9. Salisbury Mills to NY Route 211

Feature: Road walk through hilly farm country
Distance: 17.55 miles
USGS Map Quads: Cornwall, Maybrook, and Goshen
Trail Conference Maps: Trail Map 114, West Hudson Trails (Schunemunk Mountain State Park)

General Description

This section follows roads that run parallel to the Moodna Creek and an abandoned railroad. Initially the trail passes north of Woodcock Mountain through the town of Washingtonville. Then, as the area becomes open country, the Long Path passes several horse and dairy farms. Unfortunately, some of the farms have been developed in recent years. The trail passes Tomahawk Lake, a residential community, and more farms, offering frequent views to the higher hills in the distance. It crosses the Wallkill River, the most significant watercourse in the area. This section is suitable for bicycling since it is relatively free of truck traffic.7

Access

Take the New York State Thruway to Exit 16, Harriman. Go west on NY Route 17/Interstate 86 three miles to Exit 130. Follow NY Route 208 north to Clove Road (Orange County Route 27). Turn right on Clove Road and continue for about 4 miles until reaching Hil-Mar Lodge in Salisbury Mills.

Parking

0.00 Hil-Mar Lodge (18T 573446E 4585058N)
8.90 At Goshen Road, near the Conrail railroad crossing, is room for a few cars (18T 563812E 4583526N)
13.70 To right at Metro-North passenger station. (18T 561269E 4589178N)
18.10 On Hidden Drive at Route 211. (18T 556904E 4591745N)

Trail Description

0.00 Turn right onto Clove Road (Orange County Route 27) and continue north along the road.
0.50 Turn left on an abandoned paved road (Old Woodcock Mountain Road, now a private driveway). The road passes a residence and gradually ascends.
0.90 The road begins to descend; pass a pond on the left.
1.30 Reach paved Woodcock Mountain Road, and turn left onto it.
3.50 Reach NY Route 208. Turn left and follow this busy road south. Be sure to stay to the left and well outside the white line as you walk this road. This is a major artery.
4.00 Turn right on Horton Road.
5.10 Turn left on NY Route 94, and in about a tenth of a mile turn right on Tuthill Road.
5.90 Turn left on Cherry Hill Road. In about 0.9 mi cross Cromline creek, which is the outlet of Tomahawk Lake.
7.40 Turn left on Hulstetown Road (no road sign at this time). In less then a tenth of a mile cross the northwest corner of Tomahawk Lake.
7.90 Reach CR 51, go straight.
8.80 Turn right on Goshen Road. Cross Conrail Maybrook-Warwick Line railroad tracks and head uphill.
9.20 Turn right onto Purgatory Road. Not long after, distant hills and farmlands come into view.
10.00 Cross Ridge Road. After cresting the hill, there are distant views of the Shawangunks. Pass several farms.
11.50 There is a large horse farm on the left. Turn right onto Pische Road.
12.30 Turn right onto Sarah Wells Trail (Orange County Route 8). Sara Wells and her husband Thomas Bull were the founding settlers of Orange County. (Having had 17 children they did it almost single-handed!) Be sure to stay well on the shoulder.
12.50 Turn left onto Egbertson Road (Orange County Route 77).
13.70 Cross under the Marcy-South Power Lines, then cross Station Road, Campbell Hall. To the right is the Metro-North passenger station; to the left is an abandoned rail bed heads south to Goshen.
14.30 Turn left onto NY Route 207. This is a major road, so stay on the shoulder.
14.50 Turn right onto Stony Ford Road (Orange County Route 53).
15.60 Reach the bridge across the Wallkill River.
15.80 Stony Ford Road goes off to the left; continue straight on County Route 53.
16.70 Cross under the Metro-North Port Jervis Line railroad bridge.
16.80 Cross under Interstate 84. Continue to the end of a guardrail on the left side.
17.00 Turn sharply left at the end of the guardrail and follow the cut path through the field, turning right and away from the road in about one-tenth of a mile.
17.40 Turn right onto Hidden Drive.
17.55 Arrive at NY Route 211. To continue on the Long Path, cross Route 211 and stay on Hidden Drive. Parking is possible along one side of Hidden Drive.

7 Side-trips can be made to Thomas Bull County Park and historic sites, as well
as to the picturesque county seat of Goshen and the Trotting Horse Museum.