Current conditions 2/20/2010

At present, there are several gaps in the Long Path where the landowner no longer permits hikers to traverse his property, thus necessitating the closing of the trail in these areas. The current list of gaps is below with references to the 5th edition of the Long Path Guide (2002). In addition, relocations are also listed below. Some of these updates were incorporated in the second printing of the 5^th edition in 2005.

Section 1, page 17, mile 0 (posted 2003). The trail now starts at the Fort Lee Historical Park just south of the George Washington Bridge near the visitors center (there will be a kiosk here eventually).

Section 5, page 45, mile 0. TEMPORARY WARNING (posted 9/19/2005; still in effect 5/20/09): NYS DOT is starting work on the bridge replacement where the PIP crosses Rte 202, in Mt. Ivy, NY. The LP crosses underneath that bridge. The project will last till further notice. Please take extra care in passing the worksite. There might be a temporary loss of blazes.

Section 5, page 45, mile 2.45 (posted 6/16/2003). There is now available a new parking area allowing a new access to the Long Path near Cheesecote Pond. The pond is part of the Cheesecote Town Park in Pomona, NY. See NY/NJ Trail Conference map # 3 (S. Harriman Park).

The parking area can accommodate at the most 5 cars and can be reached from North Ridge Rd. It is located off Cheesecote Lane next to a fenced in transformer area, 0.1 miles off North Ridge Rd. From the parking area a gravel trail of approxomately 0.1 miles leads to the Long Path and the pond.

Section 9, page 67, mile 4.2-8.9, relocation in Orange County (posted 12/2/2004). 4.20 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.

4.70 Turn right on Horton Road.

5.80 Turn left on NY Route 94, and in about a tenth of a mile turn right on Tuthill Road.

6.60 Turn left on Cherry Hill Road. In about 0.9 mi cross Cromline creek, which is the outlet of Tomahawk Lake.

8.10 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.

8.60 Reach CR 51, go straight.

9.50 Turn right on Goshen Road. Cross Conrail Maybrook-Warwick Line railroad tracks and head uphill.

Section 11, mile 8.35 to Section 12, mile 0.05 (posted 08/2008). The reroute is about 5.5 miles total. The LP/SRT has been blazed along a nice woods road (the old Rte 52), about 0.4 mi before it reaches Rte 52. The old route to Rt. 52 (about 0.4 mi) is now blazed with yellow DEC disks. The new route crosses Rt. 52 in about 2.5 miles, just before it reaches South Gully, follows the South Gully Trail (see May/June Trail Walker, page 1) up 1400-foot ascent to Sam's Point Preserve, and follows the loop road to the right to rejoin the old route near the Sam's Point parking lot. The old road walk along Rt. 52, up Bear Hill, and through Cragsmoor, has been discontinued.

Section 12, page 89, mile 3.2-4.15 (posted 2007). The Mud Pond section has been reblazed and is open for hiking again (posted 2007).

Section 12, page 92, mile 10.4 (Closure starting 2/22/2010 for 3 weeks) See http://www.nynjtc.org/news/trail-minnewaska-close-three-weeks-beginning-feb-22 for map and bypass. 

Section 18-19 (posted 8/20/2007). The new Warner Creek Trail which begins at Silver Notch replaces shortens the LP by a mile and removes a road walk along Rt 214.

CHANGES TO SECTION 18:

General Description
Page 115:
Next to last sentence - change "only two roads are crossed in this distance, neither of which have stores within 4 miles of the crossings" to "Only one road is crossed in this distance with the closest store being Tannersville, six miles west.

Trail Description
Page 119:
Last entry in the trail description (11.50) - change "To continue on the Long Path, turn left and descend, following Aqua paint blazes along the severely eroded Silver Hollow Notch Road." to "To continue on the Long Path, cross old wood road following blue markers. Left, down the old woods road leads 0.9 miles to NY Route 214 at Edgewood."

CHANGES TO SECTION 19:

General Description
This section of the Long Path contains some of the most spectacular and rugged scenery in the Catskills. From Silver Hollow Notch the trail ascends a shoulder of Plateau Mt. Passing several viewpoints before reaching the Devil's Path on the ridge of Plateau Mt. From here it follows the Devil's Path east over Plateau's summit, Sugarloaf, Twin and Indian Head Mountains. Description is same from here.

Access
The southern end, Silver Hollow Notch, is not accessible by car. It can be reached on foot from NY Route 214 by walking up the abandoned Silver Hollow Notch Road (now called Notch Inn Road) from Edgewood. To reach Notch Inn Road, take Exit 19 of the New York State Thruway. Follow NY Route 28 west to Phoenicia and then north on NY Route 214 to Edgewood.

Parking
Parking area on west side of Rt. 214, 0.3 miles north of Notch Inn Road. Walk to Notch Inn Road then 0.9 miles up mostly abandoned and severely eroded old road to Silver Hollow Notch. (18T 565080E 4665688N)
12.98 Steenberg Road. (18T 575825E 4665015N)

Camping
5.13 Mink Hollow Lean-to
11.83 Devil's Kitchen Lean-to

Trail Description
0.00 Silver Hollow Notch (2,340') - The trail crosses the old woods road (Silver Hollow Notch Road) following blue markers across a flat stretch joining a faint woods road and ascending.
0.45 Turn hard left at switchback. Yellow trail leads 75 yards right to a view over the Warners Creek Valley and the slopes of Edgewood Mt.
0.64 After scrambling over some boulders and up a ledge, view from top of ledge south to Belleayre Mt. and beyond.
0.91 Trail turns hard left where yellow side trail branches right to a grassy view towards Olderbark Mt. across Warners Creek Valley. Grade eases shortly beyond this side trail before beginning a pleasant walk thru the thick spruce fir high elevation forest across Daley Ridge.
1.71 Pass the bearly noticeable summit (3,440') of Daley Ridge and begin descent.
2.22 Low point, begin ascent of Plateau Mt.
2.42 First of two extensive views from top of headwall overlooking Warners Creek Valley and Olderbark Mt.
2.65 Yellow trail to right leads 100 yards to spring.
2.69 After a short scramble a yellow marked side trail leads 10 yards to a sweeping view south over Daley Ridge and Stony Clove Valley.
2.74 Pass thru an open fern field.
2.93 Junction with red marked Devil's Path. Turn right. Unmarked trail opposite is a private trail, keep out. The next mile is a pleasant walk along the more or less flat summit ridge of Plateau thru a majestic old growth spruce fir forest.
3.43 Cross the summit of Plateau Mt. In dense spruce woods.
3.93 View east, trail begins the steep descent into Mink Hollow. Sugarloaf looms across the Notch.
4.73 Spring right of trail.
5.13 Junction with the southern leg of the Mink Hollow Trail - continue ahead on red markers. Mink Hollow Lean-to is located 200 feet to the right. Also to the right, the blue marked Mink Hollow Trail leads 3 miles to the end of Mink Hollow Road. It is another 3 miles south to Lake Hill on NY Route 212.
5.33 Junction with the northern leg of the Mink Hollow Trail. Left on blue markers leads 2.25 miles to a junction with the Pecoy Notch Trail and 0.25 miles further, Roaring Brook parking area. Continue ahead on red markers soon reaching the first of 5 rock ledges the trail climbs over ascending Sugarloaf.
5.68 The forest becomes primarily balsam fir and red spruce, with birch mixed in as the grade begins to moderate.
5.88 Pass the sign indicating the 3,500 foot elevation line. The forest now becomes more open with views to the left of the Blackhead Range to the north. The trail passes a large rock on the right with excellent views of Plateau Mt. across Mink Hollow.
6.08 A yellow marked side trail leads right to a rock ledge with an outstanding view of the southern Catskills. Visible are the Burroughs Range, Giant Ledge and Panther Mountain and mountains along the Pine Hill - West Branch Trail. Ashokan Reservoir can also be seen with the Shawangunks in the background. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the Hudson River Valley.
6.13 Reach the flat, level summit of Sugarloaf Mountain. The trail continues through a mature balsam-spruce forest, beginning to descend in a series of steps, alternating with level sections.
6.73 Reach a viewpoint to the east over Pecoy Notch, with Twin and Overlook Mountains visible beyond and the Ashokan Reservoir and Shawangunks in the distance to the right. The trail now begins a very steep descent into Pecoy Notch.
6.88 Descend steeply over a series of rock ledges. There are many good views over Pecoy Notch to Twin Mountain beyond.
7.33 Descent ends abruptly shortly before reaching a junction with the Pecoy Notch Trail in the col between Sugarloaf and Twin Mountains. Left on blue markers leads 1.75 miles to the north end of the Mink Hollow Trail and a quarter mile beyond, Roaring Kill Road. The Long Path continues, beginning a steep climb of the west summit of Twin Mountain climbing over large rocks and several rock ledges in the process. There are several good views back towards Sugarloaf during the ascent.
7.53 Pass a huge rock on the left that separated from the main ledge.
7.68 The trail goes thru a narrow passage and climbs up a rock ledge.
7.88 Reach a rock ledge with a large overhanging rock, a good temporary shelter, on the left. The trail continues through a cleft in the rock ledge. At the top of the ledge, there is a good viewpoint of Sugarloaf Mountain with the fire tower on Hunter visible to the west, and the Blackhead Range, Stoppel Point and Roundtop visible to the north. The grade now moderates.
8.03 The trail turns left and climbs a small ledge to reach a viewpoint near the west or true summit of Twin Mountain. From this vantage point, one can see to the south, the Ashokan Reservoir and the Shawangunk Mountains to the southeast, with the Hudson Valley and the Hudson Highlands far in the distance. The actual summit of Twin is slightly beyond this viewpoint. The trail now descends thru a mature spruce-fir forest.
8.33 Reach the col between the two peaks of Twin. The trail now ascends gradually to the east peak of Twin.
8.68 Reach the east peak of Twin Mountain with an excellent 180 degree view. To the west, Sugarloaf and Plateau Mountains are visible, and to the south all the major peaks of the southern Catskills may be seen. On a very clear day, High Point, NJ with it's tall monument can be spotted. To the southeast, the Ashokan Reservoir and Shawangunks are visible with the Hudson Highlands and Hudson Valley in the distance. Overlook Mountain with it's firetower may be seen to the east, with the Hudson River and the Taconics in the far distance. This is one of the best views in the Catskills. The Catskill 3500 Club does not consider the east peak of Twin, while over 3,500 feet high, as a separate peak, since the drop between the west and east peaks of Twin is less then the required 200 feet. The trail continues eastward, beginning to descend.
8.78 Reach a viewpoint to the east over Jimmy Dolan Notch. The trail now begins to descend more steeply.
8.93 Descend over rock ledge and pass under a large balanced rock to the left.
9.08 The trail reaches Jimmy Dolan Notch, the col between Twin and Indian Head Mountains. This notch has the highest elevation (3,100') of all the col's along the Devil's Path. Here the blue marked Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail descends steeply at first then moderately north two miles to Prediger Road. Continue ahead following red markers to begin a moderate to steep ascent up Indian Head.
9.63 The ascent becomes more gentle as the trail reaches thick spruce woods after a steep scramble up the final ledge to the summit of Indian Head Mountain. This is the highest of the three summits making up the summit ridge.
10.08 Reach a spectacular overlook after going over the second summit. Below is the eastern summit with Plattekill Mountain beyond and Overlook Mountain to the right. Belopw and to the left is Platte Clove with Huckleberry Point prominent above the north side of the Clove. On the far horizon is Vermont to the north, Massachusetts to the northeast and Connecticut to the southeast. In between is the Hudson Valley from just south of Albany to the Highlands beyond Newburgh. A short but very steep descent brings one to the low point between the middle and east summits.
10.58 View to north with Kaaterskill High Peak and Round Top across the upper Schoharie Valley with the eastern Escarpment mountains and Black Dome Range beyond. Begin a steep to moderate descent.
11.83 The Devil's Path meets the blue marked Overlook Trail coming in from the right on a wide woods road. Turn left on the road, continuing to follow red markers. Right on the Overlook Trail leads 0.15 miles to Devil's Kitchen Lean-to.
11.88 Reach another trail junction. The Long Path continues ahead on the old road now following blue markers while the Devil's Path turns left. There is a large bluestone quarry to the right.
12.13 Cross onto the Platte Clove Preserve. The blue markers now change to green diamonds Preserve markers. Camping is not permitted within the Preserve which runs from here to beyond Platte Clove Road.
12.83 Cross Plattekill Creek on bridge at head of Platte Clove. Continue steeply uphill to Platte Clove Road. Turn right following paved Platte Clove Road east.
12.98 Reach Steenberg Road and the state snowmobile trail on the left. This is the end of Section 19. A large parking area is located 100 feet north on Steenberg Road from this intersection. To continue on the Long Path, turn left on Steenberg Road.

Section 26, page 161, mile 6.55. Negotiations continue with landowners to open the trail between Huntersmark and Macumber Road and Manorkill Falls in West Conesville.

Section 27, page 169, mile 3.3 - 5.2 (posted 04/2009). From Nickerson's Campground to the Mine Kill State Park.  

See also this map.  

Mile 0.00-(Mile 3.30 of the 5th Edition of the Long Path Guide)-Turn right from Stryker Road into Nickerson's Campground and past the Campground store.

Mile 0.13-Turn right off camp road onto trail.

Mile 0.24-Turn right, at the latrine next to campsite 423, onto Columbine Camp Road.

Mile 0.51-Bear right onto camp road from Columbine Road.

Mile 0.62-Bear right on camp road opposite the pavilion and swimming pool.

Mile 0.87-Turn left on camp road at campsite 572. Turn right onto camp road at campsite 546.

Mile 0.98-Turn right onto trail along Schoharie Creek. The LP follows the creek bank and then back onto a camp road before leaving the campground.

Mile 1.22-Leave Nickerson's Campground at campsite 615. Enter the NYS Power Authority Corridor with the boundary marked with orange stakes.

Mile 1.62-Go up a steep bank and turn right.

Mile 1.65-Pass by a ledge overlooking the Schoharie Creek and turn right. Enter an open area with scattered red cedar trees. There are nice views of the Schoharie Creek and the reservoir from the ledges through this section.

Mile 1.92-Cross a ledge above a small stream entering the reservoir. Turn left downhill.

Mile 2.03-Rock hop across small stream. This can be done fairly easily unless the water is high. Turn right up the bank.

Section 27, page 171, mile 7.35-10.20 (posted 11/4/2005).

Mile 0.00-(same as mile 7.35 of the 5 th Edition of The Long Path Guide). Top of hill with a view of Blenheim-Gilboa Reservoir. Turn left and head downhill through a white pine forest.

Mile 0.45-NY Power Authority's North Access Road. Turn left.

Mile 0.50-Turn right off road and down the bank. There are views of the Schoharie Creek through this section. During flood condition this section may be flooded and it will be necessary to walk the access road to NYS Route 30.

Mile 1.10-Turn right on the Power Authority's North Access Road.

Mile 1.15-NYS Route 30. Turn right and cross bridge.

Mile 1.20-Turn left onto Creamery Road.

Mile 1.40-Pass the Cemetery and turn right uphill into the woods.

Mile 1.60-Follow hedgerow on the left and turn left on next hedgerow.

Mile 1.80-Go down a short steep bank to the Westkill Road. Turn left on Road.

Mile 1.95-Intersection of the Westkill Road and Burnt Hill Road(same as mile 9.05 of The Long Path Guide).

Mile 2.15-Just past a driveway, turn left into woods.

Mile 2.30-The Long Path crosses the Westkill Road to the north side of the road.

Mile 2.45-Turn left onto a woods road.

Mile 2.65-Turn left leaving woods road.

Mile 2.75-Turn left back onto woods road.

Mile 3.10-The LP turns left, downhill, toward a beaver pond.

Mile 3.25-The LP enters a State Reforestation Area.

Mile 3.30-The LP crosses the Westkill Road to the south side of the road (this is at mile 10.20 of The Long Path Trail Guide).

Section 29 (posted 7/26/2005).

0.10 Just past the bridge at the edge of West Fulton, turn left into an open field and head uphill to a blazed White Pine. The Long Path follows some White Pine trees through the field for a short time before entering a mixed hemlock-hardwood forest.

0.30 Turn uphill on a woods road that is marked as a snowmobile trail. The Long Path now follows the snowmobile trail until it enters the Patria State Forest.

0.70 Follow the snowmobile trail to the left on a woods road.

1.00 Turn left again on another woods road.

1.15 Turn right leaving woods road.

1.40 Enter the Patria State Forest.

1.45 Turn left uphill leaving the snowmobile trail and woods road. This is at mile 1.20 of the Fifth Edition of The Long Path Guide.

Shawangunk Ridge Trail reroutes (posted 08/2008).

Section G3, page 229, mile 0-1.6. Trail reopens over Gobblers Knob. In Mount Hope a section of 1.3 miles of roadwalking has been eliminated by rebuilding the section over Gobblers Knob, east of Otisville Road. This section had been closed to hikers by private landowners for about 15 years. The Open Space Institute recently acquired the property, which soon will be transferred to DEC, and Trail Conference volunteers have reopened the trail. Directions: Going north from Rt. 211 on Otisville Rd, turn right in about 0.3 mi, soon after passing over the railroad tunnel. The trail climbs fairly steep to a nice lookout point, and then turns south. The trail passes a low escarpment on the right, follows an old woods road for a while, and slowly descends through open woods back to Otisville Rd., about 0.1 mile before it reaches Indian Orchard Rd. Be advised that Indian Orchard road changes to South road when you cross the Deerpark Orange county / Mamakating Sullivan county line.

Section G3, page 230, mile 2.45-3.10. Reroute in Basha Kill. Along the Basha Kill a reroute has been blazed with blue DEC disks. The new path of about 0.5 mi starts after 0.6 mi on the rail-trail (going north), near a small bridge and a sizable parking area. It follows an old wildlife viewing trail and goes over a few bog bridges. It passes a viewing platform, with great views over the Basha Kill, before it rejoins the rail-trail.