Schunemunk Mountain State Park (Schunnemunk Mountain State Park)

With over 25 miles of trails, Schunemunk Mountain offers hikers opportunities to walk along ridges, view cascading streams, and investigate megaliths. The hiker should be alert to different ways of trail blazing- painted blazes on trees and rocks, cairns [rock piles], and plastic rectangles nailed to the twisted trunks of the pines and to sudden changes in the trail's direction, especially as there are so many distracting views along the ridge. Use extreme caution when crossing the active Metro-North railroad tracks. Passenger trains traveling at high speeds regularly use these tracks, and the trail crossings are at curves in the tracks, making it very diffcult to see approaching trains.  Make sure to Stop, Look and Listen before crossing these tracks!

• Because the Barton Swamp Trail [2.1 miles, red dot on white] follows the wooded trough that separates the central and western ridges of Schunemunk, it provides a sheltered exit to Taylor Hollow.
• The Dark Hollow Trail [2.2 miles, black on white] begins at the southern end of the Otterkill Trail [red], 2.2 miles from the parking area on Otterkill Road. After passing views of the Hudson River and Storm King, it ends at the Jessup Trail [yellow].
• The Jessup Trail [8.6 miles, yellow] is the main north-south trail on the mountain and traverses its full length. Parking is available on Taylor Road in Mountainville and at its terminus on Seven Springs Road in Monroe. From NY 32 in Mountainville, hikers can walk or drive one-third of a mile west on Taylor Road to the parking area on the right. Along its route the unique conglomerate bedrock that makes Schunemunk so fascinating is displayed along with a series of panoramic views. Highlights include the Megaliths, a group of huge blocks that have split off from the bedrock and the highest elevation in the area at 1,664 feet. The Highlands Trail [teal diamond] is co-aligned with the Jessup Trail for its entire length.
• The Long Path [6.9 miles, aqua] leaves NY 32 at the railroad trestle about 1.6 miles north of the Highland Mills bus station. Parking is available on the west side of NY 32 about 0.2 mile south of the trestle. After climbing High Knob and crossing the Jessup Trail [yellow], it turns right to continue on the western ridge of the mountain. At the end of the western ridge, the Long Path enters land belonging to The Nature Conservancy and, turning left, descends to its terminus at the Hil-Mar resort, where parking is available.
• To reach the Otterkill Trail [2.2 miles, red], take NY 32 to Orrs Mills Road. After crossing the New York State Thruway, turn left on Otterkill Road and proceed under the railroad trestle. The trailhead parking area is 0.2 mile west of the trestle. This trail provides access... to the Trestle Trail [white], the Jessup Trail [yellow], the Sweet Clover Trail [white] and the Dark Hollow Trail [black on white].
• The Sweet Clover Trail [2.8 miles, white] is a good approach to the east and west ridges of Schunemunk. It begins at the hikers' parking area on Taylor Road. After reaching the Barton Swamp Trail [red on white] at 2.7 miles, it climbs steeply to terminate at the Long Path [aqua] 0.1 mile beyond.
• The Trestle Trail [1.4 miles, white] begins at a parking area on Otterkill Road, 0.2 mile west of the railroad trestle. At 1.2 miles, there is a panoramic view to the north and east, with the northern Hudson Highlands visible in the distance. It ends at the Barton Swamp Trail [red].
• The short Western Ridge Trail [0.6 mile, blue dot on white] serves as a crossover for the eastern/western ridges of Schunemunk Mountain.