer leaves on the trees

Get on Route 87 going north from Williamsport. At between 8 and 9 miles the trailhead for the start of the Loyalsock Trail will appear as a pulloff on Route 87. Pull off and park here. The hike is STEEP right from the start giving you no chance to "warm up". After .4 miles the trail turns right as it meets an old woods road and there is a brief respite. Almost immediately the trail turns left off the road and up the ridge. A little further up the trail is a limited lookout on the right side of the trail. The overall .6 mile section to Sock Rock is an average of a 29% grade! There are some impressive ledges along the way but Sock Rock itself doesn't look much like a sock and there are no views! The trail turns right after Sock Rock but continues to climb steeply for another .25 miles. After the climb, the level part of the trail is welcome! At 1.55 miles the Red X-1 trail crosses. The Red X trails connect different parts of the Loyalsock Trail in different areas acting as shortcuts. There are eleven of them in all and can be interesting adventures in their own right. All, true to their name, are marked with red X's. Continue on the main trail and at 2 miles the Loyalsock Trail turns left. A woods road is to the right and straight ahead is a bridle path to allow horses access to the plateau. After this point the trail begins to climb some but it is hardly noticeable when compared to the initial climb. You are now walking west to east along the Allegheny Front. Looking for viewpoints which are few during the seasons when there are leaves on the trees. At about 2.9 miles there is a limited viewpoint. The trail is interesting in this area as it ascends and you will be walking very close to the edge of the Front. As you continue on another viewpoint, the best yet, opens up on a rock ledge with nice views to the south. A short path leads down to a lower rock shelf with an even better view. Be careful to watch for rattlesnakes sunning themselves on the rocks! They will rapidly vacate the area on your approach as long as you do not surprise them. From "Rattlesnake Rock" the trail begins to descend gently for about .5 miles until it takes a sharp left and heads down a rocky drainage. The hike down this part of the trail can be tricky as the rocks may be mossy, damp and slippery in places. Watch for some very tall and very straight trees along this route. These trees may not have be first growth but they are old. Loggers in this area harvested white pine for ship masts and when the white pines were done they turned to hemlocks. The hemlock bark was used for tanning and, many times, the rest of the tree lay unused. Over the next 1.2 miles the trail drops over 950 feet and the total drop from the highest point is over 1100 feet. The trail crosses Little Bear Road at the bottom of the descent. Turn left and start to walk back out to Route 87. The Loyalsock Trail continues on your left and goes up and over Smith's Knob. You can hike this loop using the Painter Run Trail on your return if you still have the time and energy. Walk .8 miles out to Route 87, turned left and walk .5 miles to the your car to complete the loop.

Mary Smith Hill

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.3 mi.	1949 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Turn onto Mary Smith Hill Road in the hamlet of Lew Beach. Travel for about 2.5 miles and park at the parking area on the right. Do NOT be fooled! The road narrows and changes to dirt but IS passable. Get on the red blazed Mary Smith Trail across the road. Be prepared to climb some rather steep terrain in the first half to three quarters of a mile. At the half mile point is a nice lookout to the south. Continue on to the maximum elevation on the trail at a little over 2900 feet. This hill has no name. Descend into a col and then climb to the top of Mary Smith Hill. Here there is another lookout to the south. Continue down the other side of Mary Smith Hill to the parking area on Berry Brook Road. There are some interesting rock formations along the way and at least one rather steep descent. In the summer, the trail is overgrown with briars. The briars coupled with nettles make the trip over the hill unpleasant if not impossible. At Berry Brook Road turn around at retrace your steps. The round trip is 6.6 miles by the signs and 6.3 miles by my GPS.

Mary Smith: Berry Brook to Split Rock

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	2.6 mi.	760 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

This short hike doesn't gain much elevation but leads to a nice lookout and an interesting rock formation.

Head out of Roscoe on Route 206. Turn right on Berry Brook Road just after the county line and drive for around 8 miles to the trail head parking on the right. Cross the road to get on the Mary Smith Trail heading west southwest. After about .1 miles on a woods road, you will cross a power line right-of-way. Watch for the trail as it continues through a grassy area and into the woods. The trail ascends some until about .45 miles when it levels off if only briefly. In only .2 miles the trail again ascends for the next .5 miles to 1.15 miles where it meets the Pelnor Hollow Trail. Turn right and after a short distance you will be faced with a VERY STEEP downhill section. At 1.3 miles you will arrive at the Split Rock Lookout with some great views to the west. Notice the house across the way on the ridge. When you have taken in the view, return the way you came. This time the steep downhill is a steep uphill!

Mendon Ponds Park - East Esker Ridge Trail

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.2 miles	660 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Mendon Ponds Park's unique complex of glacial features helped to make it a National Natural Historic Landmark in 1969. There is a 550 acre nature preserve, and 30 miles of self guided trails full of wildlife. At the northwestern end of the line of other glacial ponds and lakes near the kettle hole called the "Devil's Bathtub" in the park, there is a sphagnum moss peat bog, and the buildup of moss has created a floating island in the middle of the lake. Due to the acidity buildup and lack of decay caused by the sphagnum moss, the bog is home to a number of carnivorous plants, including sundew and pitcher plants. Like much of New York State the topography here was shaped by several different ice sheets that covered the area in the past. The Finger Lakes are some of the most prominent features but everywhere you look there are glacial formations if you know what to look for. Mendon Ponds has several esker ridges formed when glacial streams deposited sediment. It has at least two kettle lakes formed when large blocks of ice dropped off receding glaciers, formed indentations in the soil, melted and left ponds and lakes behind. There are several kame hills formed when unsorted deposits lying on the glacier were deposited in a "heap" as the glacier melted.

A map of the park describes the marked trails and some of the features you will find. None of the trails are difficult but some can be muddy since part of the park is a wetland. In addition to the marked trails there are MANY "informal" trails which can be misleading but most reconnected to the marked trail system at some point. A good choice to see a variety of glacial features is the East Esker Ridge Trail marked at 4.7 miles in length on the map.

Once in the Rochester/Rush area find Rt 65 or Clover Street. The entrance to the park is just south of I-90 and is well marked. Turn into the park on Canfield Road and proceed to the first four corners. Turn right here onto Douglas Road. Look for the Canfield Woods or Stewart signs. Canfield Woods is the first BIG parking area on you right just across from the park office. This is the best place to park and, by the way, entrance and parking are FREE! Walk back up the entrance and across the road to a chain link fence which is the start of the green East Esker Ridge Trail. You may notice a blue marking on a tree since part of the trail is shared with the North Meadow Trail. Turn right and start your walk along the trail as it roughly parallels Douglas Road.

You will find that as you walk a familiar theme develops. At times you will walk up onto esker ridges and walk along the tops with a dropoff on either side. Other areas of the trail are sited between ridges or up and over kame hills. Along the way you will see several different ponds and walk through both hardwood and evergreen forests. The highest point in the park (820 ft.)) is on the trail in the last quarter of the hike. Walk along the trail for about .25 miles and you will come out of the forest into an opening. Straight ahead are some rolling kame hills. Reenter the forest trail and continue walking over the rolling topography. At about .7 miles you will walk down a hill and along Round Pond. To the left is a high hill you might want to climb. The trail doesn't offer much of a view of the pond but just as you start back into the trees there is and informal trail that ascends an esker ridge on the right. Walk along this trail if you like to get some limited views down onto the pond.

Back on the main trail, hike .35 miles east between several ridges until the trail abruptly turns west. After .6 miles you will descend to Douglas Road at the Calvary Shelter. If you actually get to the shelter you have gone too far, so turn around and take your first right to stay on the trail as it continues .45 miles south to Pond road and the other major trailhead for this trail. The trail at this point has just taken you through some open fields and it turns quickly left to head first north and west. The trail gains some elevation here as it first ascends, descends and then climbs several ridges. Be on the lookout for a small spur trail to the right which leads to a wooden bench along the way. This bench offers a spot to relax and look out over the surrounding hills and valleys. Also watch for a small blue marker labeled 23 on your left. This is the highest spot in the park at 820 ft!

After 1.2 miles of walking along the ridge, you will descend and then ascend once again. The trail continues north but then starts to turn left until you are walking due east. On your left will be a large water tank and the trail will lead around it after about.75 miles. The trail now turns into a wide road paved with crushed gravel and leads directly back to the trailhead where you started after .3 miles.

Another interesting place to visit is the kettle hole called the Devil's Bathtub. From the parking area turn right on Douglas Road and continue south until the intersection with Pond Road. Turn right on Pond Road and watch for the Devil's Bathtub Parking area on the right. Drive up and park. When you get out of the car, notice the view to Deep Pond on your right. Find the sign that says "Devil's Bathtub" and head down the wooden stairs to this kettle pond. There is a wooden walkway along the edge of the pond but no real view down onto the pond to take it all in. The trails here are NOT well marked but you can head around the pond on the aqua trail and informal trials until you meet the light blue Grasslands Trail. If you stay on the aqua trail, it turns to the right away from the Devil's Bathtub and takes you along the shore of Deep Pond. Either walk is worthwhile.

Middle Mountain Trail: Mary Smith to Beech Hill

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.2 mi.	1750 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Turn onto Mary Smith Hill Road in the hamlet of Lew Beach. Travel for about 2.5 miles and park at the parking area on the right. Do NOT be fooled! The road narrows and changes to dirt but IS passable. Get on the red blazed Middle Mountain trail. Be prepared to climb! This isn't a 3500 and it is only 4.2 miles round trip but there is some climbing to do. About a miles walk brings you to the top of Middle Mountain at 2975 feet. There is nothing much to see here but .1 miles further on is a BEAUTIFUL view. Continue on the same trail for a little less than a mile to Beech Hill. There is a descent and ascent between the two hills. Another half mile will put you on Beech Hill Road. Return to your car by reversing the hike.

Middle Mountain Trail: Mary Smith Hill Road to Cabot Mt

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.8 mi.	2660 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Turn onto Mary Smith Hill Road in the hamlet of Lew Beach. Travel for about 2.5 miles and park at the parking area on the right. Do NOT be fooled! The road narrows and changes to dirt but IS passable. From the parking area get on the red blazed Middle Mountain trail. Be prepared to climb! This isn't a 3500 but it is a true Catskills trail with rocks, roots, prickers, nettles, damp places, wet spots and blowdown! The climb up Middle Mountain gets steep in a few places and there are several large trees across the trail and many smaller branches. Between .5 miles and .6 miles the trail winds its way up over a rocky patch. At the top of the climb the trail levels and makes a big switchback before heading back toward the summit. From the summit of Middle Mountain the trail loses almost 300 feet to the col with Beech Hill. The climb to Beech Hill isn't long but can be tiring. In .6 miles the trail drops over 500 feet and ends on a small private road. Turn right on the road and walk out to Beech Hill Road. Turn right at the end of the road and walk to the trail head for the Touch Me Not Trail to Cabot Mountain. You now have to walk 2.5 miles over hilly, rough trail. The hike up Cabot starts along a woods road with POSTED signs on both sides. The first .25 miles aren't bad but then the trail gets serious. The trail gets steep in spots. In .5 miles the trail ascends about 600 feet and then levels off for a pleasant walk of .35 miles to the last climb. Ascend another 125 feet over the next .3 miles to get to the summit before turning around to walk back. The hike back is a matter of reversing course along the same trails. You get a break hiking down Cabot Mountain and then walking along a relatively flat area to the foot of Beech Hill. At the foot of Beech Hill you will be 6.2 miles into the hike. Start the climb up Beech Hill and then head down Beech Hill to the col with Middle Mountain. Continue up to the highest point the trail reaches on Middle Mountain and soon you will be going down Middle Mountain, through the switchback, over the rocks and toward the parking area.

Middleburgh Cliffs

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.8 mi.	1220 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Middleburgh is best known for Vroman's Nose and Thacher Park but the Middleburgh Cliffs also offer a nice view of the Schoharie Plain and Vroman's Nose itself.

In the village of Middleburgh turn south and east on Route 145 from Route 30. Within less than .5 miles watch for a school on your right. As long as school is not in session, you may park in the school lot. If school is in session, park legally on the street. Walk across Route 145 and slightly to the left look for Staub Lane. Turn left on Union Street and then right on Cliff Street. As you walk, you should notice the aqua blazes of the Long Path on telephone poles. Where Cliff Street ends the Long Path ascends a rather steep bank that is eroded. Climb up the bank and follow the Long Path as it makes a short but steep climb over the next .6 miles. After passing over and through some rocks, the trail descends some and then rises again. At about 2.2 miles the trail levels off at around 1600 feet. It follows the cliffs for some distance and you can walk as far as you like. All along the way there are views into and over the valley with some being better than others. Watch especially for views of Vroman's Nose. When you have had enough, turn around and retrace you path to the car.

Minnewaska: Castle Point - Hamilton Point

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.6 mi	1083 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at the parking lot in Minnewaska State Park on NY 55 just outside of Gardiner and New Paltz. The cost is $6. Walk toward the lake and follow the red blazed Minnewaska Carriageway. Ignore the first junction with the Upper Awosting Carriageway and continue to the blue blazed Castle Point Carriageway. Turn right here where a sign marks the way. The carriageways are not in good shape for carriages but allow hikers to make excellent time. Watch for the views along the way. Looking to your left you will shortly see Patterson's Pellet. In a little while the ledges and cliffs that make up the Gertrude's Nose Trail and Gertrude's Nose itself come into view. Stay on this until carriageway as it slowly ascends to Castle Point. The views along the way are nice but those from the Point are superb. As you continue on the aqua blazes of the Long Path can be found along with the blue blazes you have been following. The trails run concurrently for some time as they snake through Battlement Terrace. From the Terrace the view of Lake Awosting is magnificent. The lake is very blue and about 1.5 miles long. The trail passes beneath the imposing rocks of the Terrace and meets the yellow blazed Hamilton Point Carriageway. The aqua blazes continue almost straight ahead as the Long Path breaks off here. At this point the carriageway turns left to Hamilton Point or right toward Lake Awosting. You can make several choices here depending on your conditioning and the time you have. Turn right on the carriageway and descend gradually until an unmarked trail turns off to the left. The trail is obvious but there are no signs or blazes. This trial leads to the Wolf's Jaw were impressive slabs of rock hang over the trail. This short spur trail meets the Long Path again as it descends from the Hamilton Point Carriageway. Turn left on this trail and cross a small creek. You will start to ascend back toward the Carriageway. You reward for taking this route is The Tunnel. This is an area where the rocks have cracked and others have fallen on top of them forming a sort of "tunnel". The passage is narrow particularly with a full pack! After The Tunnel is a low rock overhang. The trail then ascends back to the yellow blazed Hamilton Point Carriageway where you should turn right. The trail descends some and them climbs to Hamilton Point which gives more spectacular views of the ravines below and the ridges on the others side. Continuing along there are more views especially at Echo Rock. Shortly after this the carriageway meets The Millbrook Mountain Carriageway. Continue on the yellow blazes until they meet the red blazed Minnewaska Lake Carriageway. Turn left an continue on around the lake back to the parking area.

Minnewaska: Gertrude's Nose and Millbrook Mountain

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.5 mi	1177 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at the parking lot in Minnewaska State Park on NY 55 just outside of Gardiner and New Paltz. The cost is $6. Walk toward the lake and follow the red blazed Minnewaska Carriageway. Ignore the first junction with the blue blazed Castle Point Carriageway and continue to the junction with the yellow blazed Millbrook Mountain Carriageway. Along the way watch for Patterson's Pellet, a large glacial erratic which is rather famous. It has its own sign! Stay on this until the red blazed Gertrude's Nose trail leaves to the right. Be prepared for a more difficult hike as this is a trail and it starts to rise and fall almost immediately. Within less than a mile you will be at Gertrude's Nose. Continue on the red trail as it follows the cliff face and warps around onto Millbrook Ridge. In slightly more than a mile you will be on the highest point of the ridge, Millbrook Mountain. At this point you can follow the yellow blazed Millbrook Mountain Carriageway back. Watch for the red blazed Millbrook Mountain Trail as it turns left or north. This trail is often wet especially when it has rained. You may feel like you are hiking down a stream bed until you cross Coxing Kill and start to ascend again. The ascent is rather long and steep at times. The last part of the trail parallels the outlet of Lake Minnewaska. At the end of the trail turn right on the red blazed Minnewaska Carriageway. Follow this "road" as it winds its way around the lake and back to the parking area. There are several nice viewing areas overlooking the lake including a gazebo set high on a rock ledge. There is also a small wooden arch bridge that passes over another part of the carriageway.

Minnewaska: Gertrude's Nose Long Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	12.0 mi	1996 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at the parking lot in Minnewaska State Park on NY 55 just outside of Gardiner and New Paltz. The cost is $6. Walk toward the lake and follow the red blazed Lake Minnewaska Carriageway. Ignore the first junction with the blue blazed Castle Point Carriageway and continue to the junction with the yellow blazed Millbrook Mountain Carriageway. Along the way watch for Patterson's Pellet, a large glacial erratic which is rather famous. It has its own sign! Stay on this until the red blazed Gertrude's Nose trail leaves to the right. Be prepared for a more difficult hike as this is a trail and it starts to rise and fall almost immediately. Within less than a mile you will be at Gertrude's Nose. Continue on the red trail as it follows the cliff face and wraps around onto Millbrook Ridge. You will descend into a ravine and cross a power line right-of-way. Just after this watch for a deep hole off the trail to the right. In warmer weather the air from this hole will be MUCH cooler than the surrounding air. In slightly more than a mile you will be on the highest point of the ridge, Millbrook Mountain. At this point follow the blue blazed Millbrook Ridge Trail as it follows the ridge heading toward the Trapps. The trail can be interesting at times as it covers some slippery and slated rock faces. Watch for views down across valley on the right and over to the Catskills on the left. Eventually the trail begins to descend and at about 7.5 miles Bayard's Path cuts off to the left. It descends from the ridge and meets Trapps Road. Turn left on Trapps Road and enjoy the walk on this wide and flat surface. At about 8.5 miles you will cross the Coxing Kill and the road will then start a continuous uphill climb. It will go through a hairpin turn and then cross Lyons Road at about 9.5 miles. Just beyond the crossing Trapps Road ends and becomes Awosting Falls Carriageway. At 10.3 miles you will get very close to Route 44/55 at an access point from that road where the Peters Kill crosses under the road. From here it is only about a .5 mile walk along the Peters Kill to Awosting Falls. Walk passed the falls and up the path until you are almost at the park road. Turn left on the Sunset Carriageway which climbs back to the parking area over the next .8 miles and 350 feet of vertical gain.

Minnewaska: Lake Awosting and Mossy Glen

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	9.8 mi	1263 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at the Lake Minnewaska lower parking area on Routes 44/55. Walk to the end of the parking area to pick up the Lower Awosting Carriageway. This extends 2.75 miles to the shores of Lake Awosting where it meets the Lake Awosting Carriageway. Turn left and continue on the carriageway passing the junction with the green Upper Awosting Carriageway on the left. This allows you to visit the best viewpoints over Lake Awosting to the west and north. The views extend all the way to the Catskills. The lake extends about 1.1 miles to the west. The high acidity prevents most flora and fauna from inhabiting the lake. As you walk around the lake a ranger's cabin appears on the right side of the path. The carriageway rises as you continue. This allows good views of the rocky "beach" on the opposite shore. Return to the junction and take the Upper Awosting Carriageway east for about 1.4 miles watching for the Blueberry Run Trail where it crosses the Carriageway. Turn left, walk a short distance and then turn right on the Mossy Glen Trail. This trail runs along the Peters Kill and will take you back to the Lower Awosting Carriageway in about a\1.2 miles. Walk back to the car.

Minnewaska: Lake Awosting to Lake Minnewaska

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	12.5 mi	1550 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Drive into the main gate at Minnewaska State Park. After paying the fee turn right and park in the lot at the end of the road. Walk out of the southwest end of the lot on the Lower Awosting Carriageway. The walk along the carriageway is pleasant even though the path climbs for about 2.3 miles where it crosses the Peters Kill. Continue on the carriageway to 2.9 miles where there is a junction with the Lake Awosting Carriageway. Turn right and start around the lake in an anticlockwise direction. As you walk around the lake there will be some viewpoints to take pictures of the lake and the cliffs beyond. Continue around the southeast end of the lake and start back toward the northeast. The trail around the lake is relatively flat and passes across the "beach". The trail begins to rise to some viewpoints around 5.6 miles. At 5.9 miles turn right on the yellow Hamilton Point Carriageway. At 6.5 miles turn left on the blue Castle Point Carriageway. You will pass below Castle Point on a switch back and then walk through the Battlements before getting to Castle Point. Take some time to enjoy the expansive views from Castle point before continuing along the carriageway and, ultimately, back to the car. Along the way there will be numerous viewing points, some named and some unnamed. At 8.8 miles you can stop at Kempton''s Ledge. Echo Rock is below an to your right on the Hamilton Point Carriageway. Across Palmaghatt Ravine is another large boulder called Patterson's Pellet. Continue along the carriageway until at 10.5 miles you meet the red Lake Minnewaska Carriageway. Before coming down the hill to the lake notice a nice view of the Catskills through an open field. Turn right at the junction and walk around the lake stopping at the beach if you would like. The view of the lake from the beach is nice and the cliff house across the lake makes a nice picture. Walk up the hill and take a left on the orange Sunset Carriageway. Walk down the hill until you meet the red trail and turn right to walk down to Awosting Falls on the Peters Kill at 11.8 miles. Take some pictures and enjoy the view before retracing your path back up the hill. Walk straight on the red trail to the park roads and turn right to go to the entrance. Turn left and walk down the road to the parking lot and your car.

Minnewaska: Lake Minnewaska to Lake Awosting

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	9.9 mi	1150 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at the Lake Minnewaska upper parking area on Routes 44/55. Walk to the upper end of the lake and turn right toward the western shore of the lake. After walking down the hill, turn right onto the green blazed Upper Awosting Carriageway. There are many other possible carriageways and trails to use to get to the lake. After about 3.5 miles, the black blazes of the Lake Awosting Carriageway will become evident. Along the way several interesting landmarks can be seen and several trail options exist. At about 3.0 miles there is a lookout that gives a view of Rainbow Falls. The "falls" is simply a cataract off a cliff and the volume of water determines how impressive it is. In the same area the Long Path heads off to the right down to the base of the falls and on to the Lower Awosting Carriageway. Turning left on the long path as it crosses the Upper Awosting carriageway will take you up onto Litchfield Ledge but this makes getting to the lake more difficult. On the carriageway you will pass under the Ledge and can see the impressive rock cliffs rise above you.

When the black blazes appear, turn right (north) and Lake Awosting will appear very shortly. The lake extends about 1.1 miles to the west. The high acidity prevents most flora and fauna from inhabiting the lake. As you walk around the lake a ranger's cabin appears on the right side of the path. The carriageway rises as you continue. This allows good views of the rocky "beach" on the opposite shore. As you round the western end of the lake keep a sharp eye out for the aqua blazes of the Long path on the right. There is no sign and the first few blazes are very faint! Turn left and the top of the path and then right at the next "junction". You will be headed for Murray Hill which appears in about .5 miles. From here views to the west reveal the Sam's Point Preserve. To the west are Margaret Cliff, Castle Point and Hamilton Point. Continue on the Long Path for about 1.5 miles and pass by Margaret Cliff which has similar views to Murray Hill. Be prepared for a steep descent into the ravine below over a rocky trail. From the bottom the Long Path again begins to ascend toward the Hamilton Point Carriageway. The total distance is about a mile but along the way there are several interesting formations. Just before crossing the stream at the bottom of the ravine, an unmarked trail goes to the left. A short distance up this trail is the Wolf's Jaw where a rock formation hangs over the trail. Continuing on the Long Path brings you to The Tunnel. Here cracks in the rocks have been given a rock "roof" forming a short but narrow tunnel. After The Tunnel, the Long Path continues its ascent (steep at times) up to the Hamilton Point Carriageway.

This carriageway leads back to the parking area. The distance is about 4 miles and it offers some good views and several attractions such as Echo Rock. After several hundred feet on the carriageway, the Long Path turns left, enters the woods and approaches the base of the cliff that is Castle Point. The Long Path works its way up to this upper level through a series of ledge and foot and hand holds. Some are more challenging than others! From castle Point the views of Lake Awosting, Sam's Point, Gertrude's Nose and the other surrounding features is truly impressive. After taking in the view, continue on the blue-blazed carriageway back to Lake Minnewaska and the parking area. This is a distance of about 4 miles most of which is downhill. This is good since you are now in your ninth mile of the hike.

Minnewaska: Millbrook Mountain from Lake Minnewaska

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.2 mi	1090 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at the main parking area for Lake Minnewaska State Park. Walk to the lake and down the Lake Minnewaska Carriageway to the left. Continue on the carriageway as it runs along the western shore of the lake. At the southern end of Lake Minnewaska watch for the red Millbrook Mountain Trail heading south. Over the next .7 miles the trail descends over 350 feet to The Coxing Kill. It then start to ascend up to Millbrook Mouton gaining back the 350 feet in .5 miles. At this point you may walk out along the ridge on the Gertrude's Nose trail for a bit for more spectacular views. Return to Millbrook Mountain and turn onto the yellow Millbrook Mountain Carriageway which initially heads west and south but then loops around to head northeast back to the lake. The carriageway is almost flat gaining a little over 125 feet in 2.8 miles before descending back to the lake. Be sure to take a look at Patterson's Pellet, a large glacial erratic, along the way.

Minnewaska: Millbrook Mountain from the Trapps

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.9 mi	1100 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

WARNING: The Town of Gardiner appears to be issuing parking tickets for cars parked at The Trapps lot for longer than a half hour.

Park at the Trapps parking area on Route 44/55 or, as an alternative, park at the Mohonk Preserve Visitor's Center or the paid parking lot west of the iron bridge. Walk to the iron bridge and head up to the left to the carriageway. After a few hundred feet turn left and up the ridge on the Millbrook Mountain Trail. The trail has a few ups and downs over the next 2 miles but the main attraction are the views from several spots along the ridge. Over the next .8 miles the trail climbs 470 feet to Millbrook Mountain but the views are even more spectacular! Technically at this point you are at the point marked as Millbrook Mountain but there are more views ahead if you stay on the trail for another .7 miles. When you return to Millbrook Mountain, you can simply retrace your path to the parking area but this is a little boring. Turn north on the red Millbrook Mountain Trail and start to descend. In the middle of this descent watch for the blue Coxing Kill Trail on the right. Turn onto this trail which descends for 1.75 miles until it meets the Trapps Road. You may want to avoid this trail in wet weather as the lower part can be very wet. Turn right on the Trapps Road which will return you to the iron bridge in about 1 mile.

Minnewaska: Millbrook Ridge and Gertrude's Nose (Loop)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	9.7 mi	1490 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

WARNING: The Town of Gardiner appears to be issuing parking tickets for cars parked at The Trapps lot for longer than a half hour.

Park at the Trapps parking area on Route 44/55 or, as an alternative, park at the Mohonk Preserve Visitor's Center or the paid parking lot west of the iron bridge. Walk up to the Bridge and follow the "To Trails" signs. Look for the blue blazes for the Millbrook Ridge Trail on your right after a VERY SHORT distance. This trail ascends Millbrook Ridge and heads toward the highest point called Millbrook Mountain. You will pass several intersecting trails on your right, most notably Bayard's and Millbrook Mountain Trail. Keep to your left on the ridge and continue following the blue blazes for about 2.7 miles. Stop to take in the wonderful views of the valleys and mountains beyond. The walk is sometimes along the cliff edge and at other times through the forest further in from the ridge line. As you get closer to Millbrook Mountain the ascent becomes steeper and more difficult as it traverses rocky outcroppings. You may be fooled several times into thinking you are at the top! At the intersection of the Millbrook Ridge Trail and the red Millbrook Mountain Trail is the highest point on the ridge, Millbrook Mountain. The Millbrook Mountain Carriageway also meets these trails at this point. The maps indicate that the Gertrude's Nose Trail starts here with red blazes. The blue blazes actually continue with few if any red blazes until you reach the Nose. You will hike for about another 1.7 miles until the trail opens onto a exposed rock face.

Gertrude's Nose is an amazing rock formation with deep cracks and spectacular views of the surrounding valley and mountain ranges. There are easier ways to get to the Nose but the Millbrook Ridge is the most fun! Follow the red blazes as they lead you past many steep dropoffs and some additional cracks and crevices. Be careful as many of the cracks are deep and wide enough to accommodate a person! The walk along the exposed rocks continues for about .5 miles as the trail descends slightly to a small ravine before climbing again. The climb involves several short but sometimes steep areas and ends at the yellow blazed Millbrook Mountain Carriageway after about .5 miles. Turning left here will take you on a longer route to Patterson's Pellet overlooking Lake Minnewaska and almost to the shores of the lake itself. It then joins the Millbrook Mountain Trail. This is definitely the LONGEST way back so TURN RIGHT on the carriageway to ascend Millbrook Mountain again. This time the ascent is very gentle compared to the last time! At the top turn left onto the red blazed Millbrook Mountain Trail. Watch for the blue blazes of the Coxing Trail on your right in less than .2 miles. This trail is often wet after it rains and you may want to return the same way you came up on the Millbrook Ridge Trail. Follow the Coxing Trail for 1.6 miles until it meets Trapps Road. Turn right here on this wide carriageway and walk 1.0 miles back to the bridge. From here walk down the shoulder of Route 55 to the parking area.

Minnewaska: Millbrook Ridge and Gertrude's Nose (Out and Back)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	9.7 mi	1632 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

A variation of this hike is to stay on the Millbrook Ridge Trail when you arrive at Millbrook Mountain. This adds about 150 feet to the climbing distance and .1 miles to the hike. It is drier than the Coxing Trail in wet weather. Descending Millbrook Mountain can be challenging because of the sometimes steep descents on the open rock faces.

Park at the Trapps parking area on Route 44/55 or, as an alternative, park at the Mohonk Preserve Visitor's Center or the paid parking lot west of the iron bridge. Walk up to the Bridge and follow the "To Trails" signs. Look for the blue blazes for the Millbrook Ridge Trail on your right after a VERY SHORT distance. This trail ascends Millbrook Ridge and heads toward the highest point called Millbrook Mountain. You will pass several intersecting trails on your right, most notably Bayard's and Millbrook Mountain Trail. Keep to your left on the ridge and continue following the blue blazes for about 2.7 miles. Stop to take in the wonderful views of the valleys and mountains beyond. The walk is sometimes along the cliff edge and at other times through the forest further in from the ridge line. As you get closer to Millbrook Mountain the ascent becomes steeper and more difficult as it traverses rocky outcroppings. You may be fooled several times into thinking you are at the top! At the intersection of the Millbrook Ridge Trail and the red Millbrook Mountain Trail is the highest point on the ridge, Millbrook Mountain. The Millbrook Mountain Carriageway also meets these trails at this point. The maps indicate that the Gertrude's Nose Trail starts here with red blazes. The blue blazes actually continue with few if any red blazes until you reach the Nose. You will hike for about another 1.7 miles until the trail opens onto a exposed rock face.

Gertrude's Nose is an amazing rock formation with deep cracks and spectacular views of the surrounding valley and mountain ranges. There are easier ways to get to the Nose but the Millbrook Ridge is the most fun! Follow the red blazes as they lead you past many steep dropoffs and some additional cracks and crevices. Be careful as many of the cracks are deep and wide enough to accommodate a person! The walk along the exposed rocks continues for about .5 miles as the trail descends slightly to a small ravine before climbing again. The climb involves several short but sometimes steep areas and ends at the yellow blazed Millbrook Mountain Carriageway after about .5 miles. Turning left here will take you on a longer route to Patterson's Pellet overlooking Lake Minnewaska and almost to the shores of the lake itself. It then joins the Millbrook Mountain Trail. This is definitely the LONGEST way back so TURN RIGHT on the carriageway to ascend Millbrook Mountain again. This time the ascent is very gentle compared to the last time! At the top the red blazed Millbrook Mountain Trail turns left. Continue straight ahead on the Millbrook Ridge Trail and hike 2.7 miles back to the iron Bridge. From here walk down the shoulder of Route 55 to the parking area.

Minnewaska: Peters Kill from Jenny Lane

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.3 mi	1030 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at the Jenny Lane parking area on Routes 44/55 on the left just before the main entrance to the park heading toward New Paltz. Walk down the road and follow the blazed trail for about a mile where the trail comes out to the road. This is where the High Peters Kill Trail begins. This trail follows the ridge along the Peters Kill as it works its way down to the stream. Along the way there will be views to Mohonk and beyond. You may be able to hear the stream at times and catch a glimpse of it below. The walk along the trail is a little less than two miles and drops 600 feet before crossing a bridge. The trail continues along the Peters Kill but another option is to bushwhack up the stream bed and along the banks. This is the best way to take in all the interesting sites. There are several small falls with two of the larger ones near where the stream crosses under the road about 1.4 miles from the bridge you crossed. The last falls has the highest drop but the volume is usually small. A little below this at the penultimate falls there is an old power generation plant. Still visible are the wooden pipers and some of the controls can be seen inside the building. When you reach the road cross over to the Awosting Falls Carriageway. Within half a mile from the road, you will be at the falls. Follow the carriageway up to the main gatehouse. You may walk the trail back to the car or simply use the road.

Minnewaska: Stony Kill Falls

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	1.2 mi	218 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Begin on Route 44/55 that runs from Route 209 toward Gardiner and New Paltz. Watch for the sign for the Hudson valley Resort. Across from this sign turn onto Minnewaska Trail. Quickly make a left turn onto Rock Haven Road. Follow this road until it narrows and the pavement deteriorates. Turn left on Shaft 2A Road. Drive to the end and park by the gate. Notice that parking is VERY limited. Do NOT park others in! Go around the gate and head down the dirt road. Notice the fenced in area on the right. This is Shaft 2A which is an access shaft to the aqueduct that carries water from the mountains to New York City. Across from the shaft is an old helipad. Con tune walking through the abandoned slate quarry toward the opposite side. At this point any "formal" trail ends but you will be on the banks of the Stony Kill. Turn right and pick your way upstream. You may cross the stream at several points. Within minutes you can hear and then see the Stony Kills Falls. The water drops over 80 from the top of a cliff to a pool below. The volume varies with the season and the rainfall but at any time it is still beautiful. Explore the bottom of the falls and the pool. be careful since the rocks can be slippery from being wet, being icy, or being covered with moss. When you are done exploring, retrace your steps to the car

Minnewaska: Three Falls on the Peters Kill (Minnewaska Parking)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.6 mi	680 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at the Lake Minnewaska lower parking area on Routes 44/55. Walk back to the gatehouse and turn right. Cross the small bridge on the road which spans the Peters Kill. Turn left on the Awosting Falls Carriageway. Within half a mile from where you parked, you will be at the falls. Follow the carriageway down to the base of the falls for an even more impressive view! Continue on the carriageway until you can see the stream going under Routes 44/55. At this point cross the road and follow the stream. You will almost immediately be at Sheldon Falls. Continue along the south and east side of the stream. There is no trail for some time but several paths are obvious. In about .2 miles you will see the ruins of a stone building. This is an old power plant. At some point, depending on your individual route, you will pick up a red-marked trail. About .2 miles passed the power plant is Peters Kill Falls. The red trail turns to a yellow one for a short distance and this ends at the blue-blazed High Peters Kill Trail. Cross the bridge here and get ready for a 400 to 500 foot climb onto the ridge. The climb is eased by many twists and turns. Continue on this trail back to the parking area. The total distance from the bridge to the parking area is about 1.6 miles.

Minnewaska: Three Falls on the Peters Kill (Peters Kill Parking)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.6 mi	980 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

A slightly different approach to this same loop is shown here. Park at the Peters Kill parking area on Routes 44/55. Walk back to the picnic area and go straight ahead on the red blazed Peters Kill Loop Trail. Descend a rather long steep hill to the Peters Kill. As you start your walk you will notice "Climbers Only!" areas to the right and left. Look ahead as you descend the hill for a nice view of the distance peaks and ridges. At the base of the hill turn right on a yellow blazed trail. Follow this along the Peters Kill until it intersects with the blue blazed Peters Kill High Trail. Turning right leads to the Lost City which is a series of high stone monoliths that are a favorite of climbers. Cross the bridge here and get ready for a 400 to 500 foot climb onto the ridge. The climb is eased by many twists and turns. Continue on this trail back to the parking area. The total distance from the bridge to the lower Minnewaska parking area is about 1.6 miles. Be sure to take in the views of the opposite rim of the gorge. When the leaves are few the Peters Kill sometimes can be spotted below. A view of the Trapps also presents itself at one point. Cross Routes 44/55 with great care and enter the lower Minnewaska parking area. Follow the road to the gatehouse and turn right. Cross the small bridge on the road which spans the Peters Kill. Turn left on the Awosting Falls Carriageway. Within half a mile , you will be at the top of the falls. Follow the carriageway down to the base of the falls for an even more impressive view! Continue on the carriageway until you can see the stream going under Routes 44/55. At this point cross the road and follow the stream. You will almost immediately be at Sheldon Falls. These falls are a series of cascades over some well-worn rock formations. Continue carefully picking your way along the south and east side of the stream. There is no trail for some time but several paths are obvious. The rocks may be slippery at times and several areas require some balance and jumping (landing) ability. In about .2 miles you will see the ruins of a stone building. This is an old coal-fired power plant. At some point, depending on your individual route, you will pick up a red-marked trail. About .2 miles passed the power plant is Peters Kill Falls. The red trail then meets up with the red-blazed trail back to the parking area.



Minnewaska: Tunnel Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.8 mi	1364 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at the Lake Minnewaska upper parking area on Routes 44/55. Walk to the upper end of the lake and turn right toward the western shore of the lake. After walking down the hill, turn left and walk on the carriageway around the lake. Pass the turn to the Upper Awosting Carriageway(green)) and the next one to the Castle Point Carriageway (blue). At the next Y in the path turn right onto the yellow-blazed Hamilton Point Carriageway. Continue on this path and you will pass Echo Rock and several other good lookouts over the Palmaghatt Ravine. Of course the best views are from Hamilton Point itself which is about 3 miles from the parking area.

Keep on the yellow path as it descends down after Hamilton Point. After a walk of less than one mile the Castle Point Carriageway branches to the right and ascends to Castle Point. The Long Path (aqua) turns left into the woods. Continue on the yellow path for about half a mile until and unmarked but obvious trail turns to the left. This trail passes under the Wolf's Jaw. Just after the Wolf's Jaw watch for the aqua blazes of the Long Path on the left. Turn onto the Long Path and cross the small stream. The trail immediately begins to wind its way upwards back to the junction on the Hamilton Point Carriageway. The most interesting point along the way is The Tunnel. The passageway is narrow but very short. It can be wet and, unless you are willing to get very low, packs may be a problem. The trail then makes several rather significant ascents spaced with a few flat areas before you are back a the carriageway.

Turn right and follow the yellow and aqua blazes for about 500 feet. At this point the Long Path turns left into the woods. Be prepared to do some real climbing. You must be able to get some good hand and footholds and pull yourself up in several places. The reward is an exhilarating feeling when you get to the wonderful views on top of Castle Point. From here you can see Lake Awosting, the Sam's Point Preserve and you can look across the ravine at the Gertrude's Nose trail and Millbrook Mountain. Follow the blue-blazed carriageway for about 4 miles back to the parking area. Along the way take in some of the views from Kempton ledge and other unnamed viewpoints. As you approach the lake a view open up on the left. Several Catskill peaks can be seen even when a haze is lying on them.

Mohonk: Overcliff - Sky Top - Undercliff

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.2 mi	1250 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at the Trapps parking area on Routes 44/55 just before the hairpin turn. Walk up the road and cross the Trapps Bridge. At the fork in the path, turn left onto the Overcliff Carriageway. The signs are generally informative but DO NOT always match the descriptions in the guidebooks or the names used on maps. After about 2.5 miles Overcliff ends at the Rhododendron Bridge. Cross the Bridge and turn left on the Old Minnewaska Carriageway. Do not make any turns off this path for at least a mile. The carriageway begins to ascend and makes some turns right after the bridge as it winds its way upward. There are some nice views along the way. Bypass the left turn onto Long Woodland Drive and the right onto Home Farm Road. Shortly after this Short Woodland bears left and Lake Shore Road goes right. Take the right onto Lake Shore and then the next right onto Forrest Drive. Look for the Spring House on the left. Walk up the trail behind the spring house and watch for the red arrows that mark the path to the Crevice. WARNING: The Crevice is narrow and steep. Climbing with a pack on your back may be impossible. There are ladders at some points but other places require finding hand and foot holds. The last part is the hardest since it is the most narrow and requires some strength to boost your body up onto the rock ledge at the top. You may use the Spring Path route that is usually used as the return route. The Crevice is one way only up! See the end of this description. At the top of the Crevice is a wide rock ledge that offers a great view of the surrounding area. You can also look over the edge at the talus slopes below. A bridge over the Crevice offers a peek down into the depths you have just conquered. The fun is not quite over. After crossing the bridge, another near vertical ascent is required. At the top is a set of stairs and the paths to the Smiley Tower. The Tower offers a 360 degree view of the area. Perhaps the most striking view is of Mohonk Lake and the Mohonk Mountain House. From the Tower head to the opposite side from the crevice. Head down Sky Top Path to the stairs down to the Labyrinth. Along this short .2 mile path are several gazebos and benches that overlook the lake. The path through the labyrinth is marked by the red arrows that lead to the Crevice. You may follow these or go down to the Spring Path to make life easier. If you want to avoid the Crevice altogether you may use the Spring Path to get to the Tower and then retrace your steps back to the spring on the same path. The spring is only about .25 miles from the stairs. Return on from the spring to the Rhododendron Bridge the same way you came. This distance is about one miles. Turn left over the Bridge on the Undercliff Carriageway. In 2.3 miles you will be back at the Trapps Bridge. Along the way watch for groups climbing the cliffs and boulders along the trail. This is a favorite spot for climbers from all around.

Mongaup Hardenburgh Trail from Beaverkill

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.7 mi.	2022 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

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.

Mongaup Pond

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.0 mi.	235 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

This hike can be easy or difficult depending on the conditions. In two feet of fresh snow the going is tough. Under most other conditions it is an easy walk. Park at the "beach" Parking area at Mongaup Pond or outside the gatehouse when the park is closed. Walk the park roads in clockwise direction around the entire pond or walk as far as you can go and turn around.

Mongaup Pond Ledges

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.0 mi.	1422 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

From Livingston Manor take DeBruce Road toward Round Pond. At about 6 miles turn left on Mongaup Road. Where the road splits bear to the left and park at the parking area for Frick Pond. Walk across the road to the beginning of the blue blazed Flynn Trail. Walk through a short section of trail in the woods before the trial breaks out onto a wide woods road. At about 1 mile look for a pile of logs on the right. Walk around the logs and head through the woods to an interesting open area. The area seems to be a bog on top of bedrock! The mosses here are typical of bogs but it doesn't seem possible that they would develop here. Explore this area an notice to the southeast a road that leads back down to the pile of logs. From this point on the hike is a bushwhack until you arrive at Mongaup Pond so directions and mileages will vary. Head to the east of the cleared area and through the woods. After a short walk, you will begin to encounter some impressive ledges. There are several way to get down through the ledges just continue to head east. Take your time to explore this area as it in very interesting. The drop in elevation is around 500 feet in half a mile. Eventually you will be on the road that runs around Mongaup Pond. Turn left and walk about .4 miles on the road. Watch for signs for a snowmobile trail as the road turns to the right. Get on the snowmobile trail and continue to follow it as it will lead back to the Flynn Trail. The first part of this trail runs along the edge of a swamp and is usually wet. Of course, you will have to regain the elevation you lost coming down the ledges! The trail begins to climb at around 3.2 miles. Over the next 1.8 miles the trail rises around 700 feet to an elevation of 2880 feet before descending back to the Flynn Trail. At about 5.3 miles you will be at the intersection of the snowmobile trail, the Flynn Trail and the Big Rock Trail. Turn left on the Flynn Trail which now descends 600 feet over the next 1.7 miles to the parking area.

Mongaup Pond Ledges: Up from the Pond

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.4 mi.	1280 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

From Livingston Manor take DeBruce Road toward Round Pond. At about 6 miles turn left on Mongaup Road. Where the road splits bear to the left and park at the parking area for Frick Pond. Walk across the road to the beginning of the blue blazed Flynn Trail. Walk 1.7 miles to the junction of the Flynn Trail, the Big Rock Trail and a snowmobile trail. Along the way watch for a pile of logs and a slight clearing off the trail on your right. This will be your return point on the way back. Turn right on the snowmobile trail and climb for another .25 miles to the top of the hill. From here the trail descends for about 2 miles to the loop road at Mongaup Pond State Campsites. The actual distance from the top of the hill to the pond is only .8 miles but the trail meanders considerably. As it nears the pond there is a swampy area to the right and water running off the hill can make the trail very wet. At the loop road turn right and walk along the road for about .5 miles before turning into the woods to head west on a bushwhack back to the Flynn Trail. There is a woods road here to follow for a while but it tends to angle north and you want to head west to the ledges. As you approach the ledges there will be obvious places to climb up through them. When you are near the top, head west to a large clearing just off the Flynn Trail near that pile of logs from earlier in the hike. The area seems to be a bog on top of bedrock! The mosses here are typical of bogs but it doesn't seem possible that they would develop here. Explore this area an notice to the southeast a road that leads back down to the pile of logs. You may follow the road or head directly west to the Flynn Trail. Turn left on the Flynn Trail and walk about 1.2 miles back to your car.

Mongaup Pond: Mongaup Falls Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.2 mi.	1290 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

From Livingston Manor take DeBruce Road toward Round Pond. At about 6 miles turn left on Mongaup Road. Where the road splits bear to the right and park in the small pulloff just past the intersection. Walk down the woods road to the stream and cross on the "bridge". Continue straight ahead on the woods road for about .4 miles and then turn left on the snowmobile trail. The trail rolls some but is mostly flat. It runs near the stream at points and can be very wet as water runs down from the ledges on the right. At about 2 miles a trail will lead out to one of the campsite loops at Mongaup State Campgrounds where you may want to take a rest. Back on the main snowmobile trail walk about .7 miles and watch for the yellow Mongaup Willowemoc hiking trail on the right. Turn here and start the first real climb of the hike ascending 260 feet over the next .7 miles as you climb the ridge that surrounds the pond. From the top of the ridge you will then descend the other side of the ridge. In another .6 miles, about 4.2 miles into the hike, turn right on the snowmobile trail to head southwest. This trail climbs about 400 feet over the next 1.2 miles to the shoulder of a hill on the east side of the pond. From that point the trail mostly descends with a few slight climbs over the next 1.7 miles where it meets the woods road you were on at the beginning of the hike. Turn right to head northwest fro about a mile until you are back at the main road. Just before crossing the "bridge", walk downstream until you get to a nice falls. There are several different viewpoints for this two-tiered cascade and it is well worth the short trip.

Mongaup Wetlands

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.2 mi.	1111 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

This hike takes in some of the wetlands east of Mongaup Pond. Some of these are being studied by Dr. Mike Kudish as a part of his ongoing project to understand the development of the Catskill forests. The first part of the hike is on snowmobile trail from Mongaup State Park and then on blazed hiking trails. Eventually you must strike out into the woods to get to the two wetlands areas. Your path during the bushwhack may vary significantly from this one.

The easiest way to do this particular hike is to ask the attendant at the gatehouse if you can park at campsite 34 on the east side of the campgrounds. From here find the snowmobile trail that leaves the campsite and walk east and then north. At about .8 miles watch for the yellow Mongaup Willowemoc Trail on the right. Turn on this trail and walk for about 1.3 miles to where a bridge crosses a small creek. There Rae several of these so watch your mileage. If you arrive at Butternut Junction, you have gone too far. Walk about .7 miles southwest and you should be in the area of a small marsh. Walk to the marsh. Walk around the marsh. Inspect the marsh. When done, return to the main trail. Turn left on the main trail and then almost immediately strike off the trail in a northeast direction. A walk of about .25 miles will put you on the "shores" of Butternut Creek which acts as the outlet to Sand Pond. Cross the wetlands and walk downstream along the creek for about .5 miles where you should find the Mongaup Willowemoc Trail again. Turn right and follow your route back to the car.

Mount Greylock: Hopper Trail

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.5 mi.	2513 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

From Sate Route 7 in Massachusetts take route 43 eat for 2.3 miles. In New Hope turn right on Hopper Road. At 1.4 miles the road splits in a Y with Hopper Road going to the left. Stay left on Hopper Road and drive to the dead end. Park in the parking area at the end of Hopper Road.

The very first part of the trail is an old farm road . This part is flat and the Haley Farm trail leaves to the right and then the Money Brook Trail branches to the left. Stay on the Hopper Trail marked mostly by fading blue blazes. The first mile of the trail nearly parallels the contour lines but constantly and gradually gains elevation. The trail is rooted and rocky in places. Some very large blowdowns have simply been left in place and "steps" have been cut through them. Around 1 mile the trail turns more to the south and starts to gain elevation toward the Greylock ridge. Over the next mile there is a gain of over 900 vertical feet. There are no rock scrambles or anything really steep but the climb is relentless. At 2.0 miles the trail levels some and meets Sperry Road at 2.3 miles. Turn left to hike up Sperry Road passing the campground office. Turn left at 2.6 miles to get back on the Hopper Trail. This part of the trail started innocently enough but then begins to gain elevation again quickly. At about 3.3 miles the Overlook Trail branches to the left. Stay on the Hopper Trail which begins to roughly parallel Rockwell Road. At 3.8 miles cross Rockwell and North Adams Roads and stay on the trail which will now have white markings to indicate that the Appalachian Trail had joined the Hopper Trail. From here it is only about .3 miles to the summit. There were a few more short sections to climb and just before the radio tower is Gore Pond, the highest body of water in the state. After this the trail passes a radio tower and crosses the road. A large stone is inscribed with a quote from Thoreau. Cross the road where there is a metal sculpture that shows all of the Greylock Reservation and the hiking trails. Behind this on the very summit is the War Memorial Tower and to the right is Bascom Lodge. A new road allows people to drive to the summit so the area may be crowded. Walk passed the tower and to the viewpoints on the other side. There are nice views to the east and if you walk down the slope you can get better angles for pictures. The views from the back of Bascom Lodge are also nice. When you have exhausted you exploration of the summit, return the way you came.

Mount Greylock: Jones Nose

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.9 mi.	1332 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take Route 7 south toward Pittsfield from Williamstown. At 13.3 miles from Williamstown in Pittsfield turn left on North Main Street. In less than a mile turn right on Quarry Road and follow the signs for "State Reservation". In .4 miles turn left on Rockwell Road passing the Visitor's Center in another .6 miles. Drive passed the Center and up Rockwell Road. At 4.3 miles watch for a parking area on the right for Jones Nose.

Get on the blue Jones Trail and start to climb through open fields with stunning views to the south down the mountain into the valley and over the hills beyond. The trail soon enters some brush and then trees which obscure the view. In a little less than .5 miles the trail became less steep and at .6 miles the trail forks with the CCC Dynamite Trail heading left and the Jones Nose Trail going right. Bear right and start a steep climb up to the AT which runs across Saddleball Mountain. At about .8 miles a spur trail labeled "view of the Catskills" turns to the left. Walk out to a rock outcrop to take some pictures before returning to the main trail. Just passed 1 mile the Jones Nose Trail ends. Turned left on the AT and head north. The AT runs across the Saddleball Mountain Ridge although not always on top. After about 1.6 miles, you will be back at Rockwell Road. Walk the .9 miles down Rockwell Road to Sperry Road and pick up the CCC Dynamite Trail on the left to get back to Jones Nose. As you walk down Rockwell Road you will find several nice viewpoints to the west. The CCC Dynamite Trail stretches about 1.35 miles from Rockwell Road to Jones Nose and is slightly uphill all the way. This trail can be wet and has several stretches of functional puncheons and plentiful nettles. Turn right on the Jones Nose Trail and walk back to the car.

Mount Greylock: Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	12.8 mi.	4666 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Turn south on Luce Road off Route 2 in Williamstown, MA. Luce Road makes a left and become Pattison Road. Park near the water treatment plant on either side of the road in pulloffs for AT hiking.

Pick up the white blazes of the Appalachian Trail as it heads south toward the Greylock Massif. Walking into the woods the trail is flat for a few hundred feet. After that, the it starts to ascend and gets steeper. In a mile and a half you will experience a vertical gain of 1450 feet and will be at a trail junction with a small viewpoint. The Appalachian Trail turns left here and almost due east to Mt. Williams. This trail junction can be tricky so pay attention to the blazes! The Appalachian Trail begins a descent toward the Wilbur Clearing Lean-to. Just short of the lean-to the trail turns to the left, crosses some elevated walkways and starts to ascend again. The first part to the crossing of Notch Road is gentle but the last section to the top of Mt. Williams is rocky and steeper. Along the way you may see some interesting outcrops of quartz. The viewpoint at the summit of Mt. Williams is pretty grown in and views are spotty at best. Continue to walk along the Appalachian Trail from Mt. Williams to Mt. Fitch. It is almost flat with a slight descent to a col and then the ascent up Mt. Fitch which has an elevation of 3100 feet. The distance is about 1 mile. The AT skirts the summit of Fitch so you may want to bushwhack to the top but there is no view from the summit. Back on the Appalachian Trail continue on toward Greylock on an almost flat with a slight incline. As you approach Mt. Greylock, you will pass the Bellows Pipe Trail and then the Thunderbolt Trail. This area was cleared for access to the old ski slopes and the trail is wide. The trail gets steeper and is strewn with rocks. Near the end a set of steps leads up to and across the road to the summit. After a short, steep section you arrive at the Thunderbolt Shelter which is for day use only. Continue on to the tower at the summit and walk over to the lookouts on the other side. Find the blue Hopper Trail and descend to Gore Pond. At Sperry Road turn right and head down the road and make a right turn to continue on the Hopper Trail. At the next junction take the cutoff trail that leads down to Money Brook and the Money Brook Trail. Cross Money Brook on a bridge and turn right toward Mt. Prospect on the Money Brook Trail. The Money Brook Trail begins to gain some elevation and crosses back and forth over the brook in several places. Just before the Mt. Prospect Trail junction the Money Brook Trail begins a steep ascent. To avoid climbing over Mt. Prospect, continue of the Money Brook Trail to the Wilbur Clearing Len-to and follow the Appalachian Trail back to the car. Turn left at the trail junction and take the Mt. Prospect Trail and head UP Mt. Prospect. After about .25 miles the trail starts a brutal ascent up the mountain. Eventually the trail turns due north and keeps a continuous ascent to the summit. Near the top the trail levels a little and then rises over one more bump to the top. There is one viewpoint along the way. After over 1100 feet of vertical gain in a mile you will arrive at the summit cairn. The trail now starts down the other side of Mt. Prospect but the descent is gentle, quite pleasant and quick. You will next arrive at the trail junction and viewpoint from earlier in the hike. Continue on the Appalachian Trail back to the car.

Mount Pisgah (PA)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.6 mi.	1481 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

From Route 220 in Towanda turn west on Route 6. Drive 11 miles west to Route 3019 marked as Wallace or Bailey's Corners Road. Turn north and drive to the T in the road. Left will take you to the county park. Turn right to go to the state park. After a short distance, park in the lot next to Stephen Foster Lake. The lake is formed by a dam on Mill Creek. Start the hike by crossing the road and turning right toward the park. The Mill Creek Trail turns left off the road and starts up a hill for about .4 miles. Stay left on a snowmobile trail at a junction where the Mill Creek Trail turns right. You will soon arrive at the Ridge Trail where you should turn right. The trails are all marked with wooden signs and are well-maintained. After a short distance, the Ridge Trail begins to climb through a forest with one or two marked trails crossing the main trail. The trail continues through open places and then back into forest. It flattens in places and then climbs toward the summit. The trail finally dips a little and at 2.9 miles where it meets the road to the county park at the summit. There are several viewpoints on the way. As it flattens near the top there are some facilities and primitive campsites. Continue to the summit which has a pavilion and two communications towers. In the area facing west there is a nice viewpoint with some benches. A sign on the pavilion describes a lodge and observation tower that once stood on the summit. Retrace your route to the summit but stay on the Ridge Trail and walk out to the road. Cross to the other side and pick up the Oh! Susanna Trail that runs next to Stephen Foster Lake. Take this trail back to the parking area.

Mount Tobias

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	2.3 mi.	700 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

From the junction of Route 28A and 28 just south of Boiceville drive north 1.1 miles and turn right on Winnie Rd. Drive to the end of road and turn right on the Mount Tremper-Wittenberg Road. Drive .2 miles and turn left on Abbey Road which ascends Mount Tobias. Drive about 2.5 miles and watch for a rutted and eroded access road on your left. There is no sign on the road but there is a parking area big enough for a few cars if you can negotiate the "driveway". Park and start your hike on the woods road that leaves the parking area to the north. After only about .25 miles you will notice that the road continues to the north but that Mount Tobias is to the ENE. Turn in that direction and walk a short distance to find some interesting cliffs. Walk to the right at the base of the cliffs until you can find a good place to start up the steep hill. The steep Apr continues for about .5 miles until you reach a flatter part near the summit. The highest point is marked by a cairn and is about a .2 mile walk along relatively flat ground. Clear views are difficult to come by but there are views through the trees at several points on the summit. Return the way you came.

Neversink Unique Area: High Falls

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.8 mi.	1608 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take the Rock Hill exit off State Route 17 and turn right. Drive south on Katrina Falls Road. Park in the small parking area at the end of the road. Walk through the gate and Ono the woods road which is the blue trail that parallels the Neversink River. A spur trail to the river goes right at .6 miles and another trail goes to the left at .7 miles. Stay on the blue trail for about 1.4 miles until another yellow spur trail heads right down to the river. This trail is .3 miles but steep in places and leads down to Denton Falls. After taking in the view at the falls, get back on the main trail. From this point on the trail is more of a trail as the woods road heads left but you will stay right following the blue blazes. At 2.7 miles the trail climbs to the highest point on the hike and then descends to 4.0 miles where a short yellow spur trail leads down to high falls. When you have completed your exploration of the falls retrace your route back to the car.

Neversink Unique Area: Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	10.2 mi.	1945 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take the Rock Hill exit off State Route 17. Drive south on Katrina Falls road. Park in the small parking area at the end of the road. Walk through the gate and Ono the woods road which is the blue trail that parallels the Neversink River. A spur trail to the river goes right at .6 miles and another trail goes to the left at .7 miles. Stay on the blue trail for about 1.4 miles until another yellow spur trail heads right down to the river. This trail is .3 miles but steep in places and leads down to Denton Falls. After taking in the view at the falls, get back on the main trail. From this point on the trail is more of a trail as the woods road heads left but you will stay right following the blue blazes. At 2.7 miles the trail climbs to the highest point on the hike and then descends to 4.0 miles where a short yellow spur trail leads down to high falls. When you have completed your exploration of the falls retrace your route back to the trail junction near Denton Falls. Turn right on the red trail to begin a loop. After only a few hundred feet take the yellow spur trail to the left that goes down to Mullet Brook Falls. The trail is less than .2 miles but the falls, when there has been some rain, is very pretty. Walk back to the red trail and turn left to continue the loop. The trail gains some elevation until at 7 miles it intersects a woods road. Be sure to turn left here or you will be headed south into uncharted territory. In about .3 miles the red trail turns left. Continue straight ahead on the woods road to a parking area at about 8 miles/ Walk down the dirt road until the road turns right towards Wolf Lake. Walk straight ahead on the power line right-of-way and cross a little stream to get to Wolf Lake Road. Turn left on the road and walk to Katrina Falls Road. Turn left on Katrina Falls Road to get back to the parking area. The whole road walk is about a mile.

Neversink Unique Area: Middle

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	10.3 mi.	1885 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take the Rock Hill exit off State Route 17. Drive south on Katrina Falls road. Park in the small parking area at the end of the road. Walk through the gate and Ono the woods road which is the blue trail that parallels the Neversink River. A spur trail to the river goes right at .6 miles and another trail goes to the left at .7 miles. Stay on the blue trail for about 3.4 miles until a yellow spur trail heads right down to High Falls. When you have completed your exploration of the falls return to the main trail. The blue blazed trail ends here and any further exploration to the south will be a bushwhack. In some places there seem to be roads or trails but this can be confusing since many lead nowhere. Careful exploration will allow you to find a woods road that leads to the "southern" part of the Neversink Unique Area. Once you find the woods road, the hike is about 1.75 miles to an old hunting camp. There are several woods roads that cross the one you are hiking but stay generally straight. of course, if you stray, you can simply turn around and hike back the way you came. There is a dirt road at the hunting shack and this is as good a place as any to stop. If you have more time or want to do a car spot, you could do part or all of the southern loop. When done, return the same way you came.

Neversink Unique Area: North

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.6 mi.	1240 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take the Rock Hill exit off State Route 17. Drive south on Katrina Falls road. Park in the small parking area at the end of the road. Walk through the gate and Ono the woods road which is the blue trail that parallels the Neversink River. A spur trail to the river goes right at .6 miles and another trail goes to the left at .7 miles. Stay on the blue trail for about 1.2 miles until another yellow spur trail heads right down to the river. This trail is .25 miles and leads down to a nice rapids on the river. Go back to the main trail and walk about .2 miles to another yellow spur trail on the right. This trail is .3 miles long but steep in places and leads down to Denton Falls. After taking in the view at the falls, get back on the main trail and walk to a trail junction where the blue trail bears right. Bear left on the red trail to begin a loop. After only a few hundred feet take the yellow spur trail to the left that goes down to Mullet Brook Falls. The trail is less than .2 miles but the falls, when there has been some rain, is very pretty. Walk back to the red trail and turn left to continue the loop. The trail gains some elevation until at 3.4 miles it intersects a woods road. Be sure to turn left here or you will be headed south into uncharted territory. In about .3 miles the red trail turns left again and follows a woods road. Hike for another mile and you will be back at the junction with the blue trail where you should turn right. In just over .1 miles another yellow spur trail turns left and goes .25 miles down to the river. Follow this trail and then return the same way. Reverse your route to get back to the car.

Neversink Unique Area: South

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.6 mi.	985 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take the Wurtsboro exit off State Route 17. Drive south on Route 209 to Westerbrookville. Turn right on Pine Kill Road until David Rhodes Road appears on the left. Turn left over the small bridge and up a hill. Turn left on Skinner Road which starts as a paved road and slowly deteriorates to a DIRT TRACK. Make sure you have a high clearance vehicle and four wheel drive in all but the driest conditions. Park in the small parking area at the end of the road being careful to avoid a large rock that can hide in the tall grass. There are NO TRAILS in this area although there is a register box. Your hike will be along woods roads for the entire length but most are unmarked and it is possible to make "wrong" turns. Just out of the parking area woods road bears to the right and heads northwest for about 2.7 miles along a ridge. At this point the road seems to split. One branch continues staring ahead toward the northern part of the Neversink Unique Area. Turn left as that branch of the road descend almost 500 feet in the next .85 miles to a hunting shack. At the hunting shack turn left on another road. Walk along this road for .7 miles at which point another road heads to the left and UP the ridge. In .6 miles the steep climb gains nearly 500 feet back to the ridge. Continue along the road for about .4 miles and at 5.25 miles you should be back at the woods road to the parking area.

Ninham Fire Tower

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	1.4 mi.	385 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

From Carmel, NY head east on Route 301. After crossing over the West Branch Reservoir, turn right on Gypsy Trail Road (Route 41). From the north take Route 301 from the Taconic Parkway and head west on Route 301. Turn left on Gypsy Trail Road just before crossing the reservoir. Drive about 2.3 miles to Mount Ninham Court on the left. DO NOT park at the Ninham Multiple Use parking area on the right at about 2.0 miles. After turning onto Mount Ninham Court, drive to the end and park in the small lot. Two roads leave the parking area. Use the gated road to the right. Before leaving the parking area, observe the stone chamber in the side of the hill. There are several of these in the area and their origin is a mystery. Walk up the road which will take you to the fire tower. There is another chamber on the right. There are many stone walls on the mountain. Many of these wall have stones much larger than the typical stones found in walls. After walking .75 miles and gaining 380 feet, you will be at the tower. It is hard to get a picture of the tower as it is surrounded by trees and communications towers. The tower seems safe to climb and the cab is open but without a roof. When you are done, retrace your steps to the car or explore a little in the area.

North Lake South Lake: Escarpment, Mary's Glen, Rock Shelter Trails

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	9.4 mi.	2030 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hiking trails around the North Lake South Lake Campgrounds may be the most scenic in the Catskills. As you hike the Escarpment Trail the history and the views just seem to get better with every passing mile. Many spots have names like Inspiration Point and Artist's Rock. Even places that aren't named have beautiful views of the Hudson River and surrounding countryside.

Turn north on Rt 18 from Rt 23A in the town of Haines Falls. After about 1 mile, turn right on Schutt Road just before the entrance to the state campgrounds. Turn left into the parking area. Walk across Schutt Road to the beginning of the blue marked Escarpment Trail. Several different trails intersect the Escarpment Trail at different places. Some of these trails are horse trails of snowmobile trails and not all are well marked. After 1.2 miles of descent, the trail turns sharply left and ascends. At this bend is the Layman Monument erected to a fire fighter who perished fighting a forest fire in 1900. There is a limited view from this spot that hints at what is to come. In just over half a mile the trail passes by Sunset Rock (South) and just beyond that Inspiration Point. This part of the trail is a constant ascent but not a steep one. These two lookouts have some nice views of Kaaterskill Clove and the mountains on the other side. A careful look to the east along the Clove reveals a glint of water; the Hudson River. The trail continues its ascent and in less than a mile turns sharply left to ascend South Mountain. Near the top of South Mountain is the site of the Kaaterskill House, one of the many hotels and rooming houses that were so prevalent throughout the Catskills. At this point the Escarpment Trail turns sharply right. To see the Site of the Kaaterskill House, turn left on the red marked Schutt Road trail. Retrace your steps and get back on the Escarpment Trail. The trail has several ups and downs and at one point makes a sharp right and heads toward Split Rock and Boulder Rock. Be sure to stay on the blue trail. A red trail continues straight ahead and cuts out both of these sites. These two rocks are DEFINITELY worth the extra time. At Split Rock the trail passes by several places where large pieces of rock have split of the main formation. Boulder Rock is a large boulder just sitting on a rocky shelf. This site gives the first and one of the best views of the Hudson River. Continuing downhill the trail now leads to the site of the Catskill Mountain House. Where a large boarding house once stood overlooking the Hudson, there is now an open field and a sign commemorating the structure. The views are fantastic and many people like to picnic here or just sit and enjoy the views. For those who want to hike less, parking is available at North Lake Beach and the walk is less than half a mile up a very gradual incline. The trail continues down to the lake and through several picnic areas skirting the eastern end of the campgrounds. At this point it starts and ascent that will total 450 feet. Most areas are gentle but several are short but steep. Artist's Rock is about .75 miles from the Catskill Mountain House site and offers excellent, unobstructed views of the Hudson and the small towns below. In a little more than a half mile, a yellow marked trail hooks back around to Sunset Rock (North) and Lookout Rock. The views of the two lakes from here are beautiful! This area also offers an opportunity to climb to the area without using the trail. Several chimneys and cracks provide short but challenging climbs. Back on the trail another .2 miles leads to Newman's Ledge with more great views of the Hudson River Valley. The trail has been ascend sing sharply for some time since Artist's Rock and continues to do so. Hike .6 more miles and Find Badman Cave at the junction with the Rock Shelter Trail. The "cave" is more like Badman Overhanging Rock Shelter. The Escarpment Trail Ascends sharply here and the levels off some. In .7 miles there is a junction with the Mary's Glen Trail. Turn left staying on the Escarpment trail toward North Point. The hike to the Point is only .3 miles but some of it is very steep with some rock scrambles. Once on North Point you will know that your work was worth it. From this high point you can see spectacular views of the Hudson River and the surrounding communities. Return to the junction with the Mary's Glen Trail and turn right. This trail descends for .8 miles. At the junction with the Rock Shelter trail turn right on the yellow marked Rock Shelter Trail. The 1.3 mile walk back to the car is punctuated by rocks and roots without many views.

North South Lake: Escarpment Loop Anticlockwise (No North Point)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	12.5 mi.	2575 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hiking trails around the North Lake South Lake Campgrounds may be the most scenic in the Catskills. As you hike the Escarpment Trail the history and the views just seem to get better with every passing mile. Many spots have names like Inspiration Point and Artist's Rock. Even places that aren't named have beautiful views of the Hudson River and surrounding countryside.

Turn north on Rt 18 from Rt 23A in the town of Haines Falls. After about 1 mile, turn right on Schutt Road just before the entrance to the state campgrounds. Turn left into the parking area. Walk across Schutt Road to the beginning of the blue marked Escarpment Trail. Several different trails intersect the Escarpment Trail at different places. Some of these trails are horse trails of snowmobile trails and not all are well marked. After 1.2 miles of descent, the trail turns sharply left and ascends. At this bend is the Layman Monument erected to a fire fighter who perished fighting a forest fire in 1900. There is a limited view from this spot that hints at what is to come. In just over half a mile the trail passes by Sunset Rock (South) and just beyond that Inspiration Point. This part of the trail is a constant ascent but not a steep one. These two lookouts have some nice views of Kaaterskill Clove and the mountains on the other side. A careful look to the east along the Clove reveals a glint of water; the Hudson River. The trail continues its ascent and in less than a mile turns sharply left to ascend South Mountain. Straight ahead at this point, a horse trail descends toward the Palenville Lookout. This is a steep trail but the lookout is worth the effort. The horse trail follows the ledges for some time until at about 3.9 miles it turns sharply left to descend to the level below. It is a steep but short descent so be sure to turn right and walk out to the lookout at about 4.5 miles. There are several viewpoints here with some giving a better view back up Kaaterskill Clove and others a view down to Palenville and out over the Hudson River. After you have rested and taken pictures retrace your steps all the way back to the Escarpment Trail. Make a right to walk up toward South Mountain. Near the top of South Mountain is the site of the Kaaterskill House, one of the many hotels and rooming houses that were so prevalent throughout the Catskills.

At this point the Escarpment Trail turns sharply right. The trail has several ups and downs and at one point makes a sharp right and heads toward Split Rock and Boulder Rock. Be sure to stay on the blue trail. A red trail continues straight ahead and cuts out both of these sites. These two rocks are DEFINITELY worth the extra time. At Split Rock the trail passes by several places where large pieces of rock have split of the main formation. Boulder Rock is a large boulder just sitting on a rocky shelf. This site gives the first and one of the best views of the Hudson River. Continuing downhill the trail now leads to the site of the Catskill Mountain House. Where a large boarding house once stood overlooking the Hudson, there is now an open field and a sign commemorating the structure. The views are fantastic and many people like to picnic here or just sit and enjoy the views. For those who want to hike less, parking is available at North Lake Beach and the walk is less than half a mile up a very gradual incline. The trail continues down to the lake and through several picnic areas skirting the eastern end of the campgrounds. At this point it starts and ascent that will total 450 feet. Most areas are gentle but several are short but steep. Artist's Rock is about .75 miles from the Catskill Mountain House site and offers excellent, unobstructed views of the Hudson and the small towns below. In a little more than a half mile, at 9.4 miles into the hike, a yellow marked trail hooks back around to Sunset Rock (North) and Lookout Rock. The views of the two lakes from here are beautiful! This area also offers an opportunity to climb to the area without using the trail. Several chimneys and cracks provide short but challenging climbs. Back on the trail another .2 miles leads to Newman's Ledge with more great views of the Hudson River Valley. The trail has been ascending sharply for some time since Artist's Rock and continues to do so. Hike .6 more miles and find Badman Cave at the junction with the Rock Shelter Trail. The "cave" is more like Badman Overhanging Rock Shelter. The Escarpment Trail ascends sharply here and the yellow Rock Shelter Trail branches to the left. Turn left on the Rock Shelter Trail. At about 11.0 miles make a sharp right and then a quick left to stay on the Rock Shelter Trail. Along this trail you may find several small waterfalls in wetter weather. In the winter the ledges are often covered in ice. After the turns, there is about a 1.4 mile walk back to the car which is punctuated by rocks and roots without many views.

North Lake South Lake: Escarpment Clockwise Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.7 mi.	1603 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hiking trails around the North Lake South Lake Campgrounds may be the most scenic in the Catskills. As you hike the Escarpment Trail the history and the views just seem to get better with every passing mile. Many spots have names like Inspiration Point and Artist's Rock. Even places that aren't named have beautiful views of the Hudson River and surrounding countryside.

Turn north on Rt 18 from Rt 23A in the town of Haines Falls. After about 1 mile, turn right on Schutt Road just before the entrance to the state campgrounds. Turn left into the parking area. Walk up Schutt Road and across Route 18 to pick up the yellow Rock Shelter Trail. Walk through the woods and over roots and rocks for 1.3 miles. Turn left on the red Mary's Glen Trail and climb just less than 2 miles to the blue Escarpment Trail. Turn left and continue to climb to North Point. It is only .25 miles but requires some rock scrambling in places to get up to several fantastic lookouts over the lakes and across to the Hudson River. When you have taken in the view, climb back down the Escarpment Trail but continue straight ahead at the trail junction. At 3.25 miles Badman Cave will be just off the trail on your right. A little further on at 3.4 miles you will be at Newman's Ledge. Just passed this point a short yellow spur trail leads up to Lookout Rock and Sunset Rock. These viewpoint offer great views over the Hudson and the two lakes, respectively. Back on the main trail at 4.3 miles you will pass by Artist Rock and then begin to descend to a parking area for the beach at the east end of North Lake. A slight climb places you in an open field with expansive views of the Hudson River. This was once the site of the Catskill Mountain House. After admiring the view and indulging in some thoughts about the past, get back on the Escarpment Trail and head for Boulder Rock and Split Rock at around 5.4 miles. Continue on the Escarpment Trail until the junction at 6.3 miles. Here the Escarpment trail turns left at you should go straight ahead on the red Schutt Road Trail. This trail ends after less than a mile at the Escarpment Trail. Turn right and walk to Schutt Road. Cross the road to the parking area.

North South Lake: Kaaterskill and Bastion Falls

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.5 mi.	1125 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Bastion and Kaaterskill Falls are a popular destination for sightseers in the Catskills. Kaaterskill Falls may be the highest falls in New York State. Even when the volume of water is low both falls are pretty. The parking area for the falls is on Route 23A just east of Haines Falls and west of Palenville. The parking area is small compared to the amount of people who want to use it especially on the weekends. From the parking area walk down the road toward the east. BE CAREFUL as you walk down the road because many of the drivers are not! In a short distance a stone bridge crosses Spruce Creek.Turn left an step over or under the guard rail. The falls next to the road are Bastion Falls. Depending on the water level you may be able to walk down to the creek bed and look upstream. The trail continues up the creek for about .5 miles to the base of Kaaterskill Falls. The lower and upper falls comprise a drop of about 260 feet. The formal trail ends at this point but many informal paths continue to the top of the falls.

The first climb intersects a horizontal trail that leads to the amphitheater between the two falls. Turn left on this path but be careful as you approach the area between the falls. This area is often VERY wet and the rocks can be VERY slippery. The climb to the top of the falls is STEEP and eroded and very difficult at times. At the top of the falls there are great views down to the pool at the bottom of the falls and down the clove formed by Spruce Creek. At any point you can reverse your path back to the car. At the top of the falls you may also be able to cross over to the other side which offers different views. Many times the water is too high to cross.

Continue on up along Spruce Creek for about .75 miles to the main road into North South Lake Campgrounds. As you walk you will find some of the trails at the campgrounds. Walk along the road the road for about .5 miles and turn left on Laurel House Road. Walk .6 miles down Laurel House Road to the parking area at the dead end. Walk along any of the paths to the top of the falls. At one time the Laurel House stood near the end of the road overlooking the falls. Follow one of the informal paths along the "right" rim of the falls and begin a STEEP and sometimes difficult descent down the west side of the creek. If you stay near the creek, you will be able to find a path to the area between the falls. Keep descending and find an area to cross the creek. This is never particularly safe but will not be possible when the water is high! After crossing the creek, use the trail to return to Route 23A and to your car.

North Lake South Lake:
North Point, Stoppel Point, Escarpment Trail, Palenville Lookout

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	14.4 mi.	3000 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hiking trails around the North Lake South Lake Campgrounds may be the most scenic in the Catskills. As you hike the Escarpment Trail the history and the views just seem to get better with every passing mile. Many spots have names like Inspiration Point and Artist's Rock. Even places that aren't named have beautiful views of the Hudson River and surrounding countryside.

Turn north on Rt 18 from Rt 23A in the town of Haines Falls. After about 1 mile, turn right on Schutt Road just before the entrance to the state campgrounds. Turn left into the parking area. Walk up Schutt Road and cross the main road to the campgrounds to the start of the yellow Rock Shelter trail. This may be one of my least favorite trails since it winds its way over rocks and roots for about 1.3 miles to the red Mary Glen Trail. There isn't much to see along the trail. Turn left on the Mary's Glen trail toward North Point. This trail ascends for about .8 miles to join the blue Escarpment Trail near North Point. The hike to the Point is only .3 miles but some of it is very steep with some rock scrambles. Once on North Point you will know that your work was worth it. From this high point you can see spectacular views of the Hudson River and the surrounding communities. North Point has at least three different "levels" and the best view may be from the highest one. Stay on the Escarpment Trail as it levels off slightly and passes by North Mountain. The trail rolls some before climbing to Stoppel Point after about 1.8 miles. Stopple Point offers great views to the northeast and on a clear day buildings in Albany are visible. Continue on for less than a mile to a plane crash on the right side of the trail and watch for another lookout to the south on the right side of the trail as you return. From Stopple Point reverse your path and return 1.8 miles to North Point and the .3 miles back to the junction with Mary's Glen Trail.

This time stay on the Escarpment Trail and in about .7 miles descend a rock slope to the trail junction with the Rock Shelter trail. On your right will be Badman cave which is more of a rock overhang than a cave. Stay on the Escarpment trail by bearing to the left and pass by a small swampy area on the right of the trail. In about .5 miles you will be at Newman's Ledge which offers now limited views. From Newman's Ledge the trail descends steeply for a bit. Watch for a yellow spur trail to the right which leads to Lookout Point and Sunset Rock North. The views of the two lakes from Sunset Rock are beautiful! Lookout Point offers more views of the Hudson to the east. This area also offers an opportunity to climb to the area without using the trail. Several chimneys and cracks provide short but challenging climbs. Return to the main trail and pass under several rock overhangs along the base of the lookouts you just visited. In .5 miles you will be at Artist Rock. This viewpoint offers spectacular views of the Hudson Valley and is often used by photographers and artists. The trail continues to descend to the beach and parking area at the extreme east end of North Lake. Go through the parking lot and head toward the iron gate to stay on the Escarpment Trail and ascend the .25 miles to the site of the former Catskill Mountain House where a large boarding house once stood overlooking the Hudson. There is now an open field and a sign commemorating the structure. The views are fantastic and many people like to picnic here or just sit and enjoy the views. It is easy to see why this was such a popular Catskill destination with a cog railway and road for carriages.

In about .5 miles the Escarpment trail bears left to go toward Boulder Rock and Split Rock. DO NOT take the red cutoff trail or you will miss these two sights. Boulder Rock is a large boulder just sitting on a rocky shelf. This site gives one of the best views of the Hudson River. At Split Rock the trail passes by several places where large pieces of rock have split of the main bedrock formation. Continue on for about .7 miles to the junction with the Schutt road trail near the site of the former Kaaterskill Hotel. This was another popular hotel and boarding house that once stood in the area. Turn sharply left to descend on the Escarpment Trail for about .4 miles. Here the Escarpment Trail meets the Harding Road Trail and a horse trail. Turn left on the Harding Road and horse trail to start the hike to the Palenville Lookout. When the Harding Road Trail turns right DO NOT follow it but stay on the horse trail. There will be few marking on the horse trail so follow it carefully. When the trail splits follow the fork to the right. The trail is flat is places and then descends. It starts out heading northeast but then bends southeast before turning northeast again! After .8 miles, there is a switchback that sends you southwest and descends VERY STEEPLY. At the base of this switchback the trail splits. Make a SHARP RIGHT here to head toward the Palenville Lookout! In another .5 miles you will descend again to the Lookout. The views from here are phenomenal. To the right you can see Kaaterskill High Peak and Round top and up into Kaaterskill Clove. Straight out from the lookout is the Hudson while looking left gives you a view more toward the north. Laid out below, so close you could almost reach out and touch it, is the small town of Palenville. Hikers have used some of the local flagstones to build several chairs on the lookout. A few informal paths lead northeast along the escarpment but none have better views that right at the lookout. Retrace your steps for about 1.3 miles back to the Escarpment Trail.

After walking along the path bounded by laurel for about .8 miles you will be at Inspiration Point with a further .2 miles putting you at Sunset Rock South. Both of these viewpoint offer great views across Kaaterskill Clove and down into the clove itself. The high Peak and Round Top are right across from these lookouts. The houses of Twilight Park seems to had on the edge of the mountain. From Sunset Rock the trail starts to descend for about .5 miles with some descents being steep. The trail then turn sharply right to head back to the Schutt Road lot. At this bend is a stone monument with a plaque commemorating the death of a firefighter who was killed fighting a fire in the early 20th century. From the Layman Memorial the trail ascends and then flattens. It passes by several side trail. Stay on the Escarpment Trail for 1.2 miles and cross Schutt Road to get back to the car. This 15 mile hike is long (obviously) with several challenging ascent and descents. However, once you have done this hike there isn't much around North South Lake that you have missed!

North South Lake: Palenville Lookout

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.8 mi.	1300 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hiking trails around the North Lake South Lake Campgrounds may be the most scenic in the Catskills. As you hike the Escarpment Trail the history and the views just seem to get better with every passing mile. Many spots have names like Inspiration Point and Artist's Rock. Even places that aren't named have beautiful views of the Hudson River and surrounding countryside.

Turn north on Rt 18 from Rt 23A in the town of Haines Falls. After about 1 mile, turn right on Schutt Road just before the entrance to the state campgrounds. Turn left into the parking area. Walk across Schutt Road to the beginning of the blue marked Escarpment Trail. Several different trails intersect the Escarpment Trail at different places. Some of these trails are horse trails of snowmobile trails and not all are well marked.

Stay on the blue Escarpment trail for about .65 miles as it descends slightly and crosses an old railroad grade. Cross a bridge and then make a quick left on the a right onto the red Schutt Road Trail. Stay on this trail for about .25 miles and then turn onto a yellow trail on the right. Continue on the yellow trail for .35 miles before turn left on the blue Escarpment Trail. In about .35 miles you will be at Sunset Point which is marked with a sign. Another .35 miles brings you to a sign that announces Inspiration Point. In about .55 miles the Escarpment Trail turns sharply left and the red Harding Road Trail continues straight ahead. Walk on the Harding Road trail for several hundred feet until it turns right in a near 180 degree bend and head DOWN.

At this point continue ahead on the horse trail for .85 miles as it winds and switchbacks its way down. At the base of a steep, short hill turn right and walk .55 miles out to the Palenville Lookout. After taking in the sights retrace your steps back to where you took the right and turn right. Walk along the horse trail for .8 miles looking for some trail up to the higher levels. At this point a snowmobile trail heads up toward the beach area of North Lake. From hear walk .15 miles up to the empty field that was the site of the Catskill mountain House. Retrace your steps back to the roads that loop around the lakes and turn left to follow the roads .6 miles to the west, outlet end of South Lake. Take in the view and then continue .5 miles back to the gatehouse. Walk .1 miles out passed the gatehouse and turn left on Schutt Road. Walk .15 miles down Schutt Road and back to the car.

North South Lake: Palenville Lookout (Big Loop)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.9 mi.	1195 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hiking trails around the North Lake South Lake Campgrounds may be the most scenic in the Catskills. As you hike the Escarpment Trail the history and the views just seem to get better with every passing mile. Many spots have names like Inspiration Point and Artist's Rock. Even places that aren't named have beautiful views of the Hudson River and surrounding countryside.

Turn north on Rt 18 from Rt 23A in the town of Haines Falls. After about 1 mile, turn right on Schutt Road just before the entrance to the state campgrounds. Turn left into the parking area. Walk across Schutt Road to the beginning of the blue marked Escarpment Trail. Several different trails intersect the Escarpment Trail at different places. Some of these trails are horse trails of snowmobile trails and not all are well marked.

Stay on the blue Escarpment trail for about .65 miles as it descends slightly and crosses an old railroad grade. Cross a bridge and then make a quick left on the a right onto the red Schutt Road Trail. Stay on this trail for about .25 miles and then turn onto a yellow trail on the right. Continue on the yellow trail for .35 miles before turn left on the blue Escarpment Trail. In about .35 miles you will be at Sunset Point which is marked with a sign. Another .35 miles brings you to a sign that announces Inspiration Point. In about .55 miles the Escarpment Trail turns sharply left and the red Harding Road Trail continues straight ahead. Walk on the Harding Road trail for several hundred feet until it turns right in a near 180 degree bend and head DOWN.

At this point continue ahead on the horse trail for .85 miles as it winds and switchbacks its way down. At the base of a steep, short hill turn right and walk .55 miles out to the Palenville Lookout. After taking in the sights retrace your steps back to where you took the right and turn right. Walk along the horse trail for .8 miles looking for some trail up to the higher levels. At this point a snowmobile trail heads up toward the beach area of North Lake. From hear walk .15 miles up to the empty field that was the site of the Catskill mountain House. Retrace your steps back to the roads that loop around the lakes and turn left to follow the roads .6 miles to the west, outlet end of South Lake. Take in the view and then continue .5 miles back to the gatehouse. Walk .1 miles out passed the gatehouse and turn left on Schutt Road. Walk .15 miles down Schutt Road and back to the car.

North South Lake: Palenville Lookout (Sleepy Hollow)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.8 mi.	2007 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hiking trails around the North Lake South Lake Campgrounds may be the most scenic in the Catskills. As you hike the Escarpment Trail the history and the views just seem to get better with every passing mile. Many spots have names like Inspiration Point and Artist's Rock. Even places that aren't named have beautiful views of the Hudson River and surrounding countryside.

This hike requires two cars for a car shuttle or you will have to double the mileage! Turn north on White Road just west of Palenville on Route 23A. Bear left and park one car in the parking area. Drive back down White Road to Route 23A and turn left. Take the next left on Bogart Road Drive to the junction with Mountain House road and turn left. Drive to the gate and park on the side of the road but DO NOT block the gate. Get on the wide woods road that leads up to the escarpment. The first 1 mile of the hike parallels Stony Brook and there are numerous falls and rapids along the way. Many of these falls are on private property. At 1 mile the trail turns to the left and crosses Stony Brook on a bridge. At this point there is a rock upstream from the bridge that, in the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, was Rip Van Winkle's resting place. This was also the site of the Rip Van Winkle house. The trail now heads generally south with one large switchback as it continues its ascent for the next 1.9 miles. Watch to your left along the way for several nice viewpoints. At 3.3 miles the trail crosses of right-of-way which was originally cut for the Otis Elevating Railway. The railway hauled passengers from the valley to the Catskill Mountain House. This area of the trail is often VERY wet. At 3.8 miles there is a trail junction and you should continue straight ahead to go to the Palenville Lookout which is about a .5 mile walk. At the main part of the lookout there is the remains of a foundation and some stone furniture that hikers have constructed. The view from here is outstanding particularly on a clear day. Palenville is just below but you can see out to the Hudson and beyond. You may walk along the escarpment to the left for some additional views. When you are ready, walk back up the trail and turn on the path to the left that takes you out to another lookout. This viewpoint better allows you to look back up Kaaterskill Clove. Back on the main trail walk to the trail junction, turn left and get ready for a short but steep ascent that approaches a 30% grade! The horse trail will continue to climb for the next .85 miles to a trail junction. Turn left on Harding Road. This road was constructed to bring materials to the plateau to build the Kaaterskill Hotel owned by George Harding. This road props 00 feet over the next 2.4 Niles and has several switchbacks that were needed to allow horse drawn wagons to make the grade. Watch to your right along the way for viewpoints. There is at least one stream crossing but you will not get your feet wet. At the end of the road a short trail takes you the additional .5 miles to the parking area.

North South Lake: Stoppel Point

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.6 mi.	1496 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hiking trails around the North Lake South Lake Campgrounds may be the most scenic in the Catskills. As you hike the Escarpment Trail the history and the views just seem to get better with every passing mile. Many spots have names like Inspiration Point and Artist's Rock. Even places that aren't named have beautiful views of the Hudson River and surrounding countryside. There are many combinations of paths that can ;lead to Stopple Point. This path is the shortest and most direct.

Turn north on Rt 18 from Rt 23A in the town of Haines Falls. After about 1 mile, turn right on Schutt Road just before the entrance to the state campgrounds. Turn right into the parking area. Walk up Schutt Road and across CR-18 to the yellow marked Rock Shelter Trail. Follow this trail for 1.3 miles where it intersects the Mary's Glen Trail. Turn left and follow the Mary's Glen Trail .8 miles to the blue blazed Escarpment Trail. Turn left on the Escarpment Trail toward North Point. Be prepared to CLIMB as you ascend .2 miles to North Point. Take in the views of the lakes and campgrounds below. Stay on the Escarpment Trail as it rises for another .35 miles to an area near the summit of North Mountain. Continue on the Escarpment Trail for another 1.4 miles to an open rock ledge which is Stoppel Point. Enjoy the views to the north and east before turning around and retracing your steps. If you want, continue on the Escarpment Trail for another .5 miles to the wreckage of an old airplane before turning around.

Norvin Green State Forest: Lower Trail

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.2 mi	1544 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hiking trails in Norvin Green State Forest in northern New Jersey are many and varied. The area contains several mines, great views from various high points and some seasonal waterfalls. By combining trails in different ways many different hikes can be constructed with varying lengths and degrees of difficulty. Park at the parking lot at the Weis Education Center on Snake Den Road. The first part of the hike winds its way through the recreational area of the park and around a rather unique pool. The pool is formed from a natural pool in the stream and has been fenced and "improved" for swimming. Follow the green Otter Hole trail along the stream and across a bridge until you reach a trail junction. Take the yellow trail Mine Trail toward the Roomy Mine. The yellow Mine Trail climbs a small hill and then winds through some nice open woods. There is a seasonal falls along the way formed on Blue Mine Brook. Around .9 miles look for a new orange cutover trail to get to the Roomy Mine. This trail may not be marked on some maps. The previous access from Snake Den Road has been closed by the owner of this private property. The orange trail follows an old mine road to the entrance of the Roomy Mine. The signs outside the mine caution that the mine is closed and should not be entered due to a resident bat population. Disturbing the bats while they are hibernating can seriously affect their fat stores which may make it impossible for them to complete their hibernation. Also, there is a concern about the white nose fungus which can be transmitted from mine to mine and cave to cave. Stay outside the mine to take pictures. You may venture up the slippery rocks to look down into the airshaft near the entrance! Back on the trail. the orange trail soon rejoins the yellow and red dot trails. It is a short walk to the Blue Mine. This mine is almost completely flooded and it is hard to get an idea from the adit how big it was. One look at the extensive tailings piles near the mine gives an indication that TONS of material were removed. Cross the bridge and take the red dot WCI, blue Hewitt Butler and Highlands trails as they start a short but steep climb to the Wyanokie High Point at around 2.5 miles. Just over the bridge is the stone foundation remains of some building from long ago. The trails to the High Point switchback several times but the elevation gain is not that great. The High Point seems so high since it has a much greater elevation that the surrounding terrain although it may not be the highest point in the park!. The trail levels near the top and there are some nice views. The Wanaque Reservoir dominates the view to the east while small villages dot the valleys and hillsides in the other directions. Continue the final climb to the very top over bare rock with only a few scrub pines. The view from here is 360 degrees and a short walk around the top allows photographing the landscape without any intervening vegetation. Following the Hewitt Butler and Highlands Trails as they head toward Yoo Hoo Point. The trails descend rather steeply off Wyanokie High Point, wander through some woods and then ascend again to Yoo Hoo Point. Along the way the red WCI trail leaves to the right but stay straight on the trail. Yoo Hoo Point is named for its close proximity to the Wyanokie High Point. The two are close enough that you could yell to another person on the other viewpoint and be heard and seen! Continue on to the trail junction with the yellow Carris Hill Trail which actually starts almost at the top of Carris Hill at about 3.25 miles. Carris Hill may be the highest spot along these trails. At the top of Carris Hill follow the yellow Carris Hill Trail which works its way along a ridge to some nice lookouts directly to the south and east. As you continue the views from the southern tip of the Carris Hill Ridge were very nice!. Descend Carris Hill toward Posts Brook and a trail junction with The Posts Brook and Lower Trails at 4 miles. Take the white Lower Trail as it heads north. The trail was an Eagle project and undulates slightly but is the easiest way back to the parking area.Watch for the red WCI Trail at 5.3 miles and turn right retracing your path passed the Blue and Roomy Mines. From here follow your earlier route in reverse back to the Weis Center.

Norvin Green State Forest: Otter Hole

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.3 mi	1677 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hiking trails in Norvin Green State Forest in northern New Jersey are many and varied. The area contains several mines, great views from various high points and some seasonal waterfalls. By combining trails in different ways many different hikes can be constructed with varying lengths and degrees of difficulty. Park at the parking lot at the Weis Education Center on Snake Den Road. Walk out of the driveway of the Weis Center and turn RIGHT. The trail access from Snake Den Road to the left has been closed by the owner of the property. The problem with the trails in the park is that there are quite a few and many run together in different places. All are well marked with paint blazes and some even have signs pointing to attractions. Watch for signs for the Highlands Pool which is a natural pool that has been developed for use by adding a fence, a cement apron and a lifeguard. You should now be on the yellow Mine Trail walking beside a stream and through a hardwood forest. At the trail kiosk continue on the yellow trail which will take you toward the Roomy and Blue mines. Along the way the trail passes above Wyanokie Falls. Continue on the yellow trail until the orange blazed Cutoff Trail bears to the left on an old, reinforced mine road which leads directly to the Roomy Mine. The Roomy Mine can be entered through a low and narrow opening but signs warn against it because of the white nose disease that is decimating the bat population. You may walk up the hill to a shaft that looks down into the mine. Follow the orange trail until its junction with the Red Dot and yellow Mine Trails. Turned left or south and after a short walk you will be at a bridge over Blue Mine Brook at the junction with the Highlands Trail. The mine entrance is straight ahead just after the bridge. On your left will be some very large tailing dumps. The Blue Mine is completely flooded and it is impossible to see much in the dark opening. Returning to the Bridge and the Highlands Trail which runs concurrently with the red WCI Trail. Stay on the trail passing junctions with the yellow Mine Trail and the white Lower Trail. A short but steep stretch of trail climbs toward the Wyanokie High Point at 2.95 miles. This is a bald half dome with 360 degree views dominated by an unobstructed view of the Wanaque Reservoir. Continue on the Highlands Trail as it runs along with the blue Hewitt-Butler Trail. The descent from the High Point is pretty dramatic but not too difficult and is followed by a brief descent and some flat section. It then climbs again to another high area called Yoo-Hoo Point. I suspect it got its name from its close proximity to the High Point. It is close enough to yell a greeting to someone standing there! Start to descend down the other side and then ascend toward Carris Hill. At the junction with the yellow Carris Hill Trail, bear left to follow this trail. The trail flattens out and opens up onto an area of bare rock with some trees and a large glacial erratic. There are views to the south especially as you descend the hill. The descent to Posts Brook is steep in some parts until it cuts to the right across some open rock and continues behind the large rock outcrop. Walking out onto the rock gives of the best views in the park. The Wanaque Reservoir is just below with the dam clearly visible with some nice islands and arms of land jutting out into the water. Walk behind the rock and continue your descent toward the Posts Brook Trail. Turn right on the Posts Brook Trail at 4.4 miles and approach Chikahoki Falls in another .3 miles. The trail follows closely along the brook until it reaches a small pool. Water runs over a large rock outcrop and into the pool forming the falls. The falls vary seasonally from a trickle to crashing water. Continue on the Highlands and Hewitt-Butler Trails to Otter Hole where there another small waterfall. Walk passed the green Otter Hole Trail and continue down the blue trail to Otter Hole at 5.75 miles. Return to the green Otter Hole Trail and turn left to head north. There are a few lookouts along the way but none have much of a view. The trail ascends for the next 1 mile and then starts a descent for the next 1.45 miles. It passes by the Highlands Pool and leads back to the Weis Center.

Overlook Mountain: Kaaterskill PA

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	10.6 mi.	2236 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

There are two trails that lead to Overlook Mountain and the sites found there. One trail comes up from Meads Road and is about 5 miles or less round trip. This trail is actually an access road to the WTZA-TV transmission tower and the state fire tower at the top of the mountain. The trail described Here starts at or near the Kaaterskill PA and then continues across The Catskill Center Platte Clove Preserve. This trail is almost 11 miles long round trip but offers the opportunity to visit Echo Lake.

In Tannersville, find Platte Clove Road. Travel along this road until you find a pull-off on the right for the Catskill Center Platte Clove Preserve. Parking here is limited. If there are no spaces, continue for a short distance and turn into the Kaaterskill parking area on the left. Sign in at the trail register. The first feature of the trail you will notice is a reconstruction of a post and tenon bridge across the creek. The Catskill Center has provided "labels" for some of the trees and handy signs to explain the role of the bluestone quarries in this area. After about a mile the red-blazed Devil's Path begins on the left. Continue straight ahead on the blue-blazed Overlook Trail. In just .2 miles you will be at the Devil's Kitchen lean-to. Another 2 miles brings you to the turn-off to Echo Lake. This spur trail is blazed in yellow and is about .6 miles long. The descent and subsequent ascent is steep and rocky. Echo Lake is a beautiful, natural lake surrounded by mountains. There is a lean-to on the shore. Continue another 1.5 miles to the ruins of the Overlook Mountain Mountain House and the WTZA-TV tower. The ruins are interesting and only the stone building blocks remain. A trail continues .5 miles up to the Overlook Fire Tower. This tower sits on a prominent rock plateau. It offers spectacular views of the Ashokan Reservoir, the Mountain House ruins and the surrounding hills and valleys. Try to pick a clear day to that your view and the pictures you take are not cloudy by the haze that can hang in the air. Return the same way you came for a round-trip of just under 11 miles.

Overlook Mountain: Meades Mountain Road

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.7 mi.	1409 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

There are two trails that lead to Overlook Mountain and the sites found there. One trail comes up from Meads Road and is about 5 miles or less round trip. This trail is actually an access road to the WTZA-TV transmission tower and the state fire tower at the top of the mountain. The trail described Here starts at or near the Kaaterskill PA and then continues across The Catskill Center Platte Clove Preserve. This trail is almost 11 miles long round trip but offers the opportunity to visit Echo Lake.

Finding the trailhead for the Meades Mountain Road route may be the hardest part of the hike. Head south and east from Phoenicia on Route 28. In about 4 miles turn east on Route 212. Route 212 heads generally east. Just passed Cooper's Lake turn left on Church Road. At the T turn left and then turn/bear right on Meades Mountain Road which may also be marked McDaniel Road. Drive for about 2.5 miles until a parking area appears on the left. Park your car and get on the access road to the tower. After walking about 1.75 miles on the road, the ruins of the Overlook Mountain House will be straight ahead. Look around the ruins. When done continue on the trail on the other side. The trail from Platte Clove and Echo lake will come in on the left. In about .4 miles you will be at the cabin. Turn left to go to the fire tower. On the way back walk behind the cabin and walk to the viewpoint that give Overlook Mountain its name. Follow the road back to your car.

Pelnor Hollow: Pelnor Hollow Road to Lean-to

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.0 mi.	830 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

This short hike doesn't gain much elevation but leads to a nice, secluded lean-to.

Head out of Roscoe on Route 206. Turn right on Berry Brook Road just after the county line and drive for around 3 miles. Turn left on Pelnor Hollow Road. Pelnor Hollow Road turns to a dirt road quickly and soon becomes a "track" which is barely passable by car. The road functionally ends at a small cabin on the left. You may turn around at the cabin and back up the road to park. Be aware that this is probably NOT a good idea. There area two alternatives to driving this part of the road and parking at the end. You may try to get permission to park from the homeowner just before the dirt road ends. Another possibility is to park further down the road and walk the extra mile or so up the track and passed the cabin.

From the last cabin on the road walk slightly uphill on a wide woods road which travels through mostly hardwood forest with a couple of open spots. After about .3 miles a sign shows .5 miles to the lean-to. Continued to hike until the lean-to appears on the left of the trail at just less than 1 mile. You may continue on the trail but be aware that in pricker season this can be a bloody affair. The trail is not well maintained and although the terrain is not difficult the briars can be deadly. In late fall and winter the going is considerably easier and many choices are possible. The junction with the Mary Smith Trail is about 2.3 miles away. At that junction it is possible to turn right on the Mary Smith Trail and hike about 1.2 miles to Berry Brook road. You can also hike a short distance to the Spilt Rock Lookout. Beyond the lookout is the junction with the Spring Brook Trail or the opportunity to hike through to Route 206. How far you want to go just depends on you.

Pelnor Hollow: Mary Smith Trailhead to Lean-to

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.2 mi.	1844 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Head north from Roscoe on Route 206. Turn right on Berry Brook Road just after the county line and drive for around 8 miles to the trail head parking on the right. Cross the road to get on the Mary Smith Trail heading west southwest. After about .1 miles on a woods road, you will cross a power line right-of-way. Watch for the trail as it continues through a grassy area and into the woods. The trail ascends some until about .45 miles when it levels off if only briefly. In only .2 miles the trail again ascends for the next .5 miles to 1.15 miles where it meets the Pelnor Hollow Trail. At this point you may choose to turn left and go directly to the lean-to or you may visit the Split Rock Lookout. To visit the lookout turn right and after a short distance you will be faced with a VERY STEEP downhill section. At 1.3 miles you will arrive at the Split Rock Lookout with some great views to the west. Notice the house across the way on the ridge. When you have taken in the view, return the way you came to the trail junction and continue straight ahead. The hike to the lean-to is a pleasant walk through hardwood forest. There are some limited views of other ridges but none that allow photography. You will be treated to a large number of glacial erratics along the way. The prickers in spring and summer can be fierce so this hike is better left to late fall or winter. You will hike down from the trail junction losing about 300 feet before climbing the next hill and then hiking down to the Lena-to losing 465 feet. The total distance to the lean-to from the trail junction is 2.3 miles. Retrace your steps back to the junction with the Mary Smith Trail. Turn right and hike the 1.2 miles back to the car.

Platte Clove Preserve: The Falls

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	2.0 mi.	300 ft.

This short hike doesn't gain much elevation but leads to a series of falls in Platte Clove. Park at the Platte Clove Preserve "cabin" on Platte Clove Road just west of the Kaaterskill High Peak parking area. Walk toward the cabin and down the road next to it. Follow the trail down to the stream bed. It is steep in places but the distance is minimal. At the dead end you will be looking at Plattekill Falls. The .2 mile walk brings you to one of the most beautiful falls in the Catskills. The "look" of the falls varies during each season so visit at least four times! Walk back up the path to the cabin but continue to walk passed on the trail. The falls below the king post bridge is Old Mill Falls. You may observe the falls from the near side or cross over the bridge to see it from the far shore. Taking pictures from the rocks downstream from the falls allows some great shots but BE CAREFUL on the slippery rocks!

Poet's Ledge and Wildcat Falls

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.1 mi.	2386 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

This trail is part of the Long Path stretching from Fort Lee, NJ to Thacher Park near Albany. Poet's Ledge and Wildcat Falls are two point of interest on the trail. Beyond Wildcat Falls is Buttermilk Falls. The trail leads to the snowmobile trail that run around Kaaterskill High Peak and Round Top. A bushwhack from the snowmobile trail leads up to the High Peak.

Take Route 23A from Palenville toward Haines Falls if you are coming from the east or from Haines Falls to Palenville if coming from the west. Park on the north side of 23A near Palenville near where the road cross Kaaterskill Creek. Walk on the road to the east and cross over to a "street" that goes to the right just before the road crosses the creek. Watch for the aqua blazes of the Long Path. This street is now blocked and closed to traffic. It has been overgrown with vegetation and only the paved surface here and there separates it from any other trail. On the other end of this short path you will be back on paved road. The blazes will continue for a short distance and the direct you to turn up a short street/driveway. Blue markers now appear in addition to the blaze. After a few feet, the trail turns onto a woods road and into the forest.

The path ascends on the wood road, leveling at times, but always continuing upward. After less than a mile, the trail again cuts right and starts serious climb up! The trail has several switchbacks and there are hints of views to the right. Continue on this trail which levels at times and then becomes much steeper. in about 1.25 miles there is an obvious lookout to the right. The lookout gives a glimpse of the Clove below and the mountains to the north. Continue on the main path for another half mile. At this point a sign points to a yellow spur trail that DESCENDS to Poet's Ledge. The descent is worth it since the view is very nice. As you descend you will pass a large, flat expanse of rock with several fire circles. There is a view from here but this is NOT Poet's Ledge. After another short descent through some rocks you will be on the Ledge.

The Ledge gives an unobstructed view of Kaaterskill Clove and Route 23A below. To the left is South Mountain and the Escarpment Trail. On the right looming above the Ledge is Kaaterskill High Peak. The Ledge is at 2200 feet but the mountain is another 1400 feet of vertical gain. After visiting Poet's Ledge and returning to the main trail you may retrace your steps to the car. You may also choose to visit Wildcat Falls, Buttermilk Falls and the High Peak itself.

Pratt's Rock

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	2.0 mi.	669 ft.	Unavailable

Prattsville is a wide spot in the road just east of Grand Gorge. The area has some nice hiking trails including the Long Path over Huntersfield Mountain and a park containing Pratts Rock. Pratt was a local businessman and politician. He commissioned a stone cutter to carve various images in a rocky cliff. These images are still there and are very interesting. The view from the top of Pratts Rock is equally impressive. There are several ways to find the parking area. Drive north for 6 miles from the junction of Route 23A and Route 42 west of Hunter. Turn right on Route 23 and drive for .5 miles. The parking area is on the left. Drive 9 miles west on Route 23 from the village of Windham. the parking area will be on the right. Drive 14 miles on Route 23 from the junction of Route 30 and Route 23 in Grand Gorge. Turn left in Prattsville to stay on Route 23. The parking are will be on the left after .5 miles.

From the parking area hike up to the information kiosk and then through the park. The trail is marked and at some point you should be able to see the cliffs with their whitewashed images through the trees. Stay on the trail as it winds around behind the "rock". Shortly you will be on the viewpoint above the images. The views here are magnificent particularly those down to Schoharie Creek and across the valley. You may walk along the edge of the cliffs as more viewpoints at different angles lie along this path. When you have had enough, you may continue straight ahead and inspect some small "caves" in the cliffs at the top. From here you can drop down a short, steep path that warps around to the front of Pratt Rock. You may also double back the way you came and follow another, more gentle path down to the viewing area below the images. From the images a trail leads back down into the park and to the parking area.

Pyramid Mountain

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.8 mi	844 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

From New Jersey Route 23 turn south and west on Boonton Avenue. Drive 4 miles passing the Taylortown Reservoir on the right. Park at the parking lot on Boonton Ave. just south and west of the Taylorsville Reservoir. Walk to the northwest corner of the parking lot and look for the kiosk. The blue Menenm Trail begins behind the kiosk and heads north. At .2 miles the trail crosses a brook and shortly after a yellow trail comes in from the right. Stay on the blue trail and start an ascent that crosses under some power lines. At .47 miles a white trail comes in from the left but stay on the blue trail. At .54 miles bear right on Red Trail South and descend to Stony Brook at just less than 1 mile. Turn left on the white trail and walk about 50 feet to inspect the ruins of Morgan Place. Turn around and continue straight ahead on the white trail until a trail junction with the Blue and yellow trails at 1.3 miles. At this junction is Bear (Bare) Rock. This is a huge boulder which may be the biggest in New Jersey. Native Americans used shelters on both sides of the rock. After inspecting this boulder, continue straight ahead on the blue Mennen Trail heading northeast. At 1.9 miles turn sharply right onto a red-white trail and after a short walk merge onto the Red Trail North and make a short, steep ascent to the ridge. At the top of the climb at 2.2 miles is Whale Head Rock and just after that Eagle Cliff. The trail undulates for the next .4 miles until it meets the white Kinnelon-Boonton Trail at 2.8 miles. Turn right and continue on this trail for about .4 miles until you come to Tripod Rock. This is a 150+ ton boulder that sits perched atop three smaller stones. A controversy has developed over whether this is a natural or man-made occurrence! The trail ascends some until at 3.3 miles a side trail on the right leads to Lucy's Overlook. Get back on the main trail and ignore any side trails along the way. The trail markings turn to blue and you should follow them back to the parking lot. At 4.0 miles a side trail leads to an impressive lookout and the highest point on the trails. It is worth the side trip. From here the trail drops steeply to the trail junction where you turn left to get back to the car.

Quick Lake from Frick Pond

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	13.7 mi.	2400 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Quick Lake is covered with trails. There are numerous possibilities for short of long hikes. The area is "relatively" flat and there are no "views". There is, however, some beautiful scenery.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about six miles then turn left on Mongaup Rd. Where the road splits bear left on Beech Mountain Rd. and park in the parking lot on the left. Find the red-blazed Quick Lake trail and follow it for .5 miles to the junction with the yellow-blazed Logger's Loop. Bear left and walk down the hill to the outlet of Frick Pond where you should cross the stream on the bridge. At the next trail junction bear right on the Quick Lake trail. At 1.5 miles you will be at Iron Wheel Junction where the Logger's Loop Trail turns right. Stay on the Quick Lake Trail by bearing left and walk up the hill about .2 miles to a junction with a snowmobile trail. Turn left here for the fastest route to Quick Lake. It is possible to continue north to Junkyard Junction and then turn left on the Quick Lake Trail but this adds distance to an already long hike! The rest of your hike will alternate between snowmobile trail and the Quick Lake Trail. At some points the signs and blazes are confusing but as long as you are headed generally north and west toward Quick Lake you will get there. Follow the snowmobile trail until about 4.3 miles where you will meet the Quick Lake trail again. Turn left here and follow the Quick Lake trail as you now turn west toward Quick Lake. Stay on the trail until about 6.3 miles where the trail turns right and heads north to make a big loop before heading south to the lake. At this point continue on the snowmobile trail as it starts a long descent to Quick Lake. Near the lake you will again pick up the Quick Lake Trail. Visit the lean-to by Quick Lake and take some pictures. The "lake" is very low at times and is rather small. When you are ready, retrace your route back to the car. You may want to try some variations but remember that the route described here is already over 13 miles long!

Ramapo Fire Tower

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	.6 mi	110 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

From Ringwood head south on the Greenwood Lake Turnpike which is also known as Ringwood Avenue. Turn left on Skyline Drive and continue for about 2.6 miles. Pull over at the end of a road marked as "Private Driveway" across the road from a gated access to the gas pipeline. Park away from the gate. Walk up the driveway for about .3 miles to the tower. If an observer is present get permission to climb the tower. There are excellent views of the Wanaque Reservoir to the west. Turn facing east and you will see a great view of the New York CIty skyline. The skyline is clearly visible without a camera but a zoom lens helps. Walk back to your car when you are done.

Ramapo State Forest: VanSlyke Mansion

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	9.6 mi	1928 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

This hike has a little something for everyone. There is the ruins of the VanSlyke mansion in the Ramapo State Forest along with Matapan Rock, Camp Glen Gray, the Millstones and a paleo-Indian rock shelter.

Get off I287 at exit 57 and head north on Skyline Drive. Park at the first parking lot on Skyline Drive. The parking lot see a lot of use and can be very rough. Start your hike on the blue MacEvoy Trail which gains some elevation as it parallels what a stream or stream bed depending on the amount of rainfall. The first .6 miles of the trail is rocky with roots and a 200 foot elevation gain. Pass by trail junction with the white Todd Trail and the yellow Hoeferlin Memorial Trail. You will arrive at the shore of Ramapo Lake and join a paved and completely flat road. There is a dam on the lake and found a private inholding with lake rights in the middle of the state forest. The inholding has the name "Bear Run" and the house and grounds are impressive! At the north end of the lake there is a junction with the white blazed Castle Point Trail and the white on red C Cannonball trail. Turn north on the Castle Point Trail and stay on it when the two trails split almost immediately. Over the next .3 miles the Castle Point Trail rises about 250 feet and there are several viewpoints off the trail which give excellent views of Ramapo Lake to the south and the Wanaque Reservoir to the west. There is a rock outcrop near the top of the trail and a stone wall with mortar. Hop up and over the wall to the grounds of the VanSlyke Mansion! Several sites on the Internet have the history of this mansion which is roughly contemporary with the Cornish Estate near Beacon and the ORAK Mansion in Harriman Park. They are all evidence that there were always those who had more money than others and weren't afraid to spend it. It is easy to imagine the original view unhindered by the current trees. A long road and driveway leads up to the mansion and is still in good shape. It is obvious that fire played a part in the demise of the estate as the remaining woodwork shows signs as does some of the stone. There is a large brick chimney, a few ceramic tiles and a covered buggy/car port. Get back on the main trail and watch for pipes that run to the water tower. There will be a cement structure on the left with pipes, valves and stairs. This was once the swimming pool! There is another viewpoint along the way and then the water tower. The stone structure of the tower is largely intact and is impressive. There is an entrance on the east side and inside there are still some wooden supports and a wooden "ceiling". There is no tank to be seen but you may notice several long iron "cables" lying on the ground which served as "hoops" for a wooden "barrel" on the top of the tower. The tank was filled by rain water and gravity allowed the water to feed downhill to the swimming pool and house. When you are done exploring, start down off the ridge and find the coaligned Hoeferlin Memorial and Cannonball Trails as they cross over Skyline Drive at 2.4 miles. The trails head north toward Matapan Rock. Like many of the trails in New Jersey, these trail are never very far from a road or at least the noise from a highway. At one point the trails descend into an area where there are fences from a utility company. Keep a careful eye on the blazes as they all but disappear. In about a mile from crossing Skyline Drive, you will come across the red blazed Matapan Rock Trail. Turn right or west and walk out to this open rock face. The views are extensive but take in mostly large houses on the opposing hills and in the valleys below. Head back on the Matapan Rock Trail toward Camp Glen Gray and Lake Vreeland. The blazes here can be confusing. As the red trail ends you should find an orange trail. If the orange blazes are absent, turn right on a woods road in the direction of the camp. The buildings of the Boy Scout camp begin to show up and then shore of the lake. The lake is used by the boy scouts but is also open to the public and is often crowded. Follow the orange trail SOUTH until it intersects the white Millstone Trail. Turn left and follow the trail over Millstone Hill. There are several glacial erratics on the way to the summit just .7 miles from the lake. As you descend the next .3 miles you will came to a trail junction and a sign that says "Millstones". There are several worked stones that look as if they might have been destined to be small millstones. What is not clear is why they are in this area. Turn to the south on the yellow blazed Yellow Trail. The trail wanders up and down over some hills and has several switchbacks before Todd lake which is another small pond with lily pads and frogs. At the white Todd Trail turn right or west to follow the Todd Trail to Skyline Drive and the junction with the yellow Hoeferlin Memorial Trail. To visit the Indian Rock shelter DO NOT cross the road but walk down the shoulder of Skyline Drive until you pick up the trail. You will soon see a sign painted on the rocks pointing the way. The "shelter" is not too large with simply a rock overhang. All the artifacts have been removed. This must have been a very temporary shelter as it is very exposed. You can walk up the hill along the rock outcrop to look for other shelters. Followed the yellow trail back to the road and cross Skyline Drive. Continued to follow the trail until it ends at the blue MacEvoy Trail where you should we turn left or east and head back to your car.

Red Hill Fire Tower

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	2.3 mi.	997 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Turn onto Rt. 55A in Grahamsville near the Rondout Reservoir. After about 2.25 miles look for Sugarloaf Rd. on your left. Continue on Sugarloaf Rd. for about 4 miles and look for Red Hill Rd. on the left. Make this sharp turn. Dinch or Coons Rd. will be on your left almost immediately. Continue on this road for a little over one mile. The road is not paved. It is a dead end and it gets rough enough that an SUV or a pickup might be a good idea. Park at the trail head. Look for signs to the trail and follow the yellow markers. After about .56 miles the slope increases slightly and increases again at .75 miles. After about 1.2 miles you are at the summit. Climb the fire tower for some nice views. Reverse your route. A quick, relatively easy hike with a reward at the top.

Ricketts Glen

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.3 mi.	1560 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

There are several different access points to this park depending on the activity you want. Even if you are hiking there are several different ways to approach the hike. One parking area is on Pennsylvania Route 118 west of Wilkes-Barre. The trail is on the north side of the road. Walk northeast on the trail and enjoy the wide, clear trail. Notice that there are many very large evergreen and hardwood trees still standing along the path. You will cross over the creek on small bridges until a larger bridge crossing at about .4 miles. At .85 miles the trail splits. The more difficult route goes down to follow the creek bed while the more moderate trail goes up and avoids the rough rocks. The trails meet at the first falls, Murray Reynolds at about 1.45 miles. There are three falls in quick succession before you arrive at Waters Meet at 1.7 miles. This is where the two glens, Ganoga Glen and Glen Leigh meet. You can go either way. Turn left and start up Ganoga Glen.

The trail starts to ascend now with many beautiful waterfalls occurring one after another. Each has its own character and is interesting in its own right. Take care as you walk on the trail. Springs in the hillsides make the trail muddy and slippery in many places. The trail passes close to the top of some of the falls and some of the drops are considerable. At 2.33 miles you will be at Ganoga Falls which is the highest in the park at just under 100 feet. After walking by these falls there will be several more before you reach the top of the glen. At 2.63 miles turn right onto the Highlands Trail to cut across to Glen Leigh. At 3.1 miles you will be at Midway Crevasse where the trail passes between several large outcroppings of sandstone. At 3.5 miles turn right to walk down the Glen Leigh Trail.

At 3.95 miles you will be at Huron falls which is the highest in Glen Leigh. This is followed by Ozone which is one of the nicest. Although the falls in Glen Leigh are not as high as the ones in Ganoga Glen, Glen Leigh gives you more of the feeling you are in a glen or gorge. The rock walls on either side seem to rise more sharply. At 4.35 miles you will be back at Waters Meet. From here you can retrace your steps until you are back at the road at 5.9 miles. Cross Route 118 and find a path to the right of the parking lot. Follow this path, the Evergreen Trail down to Adams Falls which has cut extensively through the bedrock. At this point you can return to your car to complete the 6.5 mile hike. You can also complete the Evergreen Trail which is only about a mile long. One this trail you will find some trees that were growing when Columbus discovered America.

Rochester Hollow

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.9 mi.	1100 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

From Route 28 between Big Indian and Highmont look for Matayas Road. The road just west of this road is the access road to Rochester Hollow. Turn north and go to the end of the road to the parking area. This is a particularly popular spot during winter when people use it for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. To start the hike simply begin to walk up the wide woods road. The road parallels a brook. Watch along the way for some stone columns. At 1.7 miles the road turns sharply west. Walk straight ahead into the woods to find some interesting ruins. When you have finished exploring, return the way you came.

Rochester Hollow Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.2 mi.	1262 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

From Route 28 between Big Indian and Highmont look for Matayas Road. The road just west of this road is the access road to Rochester Hollow. Turn north and go to the end of the road to the parking area. This is a particularly popular spot during winter when people use it for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. To start the hike simply begin to walk up the wide woods road. The road parallels a brook. Watch along the way for some stone columns. At 1.7 miles the road turns sharply west. Walk straight ahead into the woods to find some interesting ruins. When you have finished exploring, continue on around the bend and look for a monument to John Burroughs on the right. Follow the trail around and out to Rose Mountain Road. You will pass a lean-to on the right. A short stretch of this trail passes through PRIVATE PROPERTY so make sure you obtain permission to hike here. If you cannot obtain permission, turn around and retrace your route back to the car. Once you make the left turn onto Rose Mountain Road it is about 1.4 miles down to Route 28 where you will turn left. Walk .6 miles back to the access road and another .3 miles back to the parking area.

Rock Rift Fire Tower

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.9 mi.	1300 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take exit 87A on the Quickway, State Route 17, and watch for signs for Route 268 North. Drive to the end of Route 268 where it meets Route 10 and turn right. Drive about 1.2 miles and park in the boat launch on the south side of the road across from Fish Brook Road. If you are coming from the west on Route 10 watch for the signs for Route 268 and then follow these directions. From the east on Route 10 drive about 10 miles from Walton passing the parking area on the south side of the road. Continue to the boat launch area and park there. Walk west on Route 10 for about .2 miles crossing over Fish Brook. Watch for a woods road on the north side of the road that heads up the hill. The road is the old access road to the tower and sits on a narrow strip of land purchased by the Conservation Department for that purpose. This land is now part of the Cannonsville Watershed and is owned by New York Sity. It was recently opened to hikers but there are no marked trails. Be sure to avoid private property! Follow the road as closely as you can as it leads directly to the fire tower. At present the road is overgrown in places and may be hard to follow. In addition, the trees that have blown down across the road over 25 years have not been cleared. Of course, at any point you may use the rule "head north and up"! The first 1.25 miles and the last .2 miles of this route are gently sloped. The half mile in between averages a 25% grade with some spots being even steeper! From the tower reverse your steps back to the car.


Russell Brook Bushwhack

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.6 mi.	1035 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

This is one of our favorite trails when we just want to hike. It has several variations for distance and difficulty. Like most trails, hiking one way is different than hiking in the other direction. We have take this route more than a dozen times this season and it is interesting to watch the changing seasons. It is unfortunate that Russell Brook Road is closed due to the frequent floods that have washed out the road.

Turn left on Morton Hill Road on Route 206 just after the Rockland Flats. Bear right up Morton Hill Road until you see a parking area on the left near the sign indicates Russell Brook Road is closed.

Park here and hike down Russell Brook Road .3 miles to a gated snowmobile trail on the right. Turn here an walk along the snowmobile trail until the trail turns left at .6 miles. You may turn left an follow the snowmobile trail up and over the ridge and then down to the pond. Continue straight ahead to begin a bushwhack that parallels Russell Brook in a northeast direction. At about 1 mile find a place to cross the stream and head north and then northwest and west to climb over a hill. The way is steep in places with over a 23% grade. From the top of the hill head west to get down to Cable's Lake. You may find several different woods roads in this area which will make the descent easier. Once on the trail turn left and head back on the trail to the main trailhead on Russell Brook Road. Walk up Russell Brook Road to get back to the parking area on Morton Hill Road.

Sam's Point: All Points

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	10.3 mi.	1403 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hiking trails throughout the Sam's Point Preserve vary from open carriageway to narrow "maintained" trails through the brush, over the bogs and around many interesting rock formations. There are several different variations in length from the trail through the Ice Caves and to Sam's Point which is about 4 miles to the 10.5 mile complete loop. The ecology is a pine barrens with some hardwood sections and many boggy areas. Verkeerder Kill falls is well worth the visit as are the Ice Caves. These "caves" are actually tectonic caves formed when part of the mountain pulled away forming deep crevices in the rock.

Park in the lot at the Visitor's Center at Sam's Point. Be sure you pay the parking fee or buy a pass that is good for a year. As you walk toward the trails, you may bear to the left or right. Bear to the left and begin to hike up the loop road on a gentle grade. Watch on your left for some of the shacks used by blueberry pickers in years gone by. These shacks are all but gone but hark back to an era when berry picking was a commercial venture. At about .3 miles the South Gully Trail branches left off the loop road. This trail leads down to Route 52 and is a hike all by itself. There are several waterfalls and cascades along the trail as it parallels a stream. Continue to walk along the loop road. At about 1.0 mile there will be a short side trail that goes to the shore of Lake Maratanza. Depending on the level of the lake, this may or may not prove interesting. At this point you will start to see TV and other communications towers on your left. The High Point Carriageway bears to the left off the loop road at 1.2 miles. Bear left and at 1.6 miles turn left on the trail to Indian Rock. The Rock is a large glacial erratic from which there are very good views. The first part of this trail is a boardwalk since it passes over a bog. Continue to walk on the trail following the blazes on the rocks carefully. The blazes may be hard to follow but the trip is 1.0 mile detour is worth the effort. Back on the carriageway, continue north to 3.85 miles and turn right on the High Point Trail which makes a steep but short ascent. Near the top of this ascent is where the fire tower was located. Turn right to stay on the High Point Trail and walk through the scrub to High Point. A USGS marker is embedded in the rock at this location. Continue the hike by dropping down the ledge and walking the High Point Trail along the escarpment to 6.25 miles. Along the way there are some fantastic views! The Long Path continues straight ahead on its way to Lake Awosting. Turn right a make a steep descent on the Verkeerder Kill Falls Trail. At 6.5 miles you will be at the lowest point on the hike. Here you will be looking down into the ravine formed by the falls. The falls are best viewed when there has been some rain. Since you will now have to cross over the stream above the falls to continue the hike, avoid this route when there have been massive amounts of rain. Observing the falls from each side gives slightly different views. Continue on the trail and be prepared to hike UP the trail for the next 1.7 miles until the trail ends on the access road to the ice caves at 8.25 miles. Walk down the heavily eroded road to the entrance to the "caves". Walk carefully on the wooden ladders and rocky path through this area. Constant use has polished both wood and stone making it very slippery. Upon exiting the caves walk up the road to the loop road and turn left at 9.25 miles. Walk on the road until another side trail appears on the right. Walk this trail out to Sam's Point to take in more views and to see if you can spot your car in the lot. Walk back out to the main trail and down to the Visitor's Center and your car.

Sam's Point: Around Lake Awosting

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	13.6 mi.	1755 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hiking trails throughout the Sam's Point Preserve vary from open carriageway to narrow "maintained" trails through the brush, over the bogs and around many interesting rock formations. There are several different variations in length from the trail through the Ice Caves and to Sam's Point which is about 4 miles to the 10.5 mile complete loop. The ecology is a pine barrens with some hardwood sections and many boggy areas. Verkeerder Kill falls is well worth the visit as are the Ice Caves. These "caves" are actually tectonic caves formed when part of the mountain pulled away forming deep crevices in the rock.

Park at the Visitors Center at the Sam's Point Preserve and start out on the Loop Road to the right. Hike up the Loop Road passing the spur trail to Sam's Point on the left. This hike is already long but you may visit the lookout if you wish. Turn right on the road that goes down to the ice caves. Turn then a left onto the Verkeerder Kill Falls Trail which has the aqua blazes of the Long Path. This trail has some beautiful views out over the flat valley on your right. Straight ahead on the trail you will see the cliffs of Castle Point and Hamilton Point at Minnewaska State Park and the blue waters of Lake Awosting. The trail drops 500 feet in about 1.75 miles to the lowest point on the hike at Verkeerder Kill Falls at 2.9 miles into the hike. There are lookouts on both sides of the falls. The falls are more interesting when there has been some rainfall but this makes crossing the stream above the falls more dangerous! After observing the falls from the far side, continue on the trail as it rises to a trail junction over the next .3 miles. Turn right to stay on the Long Path and head to Lake Awosting. Older maps show this part of the trail as "Closed" or "Do not enter" but the land has been purchased by the Preserve and is now open to the public. The trail at first passes over mostly open rock and hikers have constructed many small cairns along the way. After about 1.1 miles Mud Pond or Lake Haseco came into view at 3.9 miles with a nice viewpoint overlooking the water. As you continue on the trail, a path to the right goes down to the shore of the pond. Back on the trail there is a wooden walkway over some muddy areas and Fly Brook. After another mile at about 5 miles you will be at a lookout over Lake Awosting at the southwestern end of the lake. Follow the short side path to the left and down to the Lake Awosting Carriageway around the lake. This route leaves the aqua blazes of the Long Path and is marked in black. Turn right on the carriageway to walk anticlockwise around the largest of the three sky lakes. There are several nice viewpoints along the shore that offer points to take pictures. Some of the viewpoints are on areas of land that jut out into the lake which has an incredible deep blue color. You will pass by the stone "beach" and on the other side of the beach the carriageway ascends to viewpoints above the lake which are stunning! This will be at about 6.75 miles into your hike. Continue on the carriageway as it wraps around the outlet end of the lake and starts to head southwest. The path along the opposite shore of the lake is more direct. You will pass a ranger's cabin and then the final viewpoint near the end of the lake. Walk back up the path to return to the lookout over the lake and the aqua blazes of the Long Path. The lake is about 3.6 miles round and you will now be at about 8.6 miles into the hike. Follow the Long Path back to Verkeerder Kill Falls at 10.8 miles. Cross over the stream and begin a long 1.75 mile climb back to the road above the ice caves. The trail gains elevation and passes over a lot of uneven and large rocks which you may remember from the hike down to the falls. Turn right at the road and then left at the loop road to get back down to the Visitors Center.

Sam's Point: Berrypickers Trail Double Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	10.9 mi.	965 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hiking trails throughout the Sam's Point Preserve vary from open carriageway to narrow "maintained" trails through the brush, over the bogs and around many interesting rock formations. There are several different variations in length from the trail through the Ice Caves and to Sam's Point which is about 4 miles to the 10.5 mile complete loop. The ecology is a pine barrens with some hardwood sections and many boggy areas. Verkeerder Kill falls is well worth the visit as are the Ice Caves. These "caves" are actually tectonic caves formed when part of the mountain pulled away forming deep crevices in the rock.

Park in the lot at the Visitor's Center at Sam's Point. Be sure you pay the parking fee or buy a pass that is good for a year. As you walk toward the trails, you may bear to the left or right. Bear to the left and begin to hike up the loop road on a gentle grade. Watch on your left for some of the shacks used by blueberry pickers in years gone by. These shacks are all but gone but hark back to an era when berry picking was a commercial venture. At about .3 miles the South Gully Trail branches left off the loop road. This trail leads down to Route 52 and is a hike all by itself. There are several waterfalls and cascades along the trail as it parallels a stream. Continue to walk along the loop road. At about 1.0 mile there will be a short side trail that goes to the shore of Lake Maratanza. Depending on the level of the lake, this may or may not prove interesting. At this point you will start to see TV and other communications towers on your left. The High Point Carriageway bears to the left off the loop road at 1.2 miles. Bear left and at 1.6 miles turn left on the trail to Indian Rock. The Rock is a large glacial erratic from which there are very good views. The first part of this trail is a boardwalk since it passes over a bog. Continue to walk on the trail following the blazes on the rocks carefully. The blazes may be hard to follow but the trip is 1.0 mile detour is worth the effort. Back on the carriageway, continue north to the trail junction with the High Point Trail and the Smiley Carriageway at about 3.85 miles. Continue straight ahead on the carriageway but be aware that it is not well-marked in places and can have some very wet spots along the way, The path descends to about 4.75 miles where it begins to rise some. At 5.15 miles informal pathways lead off to the left to Napanoch Point. You may bushwhack out to the area or save this trip for later. After this the carriageway turns east and at 5.5 miles the Berrypicker's Path branches off to the right. Make the turn and be prepared for a 1.8 mile uphill walk across open rock and through scrub pines. Along the way hikers have created cairns and other designs with stones. At the end of this trail you will be in the area where there was once a fire tower. Descend to the High Point Carriageway and turn left to start back to the Visitors Center. At 98.7 miles the spur trail to Indian Rock will be on your right. When you reach the Loop Road at 9.1 miles, turn left to complete the loop around Lake Maratanza. At 9.4 miles you will pass very close to the shore of the lake on the Loop Road. When you reach 9.9 miles, the road to the ice caves turns left. Stay on the Loop Road passing by the spur trail to Sam's Point at 10.3 miles. Walk the final .5 miles down to your car.

Sam's Point: Greater Ice Caves

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.9 mi.	1576 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hiking trails throughout the Sam's Point Preserve vary from open carriageway to narrow "maintained" trails through the brush, over the bogs and around many interesting rock formations. There are several different variations in length from the trail through the Ice Caves and to Sam's Point which is about 4 miles to the 10.5 mile complete loop. The ecology is a pine barrens with some hardwood sections and many boggy areas. Verkeerder Kill falls is well worth the visit as are the Ice Caves. These "caves" are actually tectonic caves formed when part of the mountain pulled away forming deep crevices in the rock.

This hike is a bushwhack to the Greater Ice Caves which were never a commercial venture. They are much more impressive than the caves on top of the Sams Point plateau. Take Route 52 through Ellenville towards Cragsmoor. Just before the road heads up the mountain turn left on Berme Road. Just before the fire station on the right, turn right and park in the upper parking area. Walk to the kiosk and look for a path that's heads up through a quarry. After this the path is a bushwhack that follows some woods roads and then a barely discernible path to the caves. This is VERY steep in places. Many of the caves are accessible but be careful since a slip could mean a serious injury. One or more of the caves will have ice far into the summer.

Sam's Point: Ice Caves and Indian Rock

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.4 mi.	800 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hiking trails throughout the Sam's Point Preserve vary from open carriageway to narrow "maintained" trails through the brush, over the bogs and around many interesting rock formations. There are several different variations in length from the trail through the Ice Caves and to Sam's Point which is about 4 miles to the 10.5 mile complete loop. The ecology is a pine barrens with some hardwood sections and many boggy areas. Verkeerder Kill falls is well worth the visit as are the Ice Caves. These "caves" are actually tectonic caves formed when part of the mountain pulled away forming deep crevices in the rock.

For this hike, park at the Conservation Center lot and pay the $7 fee for one time use or buy a yearly pass for $40. Head toward the Loop Road and bear right up the hill toward Sam's Point. Visit Sam's Point the next time you come since this hike is long enough already. After about a mile on the loop road, turn right onto Ice Caves Road and continue straight ahead on the road that goes to the ice caves entrance. This road is highly eroded so be careful as you negotiate the path. The ice caves have various wooden stairs and walkways throughout their length which can be slippery when wet. A few places require you to squeeze through narrow spaces. When you come out of the caves, spend a few minutes looking east. You will see Lake Awosting and the cliffs of Castle And Hamilton Points. All of these features are in Minnewaska State Park. Walk back up the road to the loop road and turn right.

The walk now is on the once paved and maintained Loop Road as is almost flat. You will pass by Lake Maratanza on your left which is one of the :sky Lakes". The pH is too low to allow most living things to live in the lake. The lake acts as an emergency source of water for Ellenville. Continue on around the lake until a road branches to the right. This is a carriageway that leads to High Point or the Smiley Carriageway. Walk about .4 miles and watch for a trail on the left to Indian Rock. The trail begins with a series of boardwalks. The area can be very wet which makes the boardwalks helpful but many times it is dry. It is a little more than .5 miles to Indian Rock with a loss of about 90 feet. The trail may be hard to follow as the blazes are mostly painted on the rocks. Indian Rock is a large boulder set on other rocks with a cavity below. It is possible to enhance your view by CAREFULLY climbing to the top. Either way, there is a nice view of the valley below. When you are done retrace your route back to the carriageway and back out to the Loop Road. Turn right to complete the loop back to the parking area. You will pass several transmission and microwave towers along the final 1.2 miles of the hike.

Sam's Point: Lake Awosting Loop on Berrypicker's Path

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	13.3 mi.	1412 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hiking trails throughout the Sam's Point Preserve vary from open carriageway to narrow "maintained" trails through the brush, over the bogs and around many interesting rock formations. There are several different variations in length from the trail through the Ice Caves and to Sam's Point which is about 4 miles to the 10.5 mile complete loop. The ecology is a pine barrens with some hardwood sections and many boggy areas. Verkeerder Kill falls is well worth the visit as are the Ice Caves. These "caves" are actually tectonic caves formed when part of the mountain pulled away forming deep crevices in the rock.

For this hike, park at the Conservation Center lot and pay the $7 fee for one time use or buy a yearly pass for $40. Head toward the Loop Road and bear right up the hill toward Sam's Point. Visit Sam's Point the next time you come since this hike is long enough already. After about a mile on the loop road, turn right onto Ice Caves Road and then left onto the Verkeerder Kill Falls Trail. Again, save the Ice Caves for another day when you will be hiking less than 13 miles! The Verkeerder Kill Falls Trail drops to the falls at one of the lowest points on the hike after about 1.7 miles. Along the way there are some nice views and various birds can be seen riding the air currents.

To continue on the hike CAREFULLY cross the Kill above the Falls. This can be easy or very difficult depending on the water level. Walk along the edge of the ravine to get the best look at the falls. When you have had your fill. walk back to the Long Path and continue the hike. In a short distance, the trail climbs steeply but briefly up to the escarpment. In .2 miles you will be at the trail junction where the High Point Trail turns left to go to High Point and then heads back to the parking area. Turn right here to stay on the Long Path and follow its aqua markers. The trail continues through the pine barrens environments and over rocky outcroppings. In. .7 miles a small but beautiful pond with the misleading name of Mud Pond will appear on the right. Continue passed the pond for about another mile and you will be on a rocky cliff overlooking Lake Awosting. This is a good place to stop for a moment or longer.

Continue on the Long Path until you see a path down to the road around Lake Awosting. Go down the path and turn left a the bottom. Hike clockwise around the lake for 1.2 miles. Just as the ranger cabin comes into view turn left on the Smiley Carriageway. This is not marked with any blazes and can be hard to follow the first time you are on it. In .7 miles you will cross Fly Brook which can run high at times. Immediately after the brook turn left up the hill toward Stony Kill. After 1.1 miles you will cross the Stony Kill which usually has little or no volume so close to its source. After this the carriageway becomes steeper and very rocky in places. As it flattens at the top it is not unusual to find a large amount of standing water on the path.

In .9 miles the Berrypicker's Path turns left and is marked with rock cairns and old pots and pans. This is listed as an unmaintained trail but seems to be well marked. In additional to light blue blazes, hikers have set up many rock cairns and added many fanciful stone designs. The trail lasts for 1.75 miles at which point it meets the High Point Trail on the left. The views from here are good in all directions. Walk on the High Point Trail for a short distance. You can continue to High Point and return or descend on the right directly to the Smiley Carriageway. The carriageway joins the Sam's Point Loop Road after 1.7 miles. Turn right on the loop road and walk 1.1 miles back to the Conservation Center.

Sam's Point: Lake Awosting Loop on Smiley Carriageway

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	13.1 mi.	2000 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hiking trails throughout the Sam's Point Preserve vary from open carriageway to narrow "maintained" trails through the brush, over the bogs and around many interesting rock formations. There are several different variations in length from the trail through the Ice Caves and to Sam's Point which is about 4 miles to the 10.5 mile complete loop. The ecology is a pine barrens with some hardwood sections and many boggy areas. Verkeerder Kill falls is well worth the visit as are the Ice Caves. These "caves" are actually tectonic caves formed when part of the mountain pulled away forming deep crevices in the rock.

Park in the lot at the Visitor's Center at Sam's Point. Be sure you pay the parking fee or buy a pass that is good for a year. As you walk toward the trails, you may bear to the left or right. Bear to the left and begin to hike up the loop road on a gentle grade. Watch on your left for some of the shacks used by blueberry pickers in years gone by. These shacks are all but gone but hark back to an era when berry picking was a commercial venture. At about .3 miles the South Gully Trail branches left off the loop road. This trail leads down to Route 52 and is a hike all by itself. There are several waterfalls and cascades along the trail as it parallels a stream. Continue to walk along the loop road. At about 1.0 mile there will be a short side trail that goes to the shore of Lake Maratanza. Depending on the level of the lake, this may or may not prove interesting. At this point you will start to see TV and other communications towers on your left. The High Point Carriageway bears to the left off the loop road at 1.2 miles. At about 1.5 miles a trail to the left leads to Indian Rock. Although this glacial erratic is interesting and has a nice view, save it for another, shorter hike. Continue north on the carriageway to 2.75 miles where there is a junction with the High Point Trail and the Smiley Carriageway. Continue straight ahead on the carriageway but be aware that it is not well-marked in places and can have some very wet spots along the way, The path descends to about 3.85 miles where it begins to rise some. At 4.15 miles informal pathways lead off to the left to Napanoch Point. Come back again to visit this area. After this the path turns from north to east. At 4.5 miles the Berrypicker's Path branches off to the right after which the carriageway rises and falls several times until it reaches Fly Brook at 6.6 miles. A trail to the upper part of Stony Kill Falls turns to the left while you should bear to the right and cross Fly Brook. Follow the carriageway which becomes more well-defined bearing left at a T. This will lead to the shores of Lake Awosting near the ranger's cabin at 6.6 miles. Turn right on the Lake Awosting Carriageway to continue anticlockwise around the lake. Near the inlet end there are several nice viewpoints. Just after rounding the end of the lake, find a path to the right at about 8.55 miles which leads to the Long Path. Turn right on the aqua blazed Long Path to head southwest toward Verkeerder Kill Falls. At 9.5 miles you will pass by Mud Pond or Haseco Lake which is the source of Fly Brook. Some wooden walkways help to cross a few wet areas. Part of the trail here passes through some laurel tunnels before ascending to some rocky outcrops which overlook the lake. The trail continues along these outcrops until it descends to the falls at 10.5 miles. Be careful crossing the stream above the falls. You will now hike 1.5 miles and gain 450 feet to the road that goes the ice caves. Along the way the trail is rocky and can be wet. There are some nice views of the valley below and some of Lake Awosting and Castle Point if you look back over your shoulder. Turn right on the road and walk up to the Loop Road. Turn left and walk about 1 mile back to where you are parked.

Sam's Point: Lake Awosting via Long Path

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	9.1 mi.	1290 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hiking trails throughout the Sam's Point Preserve vary from open carriageway to narrow "maintained" trails through the brush, over the bogs and around many interesting rock formations. There are several different variations in length from the trail through the Ice Caves and to Sam's Point which is about 4 miles to the 10.5 mile complete loop. The ecology is a pine barrens with some hardwood sections and many boggy areas. Verkeerder Kill falls is well worth the visit as are the Ice Caves. These "caves" are actually tectonic caves formed when part of the mountain pulled away forming deep crevices in the rock.

Park at the Visitors Center at the Sam's Point Preserve and start out on the Loop Road to the right. Hike up the Loop Road passing the spur trail to Sam's Point on the left. This hike is already long but you may visit the lookout if you wish. Turn right on the road that goes down to the ice caves. Turn then a left onto the Verkeerder Kill Falls Trail which has the aqua blazes of the Long Path. This trail has some beautiful views out over the flat valley on your right. Straight ahead on the trail you will see the cliffs of Castle Point and Hamilton Point at Minnewaska State Park and the blue waters of Lake Awosting. The trail drops 500 feet in about 1.75 miles to the lowest point on the hike at Verkeerder Kill Falls at 2.6 miles into the hike. There are lookouts on both sides of the falls. The falls are more interesting when there has been some rainfall but this makes crossing the stream above the falls more dangerous! After observing the falls from the far side, continue on the trail as it rises to a trail junction over the next .3 miles. Turn right to stay on the Long Path and head to Lake Awosting. Older maps show this part of the trail as "Closed" or "Do not enter" but the land has been purchased by the Preserve and is now open to the public. The trail at first passes over mostly open rock and hikers have constructed many small cairns along the way. After about 1.1 miles Mud Pond or Lake Haseco came into view at 3.5 miles with a nice viewpoint overlooking the water. As you continue on the trail, a path to the right goes down to the shore of the pond. Back on the trail there is a wooden walkway over some muddy areas and Fly Brook. After another mile at about 5 miles you will be at a lookout over Lake Awosting at the southwestern end of the lake. Turn around and follow the Long Path back to Verkeerder Kill Falls at 6.5 miles. Cross over the stream and begin a long 1.75 mile climb back to the road above the ice caves. The trail gains elevation and passes over a lot of uneven and large rocks which you may remember from the hike down to the falls. Turn right at the road and then left at the loop road to get back down to the Visitors Center.

Sam's Point: Main Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.8 mi.	1220 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hiking trails throughout the Sam's Point Preserve vary from open carriageway to narrow "maintained" trails through the brush, over the bogs and around many interesting rock formations. There are several different variations in length from the trail through the Ice Caves and to Sam's Point which is about 4 miles to the 10.5 mile complete loop. The ecology is a pine barrens with some hardwood sections and many boggy areas. Verkeerder Kill falls is well worth the visit as are the Ice Caves. These "caves" are actually tectonic caves formed when part of the mountain pulled away forming deep crevices in the rock.

Park in the lot at the Visitor's Center at Sam's Point. Be sure you pay the parking fee or buy a pass that is good for a year. As you walk toward the trails, you may bear to the left or right. Bear to the right on the Loop Road toward Sam's Point. This hike leaves out many of the "attractions" in favor of a slightly shorter(?) hike. As you ascend the road there will be good views from open rocks ledges on the right. Pass by the side path to Sam's Point and continue on to the road. Turn right on the road that goes down to the ice caves. Turn then a left onto the Verkeerder Kill Falls Trail which has the aqua blazes of the Long Path. This trail has some beautiful views out over the flat valley on your right. Straight ahead on the trail you will see the cliffs of Castle Point and Hamilton Point at Minnewaska State Park and the blue waters of Lake Awosting. The trail drops 500 feet in about 1.75 miles to the lowest point on the hike at Verkeerder Kill Falls at 2.9 miles into the hike. There are lookouts on both sides of the falls. The falls are more interesting when there has been some rainfall but this makes crossing the stream above the falls more dangerous! After observing the falls from the far side, continue on the trail as it rises to a trail junction over the next .3 miles. Bear left on the red High Point Trail. For the next 2 miles this trail follows the edge of the escarpment on its way to High Point. The trail has some fantastic views over the valley and you can always take a look back at where you have been and ahead to where you are going. As the trail approaches High Point it passes through some brush. The trail here may be wet depending on the recent rainfall and the brush may be thick. The red blazes are painted on the rocks and may be hard to see. At about 5.4 miles, you will climb a steep spot and be on High Point which is marked by a USGS benchmark. Continue on the trail for another .3 miles to an area where there was once a fire observation tower. You can still see the iron moorings of the tower embedded in the rock. Walk down the trail to where it ends on the High Point Carriageway. Turn left to start back to the Visitors Center. The carriageway gains some elevation until and 7.25 miles the spur trail to Indian Rock appears on the right. Continue on the carriageway to the Loop Road at 7.6 miles. Turn right on the road in the area where there are several communications towers. The road now continuously descends over the next 1.2 miles until you are back in the parking lot. Along the way you may see what remains of the sheds used by blueberry pickers back in the day when that was a commercial enterprise. At 8.5 miles the South Gully Trail will be on the right. This trail is a nice hike on its own and is part of the Long Path. When the South Gully Trail gets to Route 52, It connects to the Shawangunk Ridge Trail.

Sam's Point: Napanoch Point and Berrypicker's Trail

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	10.9 mi.	1137 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hiking trails throughout the Sam's Point Preserve vary from open carriageway to narrow "maintained" trails through the brush, over the bogs and around many interesting rock formations. There are several different variations in length from the trail through the Ice Caves and to Sam's Point which is about 4 miles to the 10.5 mile complete loop. The ecology is a pine barrens with some hardwood sections and many boggy areas. Verkeerder Kill falls is well worth the visit as are the Ice Caves. These "caves" are actually tectonic caves formed when part of the mountain pulled away forming deep crevices in the rock.

Park in the lot at the Visitor's Center at Sam's Point. Be sure you pay the parking fee or buy a pass that is good for a year. As you walk toward the trails, you may bear to the left or right. Bear to the left and begin to hike up the loop road on a gentle grade. Watch on your left for some of the shacks used by blueberry pickers in years gone by. These shacks are all but gone but hark back to an era when berry picking was a commercial venture. At about .3 miles the South Gully Trail branches left off the loop road. This trail leads down to Route 52 and is a hike all by itself. There are several waterfalls and cascades along the trail as it parallels a stream. Continue to walk along the loop road. At about 1.0 mile there will be a short side trail that goes to the shore of Lake Maratanza. Depending on the level of the lake, this may or may not prove interesting. At this point you will start to see TV and other communications towers on your left. The High Point Carriageway bears to the left off the loop road at 1.2 miles. At about 1.5 miles a trail to the left leads to Indian Rock. Although this glacial erratic is interesting and has a nice view, save it for another, shorter hike. Continue north on the carriageway to 2.75 miles where there is a junction with the High Point Trail and the Smiley Carriageway. Continue straight ahead on the carriageway but be aware that it is not well-marked in places and can have some very wet spots along the way, The path descends to about 3.85 miles where it begins to rise some. At 4.15 miles informal pathways lead off to the left to Napanoch Point. Turn left here for a short bushwhack out to this viewpoint. You may also find some areas where there have been campfires. Return to the main path and at 4.4 miles another path heads left or north toward Jacob's Ladder. You may turn here and walk about .4 miles since there are some views on this descent. Turn around and walk back to the main carriageway and turn left. At 5.6 miles the Berrypicker's Path branches off to the right. Make the turn and be prepared for a 1.8 mile uphill walk across open rock and through scrub pines. Along the way hikers have created cairns and other designs with stones. At the end of this trail you will be in the area where there was once a fire tower. Before descending back to the High Point Carriageway, follow the High Point Trail .3 miles to High Point. A USGS marker is embedded here in the stone. Retrace your path and descend to the High Point Carriageway and turn left to start back to the Visitors Center. At 9.3 miles the spur trail to Indian Rock will be on your right. When you reach the Loop Road at 9.7 miles turn right. The communications towers will be on your right. At 10.6 miles you will pass by the South Gully Trail and the berrypicker's shacks. From here it is a short walk to your car.

Sam's Point: South Gully Trail and Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.2 mi.	1977 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take New York State Route 52 east from Ellenville. The road will begin to climb the Shawangunk Ridge as soon as you leave town. The road winds up along the ridge and there are several pulloffs on the way up. On a clear day park at one of these areas and enjoy the view of the valley and the Catskills beyond. Just as the road leaves town look on the left as you pass over a bridge. There is a beautiful waterfall with small rapids below it. Watch for a sign on the right that says Cragsmoor and turn to the left at this road. Follow Cragsmoor Road to the hamlet of Cragsmoor and bear left near the library and post office. Watch for the turn to the right onto Sam's Point Road. Follow the road to the Conservation Center parking area. Be sure to put your pass in the window or pay the fee at the Center.

Walk toward the beginning of the loop road and bear to the left. Walk up the hill and pass the first set of Berrypicker shacks. Watch for the aqua markers of the long path. Three of these markers on the left side of the road mark the start of the South Gully Trail which will be part of the Long Path. Turn left onto the trail. The trail passes some of the shacks and then starts a LONG descent toward Route 52. In about .7 miles you will cross Gully Road. Along the way there are several small but pretty cascades but nothing compared to what awaits AFTER crossing the road. Turn left on Gully Road and walk just slightly up the hill and across the road. Pick up the trail again.

For the next 1.5 miles you will be treated to the roar of the stream that passes through the gully. The volume will depend on the season and the amount of rain. There are MANY opportunities to walk off the trail and down to the stream to take pictures, wade on a hot day or just enjoy the views. Many of the cascades show parallel layers of sedimentary rocks of varying hardness. As the water falls over the rocks they erode and fall to the base of the cascade. The last half mile of the trail is slightly uphill and then flat out to Route 52. The return hike is slightly more strenuous as you retrace your steps UP 1400 feet back to the Sam's Point Loop Road. At the road you can continue on around the lake as shown in the map here. You can also extend the hike with any of the many "side trips" that are available or go directly back to the Conservation Center.

Sam's Point: South Gully Trail Only

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.1 mi.	2143 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take New York State Route 52 east from Ellenville. The road will begin to climb the Shawangunk Ridge as soon as you leave town. The road winds up along the ridge and there are several pulloffs on the way up. On a clear day park at one of these areas and enjoy the view of the valley and the Catskills beyond. Just as the road leaves town look on the left as you pass over a bridge. There is a beautiful waterfall with small rapids below it. About 1.1 miles from this waterfall Route 52 will cross South Gully on a bridge. At the end of the bridge is a wide shoulder on the left side of the road. Turn around and park on the wide shoulder by the guardrail. This is where the trail begins. The first part of the trail drops a little from the road to the stream that forms South Gully. At the bottom of the descent, you may walk over to the stream and take some pictures before getting back on the trail. There are MANY small waterfalls and rapids along the stream! In some places the trail almost disappears and you must sidehill. Slippery leaves and pine needles makes this section of trail interesting. You may want to walk down to the stream at several points along the way to take pictures of some of the small waterfalls and rapids. At about 2.1 miles you will come to South Gully Road. Walk out to the road and turn left. Walk across the road and downhill for a short distance before picking up the trail on the other side.

From South Gully Road the trail becomes a little steeper before leveling off near the top of the plateau. Over the first 2 miles you will gain just over 300 feet. In the next mile to the junction with the loop road, the gain is almost 700 feet. At around 3 miles you will reach the Loop Road at Sam's Point. Turn around and retrace your route back to the car at 9.2 miles.

Sam's Point: South Gully Trail and Lake Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	9.2 mi.	2470 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take New York State Route 52 east from Ellenville. The road will begin to climb the Shawangunk Ridge as soon as you leave town. The road winds up along the ridge and there are several pulloffs on the way up. On a clear day park at one of these areas and enjoy the view of the valley and the Catskills beyond. Just as the road leaves town look on the left as you pass over a bridge. There is a beautiful waterfall with small rapids below it. About 1.1 miles from this waterfall Route 52 will cross South Gully on a bridge. At the end of the bridge is a wide shoulder on the left side of the road. Turn around and park on the wide shoulder by the guardrail. This is where the trail begins. The first part of the trail drops a little from the road to the stream that forms South Gully. At the bottom of the descent, you may walk over to the stream and take some pictures before getting back on the trail. There are MANY small waterfalls and rapids along the stream! In some places the trail almost disappears and you must sidehill. Slippery leaves and pine needles makes this section of trail interesting. You may want to walk down to the stream at several points along the way to take pictures of some of the small waterfalls and rapids. At about 2.1 miles you will come to South Gully Road. Walk out to the road and turn left. Walk across the road and downhill for a short distance before picking up the trail on the other side.

From South Gully Road the trail becomes a little steeper before leveling off near the top of the plateau. Over the first 2 miles you will gain just over 300 feet. In the next mile to the junction with the loop road, the gain is almost 700 feet. At around 3 miles you will reach the Loop Road at Sam's Point. Turn left and start to walk around the Lake Maratanza. Hiking on the road is easy compared to the trail. The road surface is flat and it is almost level with only a slight elevation gain. A series of cliffs will appear on your right. When a path appears on the right, you may want to take the path as there are some very nice views from the top of these cliffs. Go back to the path and continue on around the lake in a clockwise direction. On the far side of the lake the road runs right next to the water and you can get some unobstructed views of the water. Continue on passed the road on the left that goes down to the ice caves. Turn right at the next path and walk up to the overlook at Sam's Point. Go back to the road and turn right to walk down to an area near the Visitor's Center where you will turn right to get back up to the South Gully Trail at 6.3 miles. Turn left onto the trail and retrace your route back to the car at 9.2 miles.

Sam's Point: Verkeerder Kill Falls (Out and Back))

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.0 mi.	850 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The hiking trails throughout the Sam's Point Preserve vary from open carriageway to narrow "maintained" trails through the brush, over the bogs and around many interesting rock formations. There are several different variations in length from the trail through the Ice Caves and to Sam's Point which is about 4 miles to the 10.5 mile complete loop. The ecology is a pine barrens with some hardwood sections and many boggy areas. Verkeerder Kill falls is well worth the visit as are the Ice Caves. These "caves" are actually tectonic caves formed when part of the mountain pulled away forming deep crevices in the rock.

Park in the lot at the Visitor's Center at Sam's Point. Be sure you pay the parking fee or buy a pass that is good for a year. As you walk toward the trails, you may bear to the left or right. Bear to the right on the Loop Road toward Sam's Point. This hike leaves out many of the "attractions" in favor of a slightly shorter(?) hike. As you ascend the road there will be good views from open rocks ledges on the right. At the top of the climb as the road levels there will be a side path to Sam's Point. Turn left here and walk out to this spectacular viewpoint. When you are done retrace your steps and continue on to the road. Turn right on the road that goes down to the ice caves. Turn at the first left onto the Verkeerder Kill Falls Trail which has the aqua blazes of the Long Path. This trail has some beautiful views out over the flat valley on your right. Straight ahead on the trail you will see the cliffs of Castle Point and Hamilton Point at Minnewaska State Park and the blue waters of Lake Awosting. The trail drops 500 feet in about 1.75 miles to the lowest point on the hike at Verkeerder Kill Falls at 3.1 miles into the hike. There are lookouts on both sides of the falls. Walk toward the falls on the near side and find a ledge that acts as a viewpoint. The falls are more interesting when there has been some rainfall but this makes crossing the stream above the falls more dangerous! After observing the falls from the near side, continue on the trail as it crosses the creek above the falls. BE CAREFUL as slipping here in high water could have disastrous results! On the far side walk along the chasm to the lookouts. These viewpoints give a different view of the falls and the valley beyond. There is often a rainbow from this side. When you are done retrace your route. You may skip Sam's Point this time or visit to again especially if the light or sky has changed.

Schooleys Mountain

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.2 mi	688 ft>	MSR Maps	GPSies

Exit Interstate 80 at exit @7A And proceed south on State Route 206 to Chester. Turn right on County Route 513. In Long Valley turn right onto Route 517 and make a QUICK left onto Fairview Avenue Watch for the Langdon Palmer Fishing Area parking lot on the right-hand side of the road. Cross the road to a trail junction where you can turn left or right. Most of the marked trail lead to the left but you will return that way. Bear right on the unblazed Beeline Trail which makes a gentle but steady ascent until it meets the yellow Grand Loop Trail at .5 miles. Several woods roads and paths cut across the trail but continue on the Grand Loop Trail. Continue straight ahead on this trail passing an exploratory iron mine pit on the right and left turn where the Grand Loop Trail splits. Continue to climb through green hardwood forest and turn left on the Highland Cut Trail at .85 miles to head. Climb slightly until at about 1.2 miles into the hike you will start to descend to the picnic area at George Lake. At the lake cross the parking area and fields to get to the bridge across the upper end of the lake. This can be confusing but you may walk to the shoreline and turn right or north until you see the bridge. The floating bridge is near the beach area and crosses George Lake. Walk south on the other side of the lake to the bridge over the dam. The Falling Water Trail parallels Electric Brook on the north side. The trail descends steeply and you will pass over a large outcrop and arrive at the main falls at 2.4 miles. The falls have an upper and lower half and are very dependent on the volume of water in the creek. The trail continues to the south and east ascending a short hill. At around 2.6 miles you will be at the top of a quarry. Many of the rocks here show signs of being "worked" with drill or hammer marks. The area is quite large. The trail descends passing the Boulder Gorge Trail and shortly meeting the Patriots Path which turns left or east and descends for .5 miles back to the parking area.

Schunemunk Mountain: Otterkill to Dark Hollow

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.2 mi	2053 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at trail head parking area on Otterkill Road just outside of Salisbury Mills in Orange County. The parking area is easily in sight of the Metro North train trestle. Walk on the road toward the trestle. In less than .25 miles and just before the trestle, cross the road an enter the woods. The trail immediately begins to climb up a hill on a wide trail or woods road. At the first junction keep to the left to get on the red Otterkill Trail. After about 1.5 miles of fairly easy walking, you will arrive at the junction with the yellow-blazed Jessup Trail and the aqua-blazed Highland Trail. At this point a bridge crosses Baby Brook. The brook runs under the tracks through a short but interesting tunnel. There is also a small waterfall at this location. The Otterkill Trail parallels the railroad tracks for 2.1 miles. Although the total ascent amounts to 300 feet the change in elevation from one end to the other is 10 feet! It is flat but rolls a little. This does not mean that it is boring. As you start out on the trail and ascend a little rise there is a lookout to the east. This viewpoint is not very high but offers a nice view of the hills to the east. There is an extensive network of stone walls in this area. Some of these wall are low but many are built up. These remnants of a past way of life are interesting. The solid construction of these walls makes them permanent and a real indication that someone worked hard and sweated hard to farm the land. At 1.2 miles the trail turns sharply to the left on one of the many woods roads in the park. Baby Brook is straight ahead with a bridge to get you to the other side. There is a tunnel here to carry the railroad over the brook. There is also a small falls below the bridge. Continue along the trail until at 2.4 miles there is another nice falls and a crossing of Dark Hollow Brook that has no bridge. This crossing is easy when the weather has been dry but more difficult under wet conditions. Almost immediately after the crossing the Otterkill Trail ends and the dark Hollow Trail starts up the mountain to the right. The Dark Hollow Trail follows an old woods road generally southeast and up the ridge. The road is eroded and very rocky in places It makes several switchbacks in places as the grade would have been too steep for horse drawn wagons otherwise. At about 2.9 miles there is a nice lookout after a short climb. The views to the east and north are very nice. Continue to hike after I took some pictures. In some spots the trail leaves the road and makes a short climb up to the next level to rejoin the same road. This cuts a little distance and avoids the long switchbacks. These "shortcuts" also make the hike more interesting. As the trail climbs two things happen. First, there were at least four places where you seem to be on the top of the ridge. Second, the maps show two crossings of Dark Hollow Brook but there are at least four. At 3.6 miles there is another viewpoint on top of a massive rock outcrop. Climb again and the trail flattens at about 3.8 miles in an open area with incredible views in all directions except to the west. This might be the best viewpoint in the whole park. Continue on the trail and at about 4 miles you will be at the end of The Dark Hollow Trail at Dark Hollow Junction. Turn left onto Jessup Trail which is also the Highlands trail to head toward the Megaliths. The Jessup Trail winds its way along the eastern ridge over many open rock faces with scrub pines. This is an entirely different ecology than at the lower elevations. At times the trail climbs over rock outcrops and at others dives into the pines. At 4.3 miles the spur trail to the Megaliths turns right. Approach quietly since the local vultures often hang out on the rocks surveying the countryside below. Back on the main Jessup Trail turn right and at 4.6 miles turn right onto the blue Western Ridge Trail. This trail is routed over some open rocks faces before it starts to descends the ridge. Just at the point it starts the descent is another nice viewpoint. On the descent the trail becomes very narrow and hen the rocks are damp this can be quite a challenge. Continue down the Western Ridge Trail until it bottoms out a Barton Swamp. There is some old corduroy here to help you across. Once on the other side of the swamp turn right on the red Barton Swamp Trail and then turn left almost immediately to head up to the western ridge. The trail here runs right along an open rock face pitched at about 40 degrees. It soon turns up to the safety of the ridge but the first part is interesting. Once on the ridge there are places where the trail is sited directly on top of a knife edge of rock. There are a few ups and down to keep things interesting. There are also several informal paths which can mislead hikers who do not pay attention. The further you walk along the ridge the better the views become. There is a nice lookout at 5.6 miles and then the Sweet Clover`Trail comes over from the eastern ridge at 6 miles. Just passed this junction another lookout gives a nice view of the valley. Prominent in the view are a sand and gravel pit to the southwest and a lake with homes to the north. Head to the next trail junction and turn to the right to follow the Jessup Trail briefly. When the Jessup Trail meets the Trestle Trail continue straight ahead on the Trestle Trail. This trail is always rocky with small pebbles which like to roll making the footing tricky. At 7.45 miles walk out to a memorial bench which has a great view. Head down the trail to the road and your car.

Schunemunk Mountain: Trestle to Jessup Trails (Clockwise)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.7 mi	1838 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at trail head parking area on Otterkill Road just outside of Salisbury Mills in Orange County. The parking area is easily in sight of the Metro North train Trestle. Walk on the road toward the trestle. In less than .25 miles and just before the trestle, cross the road an enter the woods. The trail immediately begins to climb up a hill on a wide trail or woods road. At the first junction keep to the right to stay on the Trestle Trail which is marked with white blazes. After about 1.2 miles of steady climbing, you will arrive at the junction with the red-blazed Jessup Trail. You are on the western ridge. Turn left and be prepared to descend quickly across and over bare rock faces. CAUTION: These rocks can be very slippery when wet or when covered with snow or ice] After about .15 miles of descent cross Baby Brook and ascend to the eastern ridge. The crossing of Baby Brook can be tricky for some at high water but usually poses no real impediment. The ascent is steep and again is over much exposed rock.

The Jessup Trail runs across the eastern ridge and alternates between areas of rock and forest. Most of the rocky areas are tilted and offer little or no vegetation to assist in your traverse. Some parts of the trail are routed up and over substantial boulders or outcroppings. Other parts take you along thin spines of conglomerate. If you have the time, look carefully at the rock. At first it looks similar to that in the Shawangunks. On closer inspection the conglomerate has a pink tingle from hematite deposits. It also has more defined and larger white quartz crystals and is "rougher" in appearance. Be careful as you are hiking to put your safety before your geological studies. The trail continues to ascend for about 1.5 miles. At this point it flattens somewhat and a spur trail with white markings goes off to the left. This trail leads to the Megaliths. These are larger blocks of rock which have broken off from the bedrock and have fallen in place. They are worth the trip since the whole walk is less than a quarter mile!

Back on the main trail there is slight ascent to the highest point on Schunemunk Mountain at 1664 feet. It seems much higher and like you have done more climbing. This may be because the trail head elevation is only 250 feet. within .35 miles the Western Ridge Trail turns right. Follow these blue marks down into Barton Swamp to the red blazed Barton Swamp Trail. Part of this area is on private land so stay on the trail as you negotiate your way through this swamp. Stay on the red and blue blazes for less than a quarter mile where the Western Ridge trail ascends directly up to the top of the western ridge. This ascent is short but very steep and the rocks seem smoother and slippery than on the eastern side.

At the top of the ridge turn right and look for the aqua blazes of the Long Path. Stay on the Long Path for about 1.25 miles. The Long Path is much like the Jessup Trail on the eastern ridge. It passes over areas of bare rock and through areas of forest. On this ridge there seems to be more forest and less rock which makes the hiking easier. The elevation change is also not as pronounced as on the eastern ridge. After 1.25 miles look for the red blazes of the Jessup Trail on the right. Turn onto the trail and follow it for about .2 miles. At this point you will see the white blazes of the Trestle Trail on the left and you will be at the junction where you turned at the beginning of the hike. Turn left on the Trestle Trail and descend back to the road and to your car at the parking area. Be careful on the descent since the trail is steeper than you might think. Descending the trail gives you a good idea of why ascending required so much effort at the beginning of the hike!

Schunemunk Mountain: Trestle to Long Path (Anticlockwise)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.5 mi	1797 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at trail head parking area on Otterkill Road just outside of Salisbury Mills in Orange County. The parking area is easily in sight of the Metro North train Trestle. Walk on the road toward the trestle. In less than .25 miles and just before the trestle, cross the road an enter the woods. The trail immediately begins to climb up a hill on a wide trail or woods road. At the first junction keep to the right to stay on the Trestle Trail which is marked with white blazes. After about 1.2 miles of steady climbing, you will arrive at the junction with the red-blazed Jessup Trail. You are on the western ridge. Turn right walk a VERY short distance to another trail junction with the Long Path where the Jessup Trail ends. Turn left to stay on the Long Path and walk the western ridge. Over the next 1.3 miles the Long Path stays on the western ridge and your walk is almost flat with a few ups and downs across the open conglomerate rock face. At 2.7 miles the blue Western Ridge Trail comes up to the ridge from Barton Swamp below. Turn left here and follow the blazes down into the swampy area and up to the eastern ridge. Near the top of the ascent the Western Ridge Trail ends at the red Jessup Trail on the eastern Ridge. Turn left and in a few hundred feet you will be at the summit of Schunemunk Mountain. A USGS seal embedded in the rock and an inscription noting the site of a fire tower mark this point. In .25 miles a short side trail to the left leads to the Megaliths. These are larger blocks of rock which have broken off from the bedrock and have fallen in place. Back on the main trail you will walk a gentle descent for about 1.6 miles until at 5 miles you reach a crossing of Baby Brook. The trail is steeper but shorter up the other side to the junction with the Trestle Trail. Turn right on the white Trestle Trail and walk the 1.4 miles back to the car. They are worth the trip since the whole walk is less than a quarter mile!

Schunemunk Mountain: Trestle to Otterkill to Jessup Trails

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.0 mi	1818 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Park at trail head parking area on Otterkill Road just outside of Salisbury Mills in Orange County. The parking area is easily in sight of the Metro North train Trestle. Walk on the road toward the trestle. In less than .25 miles and just before the trestle, cross the road an enter the woods. The trail immediately begins to climb up a hill on a wide trail or woods road. At the first junction keep to the left to get on the Red Trail. After about 1.5 miles of fairly easy walking, you will arrive at the junction with the yellow-blazed Jessup Trail and the aqua-blazed Highland Trail. At this point a bridge crosses Baby Brook. The brook runs under the tracks through a short but interesting tunnel. There is also a small waterfall at this location. Turn right to pick up the Jessup-Highland Trail. These trails parallel Baby Brook for some distance. There are several small rapids or waterfalls along the way but most are hidden by thick brush. At one spot the trail passes closer to the brook and there is another small cascade at this location. As you climb to the eastern ridge you can see the ridge looming over you. At the next junction turn left and follow the Jessup-Highland trail. The ascent is steep and again is over much exposed rock.

The Jessup Trail runs across the eastern ridge and alternates between areas of rock and forest. Most of the rocky areas are tilted and offer little or no vegetation to assist in your traverse. Some parts of the trail are routed up and over substantial boulders or outcroppings. Other parts take you along thin spines of conglomerate. If you have the time, look carefully at the rock. At first it looks similar to that in the Shawangunks. On closer inspection the conglomerate has a pink tingle from hematite deposits. It also has more defined and larger white quartz crystals and is "rougher" in appearance. Be careful as you are hiking to put your safety before your geological studies. The trail continues to ascend for about 1.5 miles. At this point it flattens somewhat and a spur trail with white markings goes off to the left. This trail leads to the Megaliths. These are larger blocks of rock which have broken off from the bedrock and have fallen in place. They are worth the trip since the whole walk is less than a quarter mile!

Back on the main trail there is slight ascent to the highest point on Schunemunk Mountain at 1664 feet. It seems much higher and like you have done more climbing. This may be because the trail head elevation is only 250 feet. Within .35 miles the Western Ridge Trail turns right. Follow these blue marks down into Barton Swamp to the red blazed Barton Swamp Trail. Part of this area is on private land so stay on the trail as you negotiate your way through this swamp. Stay on the red and blue blazes for less than a quarter mile where the Western Ridge trail ascends directly up to the top of the western ridge. This ascent is short but very steep and the rocks seem smoother and slipperier than on the eastern side.

At the top of the ridge turn right and look for the aqua blazes of the Long Path. Stay on the Long Path for about 1.25 miles. The Long Path is much like the Jessup Trail on the eastern ridge. It passes over areas of bare rock and through areas of forest. On this ridge there seems to be more forest and less rock which makes the hiking easier. The elevation change is also not as pronounced as on the eastern ridge. After 1.25 miles look for the red blazes of the Jessup Trail on the right. Turn onto the trail and follow it for about .2 miles. At this point you will see the white blazes of the Trestle Trail on the left and you will be at the junction where you turned at the beginning of the hike. Turn left on the Trestle Trail and descend back to the road and to your car at the parking area. Be careful on the descent since the trail is steeper than you might think. Descending the trail gives you a good idea of why ascending required so much effort at the beginning of the hike!

Samuel's Point 

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	4.7 mi.	2135 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

From Grahamsville, turn onto Route 52A near the TriValley School. Stay on the road until the hamlet of Sundown where the road turns left. Bear to the right on Peekamoose Rd. and continue on the road looking for Moonhaw Rd. on the left. From Route 28, turn west on Route 28A and then head south. Turn right and head west on Watson Hollow Road, the road that goes to Peekamoose and Sundown. Watch for Moonhaw Road on the right after about mile. Turn onto Moonhaw Rd. and drive to the end. Park on the right just before the gates to the private driveway.

Since this is a bushwhack all the way your route may vary. From the parking area, cross Wittenberg Brook and turn left to walk parallel to the brook on a woods road. If you have the right woods road, you should be able to walk north for about 1 miles before heading to the east and UP the steep side of the mountain. As you climb try to steer toward the col between Samuel's Point to the east an the hill to the west. Once in the col, turn east toward Samuel's Point which is only .5 miles away. As you start to get into heavy stands of laurel, cut around them and head south as they are too thick to get through easily. Walk around the laurel and start to head up toward the highest point you can see which is Samuel's Point. Many of the views of the Ashokan Reservoir are bloat by trees but you can walk around to find some views between them. Walk to the edge of the ledges and then head north to walk counterclockwise around the edge. You may get some nice views from here. When you are done, retrace your steps back to the car.

Segar Trail

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.3 mi.	1560 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Finding this trail head can be challenging depending on your approach. The easiest way is to go to Arkville on Rt. 28. Turn south onto Dry Brook Road. Take this road ALL the way to the dead end and park at the trail head. Get on the yellow trail and follow it carefully. Pay attention to the yellow trail markers and the signs. Several old logging roads intersect the trails and can mislead you if you are not paying attention. This trail also runs through private property. Be sure to respect the rights of the property owners! There are at least four stream crossing that can prove difficult if not impossible when the water is high. Be prepared to wade, get wet or turn back! Nettles during the spring and summer are plentiful but can be avoided. From this trail it is possible to approach Doubletop, the highest peak in the Catskills without a trail, from several directions. The trail intersects the Pine Hill-West Branch Trail at its highest point. Turning left leads to Eagle after about 1 mile. Turning right takes you to Big Indian. Remember that the trail DOES NOT go to the top of Big Indian. The actual summit is about .25 miles north of the highest point on the trail.

Shawangunk Ridge Trail: Ellenville

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.4 mi.	1286 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The Shawangunk Ridge Trail runs from High Point State Park in New Jersey to Sam's Point Preserve, The hike may be broken into sections. This section is an out and back hike from Route 52 outside of Ellenville near the Sam's Point Preserve.

Park in the pull off 1.7 miles south of South Gully on Route 52 heading out of Ellenville. Walk along side the road for about .2 miles and turn right into the woods on the Shawangunk Ridge Trail. At .55 miles there is a confusing junction but this offers some options. Bearing slightly right and up the ridge leads to a series of views but not much else. Turning sharply tot the right leads down along Old Route 52 but requires a very long walk to reach any real destination. Continuing straight ahead keeps you on the Shawangunk Ridge Trail. The trail climbs to near the highest point on the ridge over the next .7 miles. It then rolls along the ridge toward Ellenville. Walk as far as you like and then return to your car.

Shawangunk Ridge Trail: Graham Fire Tower

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.3 mi.	800 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Drive to the hamlet of Godeffroy on Route 209 about 5.5 miles north of Port Jervis. Watch for the Guymard Turnpike on the east side of the road. Turn onto the turnpike and drive about .7 miles to a T. Turn right to follow the turnpike as it ascends and passes by one end of Guymard Lake. In about .2 miles park on the side of the road. The train tracks are active so look and listen before crossing to the other side to pick up the Shawangunk Ridge trail. Turn left and head northeast on the wide and flat woods road that parallels the Conrail tracks. After 1.7 miles of absolutely flat walking, look for red blazes going up the hill to the right and turn onto another woods road. The road wanders up the mountain heading south, then east, then southeast. At a little over 2 miles you will cross the white trail that you will use on the way back. The fire tower shares the top of the hill with cell towers and a nice little cabin. There is an access road for the cell towers which would probably be the quickest and easiest route to the top. The entire first flight of treads on the tower is missing from the steps to discourage anyone from climbing on the now closed tower! Find the blazes of the white trail to start back to the car. At some points this trail comes very close to the edge of the cliff but there are no real views. The white trail twists and turns but heads generally north. This route is much more of a trail than the red blazed woods road you used on the way up. Parts of it are rough as it gets little use. The last .3 miles are a rather steep descent along a small stream. In this section there is barely a trail and lots of rocks to negotiate. After slightly over a mile, you will be back on the SRT just slightly north of the turn for the red trail. Turn left and enjoy the flat hike back to the car.

Shawangunk Ridge Trail: Wurtsboro

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	2.4 mi.	660 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The Shawangunk Ridge Trail runs from High Point State Park in New Jersey to Sam's Point Preserve, The hike may be broken into sections. This section is an out and back hike from the VFW on VFW Road off Sullivan Avenue outside of Wurtsboro. Find the trail behind the VFW and begin to climb almost 600 feet in the next mile. As you climb onto the more exposed part of the ridge near the top, watch for views of the Catskills, the Basha Kill Wetlands and the valley below. Walk along the ridge for as long as you like but be aware that this is out and back. At about 1.2 miles the trail starts a serious descent and this may be a good time to turn around. Follow your path back to the car.

Shawangunk Ridge Trail: Wurtsboro to Ellenville

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.6 mi.	2730 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The Shawangunk Ridge Trail runs from High Point State Park in New Jersey to Sam's Point Preserve, The hike may be broken into sections. This section is a through hike from Wurtsboro north to Route 52 outside of Ellenville near the Sam's Point Preserve.

Park a car in the pull off 1.7 miles south of South Gully on Route 52 heading out of Ellenville. Drive to the VFW in Wurtsboro on VFW Road off Sullivan Avenue. You may use back roads to get to Wurtsboro or drive there on Route 209. The trail starts with a nice "warm up" of 600 feet of elevation gain over the first .95 miles. From here there are views of the Basha Kill to the southwest and the Catskills to the north. The Wurtsboro Airport and the massive Kohl's Distribution Center dominate the valley below. Immediately after the climb the trail descends into the next gap on the ridge. The descent is a little steep in places losing 400 feet in .45 miles. There is a small stream at the bottom just before the next climb. Over the next.9 miles the trail rises 470 feet but the reward are the views from the ridge. The views of the Catskills and the ridge across from the Shawangunk Ridge dominate the views. From this ridge you begin a steep descent to the lowest point on the route except for the very beginning. The trail drops 600 feet in the next .85 miles to Roosa Gap. There is another small stream here surrounded by ferns in season. Watch for the flowers from tulip trees in the spring and summer. The next section of the trail is a .7 mile climb that gains 725 feet. After this, the trail continues to rise but does so very gently for the next .8 miles. In the first part you will cross Roosa Gap Road. As you climb the ridge you can look back at the ridge you just left. At 5.15 miles the trail descends again and then begins to climb. The climb is gentle at first but then steepens some. This climb lasts 1.8 miles and rises to 780 feet, the highest point on this section of the trail. This part of the trail skirts the edge of the ridge before crossing over to the highest point. Along the way some interesting rock formations present themselves. One rock tower stands away from the edge of the cliff and is very interesting. From the highest point the trail drops VERY steeply, losing 700 feet of elevation in about .5 miles. The trail makes its way down to the woods road that is the Old Route 52. The Long Path heads north from here as the road turns left. Pick up the yellow trail that leads UP to Route 52 where your car is parked. This trail is less than 1 mile long and passes over a small stream with a waterfall. From that point there is a short but steep ascent to the main road. As you turn left on Route 52 to get back to the parking area, watch for hang gliders plying the air currents above the area. Also take advantage of the beautiful views from the parking areas along the road. Don't forget to go get your other car in Wurtsboro!

Shenandoah NP: Rocky Mount

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	10.2 mi.	3300 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Shenandoah National Park is packed with hikes of all difficulties all of which have their own charm and interesting points. Many of these start on Skyline Drive and, therefore, the first and last parts of the hike are down and up respectively. Some water crossings can be challenging since they are meant for horses and have no bridges. The heat in the late spring, summer and early fall can be oppressive. Always be prepared.

The parking area for Rocky Mount is on the west side of Skyline Drive approximately 20 miles from the southern terminus. Headed north there is a ninety degree turn in the road just after this parking area. Park in the roadside pulloff and walk north until the trail signs appear on the left. The first 1.1 miles descend down from Skyline Drive and then there is a brief ascent of .3 miles to the top of a small hill. After this, the trail descends another .85 miles to the trail junction for the loop. Going left will take you up the front of the mountain first. Heading right takes you to the "back" of the mountain with several crossings of Gap Run. After turning right the trail crosses Gap Run at least five times without the benefit of any bridges. When the water is high it may be necessary to get wet, through some stone in the run or find a convenient downed tree across the water. From the junction the trail goes another 2.4 miles to the lowest point at the last crossing of Gap Run. From Skyline Drive the ascent has been 1535 feet! The ascent up to the summit of Rocky Mount now begins. It is steep in some places but there are switchbacks to help lessen the gradient. There may be some seasonal stream crossing but all are manageable. The hike up the back side of the mountain has several talus fields and offers some views of surrounding mountains. Savor these views as there are none from the summit. The ascent to the summit is 2 miles and almost 1500 feet. Over the top of the summit there are some limited views. The descent to the trail junction is about 1.25 miles but you are not done yet. There is still the 2.25 mile and 850 foot climb back to the car.

Ski Plattekill

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.2 mi.	1230 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Walking the trails at the Ski Plattekill ski hills is interesting. The view is great and even in the summer the hill is used for downhill mountain biking.

Head north from Margaretville on Route 30 through Halcottsville. Watch for signs for Ski Plattekill turn west off Route 30 and follow Upper Meeker Hollow Road until Lower Meeker Hollow Road bears left. Continue on Lower Meeker Hollow Road until you are at the ski center, Park in the parking lot and go to the office to check in. The people at the office are very polite and usually offer a map of the hill and suggestions on where to hike. One way to start is to head up the beginners hill on the left as you walk out the back of the lodge. Take the Overlook Trail toward North Plattekill. Try to avoid going too high up the slope as you will hit some rather steep ski runs. The map from the ski hill only shows the ski runs at not the extensive network of bike trails. The bike trails toward North Plattekill are truly impressive! They are steep and rocky with many jumps. Some have padded trees. Continue to walk UP and head for the highest point on North Plattekill. Watch for good views as you climb. When you get near the highest point, you may have to go off trail to find the exact location. You may return the way you came but it is better to walk across the top of the ski hill and descend by the Powder Puff Trail on the other side. In this way you can look down many of the ski runs and chair lifts to get the best views. This route also climbs the second highest point on the slopes. The Plunge has some nice views but it may not be too clear how to get across the top of the rest of the hill. Keep walking on trails, paths or bushwhack your own way to the central slopes area with the Blockbuster. The views are magnificent from here since it is a steep run and the hill falls away quickly. In addition, there is no lift to mar the view. Start down the Powder Puff Trail which is long but very gentle. At one point, as the slope turns, the steep main slopes will be in front of you. Follow this path back to the office and the parking area.

Sonoma Falls

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	2.0 mi.	150 ft.

Finding this hidden gem is easy but just knowing it is there is HARD! I have lived in Livingston Manor and did not know how beautiful these falls were until a recent visit! The area recently changed hands and the new owners have opened a small store and will eventually have a cider press in operation. Behind the store is a series of falls with a rustic pathway along the stream to the top.

Exit State Route 17 (The Quickway), soon to be I86 at exit 97 for Morsston. If you are heading west turn left off the exit and go back under the main road. Take a left and then your first right. Turn right at the next road and pass over a small bridge. The dead end road to the falls is the next left. For those traveling east, take a right off the exit and then take your next left. Follow the directions for those traveling west.

Splitrock Reservoir: Complete Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	11.3 mi.	1879 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Caution: This route may be hard to follow. You may take any route from your location that ends up at the south end of the reservoir!

From I-287 North take exit 43. At the end of the ramp turn left and then right onto Fanny Rd. Follow Fanny Road to Powerville Road. Turn left on Valley Road and then right on Rockaway Valley Road. Bear left onto Split Rock and follow it to the parking area at the south end of the reservoir. If you are traveling south, there is no exit 43, so you'll want to check directions from where you are. Park only park in the designated lot as you will get ticketed if you park along the road. This parking area is the only legal boat launch area and this is a popular canoeing, kayaking and fishing area. Turn right out of the parking area onto the road and walk over the old bridge over the outlet dam. As you walk up the road, look for the beginning of the white blazed Four Birds Trail up the hill on the right. This may be hard to find so you can turn into the woods at any place and then scramble up the hill to the ridge to find the trail. In general the trail climbs up and down over some low hills with the constant changes in elevation providing a challenge. The trail markings are VERY poor especially where there are turns. The trail follows the reservoir shore for some time and then heads into the woods only to come back toward the shore. At about 1.75 miles the trail begins a more serious ascent of a small hill which does not offer any unobstructed views. At about 3 miles the trail runs parallel to the shore and if you walk down to near the waters edge, the views are spectacular. Just after this spot there is an opening in the trees and you may be able to see a fairly new house high on the opposite shore. At 4.5 miles the trail curves around an arm of the reservoir that almost looks like a beaver pond. A little further along the trail, you will walk across the outlet from Dunham Pond. In wetter seasons this area might be tricky. A little further along is an unmarked trail to the left and a wooden sign that says Winnebago. If you walk up this trail, you will be on the shores of Dunham Pond in only a few minutes. There is an impressive stonework bridge and spillway at the outlet of the pond. This may be private property so you may want avoid the area altogether. Back on the main trail, you can see a set of cliffs on the opposite side of the reservoir through the trees. These are Indian Cliffs which have one of the best lookouts on the reservoir. Somewhere around 6 miles there will be a right turn onto the blue Splitrock Trail which heads across the northern end of the reservoir. The trail passes by Misty Pond which may not be marked on all maps. At 6.7 miles into the hike you will arrive at the climb up to the cliffs. Standing on Indian Cliffs gives you a view over most of the reservoir, Misty Pond and the rest of the surrounding countryside. After this, the trail starts to descend from the cliffs and drops quite a bit of elevation. The trail heads toward the Charlottesburg Road, a wide woods road frequented by mountain bikers. At about 7.3 miles you will intersect the road. It is hard to follow the blue Splitrock Trail markings in this area. If the trail is well marked stay on the trail but it is also possible to stay on the "road" as it pass close to the reservoir.This route has some nice views of the reservoir even though you are at water level. Eventually some houses will come into view and the trail marking became clearer. They head over some rocks and up toward a ridge. It is your choice to follow the trail or the road. By staying on the road you will pas by some sandy beaches and may even find a "split rock" along the way. The woods road has a gate near the end and a parking area. At this point the road changes to gravel and is accessible by car. There doesn't seem to be any trail here so stay on the road to walk back to the parking area. There are some nice views on the way out to Splitrock Road. There is a side road that may be a shortcut but it also may be on private property. At the end of the road turn right on Splitrock Road and walk a little less than a mile back to the parking lot.

Sterling Forest: Bare Rock Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	10.7 mi.	2145 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take Route 17A from Warwick, NY south and east toward Greenwood Lake. In Greenwood Lake bear left as Route 17A climbs the ridge. Park in the large parking area near the top of the ridge where the Allis Trail crosses the road.

Park at the lot for the Sterling Ridge and Sterling Valley Trails. Take the yellow Sterling Valley Loop Trail out of the parking area just passed a gate> In a short distance turn right and up to the ridge on the blue Sterling Ridge Trail. This trail climbs for about .25 miles and then travels along the ridge with a few ups and downs. At about 2 miles there is a nice viewpoint overlooking Sterling Lake. At about 2.3 miles the orange blazed Bare Rock Trail branches off to the right. The Bare Rock Trail stays rather level for a short distance and then begins to descend somewhat. After descending the trail rises toward a ridge that parallels Greenwood Lake. The trail stays off the ridge and you will wonder if it ever gets to the lookout. At 3.7 miles a clearly marked side trail drops to the viewpoint on the east side of Greenwood Lake. The viewpoint is VERY nice allowing views of the lake and the Bellvale-Bearfort Ridge. Back up on the main trail turn right to continue the loop hike. For the next 1.6 miles the trail climbs over a hill and then begins a descent to the junction with the green blazed West Valley Trail and the red blazed Fire Tower Trail. The trails here are poorly marked and may cause some confusion. In addition, a beaver dam has flooded the area immediately ahead on the green trail. The best option is to find a way across Jennings Creek and then walk through the woods (bushwhack) to the top of the ridge where you can pick up the Sterling Ridge Trail. You may find a woods road or a white blazed trail up to the ridge but these are not on most maps. Once on the Sterling Ridge and Highlands Trail you will ascend an interesting part of the trail to a lookout and then descend before tackling the steep trail up to the tower. The part of the trail up to the tower is only .4 miles but gains almost 300 feet. Whether the tower is open or closed seems to be a hit-or-miss situation! There are good views of both Greenwood Lake and Sterling Lake. Descend the red Fire Tower Trail until you hit the red Fire Tower Connector trail at 7.75 miles and turn north. In a short distance you will find the Sterling Lake Loop Trail headed north along the lake shore. Walk 1.2 miles along the shore to the junction with the yellow Sterling Valley Loop Trail. Before going to the left on this trail and back up to the car bear to the right and go down to a nice viewpoint on the lake. There is a small point of land that sticks out into the lake. Walk back to the trail junction and turn right. The last 1.6 miles starts out flat along a wide road and then begins to ascend near the end to regain the elevation of the parking lot.

Sterling Forest: Complete Loop

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	9.2 mi.	1467 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

From Route 17A near Indian Reservoir, take Long Meadow Road south. Pass the entrance to the Sterling Forest Visitor's Center on Old Forge Road and continue south for another 1.5 miles. A road that leads to the seasonal parking area will be on the right. You may have to park outside the gate if the road is closed for the winter. Walk to the far end of the parking area and continue on Lakeville Road. Watch for the three red blazes on your left that signal the beginning of the Fire Tower Trail. This trail climbs rather gently through open forest to Sterling Ridge. After about 1.4 miles you will be at the fire tower. This tower is believed to be the only active fire tower left in New York State. A ranger is assigned to the tower to watch for fires in southern New York and northern New Jersey. The ranger is NOT always on duty so call ahead to the Visitor's Center to find out if the tower will be open. When a ranger is not on duty, a locked gate blocks access to the tower. The views from Sterling Ridge are limited in most areas but the views from the tower are great in all directions.

Once you are satisfied that you have seen all you can from the tower, find the blue blazes of the Sterling Ridge Trail as they head north toward Route 17A. Most of the views from the ridge are blocked by trees but just after the tower there are some nice views down to Sterling lake. This is a nice place to stop and take some pictures and to have lunch or a snack. After this the trail wanders up and town, crosses a power line right-of-way and then meets the orange Bare Rock Trail after 1.25 miles. This trail comes up from Sterling Lake near the Visitor's Center and is a good "bail out" I time becomes limited. Continue for 1.85 miles on the Sterling Ridge Trail to the parking area near Route 17A. This route goes some distance passed the head of Sterling lake before turning back toward the lake.

Turn right on yellow Sterling Valley Loop Trail which heads back toward the lake. Continue 1.3 miles to Sterling Lake and the blue Sterling Lake Loop Trail. Where these two trails meet is a nice view of the lake. The Lake Loop trail is nearly flat and eventually joins some of the local roads that serve private residences in the area and allow access for authorized vehicles in the park. After .55 miles the orange Bare Rock Trail begins on the right and the Sterling Lake Loop Trail turns left to Visitor's Center. In this area there are the ruins of the Sterling Forge and Furnace. The blue trail cuts across the out let of Sterling Lake. From the bridge that cross by the dam and spillway there are nice views of the lake and the outlet stream.

Continue straight ahead on Fire Tower Connector Trail for .55 miles to the Fire Tower Trail. Turn left and retrace your steps from earlier in the hike. Walk .5 miles back to the parking area and, if necessary, down the access road to your car on Long Meadow Road.

Sterling Forest: AT from Fitzgerald Falls to Little Dam Lake

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	9.6 mi.	2280 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The parking area for the start of this hike is on Orange County Route 5 which may be marked as Dutch Hollow Road, Mountain Lakes Road or Lakes Road. Take Route 17A west from the New York State Thruway or south and east from New York State Route 17 (Quickway). Drive toward Greenwood Lake. From the east drive between the two parts of Greenwood Lake on Route 17A. At the junction with Route 210 bear right before going up the hills. This is Lakes Road. From the Quickway turn right at the bottom of the hill just before entering Greenwood lake. If you reach the Route 210 junction you have gone too far. About 4 miles north on Lakes Road an power line crosses the road. Park just south of this in the pullout by the side of the road. The trail begins here. There is only room here for a few cars. If this area is full, you may be able to park just north of the power lines. Watch for NO PARKING signs. The trail leaves from the eastern side of the road and crosses under the power lines.

Cross a small footbridge and follow the white blazes of the AT as you will all day. The trail crosses Trout Brook which may be a problem when the water is high. No areas are very deep but the crossing is WIDE. In less than .25 miles you will be at Fitzgerald Falls. The falls is formed as Trout Brook cascades down from the ridge above. The trail climbs the rocky ledge next to the brook on the right hand side. In the next half mile you will cross Trout Brook or its small tributaries 4 or 5 times. The trail will gently rise for 1.3 miles until it meets the Highlands Trail marked in blue with the diamond trail markers. The Highlands Trail heads south. At this point there is an AT trail register box. Sign in and read some of the comments made by others. Turn right onto the Highlands Trail and walk a hundred feet for a nice lookout. Return to the trail register and continue east on the AT.

For about .75 miles walk the ridge toward the Mombasha High Point. The trail climbs slightly for the entire length and a little more steeply as you come to the high point. As you approach this point the trail abruptly turns right and follows the edge of a rocky ledge. The trail is well marked but don't miss this sharp turn. At the high point you will have views of the surrounding area. Walk a little further and Mombasha Lake can be seen to the east and north. The view is blocked by trees but when the leaves are not present the lake can be clearly seen. Descend the AT from the high point. The descent is steep at first and then moderates. Some areas are not very well marked so watch ahead for the white blazes. The trail heads south for .5 miles and then turns east again for .25 miles before reaching Route 91. Near the end of the trail it crosses a brook and ascends toward the road. This area can be marshy when it is wet. There is a boardwalk that starts shortly after the stream and continues almost to the road. A small pond appears on the left as you approach the road.

Cross Route 91 and continue on the At over a rocky path that may once have been a stone wall. The trail switches to a smoother and flatter woods road before crossing another stream and ascending slightly. Mombasha Lake is visible on the left and Kloibers Pond is hidden on the right. From here the trail starts to ascend for .85 miles to the shoulder of Buchanan Mountain. The trail turns south for a while and then east as it approaches the mountain. The actual ascent up the mountain becomes steeper passing over and through a rocky area as it reaches the highest point on this part of the trail. From here the trail again starts a descent until it meets a large wall or ridge of rock. You may think that the trail turns to avoid this but, in fact, this is the last climb. It may be the most demanding on this part of the trail. It is rocky and steep and large trees may lay across parts causing you to find creative ways over or around them. One place requires squeezing under and around a large tree across the path. Further up some pretty high steps make the use of hands almost mandatory. This is all made more interesting when the trail is wet or icy!

At the top of the climb the trail levels off and then almost immediately starts to descend for .2 miles to East Mombasha Road. At the road cross over and continue to follow the AT down to the lake. There is room to park along the side of this road. The trail heads almost due south for about .3 miles where there is a footbridge that crosses the area between the two parts of the lake. The AT continues on passed the lake. Follow it for a few hundred feet to get a better view of the lake. At this point you may continue on the AT as far as you want but you have already walked 5 miles and there are 5 miles to go back to the car. The trip back is much the same as the trip out. You will be more tired and the descents become ascents and vice versa.

Sterling Forest: AT from Mt. Peter to Fitzgerald Falls (and Beyond)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	10.1 mi.	2237 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The parking area for the start of this hike is on Route 17A. Take Route 17A west from the New York State Thruway or south and east from New York State Route 17 (Quickway). Drive toward Greenwood Lake. At the top of the hill just passed Mt. Peter, pull into the roadside parking area where the AT crosses the road. The trail is just across the road from the parking area.

Cross the road and turn right as the AT (white blazes) turns in that direction. The blue trail in the opposite direction goes to Mt. Peter. The trail is generally open and easy to follow. There may be several ponds along the way depending on the season. Blowdowns can be a nuisance as they are not always promptly cleared. At 1.3 miles the AT goes up and over a rock outcrop than can be very slippery when wet or icy. The view from top is nice. Avoid this route by using the Highlands Trail to bypass the outcrop. The Highlands Trail turns left off the AT just before the rocks and rejoins the AT not too far to the northeast. The trail heads northeast along the ridge and loses and gains some elevation as it goes. At 1.7 miles another rock outcrop is easily bypassed by the Highlands trail to right. At about 2.3 miles there is a spur trail to the left which goes to the Wildcat Shelter. At 2.9 miles the blue Highlands Trail continues straight ahead. Turn right on the AT as it descends from the ridge to Lakes Road. Cross Lakes Road and pick up the AT directly across the road. You will cross a wooden bridge over Trout Creek. Your next stop is Fitzgerald falls at 3.9 miles. This would be a good place to turn around but you may continue as far as you like since the AT is headed to Maine! Continue on the AT by climbing the steps next to the right of the falls. At the top of the falls walk along the creek until you see the At blazes as they head up to the right. Continue to follow the AT blazes which can be hard to spot at times. You will be on Avery rocky part of the trail which ascends the ridge to a trail junction. At the junction the Highlands Trail heads south while the AT continues northeast and east toward Little Dam Lake. You can continue but turning around here will make the hike very close to 10 miles.

Stissing Mountain

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	1.9 mi.	940 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

There are several possible access points for Stissing Mountain. It is unclear whether all have an easement over private property. The access from Lake Road is in the Thompson Pond area owned by the Nature Conservancy and featured on their website. Thompson Pond is an "ancient pond" formed as a kettle lake. From Pine Plains, take Route 199 west. Just outside of town turn left on Lake Road. From the west take Route 199 east and turn right on Lake Road just before you enter Pine Plains. Drive about 1.5 miles on Lake road to the FIRST parking area on the left. Directly across the road is a gated woods road that is the access to Stissing Mountain. Walk through the gate and start up the woods road or path net to it. After hiking only .25 miles the road splits. The left branch is steeper but a little shorter. Bear left to ascend to the tower. From the fork in the trail it is only another .5 miles but the elevation gain is 620 feet with an average grade of 23%. Parts of the trail level off some so the steeper parts can be quite steep. The tower affords the only real view from the summit and it seems sturdy enough as you climb. The view from the top is well worth the climb. There are great views to the east over Stissing Pond and Thompson Pond. When you have taken in the view and taken some pictures descend the tower for the trip back. To make a loop, walk passed the tower and take the trail that branches to the left. This is a short, steep descent which can be icy. At the bottom of this descent turn right and head down the trail which parallels the one you ascended. This part can be wet and part way down you will cross a small stream. About .8 miles from the tower you will be back at the stone cairn that marks the fork in the trail. Retrace your path back to the parking area.

Stonetown Circular

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	10.4 mi	2698 ft	MSR Maps	GPSies

Turn south onto Stonetown Road from the Greenwood Lake Turnpike about 1.5 miles east of the historic Long Pond Ironworks. Park at the parking lot for the Stonetown Recreation Center on Mary Roth Drive off Stonetown Road near the intersection with West Brook Road. To actually get to the trail you must walk out to Stonetown Road, turn left, and hike a little over .25 miles north. At this point Magee Road bears to the left near the firehouse. Walk down Magee Road until it makes a sharp left and crosses a stream on a bridge. Watch for trail blazes which are a red triangle on a white background for the Stonetown Circular. Unfortunately, after the first blazes on the road there are no more blazes until AFTER the first fork in the trail. This problem was is repeated MANY times throughout the hike where the trail is poorly marked and blazes too far apart to help a first-time hiker. At the first fork bear left and climb to the first viewpoint at Signal Rock, about 1.5 miles into the hike. The view of Windbeam from here is good. Continue to climb up to the to top of Signal Rock and descend down the other side to head for the Tory Rocks at 2.0 miles into the hike. After the Tory Rocks the trail descends to a junction with the orange Sonoma Trail on the left. It may be difficult to find the Stonetown Circular blazes in this area. Make a ninety degree turn to the right and head down the road and across a bridge over a small stream. Pick up the red triangles and head back into the woods. You will soon be ascending Harrison Mountain where, at about 3.85 miles, a woods road runs off to the right. Walk up to an excellent viewpoint to the north and east. Back on the main trail you will cross a power line right of way and arrive at a junction with the Horse Pond Mountain Trail. At this junction the Stonetown Circular is coaligned with the Highlands Trail. From this point on the trail is well marked both by the red triangles and the aqua blazes of the Highlands Trail. From the top of Harrison Mountain there is a 500 foot descent over the next .6 miles. Along the way you will again cross the power line where there are good views down to the Monksville Reservoir. Continue on the flat part of the trail along the edge of the reservoir until you cross Stonetown Road to start back over three mountains. The next 1.25 miles are pretty flat to the base of Board Mountain. There is a nice lookout with a view down to the Monksville Dam. At 6.7 miles you begin to climb Board Mountain. The vertical gain is only 350 feet but it was over only .4 miles! The view from the top of Board Mountain was good. The descent of Board Mountain is gentle at the start but soon becomes very steep. After dropping 200 feet, there is an ascent of another 300 feet to the top of Bear Mountain. Near the summit there is a high rock with some good views. The descent into the col between Bear and Windbeam drops 400 feet over the next .7 miles into the col. From the col you start up Windbeam, the highest of the three mountains and a peak on the NJ1K list. The .6 mile climb gains 540 feet. The highest point of Windbeam has no views but there are excellent views to both the east and west a little further along the ridge. The trail dips and then ascends several times. There are good views of the reservoirs along the way. After descending into the col between Windbeam and Little Windbeam, the Highlands Trail and the Stonetown Circular separate. Stay on the red blazes of the Stonetown Circular and descend the steep trail to Stonetown Road. Once on Stonetown Road, turn right and walk up the road about .3 miles to Mary Roth Drive where your car is parked.

Storm King: All Points Loop from 9W

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.6 mi.	3201 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Get on Route 9W on the west side of the Hudson River heading north from West Point toward Newburgh. Between West Point and Newburgh are several parking areas. The "second" parking area on the east side of the highway has a large parking area and is on a rather sharp left hand turn. Heading south you will have to go beyond the area and turn around further down the road since this is a "no turns" part of Route 9W. This approach is easier than parking on Storm King Highway since the ascent is less but not it is as steep or steeper than the trail up from Storm King Highway! Get on the orange trail at the north end of the parking lot and immediately begin to climb. You will pass through an area that has stone pillars that were the "gateway" for some large estate. After this the trail really begins to get steep with only a few flatter sections until near the top. There are areas of exposed rock face and others that require some rock scrambling using feet and hands. As the trail ascends there are some viewpoints along the way but none compare to the ones near and at the top. Keep climbing! After only a little more than half a mile on the trail, it ends at the junction with the yellow blazed Stillman Trail. Turn right here and continue to climb. In a short distance a series of rock ledges open up with great views of Route 9W, the parking area and south on the Hudson. North Point is also visible below and this is an area you may soon visit. After taking in the views and taking some pictures continue on the Stillman Trail bypassing the left turn onto the Bluebird trail and, alter, the right onto the Howell Trail. After the Howell Trail, the Stillman Trail bears left. With half a mile the views from Storm King open up so that you can see north up the Hudson and to the west and east. Each view is better than the next until you are right on top of Storm King with a COMPLETELY open view. This happens just before the trail begins to descend. From this vantage point the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge is visible to the north. To the east is Breakneck Ridge and North and South Beacon Mountains. Pollepel Island is visible with Bannerman Castle. Boats can be seen in marinas lining the river and plying the waters. The views depend on the amount of haze and fog present but on a clear day you can see well beyond the bridge.

The options at this point are many. The shortest is probably back to the car the way you came but this misses some other spectacular views. Perhaps the longest route is the one described in detail here which includes trekking the Orange, Stillman, Bypass, Howell, Stillman Springs, Crossover, and Bluebird Trails! Some of these are use more than once!!

Continue on the Stillman Trail as it travels east and slightly south. At the junction with the white marked Bypass Trail turn onto the white trail. The Stillman Trail hooks sharply left and heads back north and west. Continue west on the bypass trail for less than half a mile where it meets the blue blazed Howell Trail. Turn left onto the Howell Trail which you will be on for several miles. The trail descends into The Clove through a series of switchbacks and then climbs out of The Clove to higher ground. The trail widens into a woods road as it winds its way toward North Point passing the junction with the Bobcat Trail. North Point has been burned over at least once and shows it by the being relatively open with many dead trees. There is a large rock near the top which marks the best viewpoint. From here there are wonderful views north toward the bridge and beyond. From North Point you can also look down on Storm King Highway, Bannerman Castle and across the river to Breakneck Ridge. From North Point the Howell Trail continues on around this elevated area. The views change so that you can see south toward West Point with good views down onto the river. The trail near the end descends rather sharply to Pitching Point which looks directly down to the river. The slop then moderates as you descend through open forest to the lowest point on the hike, Storm King Highway.

At the Stillman Springs Rock, picked up the white blazed Stillman Springs Trail which heads north and west. You may continue on this trail until it meets the Howell Trail again or you may look for the Crossover Trail. The markings for the Crossover Trail WERE red but have been painted over in gray signifying that the trail is no longer maintained. I decided to try to follow it just for something different to do. After a short walk up from Storm King Highway, the marks of the Crossover Trail appear on the right. The trail is a little hard to follow and you may find yourself staring intently through the forest at times. A short distance along the trail is an open, grassy clearing on the right. This appears to be a pond in wetter weather. The Crossover Trail is short. When you get to the Howell Trail turn right. The Howell Trail will again take you through The Clove and back up to the Bypass Trail. Turn right on the Bypass Trail and continue to the Stillman Trail.

At the Stillman Trail you may want to go BACK to the top of Storm King by turning left. Sometimes the views later in the day are clearer as the haze burns off. Whether you take this side trip or not get back on the Stillman Trail as it makes a sharp turn around Storm King and heads north and west. The trail at this point passes through some evergreen trees giving the walk a different feel. There are some viewpoints along the way and many switchbacks as the trail skirts and then descends the north slope of the mountain. Along the way is a bridge attached to a rock face to get across a small ravine. Watch for the Bluebird Trail on the left marked with red and blue paint. You can turn left on the Bluebird Trail or right on an old woods road. Down the road are some ruins of moderate interest. The Bluebird Trail ascends back to near the top of Storm King and the ascent is steep at times.

When the Bluebird Trail ends, turn right on the Stillman Trail and retrace your path from earlier in the day. Be sure to stop at the various lookouts as the light will be different. These views can look MUCH different in the afternoon than in the morning! Descend the yellow Stillman Trail and watch for the orange trail back to the parking area on Route 9W. The orange trail turns to the left. Be careful as you descends since some areas are VERY steep and accidents more often occur on descents! The entire route is about 8 miles but your time can vary greatly depending on the number of stops and their length.

Storm King: Bobcat Trail Loop from 9W

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.4 mi.	3138 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Get on Route 9W on the west side of the Hudson River heading north from West Point toward Newburgh. Between West Point and Newburgh are several parking areas. Watch for a small parking area on the east side of the highway with a small kiosk. This is the trailhead for the Bobcat Trail. The Bobcat Trail descends from the Route 9W parking area to a junction with the blue blazed Howell Trail that ascends to North Point. The Bobcat Trail is a little over a quarter mile long to the junction with the Howell Trail. Turn right at the junction to climb up and over North Point. Take some pictures of Storm King and the upper Route 9W parking area. You can see how the Storm King Highway really DOES hang on the edge of the mountain! The trail makes a right turn after North Point and heads southeast until it again rises to a point higher than North Point. After this the trail turns northeast and descends a ridge line towards the river. From this ridge there are views down to the river and across the river to the Hudson Highlands especially to Mount Taurus and Little Stony Point. Walk along this ridge for .65 miles until you are on a lookout on a cliff right above the river. You will be about 1.7 miles into the hike and ready to start the decent down to the Storm King Highway. From the lookout down to Pitching Point the trail drops over 500 feet in .4 miles with an average grade of over 20%. At the bottom of the steep descent the trail turns sharply to the left. Turn to the right and walk a short distance out to Pitching Point. The views here are actually not as good as from the top but it is interesting to look at the highway less than 300 feet away and almost straight down! Back on the main trail and walk about .4 miles downhill to the Storm King Highway. The trail ends/begins at a parking area near Stillman Springs. The Storm King land was donated to the Palisades Interstate Park Commission by the Stillman family in 1922 and there is an inscription near a spring that commerce this act. Walk north along the highway and then immediately pick up the white blazed Stillman Spring Trail at about 2.5 miles into the hike and 850 feet lower than your starting point.

The Stillman Spring Trail starts at the highway and heads west and southwest back toward the Howell Trail. Along its .7 mile length it gains over 400 feet. You may find the short Crossover Trail on the right but this has been "and can be hard to find. When you reach the Howell Trail, turn right to head toward "The Clove", the low point between North Point and Storm King. The Clove has two different streams running through it. At 3.45 miles you should be at the bottom and ready to start the climb up toward Storm King. The trail rises 550 feet in .5 miles to a junction with the white Bypass Trail. Turn right on the Bypass Trail as it has some nice views to the south which you cannot get from the summit of the mountain. The walk along the Bypass Trail presents some very nice views and there are several opportunities to take alternate routes which visit different viewpoints. There is a nice lookout at the junction of the Bypass Trail and the Stillman Trail. When you reach the lookout, walk up to a large open rock for some nice views. Continue on the Stillman Trail which wraps around the north side of Storm King Mountain. In many places the trail really hangs on the side of the mountain with a steep drops to the north and little room on the other side. This makes the trail "challenging" when it is wet or icy! At one point you will come to a bridge that spans a spot where there would be no trail without it. From the junction of The Bypass and Stillman Trails is only .9 miles. Turn left on the Bluebird Trail which regains in .5 miles the 480 feet lost on the way down the Stillman Trail. There are numerous switchbacks on the trail but it is still a good climb. At the next trail junction turn left of the Stillman Trail to head over the summit of Storm King. This .7 mile section is relatively flat but does gain almost 100 feet to the summit before dropping back down to the junction with the Bypass Trail. The last viewpoint is the only one really worth the stop since it is much more open than the others.

At 6.5 miles you should be back at the junction with the Bypass Trail where you should turn right to start your trip back. Drop down the Bypass Trail to the junction with the Howell Trail and then continue down through "The Clove". Once you are at the junction with the Stillman Springs Trail continue straight ahead on the Howell Trail back to the junction with the Bobcat Trail just before the Howell Trail climbs North Point. It is only .8 miles from the Stillman Springs junction to the parking area.

Storm King: Bypass Loop from 9W

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.4 mi.	2555 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Get on Route 9W on the west side of the Hudson River heading north from West Point toward Newburgh. Between West Point and Newburgh are several parking areas. The "second" parking area on the east side of the highway has a large parking area and is on a rather sharp left hand turn. Heading south you will have to go beyond the area and turn around further down the road since this is a "no turns" part of Route 9W. This approach is easier than parking on Storm King Highway since the ascent is less but not it is as steep or steeper than the trail up from Storm King Highway!

Take the orange Butter Hill Trail out of the parking area and watch for the stone columns at the top of the first short climb. At .3 miles right on the yellow Stillman Trail, one of the main trails in the park. Continue our climbing up to the top of the Stillman Trail at about .4 miles and then descend to the junction with the blue and red Bluebird Trail at .6 miles. There aren't many views along this trail and the walk is difficult since it alternates between rocky sections and wet areas. There is a woods road along the way that turns left to some ruins. These ruins aren't very old and aren't too impressive but they are only a short distance and right on the road. At 1 mile turn right at the junction with the yellow Stillman Trail. This part of the trail enters some nice evergreen forest and begins to climb on the edge of the mountain. The trail is narrow and in one place a bridge is needed to cross a usually dry "gorge". As the trail climbs it heads toward the river and skirts the summit of Storm King Mountain. There are some nice views of the river below. The Stillman Trail continues to the summit of Storm King where there are some nice views to the north. Retrace your path back down the Stillman Trail to the junction with the white Bypass Trail. The Bypass Trail descends until at about 2.4 miles it meets the blue Howell Trail which heads south. The Howell Trail continues to descend into a low area called The Clove between the higher ground of Storm King on one side and North Point on the other. At 2.7 miles turn left on the red Crossover Trail. This trail is now unofficial and the blazes have been painted over but you can take it anyway. At 3.0 miles you will intersect the white Stillman Spring Trail where you should turn left and continue to descend. The Stillman Spring Trail eventually ends at Stillman Spring on the Storm King Highway. This is the lowest point on the hike and represents an almost 1100 foot drop from Storm King. At the spring pick up the beginning of the blue Howell Trail which starts your long climb to North Point. At 3.6 miles walk straight ahead as the main trail turns right. This will bring you to a nice lookout called Pitching Point. The Howell Trail continues to climb as it heads south and then southwest. The vegetation here is almost all hardwood with a lot of small trees and brush. There are also many open fields. The area around North Point has burned several times accounting for the ecology that is so evident. You will hit the highest point on this part of the southern loop and then descend slightly before climbing to North Point. The area here is very open and there are intriguing views of the river, Polopel Island and Storm King Highway as it winds its way around the mountain. Walk across the open space at the top of North Point. To your right you may be able to spot you car in the parking area further up 9W. Walk down to a wide woods road where the white Bobcat Trail joins from the lower parking area on 9W. Continued on the Howell Trail as it descends into The Clove passing the Stillman Trail at 5.4 miles and the Crossover Trail at 5.6 miles. From this low point in the Clove, the gain in elevation is almost 500 feet over the next .35 miles on the Howell Trail. At the top if the climb turn left on a "proposed" trail which seems to be an extension of the Bypass Trail. There are only a few blazes but the wide road is easy to follow. On your right side will be some really impressive cliffs that make up the foot of Storm King. Continue to hike up a steep little grade to the parking area.

Storm King: Loop from Storm King Highway

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.8 mi.	2127 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Get on Storm King Highway on the west side of the Hudson River. Between West Point and Cornwall-on-Hudson are several parking areas. The "middle" parking area on the east side of the highway has a spring and a rock with an inscription commemorating the gift of land by the Stillman family. Park here and your adventure is about to begin! The trail to the left of the spring is the blue blazed Howell Trail. This approach is more difficult than parking on 9W since the ascent is greater but not too difficult. The trail ascends to a woods road and then continues upward on an old woods road. After less than a mile, the trail turns right and ascends more steeply along a route involving a couple of switchbacks and some stone steps. Eventually the trail opens up onto some rocks giving you the first of some absolutely spectacular views. This is Pitching Point with views across the river to Breakneck Ridge and Bannerman Castle. Up the river is the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge while downriver you can see West Point. As good as these views are the best is yet to come!

Continue on the Howell Trail and enjoy the various views as they come your way. Look over to Storm King Mountain and down to the highway which appears to hang on its very edge. A little further west and closer is an almost bald, burned over area. This is North Point and the Howell Trail will take you there soon enough. Watch on your left for more views down the Hudson. The quality of the views depends largely on the amount of humidity and haze in the air. Soon the Howell Trail which was headed west takes a sharp turn right and heads north. You will notice more open areas and many dead trees as you ascend to North Point. From North Point you can look northeast toward Storm King Mountain, directly north to Butter Hill or a little west of north and see Route 9W. On 9W is another parking area which allows easier access to trails that ascend Storm King.

The Howell Trail now descends the other side of North Point and joins a woods road for some distance. be sure to STAY ON the blue blazed trail as other trails and unmarked woods roads intersect the Howell trail at several points. One of the trails is the Stillman Springs Trail which you will use on the way back. You will descend into The Clove rather gently but then ascend out of The Clove rather more steeply. The Howell Trail makes an abrupt right near the top of the ascent, joins a woods road and moderates some. After a very short walk, the Howell Trail heads north again. At this point the Bypass Trail, your route on the way back, goes straight ahead. Continue on the blue trail until it meets the yellow blazed Stillman Trail. This is the main trail that accesses Storm King Mountain. Turning right at the junction takes you directly around Storm King. Turn left and head toward Butter Hill for some nice views of the Hudson and Route 9W. You will get to an open rock faces where these views are very obvious. At this point turn around and retrace your steps back to the junction with the Howell Trail. Turn left to continue on the Stillman Trail around Storm King Mountain.

As you hike along the Stillman Trail there are numerous lookouts and viewpoints each more amazing than the next. Most of these views are to the north and east. On a clear day you can see well passed the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge to the north. The fire tower on South Beacon Mountain is clearly visible as is the summit of North Beacon Mountain. The climbers working their way up Breakneck Ridge are an interesting site! As you head south on the trail you will arrive at a point where the Stillman Trail abruptly turns east and then hooks back north and west. The views here are to the east and south toward West Point. As the yellow blazed Stillman Trail makes its turn, the white marks of the Bypass Trail appear on the right. Turn here to head back toward the Howell Trail which will be your way back to your car. The Bypass Trail passes between two low rock ridges as it makes its way back to the Howell Trail. There are views primarily to the south and east but you may have to walk up onto the rock ridge on your left to see them.

After a short walk, turn left on the blue blazed Howell Trail and descend into The Clove. This is the ascent you made earlier so things SHOULD look familiar. The blazes on the red marked Crossover Trail have been painted over to indicate it is no longer available. Continue on the Howell Trail until the white blazes of the Stillman Springs Trail appear on the left. This is mostly an old woods road and the pitch is not too steep. In less than a mile you will be back on Storm King Highway just north of where you are parked. The total distance is under 6 miles and will and will vary based on how many side trips you take. The time can be relatively quick but most people stop for pictures and to marvel at the views.

Storm King: Stillman Loop from 9W

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	6.8 mi.	3005 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Get on Route 9W on the west side of the Hudson River heading north from West Point toward Newburgh. Between West Point and Newburgh are several parking areas. The "second" parking area on the east side of the highway has a large parking area and is on a rather sharp left hand turn. Heading south you will have to go beyond the area and turn around further down the road since this is a "no turns" part of Route 9W. This approach is easier than parking on Storm King Highway since the ascent is less but not it is as steep or steeper than the trail up from Storm King Highway!

Take the orange Butter Hill Trail out of the parking area. Boterberg or Butter Hill is one of the early Dutch names for Storm King since it looked like a lump of butter. This name is still used for the western summit which actually is 40 feet higher at 1380 feet than Storm king itself! There are some nice views from Butter Hill across the river to Little Stony Point, Mount Taurus and Breakneck Ridge. To get to the top of Butter Hill turn right on the yellow Stillman Trail which leads to the summit. Continue over the top on the Stillman Trail and begin to descend into the area between Butter Hill and Storm King. When you meet the red and blue marked Bluebird Trail turn left and begin an interesting descent. The Bluebird Trail descends steeply in places and there aren't many viewpoints. The Bluebird Trail ends with a junction with the Stillman Trail as it come up from Mountain Road in Cornwall. Turn right to walk along the edge of Storm King as the trail slowly ascends the mountain through a series of shallow grades and switchbacks. Cross the Stillman Bridge, a wooden structure which bridges a gap in the trail where there is no ground to speak of but a steep drop off near a vertical rock wall. Right after the bridge is an open wooden staircase. Just after the bridge a series of switchbacks announces the climb up Storm King is almost done. On the way up the Stillman Trail several nice views can be had from a few lookouts. Near the top of the trail there are even more viewpoints as the trail passes by several open rock shelves. The only view that is blocked is to the north! Continue on the Stillman Trail up over the top of Storm King to take in some of the best views especially to the north. Continue on the Stillman Trail down the other side of the mountain. At the junction with the blue Howell Trail turn left and descend through The Clove. There is NOTHING to see as you descend into The Clove. The trail is steep in places . Near the bottom you will cross the small stream that lies at the bottom of The Clove. Just before this crossing you may see the markings of the former Crossover Trail which are now painted over indicating the trail is officially closed. Just after the stream you will see the white marks of the Stillman Spring Trail on the left. Continue on the Howell Trail as it starts to ascend out of the clove rather steeply but then moderates on an old woods road. After this the road ascends more steeply and the trail turns off to the left. At this point the Bobcat Trail comes in from the lower parking area on 9W. Follow the Howell Trail to the left and begin the steep but short hike up to North Point. There are GREAT views here down to and across the river! Continue down the Howell Trail off North Point and walked for a while before the trail starts to head due east towed the river and several nice viewpoints start to appear. These viewpoints are mostly to the south and east and views of West Point are possible. The trail begins to descend again very steeply as it heads down toward the river and the Storm King Highway. The last good lookout is Pitching Point which is less than 500 horizontal feet from the highway. The trail then winds its way away from the road and switches back several times before ending at Stillman Spring. Walked north a hundred feet on the highway before turning left back into the woods on the white Stillman Spring Trail. This trail ascends right from the beginning but never steeply as it heads back to the Howell Trail just above the deepest part of The Clove. At the Howell Trail turn right and hike up out of the Clove toward Storm King. As the trail nears the area where it levels off near the top of the mountain, another trail turns left. This trail is marked in white but is shown as "proposed" on the maps. The maps also show the trail running directly west but it really runs southwest. This trail descend some before ascending and then descending again. The last few hundred feet is a steep climb back to the parking area on 9W.

Sullivan Branch: Waterfall Bushwhack

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	1.6 mi.	350 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

From Route 118 turn north onto Central Road. In Center take a right onto Jamison City Road. In Jamison City turn right onto Sullivan Falls Road to State Game Lands #13. Park in the parking area on the left side of the road about 2.5 miles up the road before a big right hand bend. This road starts as a reasonably paved back road and rapidly deteriorates to a one lane road with many eroded areas near the end.

From the parking area walk down to Sullivan Branch. The trail goes to the top of the falls where the stream has cut an impressive channel and flume through the bedrock. Looking down over the falls you can see the deep green of the plunge pool below. Walk back out the path but this time toward the base of the falls and the pool. The path is obvious but quite steep. Head back up the bank and walk the stream and the bank up to Pigeon Run where there is another falls. As with all of these bushwhacks, high water can make the falls much more enjoyable but the trip almost impossible. Low water conditions make the walking easier but the falls uninteresting. The Sullivan Branch can be clogged by blowdown for a good part of its length requiring you to move to the banks which may also be covered with downed trees and brush. Once you are passed Big Run the conditions should improve some and it is only .6 miles to Pigeon Run. The falls are actually on Pigeon Run in a narrow slot and so are different than most of the other falls on the main streams. Walk back downstream and up the steep left bank to an old haul road. The road is easy to follow and in pretty good shape. Follow it all the way back to the Sullivan Branch Road to within a few hundred feet of your car.

Sullivan County High Point: Quick Lake - Flynn Trails

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	7.8 mi.	1316 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The area around Frick Pond, Hodge Pond and Quick Lake is covered with trails. There are numerous possibilities for short of long hikes. The area is "relatively" flat and there are no "views". There is, however, some beautiful scenery.

Take DeBruce Road from Livingston Manor for about six miles then turn left on Mongaup Rd. Where the road splits bear left on Beech Mountain Rd. and park in the parking lot on the left. Find the blue-blazed Flynn Trail and follow it for 1.7 miles to the junction with the yellow-blazed Big Rock Trail which goes to the left. Continue straight on The Flynn Trail for less than half a mile. Take the jeep trail that goes to the right as the Flynn Trail turns left toward Hodge Pond. Stay on this trail as it winds its way up the mountain for a little more than .5 miles. At this point the trail flattens out and then disappears. Strike off into the woods heading UP. Look for old jeep trails or herd paths to aid your ascent. Wander around at the top of this mountain until you think you have hit the high point. Much of the area seems to be the same elevation and there is no marker. This is informally called Beech Mountain and the highest point seems to be on the eastern part of the plateau. Head back down the mountain until you hit the jeep trail. From here you can retrace your steps back to the parking area. If you want to do a loop, take a right on the jeep trail about half way down which will take you to the outlet of Hodge Pond. Pick up the Flynn Trail and stay on it for a mile. Here the trail ends. Turn left on the red marked Quick Lake Trail. Stay on this trail for 3.1 miles and it will take you passed Frick Pond back to the parking area.

Taconic: Bash Bish Mountain and Alander Mountain

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.8 mi.	2030 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The parking area for this hike is on Falls Road (Route 344) which you can pick up in Copake Falls off Route 22 or by following the signs from Route 41 to Bash Bish Falls. Park in the lot. To get to the falls go to the trail to the right near the kiosk and descend to the fire road that leads to the observation point above the falls. Several different stream of water make up the falls depending on the volume of water. Continue down the steps to the base of the falls. The water falls into a pool at the base of the falls which then drains into the gorge formed by the creek over many years. The gorge is deep and well-cut attesting to the power of the stream when there is a large volume of water. Go back up the stairs and turn right to follow the blue marked trail on a loop back to the car.

Near the parking area is a LARGE outcropping of rock that overlooks the falls and the gorge. The climb up onto this outcropping can be interesting but is well worth the time and effort. The views down the gorge and out to the surrounding area are beautiful. You can follow the guide rails and cables around to look down into the gorge to the stream below. Some foolish people have obviously gone beyond the fencing but you will stay where it is safe. After taking in the views, return to the parking area to begin the hike to Slander Mountain.

From the parking area take the fire road that is at the opposite end of the lot from the Falls Trail. This is the Bash Bish Gorge Trail and is marked with blue paint. You will have to bear right at the end of the road and then find a way to cross over the stream. Depending on the water level, this may be easy or dangerous. The trail markings on both sides are not very clear. Once on the other side ascend the STEEP trail out of the gorge. You may need to use the available tree roots and branches combined with the guide rails and cables. Stop at several points to take in the view including the one down the gorge and the one directly down into the gorge. Continue on the trail but pay attention to where you are going. There are MANY blowdowns along the way which obscure the trail and hikers have taken several different routes around them. Very shortly signs will indicate that you may turn left or right onto the South Taconic Trail. Make sure you turn left and ascend! The trail makes a steep but short ascent to the Alander Mountain Ridge. From here the trail undulates some but most of the climbing is done.

Once you are on the ridge the summit of Lander is about two miles away. The trail passes through hardwood forest. At some spots there is a canopy of mountain laurel and in others you are surrounded by dwarf pines. As you walk it is obvious that the trail drops off on either side. At points the parallel ridges on either side are visible. In the fall, when the leaves are off the trees, views down into the valleys and across the hills are available. Take a quick peek but don't waste too much time since the best views are yet to come. As you approach Alander the trail starts a very moderate climb and begins to open up to low bushes. Views from here are available In all directions except to the south since this direction is still blocked by the mountain. As you ascend the views just keep getting better. Near the top a rock cairn and signs show the various trail options including the Alander Mountain Trail to the Mount Washington State Forest Headquarters. This trail is the shorter, easier way to get to the top!. At the summit are the cement pilings that once anchored a long gone tower.

Continue on the trail and look south to see wonderful views of Mount Ashley, Brace Mountain and Mount Frissell. There are also views to both the east and west. Just down the trail you will see another rocky outcropping. Head down the trail making this outcropping your goal. There is slight descent and then ascent to this area. Along the way you can walk back and forth on the mountain to make sure you get every view possible. From the outcropping the mountain drops away making the views even better. Just below this area there is a small granite marker on the trail. This marks the New York-Massachusetts boundary. When you are on the other side of the marker, you are at the highest point in Columbia County, New York. Head back to the summit. You can now simply return to the car or take a side trip.

Turn right onto the Alander Mountain Trail. Within several hundred feet you will see a small cabin. This is an Appalachian Mountain Club cabin which can be used on a first come first served basis. It has a wood stove and several bunk beds. Once you have seen the cabin follow the trail back up to the South Taconic Trail. Follow the South Taconic Trail back to the Bash Bish Gorge Trail across the stream and back to the parking area.

Taconic: Berlin Mountain and the Snow Hole

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	11.4 mi.	2466 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

The parking area for this hike is on Route 2 at the Petersburg Pass just outside Petersburg, NY and on very near the Massachusetts and Vermont borders.

The parking area is very large and on the right side of the road as you head toward Massachusetts. Sign in at the trail register at the back right of the parking area and head out on the Taconic Crest Trail. The first part of the trail is overgrown with weeds but it soon gives way to a wider trail and woods road. Start a short but steep ascent part way up Raimer Mountain. Once on the crest of the ridge the trail flattens a little before rising to around 2450 feet. The trail then descends toward Berlin Pass. Just before the descent, views of Berlin Mountain can be seen through the trees. The trail drops more than 200 feet to 2230 feet at Berlin Pass before starting up Berlin Mountain. The 1.2 mile climb gains almost 600 feet. When you arrive at the flat, open top of Berlin Mountain, you will be about 2.75 miles into the hike. There will be some good views but how good they are depends on the amount of haze. To the west it is easy to spot Mount Greylock with its two towers. There are profile views of Mount Williams and Mount Fitch to the north of Greylock. Views in the other directions are at least partly blocked by the trees. Return the way you came to the parking area which is about 5.5 miles of hiking.

Cross the road to find the trail on the other side. The first few hundred feet of the hike north are very steep with some steps to make the climb easier. Near the top of the climb there is a trail register and a sign explaining that the area is part of the 2500 acre Hopkins Forest which is owned and maintained by Williams College. There are usually extra trail maps in the bin by the sign! As you start up the trail, another spur trail leads off to the left. Take this trail to get some more views down an old ski slope. There are great views back to Raimer Mountain and to the east and south. Return to the Taconic Crest Trail which is very well maintained in this area. At about .6 miles from the Pass or 6.3 miles into the hike, the Shepard's Well Trail comes in from the right. The main trail continues to rise although gently in most cases. In another .6 miles the Birch Brook Trail joins from the right. After this the trail ascends and there are some excellent views to the west. In another .5 miles the trail briefly crosses into Vermont and then heads back into New York. At 2.5 miles from the Pass or 8 miles into the hike the trail starts to descend. In another .25 miles a red spur trail turns off to the right. This trail leads to the Snow Hole after a short descent. The Snow Hole is a deep cleft in the rock which is supposed to have snow and ice in it until mid-July. Even when there is no snow, the Hole is cool and damp and dark. Retrace your path back to the Taconic Crest Trail and turn left to get back to the car,

Taconic: Mount Everett and Mount Race

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.7 mi.	3156 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

As with most hikes there are several approaches to these mountains. It is even possible to drive with about a mile of the summit of Everett and then hike about 700 feet in elevation to the top. This is the northern approach and misses the beautiful Race Brook Falls! The route from the south through Sage's Ravine is much longer. The approach from the east between the two mountains takes in the falls and both mountains. It is challenging but not too difficult.

The trailhead for this hike is on Massachusetts State Route 41 about 1.5 miles south of the Berkshire School. Park at the trailhead and go into the woods passed the kiosk and onto the blue marked Race Brook Falls Trail. The trail starts out moderately through some hardwood forests which alternate with evergreens along the way. The first brook crossing might be tricky in high water but otherwise is no problem. After only half a mile of moderate incline a side trail leads off to the left. This trail leads to the lower tier of Race Brook Falls. It is well worth the detour and places you at the foot of a 90 foot cataract. The trail is steep in places and blocked by some blowdown which has been there for a while. You can stand at the bottom of the falls and admire both the power and the beauty of the falling water. When you are done, retrace your steps back to the main trail and continue on.

The trail begins to ascend more steeply now through evergreen forest and leads to the upper tier of Race Brook Falls. After only about a quarter mile you are there. This tier is similar to the lower one. It is not quite as high but perhaps more delicate. The trail crosses at the base of the falls. This is no problem in times of low water but can be dangerous or impossible when the water is high. The trail now ascends more sharply up to a more level area. Glimpses of the surrounding hills suggest the views that will be much clearer from the summits! In less than a mile, the platforms of race Brook Primitive Campsite appear. There is one stream crossing that is no problem but does have a two-log bridge! Walk through the campsite and up a set of stone steps. You will soon be at the junction with the white marked South Taconic Trail which is also part of the Appalachian Trail. Turning left leads to Mount Race and right to Mount Everett. The trail is POORLY MARKED in places so be careful to watch where you are going.

Turn right toward Mount Everett. As you walk along the relatively flat trail the first views of Mount Everett appear and although the mountain is not very high it does seem imposing. After only a quarter mile the climb up Everett begins. This is a no-nonsense approach that heads straight up the mountain with few switchbacks to moderate the climb. The trail passes over some open rock outcroppings which can be slippery although it is possible in some cases to pass to one side or the other. None of these areas could be classified as difficult or approaching a rock scramble but they are not easy either. Near the top the trail begins to level out and pass through some interesting ecosystems. Dwarf pines alternate with scrub oak and warm climate species like sassafras can be seen. You will suddenly realize that you are out of the forest and the open views of the surrounding mountains and valley will take your breath away. Immediately behind you on the climb is Mount Race as well as several other mountains and hills.

Near the summit of Everett are the remains of the Mount Washington Observation Tower. All that is left are the cement pylons that anchored the base. You can turn around at this point and retrace your path but walking to the other side if the summit is well worth it. As you walk down the trail a large rock outcropping on the left affords another set of breathtaking views. The trail continues down the north side of the mountain and intersects a fire road. Both the fire road and the trail descend to Guilder Pond. The descent is about 600 feet but only about three quarters of a mile. The pond is very pretty with a loop trail. After a visit to the pond use the trail or the road to climb back to the summit. Follow the trail back down the other side to the junction with the blue trail. Continue straight ahead on the South Taconic Trail that leads to the summit of Mount Race. The initial part of this trail has several steep but short spots. It then ascends continuously to the ridge line that leads to the summit of the mountain. From the trail junction to the summit is a little less than a mile.

As you near the summit the trail opens up and the first thing you notice is Mount Everett directly behind you! Other hills and valleys are also laid out below. After the summit continue southward on the trail. There is a slight descent and a large rock cairn will come into view. At the same time you see the cairn you will notice that there are open views to the south. Walk around this area before returning to the summit. Follow the trail back to the Race Brook Trail where you will make a right and walk back to your car.

Taconic: South Brace Mountain and Brace Mountain

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.3 mi.	1500 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

These two mountains are actually in New York state and are part of the Taconic State Park. The best way to access the parking area is to go south from Copake Falls or north from Millerton on Route 22. Look for Whitehouse Rd. on the east side of Route 22. Turn onto Whitehouse Road and follow it a short distance to where it ends on Route 63 also called Undermountain Road. Take the next right onto Deer Run Road. After a very short drive up a hill, Deer Run goes straight ahead and comes to a dead end. Take the left onto Quarry Hill Road and watch for the small parking area on the left with a sign that says Taconic State Park. Park here to get on the trail. DO NOT walk up the wide woods road next to the parking area. It is private property and does not lead to the trail.

The white marked South Taconic Trail starts out through a field and then enters a hardwood forest. The initial, gentle hiking belies what is to come! Within a quarter mile the trail begins to parallel a stream. The sights and sounds of the stream are relaxing but the trail begins to climb steeply along the banks of the gully cut by the stream. The trail is poorly marked and you should pay careful attention to where you are going. Other hikers have taken various routes so the actual path of the trail can be obscured. Some of these detours do make the climb easier but some do not. As you near the half mile point the trail gets even more serious with a climb up over sheer rock faces with some tough "ups" particularly for those who are "vertically challenged"! Fortunately, this does not last for long and you are on a much flatter area of the trail. On the way up be sure to carefully look over your shoulder. The views that are revealed of the valley below hint at what can be seen from the top of the mountains.

As the trail levels off there are several areas where you can safely enjoy the views before moving on. The trail from this point on is much flatter with a slight incline as you climb toward South Brace Mountain. Watch the trail markings since it is easy to head the wrong way. The trail does pass over some rocky spines and outcroppings but the incline is not steep enough to be much of a problem. As you ascend South Brace the views become even more magnificent. As you turn around Riga Lake and South Pond will be in front of you on the right. They form an interesting break in the hill and valley terrain that is so common. The summit of South Brace is just ahead at about 1.2 miles.

Continue on the trail for less than half a mile to the summit of Brace. There is a short descent into a col between the two mountains but you will hardly notice it. As you climb up to the top of Brace the most prominent feature on the mountain is a LARGE pile of stones with a permanent windsock attached. Brace Mountain is one of the primary launch points fro the Connecticut Hang Gliding Association and other enthusiasts. You may expect to see launches any time you are on the summit. The view to the east, west and north are wonderful so take them in before you start back to the car.

Simply turn around and follow the trail back the way you came up the mountain. Be careful since the descent can be dangerous especially when there are leaves, water, ice or snow on the trail.

Taughannock Falls State Park (NY)

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	5.8 mi.	1680 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSIES

From the junction of Routes 96 and 89 in Ithaca, NY, head north on Route 89. Drive for about 9 miles and watch for signs for Taughannock Falls State Park. Park in the parking area on the west side of the Taughannock Falls State Park.

Walk into the gorge on the Gorge Trail and watch for several small falls along the way. The canyon that has been cut over the years is impressive. A layer of rock acts as the stream bed in many places and shows "waves". In many areas the different hardness of the rock layers is evident in the erosional patterns. You will arrive at the bridge over the stream at the base of the falls. The main falls are certainly high and are listed at 215 feet in mist books. Walk back into the beginning of the Gorge Trail, and start UP to the South Rim Trail. Getting up to the rim requires quite a climb but there were MANY stone steps along the way. Once you are up on the rim, the trail levels out and passes through shaded groves of the hardwood and some evergreen trees. Along the way a few lookouts give interesting views of the canyon below and, eventually, of the falls itself. Soon you will be near the upper reaches of the gorge and a new falls comes into view. Here the gorge widens considerably and the different layers of rock are even more obvious. Soon a bridge comes into view to cross over the stream. The bridge is a little old and has seen better days. From the bridge another falls, as impressive as the main falls in many ways, appears on the left to the southwest of the bridge. The water here also falls a long distance and the volume appears to be as great as the main falls. A little further upstream is another bridge that routes traffic over the stream. Continue on the trail but take the short side trip to the road bridge and back before continuing on the main trail. As you walk along the main trail an occasional view of the gorge will appear. The trail winds along the gorge and even joins the road for a brief time. At the upper access to the park and the gorge is a flight of stone steps to a view of the falls from some stone "benches". Start back down the North Rim Trail to the car. Try to find a view down the gorge and out to Cayuga Lake. Many of the viewpoints are overgrown and the views are obscured by trees and bushes. Continue down the trail looking for viewpoints before descending the steps to the road a little north of the parking area. Walked the road back to the car.

Ticetonyck Mountain (Peck Rd)

http://msrmaps.com

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	3.4 mi.	1350 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

From the intersection of Routes 28A and 28 near Boiceville drive south for .4 miles and turn left on DeSilva Road. Turn left at the end of the road and then turn right on Bostock Mountain Road. After 1.4 miles turn left on Peck Road. Drive 1.2 miles to a small pulloff on the left side of the road. The only sign is a small one in this "parking area" that explains the acquisition of Ticetenenyck Mountain. The entire hike is a bushwhack although there are some woods roads and paths to follow. The first part of the hike is along a narrow access corridor of state land that is bordered by private property on both sides. Take the woods road that heads to the left and up a steep hill right out of parking area. Follow the state forest signs and the yellow blazes for about .5 miles and find a woods road that ascends steeply along the western shoulder of the mountain's ridge. Watch for nice views of the Shokan Reservoir which are easier to get in season's with fewer leaves. After about .75 miles you should be at the highest point on the road. The road continues northwest and start down onto private property. Turn off the road into the woods to the right and climb a steep hill. Continue to hike up and to the northeast until about 1.4 miles. Look for the highest point on the summit plateau and you may find the rock with the USGS benchmark. Walk down off the summit to the east or southeast and walk to the edge of the summit plateau. Walk counterclockwise until you find a viewpoint facing east. There will be wide open views and a large rock with many initials and symbols. Walk back to the summit and head west. The viewpoints on the west are mostly blocked by trees but are worth the visit. When you are done, follow your path back to your car.

Tors: Little Tor and High Tor

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps
	8.5 mi.	1492 ft.	MSR Maps	GPSies

Take the Palisades Parkway to Exit 13 and turn onto Route 202 East. At the first traffic light turn south on Route 45. Just up the hill is a parking lot on the right or east side of the road. Park here. Note the signs warning about ticks and Lyme Disease and be sure to take appropriate precautions. The hike is a relatively straight forward out and back route that follows the Long Path for its entire length. The trail meanders up and down some and back and forth only slightly as it follows the ridge line the entire way. You may cut off the first part of the hike by parking on Route 33 where the Long Path crosses the road. There is room for several cars. Little Tor and High Tor are both east of this parking area and the "trail" is over wide woods roads for the mots part.

From the Route 45 parking area walk east on the Long Path following the aqua blazes. Walk off the trail to the left or right occasionally to enjoy the view. North or left is heavily populated while south or right seems more wild. After 1.75 miles, you will descend to Route 33. Be careful when crossing since both north and south have blind curves and the drivers are always going too fast. At this point the trail becomes a wide road which is often covered with stone chips. The walking is easy and your pace can increase. After only .3 miles a power line crosses the trail and a path leads up and to the left. This is a good lookout to the north but nothing like what is to come. In a little more than 1 mile from Route 33 a wide path turns to the left away from the main trail and leads to Little Tor.

As you walk up the path stop on the edge of the cliff and look at the views laid out below. Now turn back to the path and follow it to the top of Little Tor for the really remarkable 360 degree panorama. The Hudson River is to the east and the jutting rock formation is part of High Tor. When you have taken in all you can, retrace your route to the main trail and walk another 1.25 miles to High Tor. The trail breaks up a little and may be wet in places but this is not really a problem. As you approach High Tor you may wonder how you can climb such a massive piece of rock. Do not fear! The Long Path bends to the right hear and then turns sharply left up the "back" of the tor. This part of the trail is steep in places with some rock scrambling but it is also short and well worth the effort.

After the brief climb, the trail levels some and then ascends to the top of the tor. To the left is a large, flat, open rock outcropping which offers unhindered views of the populated area below. There are also views of the Hudson River and the more forested areas west and south. Immediately to the east rises another prominent rock outcropping which is the top of the tor. Head for this area and ascend over the bare rock face which can be slippery when wet. Near the top you will see four anchors which are all that remain of a tower which housed and airplane beacon. You will now have an unhindered 360 degree view of all that is near and far. On a clear day the view is one of the nicest in the lower Hudson Valley. After getting a drink and a snack, take some pictures and then retrace your route back to the car.

Tremper Mountain: Rt. 40, Phoenicia

Quick Look
Difficulty	Round trip	Total climb	Internet Maps