35. East Berne to John Boyd Thacher State Park

Section 35: East Berne to John Boyd Thacher State Park

Alerts

  • The description has been updated with a relocation north of the John Boyd Thacher State Park Visitor Center that was established in summer 2023.

Quick Facts

Distance: 10.95 miles
Parks: John Boyd Thacher State Park
Maps: Interactive Map
Print-Friendly Version: Link

General Description

This section of the Long Path starts pleasantly as it passes through farm country. The section begins where the Long Path crosses NY Route 443 and follows a grassy road past a farm house to reach Stage Road. For the next mile the trail continues though fields and forests until it reaches Sawmill Road. The trail then continues along local roads to John Boyd Thacher State Park. The Long Path follows a series of trails through the park, emerging on the cliffs of the Helderberg Escarpment at the overlook on the north side of NY Route 157. Here, there are spectacular views northeast into Vermont. This ridge is made up of a core of limestone in which were found many fossils during the early days of geology in the 1800s. These fossils are known worldwide for their sequence from the Silurian to the Devonian eras. Early studies in this area helped lay the foundations for modern paleontology and geology. The Long Path then turns north and descends on the historic Indian Ladder Trail under the base of the cliffs, continues north through the park along the escarpment, and then heads in a generally northwest direction through the woods. The section ends at the north end of the park in the parking lot off Old Stage Road.

Access

Take the New York State Thruway to Exit 22 (Selkirk). Turn right on NY Route 144 and continue south to NY Route 396. Turn right on Route 396 and follow it 6 miles to South Bethlehem, where Route 396 ends and the road becomes Albany County Route 301. Follow Route 301 west another 6 miles to its end at NY Route 443 in Clarksville. Turn left on Route 443 and follow it west about 5 miles to the second intersection with Stage Road, 1.5 miles from the intersection of NY 443/85.

Parking

0.00  Stage Road, near the intersection with NY Route 443, about 0.1 mile east of the trail. (42.60218°, -74.04600°)
3.50  John Boyd Thacher State Park parking area on Beaver Dam Road. (42.63870°, -74.01524°)
4.55  Lower Paint Mine Picnic Area (about 0.2 miles off the trail). (42.65111°, -74.01632°)
5.20  Helderberg Escarpment Overlook parking area. (42.65248°, -74.01204°)
6.20  North end of Indian Ladder Trail. (42.65481°, -74.01787°)
10.95  Old Stage Road (limited). (42.68158°, -74.05442°)

Trail Description

0.00  The Long Path crosses NY Route 443 just east of the driveway of a private residence and heads uphill in a northeasterly direction along the edge of a large field. The trail climbs gradually and passes a farm house on the left when it reaches Stage Road.

0.15  Reach Stage Road and continue straight to follow the road through farm fields.

0.40  Turn left at a hedgerow bordering a field, crossing a short bridge over the drainage ditch. The trail descends gradually north along the west side of the hedgerow. There is an expansive view west, across open fields, toward Cole Hill and the Schoharie Valley.

0.80  Bear right through a gap in the hedgerow, then enter a young hardwood forest.

0.95  Reach Sawmill Road opposite its intersection with Stempel Road, and turn left (north) to follow Sawmill Road.

1.30  Turn right (east) onto Long Road.

2.35  Turn left at Elm Drive.

2.50  Bear right onto Bush Drive.

3.25  Turn right onto Beaver Dam Road (Albany County Route 303).

3.50  Turn left off the road into the woods at a trailhead for John Boyd Thacher State Park. Parking is available for several cars along a wide gravel shoulder.  In about 200 feet, turn left (west), now following a coaligned blue-blazed trail.

3.90  Bear left as the blue-blazed trail turns right. Soon cross a small stream and pass a white connector trail.

4.10  A Nature Trail joins from the right at the head of a ravine. The Long Path and coaligned Nature Trail continue ahead, gradually descending on the left side of the ravine.

4.40  Turn right at a junction with a white connector trail. The white connector trail continues straight to reach the Lower Paint Mine picnic area and pavilion in 0.15 mile. The Long Path crosses the ravine on a bridge and follows the lower part of the Nature Trail. In 0.1 mile, the Natural Trail forks to the right, but bear left to remain on the Long Path and pass through a dense hemlock forest.

4.85  Turn left to follow a woods road that leads into the Upper Knowles Flat Picnic Area. The trail follows the north edge of the picnic area, then descends right on a gravel path to the paved access road. The trail then turns right onto the access road toward NY Route 157.

5.15  Cross NY Route 157 and reach the Overlook parking area. The trail turns left and follows the overlook along the edge of the escarpment, with spectacular views across the upper Hudson Valley to the Green Mountains of Vermont and the Adirondacks of New York.

panorama

Panorama from Thacher Park lookout. 2001 [HERB CHONG]

5.40  Reach the northern end of the parking area, and continue to follow the escarpment fence through the woods.  About about 0.2 mile, emerge from the woods to reach a view over Mine Lot Falls, which plunges over the escarpment, near La Grange Bush parking lot.

5.70  Reach the southern end of the Indian Ladder Trail, which descends stairs to the right. Note the Indian Ladder Trail is only open from mid-May to late fall, as it is dangerous when there is ice; the Long Path follows the Indian Ladder Trail when it is open, but follows the path along the top of the escarpment (which passes another overlook and the top of the falls) during the remainder of the year.  When open, turn right onto the Indian Ladder Trail and descend a series of stairs. At the base of the stairs, follow the bottom of the escarpment northward under the cliffs, passing under Mine Lot Falls and another waterfall (the water flow for each is very variable, so they can be just a trickle during dry periods). The trail then reaches another set of stairs that climbs back up to the top of the escarpment.

DSCN1775+40

Mine Lot Falls in the winter. 2001 [HERB CHONG]      Base of the Indian Ladder Trail. 2001 [MICHAEL WARREN]

6.20  Reach the northern end of the Indian Ladder Trail. To the left is the Visitor Center, which is worth a short detour. The Long Path turns right to follow the Escarpment Trail, which follows the escarpment fence and offers periodic views through the trees.

Wildflowers growing near the ranger station. 2001 [LOREN DOBERT]

6.50  Reach a viewpoint along the escarpment and picnic area near the Horseshoe 1 parking area. The trail continues following the escarpment as it loops around this horseshoe-shaped section.

6.80  To the left through the trees is the Horseshoe 2 parking area.

7.20  Reach another panoramic viewpoint over the escarpment near the northern end of the Hailes Cave parking lot.  In a short distance, the trail passes a rock climbing area entrance called Squeeze Box and then turns left away from the escarpment, crosses Hailes Cave Road, and soon reaches a grassy road. Follow this road as it continues through an open area.

7.35  Turn right off the grassy road into the woods. This section of trail includes many narrow fissures, some very deep, that crisscross the woods. The trail parallels and then crosses a stone wall to reach an old woods road.

7.55  The trail turns right on the old road and enters the OSI Thacher Park Nature Preserve.

7.75  The Long Path turns left off the woods road to climb along a switchback to the top of the ridge and a junction with another woods road.

7.85  The trail meets a yellow-blazed woods road leads left in 0.3 miles to Ryan Road and a small parking area. The trail turns right and follows the crest of the ridge through a mixed forest of pine, hardwoods and low-growing juniper.

8.25  After reaching a cairn that marks the highest point on this trail section, about 1,410 feet, the Long Path descends gradually from the escarpment, staying near its edge.

 

View from John Boyd Thacher State Park

View from the escarpment in John Boyd Thacher State Park. 2010 [JAKOB FRANKE]

8.65  The Long Path reaches a junction with another trail (blazed white) and turns right, descending steeply to a gravel road used by hang-glider enthusiasts to access a take-off pad at the edge of the escarpment. Turn left on the hang-glider road. (To reach the hang-glider launch site, continue straight ahead on the road at this point.)

8.85  The trail leaves the hang-glider road and bears right, circling a depression in the escarpment.

9.15  The trail crosses an old stone wall.

9.25  Reach the middle of an old juniper stand and turn right. The forest along the trail is laced with fascinating fissures caused by acidity eating away the escarpment’s limestone.

9.35  A red-blazed trail joins the Long Path from the left. Both Long Path and red blazes now mark the trail.  It is important to remain on the trail in this area, to avoid potential injury from stumbling into a fissure.

9.75  The trail reaches a point where it turns sharply left, heading west. Just ahead and to the right is an open 'High Point' viewpoint. To the right Mt. Everett in southern Massachusetts is seen peeking over the shoulder of the hang-glider opening. Panning north you will see Albany, Mt. Greylock, the Town of Altamont, and Vermont’s Green Mountains with Killington and Pico Peak prominent.

9.95  The Long Path crosses a white-blazed woods road. The Long Path continues past a stone wall to the left onto a segment of an old woods road, then bears left away from the woods road through mixed deciduous and evergreen forest, winding through several stands of hemlock.

10.25  The Long Path turns right, leaving the red-blazed trail, and skirts fields and stone walls on the left.

10.45  The Long Path crosses a woods road leading to a field on the left and then skirts the edge of the field.

10.65  The trail crosses a field and then re-enters the woods, passing through many stands of hawthorne bushes.

10.75  The Long Path parallels a stone wall, and then joins an old woods road that also leads to the ‘High Point’ overlook already encountered.

10.95  Reach a parking area off Old Stage Road marking the furthest extent of park property, and turn right.

This is currently the "End-to-End" end of the Long Path. The trail has been blazed across the Mohawk River to the Saratoga County line, and from there a route has been described to the Adirondacks blue line, but until more of that route is off-road those sections are not a requirement for the "End-to-End" certificate.

 

Previous Section: Section 34
Next Section: Section 36

 

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

46r796's picture

Hiked this section on 9/29/13 to finish up the LP North trail.Woo-hoo. Thacher park area is well marked and well used.Great views.If following the blazes you will miss the Indian ladder trail as the trail follows the top of the escarpment.When hiking in a south to north direction and coming to concrete steps turn right and preceed down to pick up the Indian ladder trail(if open)You wont be sorry as it follows the base of the escarpment and is very interesting.It is about 1/2 mile in length and comes back up to meet with the LP trail again.This fall season has been so dry that the water falls is non existant due to No water. There is many hiking trails criss-crossing the north end of Thacher park,but the LP is easy to follow.Beware of Ticks.Myself, my friend and dog all had ticks.
bytegently's picture

Hello, As of spring-summer 2015 is section 35 the trail terminus to qualify for an end to end?  Thanks.  Sorry if the answer seems obvious but I want to make sure.
jakobfranke's picture

The end of Section 35 is the end-to-end terminus for the next year(s). The online guide is pretty much up-to-date. Jakob
garate's picture

I send this link contain more pictures and data about this section http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=10658899
Gedalyamil's picture

I was joined by my son Bobby for the completion of the LP today. It was an epic day befitting the conclusion of an epic journey. As we started hiking, my thoughts immediately brought me back ~35 years to one of my earliest hikes in the Catskills with my parents, brother, and sister. Actually, it was more of a bushwhack than a hike. I think it may have been Thanksgiving weekend, another Fall day, or early Spring, sometime off-season. As we trekked thru the woods we happened upon a long-abandoned colony. In the overgrown weeds, we found a large sign turned on its face. We righted the sign and read the faded Hebrew inscription in once bold green type: "Binos Desha". The name borrows the vivid imagery from King David's famous Psalm 23 and means "Green Pastures". Today was as much a celebration of a 2-month journey as it was a hike. The course befitted the occasion. The road walk to John Boyd Thacher State Park was pleasant and Bobby enjoyed these delightful environs having never set foot north of Route 23 into the Northern Catskills, the Schoharie Valley, or the rural Capital Region. John Boyd Thacher is a well-manicured state park with attractive trails and a gorgeous feel. Nevertheless, we weren't prepared for the amazing northern escarpment: the expansive views of the Hudson and Mohawk Valleys, the Taconic range, Green Mountains, and Southern Adirondacks. It certainly ranks as one of the great vistas in America!! Riding the escarpment was special - even if the Indian Ladder Trail was closed for the season (good reason to return!). The visitor center in Thacher State Park above the escarpment’s waterfalls is an impressive building with organic tones that befit the environment. We also enjoyed the wonderfully secluded woods trail over the last few miles and the beautiful crossing of an open field before finishing with both a hint of pride and a touch of melancholy for the realization that my Long Path adventure has concluded. I'm going to miss waking early each day at 5am with nervous anticipation, driving excitedly to Exit 21 on the Thruway as if it's the town next door, riding beautiful country roads into new worlds, and experiencing amazing bounty and discovery on the trail. I wanted Bobby to imbibe as much of the LP's offerings as the sunlight would allow: we raced to Vroman's Nose after today’s hike and climbed nearly 2 miles to it's craggy vista, we took the back roads thru the Schoharie Valley and Northern Catskills, drove past the Escarpment Trail heading south from Windham, took in majestic views of the Devil's Path lined up Indian File - Indian Head, Twin, Sugarloaf, Plateau, Hunter, Westkill, St. Anne's - en route to Kaaterskill Clove. There we visited Kaaterskill Falls from its lofty platform and awesome base and then hiked via South and North Lake Campground to the site of the historic Catskill Mountain House where we bid goodbye to the daylight with unforgettable views of the verdant Hudson Valley. We then trekked back to our car as dark broke. This reminded me again of completing the Escarpment Trail in this very spot under the moonlight with my brother and friends some ~30 years ago. This was Bobby's 4th hike with me on the LP (I hope he gets to complete the course someday!). This ties Bobby with my daughter Julia and wife Annie who also each hiked 4 LP sections with me. I thank Annie for her incredible support of my efforts on the LP!! My youngest daughter Sophie (Senior Class President!!) wants to join me next week for the supplemental LP Shawangunk Ridge Trail sections. I also thank my nephews Aaron and Ben-Zion, and friends Dan and Tami who have joined me on the trail. I could never adequately thank the leadership and volunteers of the NY/NJ Trail Conference and all their inspirational forebearers for making the LP possible. I truly got to appreciate the importance of conservation of our great spaces on this trek. The Palisades, Hudson Highlands, Shawangunks, and Catskills would not feature these treasured trails and wild spaces for the public to own and enjoy were it not for the bold vision and heroic efforts of the visionaries of yesteryear. On that note, my bother texted me the following note last night: "I’m not sure you are aware, but when I drive with my kids upstate [in the Catskills] and we pass a new development we roll down the windows and scream 'Forever Wild!' ”. It made me laugh-out-loud!! I thank everyone who has read these comments, and I hope this inspires more people to hike the LP. I thank both my brother and brother-in-law as well as my parents-in-laws for tolerating my incessant attacks on their inboxes with pictures and videos from the LP. I thank my mother and father for getting me started in hiking and for their general appreciation for nature, the outdoors, and athletics. I thank my sister who is not here in person but was such a meaningful part of every single hike I did on the LP. Above all, I thank God whose presence I sensed on the trail with me in each region of the LP and in the Long Path of life thru Valleys of Darkness, over Still-Waters, and into Green Pastures.