Hike of the Week 9/19/2002

Description:

From the parking area, follow the woods road which leads south. This road is marked with the blue-on-white blazes of the Sterling Ridge Trail and the teal diamond blazes of the Highlands Trail. Almost immediately, you will reach a cable barrier, where a triple yellow blaze marks the start of the Sterling Lake Trail (which will be your return route). Follow the road for only about 100 feet, then leave the road and turn right onto a footpath, following the blue-and-white and teal diamond blazes. The trail climbs over a small rise and then levels off. After crossing an old woods road, the trail runs along the edge of a ravine, gradually descending, with limited views to the left through the trees. The trail crosses a seasonal stream and then begins to ascend. About a mile from the trailhead, you will cross under a power line, with good views on both sides of the trail.

After a short but steady ascent, the trail crosses a large rock outcrop, with limited views to the northeast. Since there are few trees here, the route is marked by cairns (piles of stones). The trail continues along the ridge, now following a relatively level route. In about a mile, you'll reach another large rock expanse. Note the stunted evergreen tree growing out of a crack in the rock! After a brief descent, you'll reach an excellent viewpoint over Sterling Lake to the east. (Your return route will take you along the west shore of this lake.)

The trail continues along the ridge. After descending a little, it crosses a woods road marked with plastic orange blazes. The trail then climbs to another great viewpoint over Sterling Lake from open rocks (ignore the yellow blazes that lead to the right just before this viewpoint). It continues over undulating terrain, and finally reaches a ranger cabin and the Sterling Forest Fire Tower, about 3.5 miles from the start of the hike.

When open to the public, the fire tower, built in 1922, provides an expansive view over the entire Sterling Forest . Sterling Lake is visible to the northeast, and a portion of the much-larger Greenwood Lake can be seen to the west. The view from the top of the tower is well worth the climb, but the tower is open only when a fire observer is present. (Fire observers are generally on duty on weekends, except in the winter.) A picnic table at the base of the tower makes it a good place to stop for lunch.

When you're ready to continue, leave the blue-and-white and teal diamond blazes that you have been following up to now, and descend on the Fire Tower Trail, a woods road (used by the fire observer to drive up to the tower) marked with red plastic blazes that heads east. This grassy road descends steadily, with a few rough benches placed alongside for hikers to rest. After about half a mile, when the road levels off, you'll come to a junction. The rectangular plastic blazes that you have been following turn off to the right on a branch road, but you should continue ahead on the main road, now marked with red triangle blazes. This road continues to descend, and after passing a private residence and going around a locked gate, it ends at a paved road, near the shore of Sterling Lake .

Turn left and then go straight ahead on the road -- marked with dark blue plastic blazes -- as the paving ends and the road is blocked by a cable barrier. Soon, the road begins to follow the scenic shoreline of Sterling Lake . In about three-fourths of a mile, you'll come to a Y-intersection. Bear left here and follow the yellow-blazed Sterling Lake Trail, another woods road that leads slightly uphill, away from the lake. After a level stretch, the road begins to climb. It passes under the same power line that you crossed earlier in the hike, and then continues to ascend steadily. In about a mile and a half, it ends at the parking area where you began the hike.

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