27. Greene County Route 10 to South Mountain Road in Conesville, Schoharie County

Section 27: Greene County Route 10 to South Mountain Road in Conesville, Schoharie County

Quick Facts

Distance: 7.1 miles
Parks: Mount Pisgah State Forest, South Mountain State Forest, Ashland Pinnacle State Forest
Maps: Interactive Map, Catskill Trails (Long Path North)
Print-Friendly Version: Link

General Description

This lightly traveled section of the Long Path passes through the first of many state reforestation areas between the Catskills and the Mohawk River. As a consequence of reforestation there are large bramble patches, which can make hiking less pleasurable. Long pants are recommended, and the hiking experience is distinctly back country. The trail climbs steeply up Mt. Pisgah, follows the ridgetop over Richtmeyer Peak, and climbs a shoulder of Richmond Mountain. The trail continues on a logging road before descending to Bluebird Road through a Norway spruce plantation. On its way it passes through both mixed deciduous forests and plantations of red pine and Norway spruce. There are a few good views, both north towards the southern Adirondacks, and south towards the Blackhead Range and the Devil's Path. All of this section is marked with Long Path Aqua paint blazes. A side trail near the end of the section provides great ridge walking with many views through the trees when the leaves are down. This side trail traverses some of the highest peaks in the Catskills outside the "Blue Line," including Ashland Pinnacle and Huntersfield Mountain which has a lean-to.

Access

Take the New York State Thruway to Exit 21 (Catskill). Continue on NY Route 23 west approximately 20 miles to the Town of Windham. In Windham, turn right on Mitchell Hollow Road (Greene County Route 21) and go north about 5 miles to Greene County Route 10. Turn right on Route 10, which continues east for about a third of a mile and then curves left. Cunningham Road continues straight ahead here; stay on Route 10. About 1/4 miles past the curve, the Long Path begins just after a woods road goes off to the left.

Parking

0.00  Pullout off Greene County Route 10, about 200 feet south of the trailhead. (42.37532°, -74.23265°)
2.65  Parking area 0.4 mi from the Long Path. A woods road blazed with yellow DEC discs leads to the trail. Take Mt. Pisgah Road off Greene County Route 10, in 0.4 mi turn right onto a forest road, and follow this to the parking area at the end (1.35 mi). (42.37351°, -74.26306°)
4.60  Parking area off Bluebird Road (formerly CCC Road #2). (42.36873°, -74.28938°). This road is not maintained from December 1 to April 1.
5.70  Parking area just beyond the point where the Long Path reaches forest road. (42.36172°, -74.30128°).
7.10  Roadside parking on forest road off South Mountain Road. (42.37356°, -74.31530°)

Trail Description

0.00  From where the trail reached Greene County Route 10, proceed north past the parking area and turn left.

0.05  The Long Path proceeds uphill on a trail marked with aqua paint blazes and passes through a red pine plantation. It skirts the south side of an old quarry, then curves right along the west side of the quarry. The trail reaches an interesting rock wall and follows it to the right.

0.25  The trail makes a sharp switchback to the left and passes through a cleft in the cliff. It continues gradually uphill through the woods, crossing a few more low escarpments. The trail turns right onto an eroded woods road and continues uphill. There are lots of brambles.

0.55  The Long Path turns sharp left onto another woods road and begins climbing steeply.

0.65  The trail turns sharply to the right onto another woods road and continues uphill. Mt. Hayden can be seen from here when there are no leaves on the trees. Soon the trail turns right and leaves the road. It climbs steeply.

0.85  To the right are good views of the valley of the Manor Kill. The Long Path passes through some bramble patches and continues on a woods road for a short distance.

0.95  The woods road continues straight ahead, the trail turns left for the final ascent to the summit of Mt. Pisgah.

1.10  Reach the summit of Mt. Pisgah. This was formerly the site of a summit observatory. Remnants of the well that supplied water to the site may still be seen about 100 ft straight ahead, on the left side of the old carriage road that provided access from the valley. The summit was once cleared of vegetation, but today it is covered with a mature Norway spruce and red pine grove. There is a view to the north of the Helderbergs and the Adirondacks in the distance. At the summit, the Long Path turns right, soon crosses a stone wall, and descends through the forest. There is an interesting contrast here between the deep greens of the spruce and pine grove and the lighter greens of the deciduous forest to the right.

Mt. Pisgah summit marker

USCGS marker at the summit of Mt. Pisgah. 2012 [JAKOB FRANKE]


1.40  The trail leaves the evergreen grove, continues to descend to the left of a low escarpment, and reaches the col between Mt. Pisgah and Richtmyer Peak.

1.45  The trail veers right through the escarpment and begins a gradual ascent, skirting below private land to the north.

1.60  The Long Path crosses an old logging road, turns right, and ascends to the top of the ridge, then turns left to follow the ridge. After a level stretch, the trail continues to ascend to Richtmyer Peak. This entire area is covered with brambles.

2.55  The Long Path reaches the flat summit of Richtmeyer Peak. To the left there is a seasonal view through the trees towards the Blackhead Range. The trail now turns right and makes a short descent to the col between Richtmeyer Peak and Richmond Mountain.

2.65  The trail reaches a logging road and the start of a trail (yellow DEC markers) that leaves to the left and leads in 0.4 miles to a parking area. The trail crosses the logging road and continues uphill to the east summit of Richmond Mountain.

2.90  To the left a short side trail leads to a view to the south, with the Blackhead Range, Kaaterskill High Peak and the Devil's Path visible.The Long Path continues along the ridge and descends to the col between the two peaks of Richmond Mountain. Here it levels and follows the north shoulder of the main peak, then begins a steep descent.

Blackhead Range 

The Blackhead Range from Richmond Mountain. 2001 [HERB CHONG]

3.20  The trail reaches a wet area and turns left onto a logging road. In a tenth of a mile the road makes a jog, then goes straight, while the trail turns right. There are seasonal views to the north.

3.55  The Long Path reaches another logging road and turns left, following the road. In about a tenth of a mile an overgrown logging road heads down to the right. The trail continues straight on the road.

3.75  The trail reaches another woods road. Turn left.

3.95  The Long Path turns right into the woods, descending through a Norway spruce plantation, and crossing a few seasonal streams.

4.30  Near the large root mass of an uprooted pine tree the trail approaches a small ravine with a permanent stream on the left, and keeps descending along the stream.

4.45  Turn left onto Bluebird Road (gravel road) and follow it uphill.

4.60  The Long Path turns right into a parking area on the west (right) side of Bluebird Road. Sign in at the registration box at the north end of the parking area, proceed to the southern end of the parking area, turn right, and follow the Long Path blazes west. The trail can be wet in this area, then soon passes through a pine plantation.

4.80  Cross a small stream. The trail now slowly ascends through mixed forest, crosses a few stone walls, and passes by a couple of stone pillars on the right.

5.40  The trail turns sharply left, soon after passing DEP signs, and starts a steep ascent through forest consisting of mostly spruce and striped maple.

5.70  Reach a maintained forest road. (The old Long Path route to the left, to Ashland Pinnacle, the Huntersfield Mountain Shelter, and Albert Slater Road, has now been blazed with red DEC disks.) The Long Path turns right and follows the forest road downhill.

7.10  Reach South Mountain Road, the end of Section 27.

LP-Schoharie-Greene

Stone pillars off the trail. 2010 [JAKOB FRANKE]

 

Previous Section: Section 26
Next Section: Section 28

Comment: Please be relevant, civil, non-commercial.

posnerk's picture

I would like to compliment the volunteers who maintain this section of the Long Path, because it was very clearly blazed and easy to follow - THANK YOU! Also, appreciate the warning about certain sections being overgrown and the advice to wear long pants!
CatskillHiker's picture

I hiked this section on October 25, 2014. I found few, if any, briars along the way which, although I was prepared, mad the hike more pleasant. I found the Long Path rule was in effect: "As the trail gets less distinct, the blazes are fewer and harder to find." This was especially true after Richmond.   The general description above is incorrect as it mentions passing passing over Ashland Pinnacle and Huntersfield.
garate's picture

I send this link contain more pictures and data about this section http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=10442798
Gedalyamil's picture

This hike was short but very sweet! I had minor issues parking at the terminus. There is no place to park on Forest Road near South Mountain Road (and no way to make a U-Turn so I backed out). I just left my car at the wide-mouthed corner of South Mountain Road and Cook Road and felt confident it wouldn't get towed. From there I took a pre-arranged $65 Smiley's Taxi ride to the start on Route 10. I've been shuttling with Smiley's since Section 21 and Silver Hollow Notch, but its now taking the Cabbie almost as long to get to the LP in the Northern Catskills from their Tannersville base as it takes me to drive up from NJ so I'm going to have to find another human courier soon. There was one dramatic view on this section of the LP with the Blackhead Range and the Devils Path visible from a Richmond Mtn outcropping. There were also enticing early views thru the trees of both the mountains and lush valley from the ridge-walk on Mt. Pisgah. In addition, the many evergreen forests the LP traversed today were beautiful. Each time a tall tree bent in the wind and creaked I thought it was talking to me. It was creepy and endearing at the same time. I found the trail easy to follow for the most part. The blazes were plentiful and the path on the ground was usually obvious. I did not have the problems I encountered in the previous section and only once did I need my GPS map app to get me back on course (I was likely not paying enough attention). Unfortunately, I lost one of my newly purchased Apple ear pods on this hike. I think I know where it fell to the ground, but I did not want to retreat (same story with my hiking poles on section 21). At least I've been consistent in losing tech gadgets on the LP. Remember, my daughter lost her iPhone on Section 12 in the Gunks. Steve Jobs and Tim Cook would be upset with me for loosing these Apple products or maybe they'd be happy. I should really get the new Apple Air Tags that Tim Cook just introduced last week. It would look like an ornate earring hanging on my single remaining ear pod. Anyway, I was glad when my wife informed me that the ear pods cost ~$100 rather than ~$300. Perhaps my favorite part of the hike was the easy stroll down Forest Road back to my car. I was happy for another short day (back home by 4:30!!) but thought that perhaps I should have combined sections rather than driving 5 hours round-trip for a 7 mile hike. Speaking of combining sections, over the weekend I came across Jeffrey Adams’ compelling blog describing his record setting LP trail run (https://thelongbrownpath.com/2019/11/02/jeffrey-adams-account-of-his-rec...). You must check it out!! What an amazing accomplishment to complete LP in 7.5 days!!!! That's nearly 50 miles per day for more than a week on difficult terrain. Almost unfathomable!!! I also found and ordered former-record-holder Kenneth Posner's book 'Running the Long Path' on Amazon. I am excited to read it and compare notes. Jeffrey's world record may never be broken, but perhaps there is a small window for a world-class ultra/trail runner to challenge it. I found 3 possible areas for improvement: (i) Jeffrey wasn't familiar with all sections of the LP and went off course a couple of times. It only amounted to at most a few of miles over >350 but each minute counts if this record will be broken and here is some ground to be potentially gained. A challenger would do well have no uncertainty about the course and perhaps do a dry run/walk of each section. (ii) Jeffrey clearly had a great support team, but he often slept in hotels off the trail. Perhaps having a fully equipped Winnebago with a shower and bed would allow the trail runner to sleep on the course and spend less time traveling (but don't try parking the Winnebago on the edge of Berme Road Section 14/15). (iii) Jeffrey amazingly set his record despite painful injuries that he described, so perhaps one could go even faster with better luck from mother nature. Also, I noticed there was no record for women trail runners on the LP. My wife is a good distance runner. I will ask her tonite if she wants to try to compete. It would be awesome to have a world record holder in the family.
Roberta.Mulder's picture

A gate has been newly installed partway up Bluebird Rd. (It was not there when I last visited in September). There is no signage at the gate, and it was unlocked, but due to its location (where Bluebird Rd goes from paved to unpaved) I suspect it will be locked from December - April when the road is "unmaintained". It doesn't look like there's anywhere to park on the paved portion of Bluebird Rd, as it is one lane and very narrow, so if you plan to enter this section via Bluebird Rd in the winter, expect to park on South Mtn Rd and add a few miles to your day. Also note that the trail register on Bluebird Rd is not at the trailhead. (It does say that in the trail description, but I guess I didn't notice it, or remember reading that! I entered the woods at the trail register, and it took me a little while to get correctly oriented....) Had an otherwise lovely day.