14. Riggsville to Bull Run

Features: Vernooy Falls, Bangle Hill
Distance: 10.10 miles
USGS Map Quads: Kerhonkson, West Shokan, Peekamoose Mountain
Trail Conference Maps: Trail Map 143, Southern Catskill Trails

General Description

The Long Path follows a snowmobile trail to Vernooy Falls, a series of lovely
waterfalls. After the cascade, the Long Path leaves the snowmobile trail to
follow and cross many dirt roads on gentle grades for the first six miles. The
trail becomes narrower and more rugged as it passes the shoulder of Samson
Mountain and climbs gently over Bangle Hill. The final descent to Bull Run is
steep and long.

Access

Take the New York State Thruway to Exit 19, Kingston. Continue on NY
Route 28 west for about three miles, then turn left onto NY Route 28A. At
Ulster County Route 3, go west to and through Samsonville. Go right on
Sundown Road, then turn left onto Upper Cherrytown Road and follow it to
the trailhead.

Parking

0.00 DEC parking area at entrance to Catskill Park on Upper Cherrytown
Road. (18T 554278E 4634905N)
9.65 Sundown Primitive Campsite on Peekamoose Road. (18T 546612E
4640690N)
10.10 Parking area on Peekamoose Road (also known as Gulf Road and Ulster
County Route 42). (18T 547333E 4640489N)

Camping

Sundown Primitive Campsite and state land.

Trail Description

0.00 Opposite a DEC parking area on Upper Cherrytown Road, the Long
Path enters the woods at a DEC sign with a red marker indicating a snowmobile
trail. Follow the blue hiking trail markers and the large yellow snowmobile
markers on a wide path. The trail crosses a small stream and begins to ascend.
0.25 Cross a stream on a wooden footbridge and turn right to follow the
stream. In another 0.1 miles, pass a piped spring on the left. The trail turns left
away from the stream and ascends more sharply as large trees give way to a
smaller forest. The trail eventually levels off and crosses several small streams.
1.70 Reach a clearing with Vernooy Falls, a series of lovely cascades in a large
stream, on the left. A number of old foundations are in this area, and the hiker
can explore several paths. The Long Path makes a sharp right turn on a wide
cobble path as it continues to follow the blue trail markers and the yellow
markers of the snowmobile trail. After a gradual ascent, the trail levels off.
Here, it is often wet.
2.65 The Long Path turns left up a gentle hill as the yellow-marked snowmobile
trail continues straight ahead. The Long Path now follows a wide woods
road. It reaches a gentle hilltop and becomes fairly level.
3.90 The trail goes left at an intersection of woods roads. It crosses a stream
on a large culvert. Several dirt roads lead away from the trail. A stream
approaches from the left and the trail runs alongside it.
4.60 Cross a tributary stream on a wood plank bridge. The trail passes through
hemlock forest before rejoining hardwoods. This section of the trail is often wet.
5.30 Cross a stream on a metal pipe culvert. In 500 feet, another dirt road
goes off to the left.
5.60 The Long Path goes right on a narrow track, leaving the woods road.
The trail climbs, often fairly steeply, until it reaches another woods road. Here
it turns left on level ground. (For reverse direction, the turn off this woods
road is a few hundred feet before the road curves to the left.)
6.10 At a small crest in the woods road, the Long Path turns right on a footpath,
leaving the road. A few hundred yards further on, it makes a sharp left on
a well-defined path. The general trend is gently downhill as it crosses several
small streams.
7.95 The trail jogs left and runs along a level grade with a sharp drop to the
right.
8.65 After reaching the top of Bangle Hill, the trail descends steeply, and then
turns left and continues along a nearly level contour.
8.85 Cross a rocky intermittent stream, turn right, and head downhill, parallel
to the stream. It is now steep downwards all the way to the base of Bangle
Hill. On the way down, the trail crosses the stream two more times. It then
crosses the outlet of a spring and continues along the valley of the stream. The
trail widens into a woods road and passes several other woods roads on the
left.
9.65 Reach Peekamoose Road (Ulster County Route 42) and turn right, passing
a parking area for the Sundown Primitive Campsite on the left. Occasional LP
aqua blazes appear on roadside objects to mark the way.
9.75 The road crosses a bridge over Rondout Creek. In another 600 feet, it
crosses a bridge over a tributary stream.
10.10 The Long Path departs from the road by turning left.