Hike Reviews
April 21, 2023
Hike description has been updated
Thanks for your comment, Kayla! As a result of your comment, I went back and redid the hike, which has now been completely updated to reflect the changed blaze colors and other changes along the trails.
April 10, 2023
Blaze Changes
This is a wonderful hike - beautiful views. However, the blue blaze Hewitt-Butler trail no longer exists. You can easily follow this hike by following the teal blazed Highlands Trail to the green blazed Burnt Meadow loop. Since the Burnt Meadow Loop is in fact a loop, you can pick either direction. A portion of the green blazed burnt meadow loop follows the power line clearing and markers can be tricky to find in that section.
Otherwise, this was a very enjoyable afternoon hike!
November 24, 2020
Hike description has been updated
The hike description has been updated to reflect the new blazing scheme mentioned in the comment below.
November 24, 2020
Blaze Change
The HB trail is still blazed blue but the Burnt Meadow loop is blazed green. White and yellow blazes have been replaced. Also the teal blazed Highlands trail aligns with both trails for parts of the hike. Otherwise, it is a terrific little hike.
October 26, 2017
One nice view but...
The view on the lake, about halfway through the hike, is pretty amazing.
However, there are so few people on this hike (I did not see anyone even though I did it on a Sunday in August), that the whole way up and then down is full of spider webs, including at head level, which is not very pleasant.
April 24, 2017
Nice hike, incredible view
The parking lot was barricaded, no idea why - but I parked on the side of the road right next to the trailhead. The trail is well marked and the description is completely accurate. The horseshoe viewpoint is the halfway mark - it's a gradual somewhat steep climb, and very worth it. The rest of the hike is nice, scenic woods, a few streams as noted but the only viewpoint is the one above. The description said 6 miles, I used 2 different apps to measure. MapMyFitness came out at 8.5 miles and Avenza Maps came out at 10.7 so who knows how long it is! It took me 4 hrs and I hung out for a bit at the viewpoint.
August 25, 2015
There are "No Parking" signs and barricades at the parking area
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<p><span style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt;'>Initially, I was having difficulty posting comments here...<br></span></p>
<p><span style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt;'><br></span></p>
<p><span style='color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt;'>I did the hike on July 19, 2015 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but had to park another 0.1 mile up the road to a pull-out. I don't know if it's legal to park there. I didn't see any No Parking signs at this place (also on the left side of the road), just some "No Trespassing" signs in the woods. I drove up East Shore Drive and back down Greenwood Lake Turnpike and didn't see any other parking options. Opposite the parking area described above, at the end of East Shore Drive, there a little manicured area (maybe a memorial park - I didn't check it out). You might be able to park there. I didn't seen any "No Parking" signs. From the place I parked (0.1 mi further up Greenwood Lake Turnpike), there's not much of a shoulder for walking back to the trailhead.</span></p>
June 08, 2015
Burnt Meadow trail moved a little
<p>Paragraph 9 above, after you get to Burnt Meadow Road, turn right, the trail was moved, you don't go 200 yards on the road, it's a lot closer, look for the yellow blaze on the other side of the road. It ascends to the left. If you see an area on the right side of the road where you can park a few cars you've gone too far. It's not a woods road and you won't see the rusted automobile.</p>
March 22, 2015
Correct parking lot coords
<p>41.141167,-74.316020</p>
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<p>This one looks correct so put in main text</p>
November 23, 2014
Coordinates
<p>Coordinates: <em style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small; background-color: #afd3f5;">41.11295,-74.30553</em></p>