Mine

Many trails listed can be combined to create circuit hikes. Most trails have rocky sections and are moderately strenuous, with especially difficult and easy exceptions noted below.

• The Appalachian Trail [blazed white] runs through the park. It is usually accessed from NY 301. North of NY 301 the trail roughly parallels the shore of Canopus Lake, with a beautiful view of the lake at 2.3 miles. South of NY 301 the trail follows an old mine railbed.
• The Cabot Trail [white blaze; 1 mile] has gentle terrain and a short unmarked side trail to a pleasant viewpoint over Jordan Pond. It connects with the Charcoal Burners Trail and the Perkins Trail to make a 1.9-mile loop.
• The Candlewood Hill Trail [red blaze; 2.1 miles one way or 3.5-mile loop] ascends Candlewood Hill, sometimes steeply, to long views in all directions.
• The Catfish Loop [red blaze; 4.7 mile] is accessible where the Appalachian Trail crosses Dennytown Road and is a full loop west of the road. It passes through a wide variety of terrain typical of the area.
• The Cedar Ridge Trail [yellow; 0.8 mile] follows an easement on a private farm through meadows to a view of the Hudson River.  Please leave all farm gates through the fields as you find them (open or closed)
• The Charcoal Burners Trail [red; 3.3 miles], along with the Appalachian Trail, connects the north and south sections of the park. It follows a gently rolling ridge and provides access to the Perkins Trail and the Cabot Trail, also connecting with the Fahnestock Trail and the Wiccopee Trail.
• The East Mountain Loop [red; 1.5 miles] crosses over the top of East Mountain.
• The Fahnestock Trail [blue blazes; 7.3 miles] is the main east-west trail north of NY 301. This trail covers a wide variety of terrain, including a very steep climb to the top of Round Hill providing long views of the Hudson.
• The Old Mine Railroad Trail [yellow; 1.6 miles], true to its name, in part follows the railbed of a Civil War era mule-drawn railroad used to haul iron ore. Consequently, it is quite level, with only one short rocky hill after it leaves the railbed.
• The Pelton Pond Nature Trail [yellow; 1.5 miles] is the most-used trail in the park. Located across NY 301 from the park office, it is a level and scenic stroll circling the pond. There is a pavilion built by the CCC, a restroom, and a picnic area. A side trail leads to the Nature Center, which is open in summer. No dogs are allowed on this trail.
• The Perkins Trail [yellow; 4.0 miles] encompasses rolling ridges, hilltop farm fields, views, and a long descent to a scenic stream. Please leave all farm gates through the fields as you find them (open or closed).
• School Mountain Road [white; 4.1 miles] is a multi-use woods road that connects with several other trails. These side trails are foot traffic only.
• The Three Lakes Trail [blue; 3.7 miles] is named for the three lakes it encounters on its meandering path. It begins at NY 301, crosses Sunk Mine Road, and ends at Dennytown Road.
• The Wiccopee Trail [blue; 1.9 miles] is a scenic and lightly used connector between the Charcoal Burners Trail and School Mountain Road in the northernmost section of the park.
• There are two multi-use trails that are open to horses and mountain bikes. One is blazed yellow and starts at Indian Brook Road, and the other is unblazed but starts at the Pelton Pond parking area. See also the trails in Clear Lake Scout Reservation, which connect with Fahnestock trails.

To find detailed descriptions of specific hikes, click here and scroll down the "Parks" column to the name of this park. 

Maps: A detailed trail map can be purchased from the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference (click on East Hudson Trails Map at top).

Some of the more than 30 marked trails in Sterling Forest are briefly described below. Hikers should be aware that the Trail Conference maintains only about half of these trails and that blazes frequently have a secondary strip in a contrasting color to the blaze color indicated on the Trail Conference's Sterling Forest Trail Map. Mountain bikers and equestrians should check with the park or consult the web trail map (use Web Map link on this site) to determine which trails they can use.

• One of the oldest trails in the area, the Allis Trail (4.1 miles, blue) connects the Sterling Ridge and Appalachian Trails. The southern end of the trail is on the north side of NY 17A, opposite the parking area for the Sterling Ridge Trail.
• The newest trail in the area, the Munsee-Eagle Trail (3.5 miles, blue) that skirts Eagle Mountain, can be combined with the Red Back Trail (magenta) and Hutchinson Trail (yellow "H" on red) to form a 7-mile loop hike.  The Munsee-Eagle Trail is designated for hikers and mountain bikers, while the Red Back and Hutchinson Trails additionally incorporate equestrian use. “Munsee” is the name of a vanishing language of Lenape Native Americans.  
  • The loop hike can be accessed from the Caretaker parking lot off Long Meadow Road (Route 84), or the South Gate parking area P16 off South Gate Road. 
  • Click to view an updated map with the new triple-trail loop hike highlighted in yellow.  
• The Doris Duke Trail (3.5 miles, yellow “DD” logo on white blaze), loops through the Doris Duke Wildlife Sanctuary, where hunting is not permitted. A segment is co-aligned with the Allis Trail. The trailhead parking area is on Benjamin Meadow Road, just off Route 17A, near the Renaissance Festival site (GPS coordinates: 41.254037,-74.227963 )
• The Appalachian Trail (8.4 miles [in the park], white) traverses the northern section of Sterling Forest. Parking is available at the Elk Pen parking area in Harriman Park, on the south side of Arden Valley Road, 0.3 mile east of NY 17. Limited parking is also available at Lakes Road (County 5).
• The Fire Tower Trail (5.5 miles, white stripe on red) crosses Sterling Forest in the east-west direction, connecting Long Meadow Road (County Route 84) with East Shore Road. The eastern trailhead is on the west side of Long Meadow Road, where limited parking is available. The trail ends at a parking area at East Shore Road. The tower is reached at 2.1 miles from Long Meadow Road. Check with the park office to be sure the tower is open before you leave.

• The Furnace Loop Trail (1.6 miles, red) offers a short but rewarding walk. It can be accessed from the Wildcat Mountain Trail parking area along Hall Drive.

• The Highlands Trail (14.6 miles in the park, teal diamond) highlights the natural beauty of the New York and New Jersey Highlands region and draws attention to this endangered watershed region. Within Sterling Forest State Park and continuing south to County Route 511 in New Jersey, the Highlands Trail is co-aligned with the Appalachian, Allis and Sterling Ridge trails. There are no Highlands Trail blazes along the Appalachian Trail, from Lakes Road to Mombasha High Point.

• The Indian Hill Loop Trail (3.6 miles, yellow) traverses abandoned farmlands, crossing many old stone walls and climbing to several viewpoints. From NY 17 in Southfields, proceed west on Orange Turnpike (Orange County Route 19) for 1.3 miles to a sign for 'Indian Hill," then turn right and follow a dirt road to the parking area.

• Several interpretive signs are located along the easy Lakeville Ironworks Trail (0.6 mile, mining motif on yellow). This trail can be completed in an easy walk of 1.1 miles when accessed from the Visitor Center via the blue Sterling Lake Loop Trail. 

• The Sapphire Trail (2.2 miles, blue) connects the Harriman station on Metro-North's Port Jervis Line with the Appalachian Trail and (via a short connecting trail) the Indian Hill Loop Trail. The trailhead is on the west side of NY 17, across from the Harriman station. As the trail proceeds southward, with gradual ascents and descents, it passes through a pine grove and traverses a shallow valley with impressive rock outcrops, ending at the Appalachian Trail.

• From the trailhead at the visitor center, the Sterling Lake Loop Trail (4.2 miles, blue) circles Sterling Lake, following woods roads for most of its route. 

• The Sterling Ridge Trail (8.6 miles, blue disc on white) trail follows the scenic Sterling Ridge between Hewitt, NJ and NY 17A. Built in 1922, the 60-foot-high Sterling Forest Fire Tower is located along the trail. Parking for the southern trailhead is at the intersection of Greenwood Lake Turnpike (County Route 511) and East Shore Road. Its northern terminus is on NY 17A.
• Forming a loop south of NY 17A, the Sterling Valley Loop Trail (6.2 miles, yellow) follows woods roads for its entire length. The trailhead is at a parking area on the south side of NY 17A, 1.8 miles east of the village of Greenwood Lake. 
• The northern end of the Townsend Trail (2.3 miles, green stripe on orange) is accessed from the parking area on Hall Drive. Its southern trailhead is at the Long Meadow Extension Trail. Followed to the right, this trail leads in 1.5 miles to the parking area on Hall Drive, completing a 3.9-mile loop.

• Parking for the southern trailhead of the Wildcat Mountain Trail (2.8 miles, yellow) is at the north end of a commuter parking area at the intersection of NY 17 and NY 17A. The northern terminus is at the Furnace Loop Trail, a short distance north of Hall Drive, (parking) after crossing Orange Turnpike.

Click for detailed descriptions of hikes in the park.