25. Greene County Route 10 to South Mountain Road in Conesville, Schoharie County

Features: Mt. Pisgah, Richtmyer Peak
Distance: 6.65 miles
USGS Map Quads: Hensonville, Durham, Livingstonville, Ashland
Trail Conference Map: Long Path North on the back of Trail Map 141 (Northeastern Catskill Trails)

General Description

This section of the Long Path passes through the first of many state reforestation areas between the Catskills and the Mohawk River. As a consequence of reforestation there are large bramble patches, which can make hiking less pleasurable. The trail climbs steeply up Mt. Pisgah, follows the ridgetop over Richtmeyer Peak, and then continues on a logging road before descending to Bluebird Road through Norway spruce plantation. On its way it passes through both mixed deciduous forests and plantations of red pine and Norway spruce. There are a few good views, both north towards the southern Adirondacks, and south towards the Blackhead Range and the Devil's Path. The section is marked with Long Path Aqua paint blazes and old blue DEC trail markers.  A side trail provides great ridge walking with many views through the trees when the leaves are down. This side trail traverses some of the highest peaks in the Catskills outside the "Blue Line," including Huntersfield Mountain which has a lean-to.

Access

Take the New York State Thruway to Exit 21 (Catskill). Continue on NY Route 23 west approximately 20 miles to the Town of Windham. In Windham, turn right on Mitchell Hollow Road (Greene County Route 21) and go north about 5 miles to Greene County Route 10. Turn right on Route 10, which continues east for about a third of a mile and then curves left. Cunningham Road continues straight ahead here; stay on Route 10. About 1/4 miles past the curve, the Long Path begins just after a woods road goes off to the left.

Parking

0.05 Greene County Route 10, about 200 feet south of the trailhead. (18T 563182E 4691621N)
2.35 Parking area 0.4 mi from the Long Path. A woods road blazed with yellow DEC discs leads to the trail. Take Mt. Pisgah Road off Greene County Route 10, in 0.4 mi turn right onto a forest road, and follow this to the parking area at the end (1.35 mi). (42.373511° -74.263062°)
4.15 Parking area off Bluebird Road (formerly CCC Road #2). (18T 558528E 4690980N). This road is not maintained from December 1 to April 1.
5.25 Parking area just beyond the point vwere the Long Path reaches forest road. (unlocated)
6.65 Roadside parking on forest road off South Mountain Road. (unlocated)

Trail Description

0.00 From where the trail reached Greene County Route 10, proceed north past the parking area  and turn left.
0.05 The Long Path proceeds uphill on a trail marked with aqua paint blazes and passes through a red pine plantation. It skirts the south side of an old quarry, then curves right along the west side of the quarry. The trail reaches an interesting rock wall and follows it to the right.
0.25 The trail makes a sharp switchback to the left and passes through a cleft in the cliff. It continues gradually uphill through the woods, crossing a few more low escarpments. The trail turns right onto an eroded woods road and continues uphill.
0.50 The Long Path turns sharp left onto another woods road and begins climbing steeply. Mt. Hayden can be seen from here when there are no leaves on the trees.
0.60 The trail turns sharply to the right onto another woods road and continues uphill. Soon the trail turns left and leaves the road. It climbs steeply; to the right are good views of the valley of the Manor Kill.
0.85 The Long Path passes through some bramble patches and continues on a woods road for a short distance.
0.95 The woods road continues straight ahead, the trail turns left for the final ascent to the summit of Mt. Pisgah.
1.00 Reach the summit of Mt. Pisgah. This was formerly the site of a summit observatory. Remnants of the well that supplied water to the site may still be seen about 100 ft straight ahead, on the left side of the old carriage road that provided access from the valley. The summit was once cleared of vegetation, but today it is covered with a mature Norway spruce and red pine grove. There is a view to the north of the Helderbergs and the Adirondacks in the distance. 
At  the summit, the Long Path turns right, soon crosses a stone wall, and descends through the forest. There is an interesting contrast here between the deep greens of the spruce and pine grove and the lighter greens of the deciduous forest to the right.
1.30 The trail leaves the evergreen grove, continues to descend to the left of a low escarpment, and reaches the col between Mt. Pisgah and Richtmyer Peak.
1.45 The trail veers right through the escarpment and begins a gradual ascent, skirting below private land to the north. It turns right, ascends to the top of the ridge and then turns left to follow the ridge. After a level stretch, the trail continues to ascend to Richtmyer Peak. This entire area is covered with brambles.
2.35 The Long Path reaches the flat summit of Richtmeyer Peak. To the left there is a seasonal view through the trees towards the Blackhead Range. The trail now turns right and makes a short descent to the col between Richtmeyer Peak and Richmond Mountain, where it reaches a yellow trail that leaves to the left and leads in 0.4 miles to a parking area.

The Blackhead Range from Richmond Mountain [HERB CHONG]

2.50 The trail turns right onto a logging road.
2.55 The trail turns left, and continues on a logging road, which can be wet in places.
3.25 The logging road reaches a junction with another woods road. Turn left.
3.50 The Long Path turns right into the woods, descending through a Norway spruce plantation, and crossing a few seasonal streams.
3.80 The trail approaches a small ravine with a permant stream on the left, and keeps descending along the stream.
3.95 Turn left onto Bluebird Road (gravel road).
4.15 The Long Path turns right into a parking area on the west side of Bluebird Road (right). Sign in at the registration box at the nort end of the parking area, proceed to the southern end of the parking area, turn right, and follow the Long Path blazes west. The trail can be wet in this area, and soon passes though a pine plantation.
4.35 Cross a small stream. The trail now slowly ascends through mixed forest, crosses a few stone walls, and passes by a couple of stone pillars on the right.
4.85 The trail turns sharply left, soon after passing DEP signs, and starts a steep ascent through forest consisting of mostly spruce and striped maple. 
5.25 Reach a maintained forest road. (The old Long Path route to the left, to Ashland Pinnacle, the Huntersfield Mountain Shelter, and Albert Slater Road, has now been blazed with red DEC disks.) The Long Path turns right and follows the forest road downhill.
6.65 Reach South Mountain Road, the end of Section 25.