The Long Path

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THE VISION

The Long Path was the vision of Vincent J. Schaefer of Schenectady, who proposed that New York establish its own "Long Path" similar to the Long Trail in Vermont. Unlike the Long Trail, he saw the Long Path as an unmarked route meandering from the George Washington Bridge to Whiteface Mountain in the Adirondacks, connecting together a series of landmarks. The name of the trail came from Walt Whitman's poem Song of the Open Road: "There lies before me a long brown path, leading wherever I choose".

Beginning in the 1960's the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference took that vision a step further by creating a blazed hiking trail along Schaefer's route. Today the Long Path is a 326 mile hiking trail extending from the George Washington Bridge, north to John Boyd Thacher Park near Albany. Future plans are to extend the trail to the Mohawk River and eventually into the Adirondacks.

From the sound of commuter traffic leaving Manhattan to the song of the white throated sparrow, the Long Path travels the length of New York. It links together suburban backyards with wilderness areas, pre-Revolutionary iron mines and fast food restaurants. From the Piermont Marsh at sea level to the summit of Slide Mountain over 4100 feet higher, the Long Path presents challenging climbs interspersed with gentle walks. Although every effort is made to keep the trail off roads, the Long Path frequently travels through small towns, giving the hiker a taste of life in New York.

THE TRAIL

The Long Path begins in Fort Lee at the historical park, on the New Jersey side of the George Washington Bridge. For the first twelve miles to the New York State line, it follows along the Palisades through lands of the Palisades Interstate Park. There are many spectacular views of the Hudson River and New York City along the way.

After crossing into New York, the Long Path turns away from the Hudson River, but continues to follow the Palisades Escarpment to its end in Mt. Ivy. Much of the route is through State Parks but the trail also serves as a link to smaller county and town parks. There is some road walking through the towns of Piermont and Nyack. There are extensive views of the lower Hudson River valley along the way, with the most dramatic views on Hook Mountain and High Tor.

Leaving the Palisades, the Long Path enters Harriman State Park, passing through the park in a northwesterly direction. The park is criss-crossed with an abundance of trails, and there are many opportunities for circular hikes.

North of Harriman, the trail descends into Orange County. The Long Path follows off-road routes through Orange County in only two sections, Schunemunk Mountain and the abandoned New York, Ontario and Western Railroad right-of-way.

Schunemunk is the dramatic long ridge that is the westernmost mountain near the Hudson in this vicinity. It is made up of conglomerate rock and has spectacular views both east to the Hudson River and north to the Shawangunks and the Catskills.

North of Schunemunk, the trail follows a six-mile section of the abandoned New York, Ontario and Western Railroad right-of-way. The right-of-way has reverted to private landowners, and there is little evidence of the railroad anymore.

Beyond Orange County, the Long Path climbs the escarpment of the Shawangunk Mountains. Characterized by beautiful white cliffs and spectacular waterfalls, the Shawangunks are one of the gems of the eastern United States. The Long Path passes Mud Pond and Lake Awosting, mountaintop lakes that are rimmed with white cliffs. The trail climbs up and over many of the cliffs and passes two waterfalls, Verkeerder Kill and Rainbow Falls.

Beyond the Shawangunks, the Long Path crosses the Rondout Valley as it enters the Catskill Park. The Long Path continues through the Catskill Park for 95 miles and climbs nine of the major peaks including Slide Mountain, the highest in the Catskills. Several lean-tos are located along the trail. There are a few roadwalking sections, but these are generally through undeveloped areas.

Leaving the Catskill Park, the trail passes over a series of 2900 foot peaks on private property, then follows Huntersfield Ridge to Gilboa, passing through State Reforestation Areas.

North of Gilboa, the trail follows the western ridge of the beautiful Schoharie Valley. The trail passes through Mine Kill Falls State Park and the Blenheim-Gilboa Visitors Center of the New York State Power Authority, then heads west then north through another series of reforestation areas. East of Patria, the Long Path descends to the Schoharie Valley crossing Vroomansland then ascends Vroman's Nose, the promontory that rises 600 feet above the Schoharie Valley, giving one a spectacular view. From Vroman's Nose, the Long Path crosses the Schoharie Valley through the Village of Middleburgh, then ascends the cliffs, where there are views back to Vroman's Nose.

Past the cliffs, the trail leaves the Schoharie Valley as it turns east, crossing State Forests to reach Partridge Run Wildlife Management Area in Albany County. In Partridge Run, the Long Path follows mostly cross-country ski trails, past lakes and streams with occasional views back to the Catskills.

East of Partridge Run, the Long Path crosses private property then ascends Cole Hill State Forest as it continues east across farmland to the Helderberg Escarpment. The soft limestone of the Helderbergs has caused many caves, sinkholes and underground streams to be formed. The Long Path turns north and follows the escarpment to John Boyd Thacher State Park where there are many dramatic views of the Hudson Valley and the Taconics. Here, the Long Path uses the historic Indian Ladder Trail which once led to the trading post at Albany.

Thacher Park is the current northern terminus of the Long Path. Work is continuing to extend the trail north to the Mohawk River and eventually to the Adirondacks.

SHAWANGUNK RIDGE TRAIL

In 1989 the Trail Conference explored an alternative route for the Long Path from Harriman State Park to the Shawangunks using the Appalachian Trail and the Shawangunk Ridge. The result is the 36 mile Shawangunk Ridge Trail, extending from High Point New Jersey to Minnewaska State Park.

This trail is part of an alternative route on the Long Path for the hiker who wishes to avoid the lowlands of Orange County. Upon reaching the intersection with the Appalachian Trail in Harriman Park, the hiker follows the AT south to High Point State Park in New Jersey.

The Shawangunk Ridge Trail heads north from the Appalachian Trail, passing through High Point State Park and then generally follows the ridge north, occasionally using abandoned roads and rail beds. Beyond the Village of Otisville, the trail descends to the Basha Kill Wildlife Management Area. The Basha Kill is an extensive wetland offering many opportunities for bird watching and other wildlife viewing. North of the Basha Kill, the Shawangunk Ridge Trail passes through the Village of Wurtsboro and then ascends the Wurtsboro Ridge. The next 10 miles along the ridgetop are among the most spectacular in New York State with the open views of the Catskills looming in the distance. North of Route 52, the trail ascends to the hamlet of Cragsmoor and then passes through the Village of Ellenville Watershed to reach the main part of the Long Path near Verkeerder Kill Falls.

With increased land purchases to protect the SRT, we are developing additional access and side trails.

HIKING THE LONG PATH

For most of its length the Long Path is marked with 2"x4" turquoise paint blazes. Turns are marked by two blazes, with the top blaze offset in the direction of the turn. In the Catskill Forest Preserve, the trail is marked with round, plastic discs of varying colors. Consult the Long Path guide for directions.

Sections of the Long Path are on private land with the generous permission of the landowners. Please ensure continuance of the trail by respecting owner rights: no fires, no camping, no littering...foot travel only, and with due consideration. Most private land sections are CLOSED to all hikers during big game hunting season.

End-to-End

There is a patch available to all who complete the whole Long Path from the George Washington Bridge to what is the northern terminus at the time of completion.

There is a small Backpacker's Guide to the LP in the 5th edition of the Long Path Guide.

UPDATES - Current conditions

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.

TEMPORARY WARNING 9/19/2005
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 1, page 17
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 12, page 89, mile 3.2-4.15, has been reblazed and is open for hiking again.

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 5, page 45, mile 2.45 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 27, page 169, mile 3.3-4.5 11/19/2004
New Long Path Trail Section Starting at Mile 4.50(Fifth Edition of The Long Path Guide) at Mine Kill Falls Parking Lot to Mile 3.30 at the entrance to Nickerson’s Campground. This eliminates the road walk along NYS Route 30 and Stryker Road.The new route is 2.4 miles longer.

The following description is North to South instead of South to North as in the Guide. It will be replaced with a proper description.

Mile 0.00-(Mile 4.50 of Long Path Guide)At the Mine Kill Falls Parking Lot turn south past a picnic table.

Mile 0.09-Turn left at the head of a small gully.

Mile 0.31-Leave the White Pine Forest and enter a mixed hardwood-conifer forest. The Trail follows an old woods road downhill.

Mile 0.51-There are views of Minekill downhill to the left.

Mile 0.80-The Trail turns right leaving the old woods road.

Mile 1.06-Trail turns to right, uphill, away from the Minekill. There are views ahead of the Minekill entering the Blenheim-Gilboa Reservoir.

Mile 1.25-Enter an open area under the power line the turn to the right on the power line access road. Follow this road about 150 feet and turn left on a mowed lane for about 250 feet, then turn right toward the woodlands.

Mile 1.39-Rock hop across a small stream. This can be done fairly easily during normal conditions. After crossing the stream, turn left and follow the stream bank.

Mile 1.50-Cross a ledge above the stream as it enters the reservoir. Turn right uphill. Enter an open area with scattered red cedar trees. There are nice views of the reservoir from the ledges through this section.

Mile 1.77-Pass by a ledge overlooking the Schoharie Creek entering the upper end of the reservoir. Turn right uphill.

Mile 1.80-Turn left down a steep bank staying within the NYS Power Authority Corridor. The Power Authority property boundary is marked with orange stakes.

Mile 2.20-Enter Nickerson’s Campground at Campsite 615. There are some views of the Schoharie Creek through the campground. The Trail follows a campground access road and then follows along the creek bank.

Mile 2.46-Turn left back onto a campground road.

Mile 2.55-Turn left at campsite 546 following a campground road. Follow the campground road to the right at campsite 572.

Mile 2.80-Bear to the left on the campground road opposite the pavilion and swimming pool.

Mile 2.91-Bear to the left at Columbine Camp Road.

Mile 3.18-Turn to left off Columbine just past campsite 423 and the latrine. Follow the trail uphill.

Mile 3.29-Turn left onto the main campgound road. Follow this road uphill past the campground office to Stryker Road.

Mile 3.42-(Mile 3.30 of Long Path Guide)Turn left to follow Stryker Road.

Section 9, page 67, mile 4.2-8.9 12/2/2004 (not marked on ground yet)

Section 29, 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.

Section 27, page 171, mile 7.35-10.20 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 18-19, 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.

OTHER RESOURCES

For administrative reasons the Long Path has three committees:

• Long Path North Committee - the Long Path north of the Catskills
  • Chair of the Long Path North Committee is vacant
• Long Path South Committee - the Long Path south of the Catskills
  • Jakob Franke is Chair of the Long Path South Committee
• with the Catskills being administered by the Catskill Committee
  • Pete Senterman is Chair of the Catskill Trails Committee