At the southern end of the parking area, a yellow gate with a triple white blaze marks the start of the Monks Trail. You’ll be following this trail for the entire hike. Proceed ahead for 50 feet, then turn left, following the white-blazed trail into the woods (the trail to the right, also blazed white, will be your return route).
The trail continues along the hillside, parallel to the Monksville Reservoir (visible below through the trees). As it approaches Greenwood Lake Turnpike, the Monks Trail passes the start of the green-blazed Monks Connector Trail and turns right onto a woods road. Soon, it turns right again on a wider woods road and begins to climb. After passing a large rock outcrop to the right, the trail levels off. It goes under a power line and then crosses a gas pipeline.
Just beyond the pipeline crossing, as the trail begins to descend, look carefully to the left. You will notice two large open pits, about 100 feet from the trail. These are the remnants of the Winston Iron Mine, which was opened shortly after the Civil War and abandoned by 1880. You’ll also see piles of mine tailings and other smaller pits nearby.
Just ahead, the woods road curves to the left, but you should follow the white-blazed trail as it turns right, leaving the road, and continues on a footpath through the woods. After crossing a stream, the trail proceeds along a narrow ridge, continues through a rocky area, and descends slightly. Near the base of the descent, the yellow-blazed Highland Meadow Trail joins from the left. Just beyond, you will see two smaller mine openings on the left, which are often flooded. As the trail continues ahead, the Monksville Reservoir is visible through the trees.
About a mile from the start, the trail turns right at a T-intersection. Here, the yellow-blazed Highland Meadow Trail leaves to the left. Soon, a short black-dot-on-white-blazed side trail leads left to the parking area at the southern boat launch site, and the Monks Trail turns right. The trail now begins a steady ascent of Monks Mountain on a winding footpath, climbing about 300 vertical feet in the next quarter of a mile. As the trail levels off at the top of the climb, a side trail -- blazed black-dot-on-white -- leaves to the left. Follow this side trail, which passes a rocky cedar-studded high point and descends slightly to reach a viewpoint over the Monksville Reservoir in 300 feet. The Monksville Dam is visible to the left, with Harrison Mountain in the background.
Now return to the main trail and turn left. After a relatively level stretch along the ridge, the trail climbs a little and passes just to the left of a high point on Monks Mountain. A short distance beyond, it begins a steady descent on a rocky footpath, rather steeply in places, passing a large lichen-covered rock outcrop on the right. After leveling off in a broad valley, the trail bears right and continues to descend gradually.
The trail soon crosses under overhead power lines, bears right and begins to parallel the reservoir. It climbs a little, crosses a woods road, then turns left and crosses a gas pipeline diagonally to the left. The trail now bears right and follows a footpath parallel to the shore of the reservoir. In a quarter mile, you’ll return to the parking area where the hike began.
Publication: Submitted by Daniel Chazin on 02/11/2010 updated/verified on 10/11/2019
This loop hike passes by remnants of the abandoned Winston Iron Mine and climbs to a viewpoint over the Monksville Reservoir.
At the southern end of the parking area, a yellow gate with a triple white blaze marks the start of the Monks Trail. You’ll be following this trail for the entire hike. Proceed ahead for 50 feet, then turn left, following the white-blazed trail into the woods (the trail to the right, also blazed white, will be your return route).
The trail continues along the hillside, parallel to the...
Whether you are going for a day hike or backpacking overnight, it is good practice to carry what we call The Hiking Essentials. These essentials will help you enjoy your outing more and will provide basic safety gear if needed. There may also be more essentials, depending on the season and your needs.
Hiking Shoes or Boots
Water - Two quarts per person is recommended in every season. Keep in mind that fluid loss is heightened in winter as well as summer. Don't put yourself in the position of having to end your hike early because you have run out of water.
Map - Know where you are and where you are going. Many of our hiking areas feature interconnecting network of trails. Use a waterproof/tear-resistant Tyvek Trail Conference map if available or enclose your map in a Ziplock plastic bag. If you have a mobile device, download Avenza’s free PDF Maps app and grab some GPS-enhanced Trail Conference maps (a backup Tyvek or paper version of the map is good to have just in case your batteries die or you don't have service). Check out some map-reading basics here.
Food - Snacks/lunch will keep you going as you burn energy walking or climbing. Nuts, seeds, and chocolate are favorites on the trail.
Sunscreen and insect repellent
Rain Gear and Extra Clothing - Rain happens. So does cold. Be prepared for changing weather. Avoid cotton--it traps water against your skin and is slow to dry. If you are wearing wet cotton and must return to your starting point, you risk getting chills that may lead to a dangerous hypothermia. Choose synthetic shirts, sweaters and/or vests and dress in layers for easy on and off.
Compass - A simple compass is all you need to orient you and your map to magnetic north.
Light - A flashlight or small, lightweight headlamp will be welcome gear if you find yourself still on the trail when darkness falls. Check the batteries before you start out and have extras in your pack.
First Aid Kit - Keep it simple, compact, and weatherproof. Know how to use the basic components.
Firestarter and Matches - In an emergency, you may need to keep yourself or someone else warm until help arrives. A firestarter (this could be as simple as leftover birthday candles that are kept inside a waterproof container) and matches (again, make sure to keep them in a waterproof container) could save a life.
Knife or Multi-tool - You may need to cut a piece of moleskin to put over a blister, repair a piece of broken equipment, or solve some other unexpected problem.
Emergency Numbers - Know the emergency numbers for the area you're going to and realize that in many locations--especially mountainous ones, your phone will not get reception.
Common Sense - Pay attention to your environment, your energy, and the condition of your companions. Has the weather turned rainy? Is daylight fading? Did you drink all your water? Did your companion fail to bring rain gear? Are you getting tired? Keep in mind that until you turn around you are (typically) only half-way to completing your hike--you must still get back to where you started from! (Exceptions are loop hikes.)
Check the weather forecast before you head out. Know the rules and regulations of the area.
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
The Trail Conference is a 2015 Leave No Trace partner.
(c) Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org.
Take Interstate Route 287 to Exit 57 and continue on Skyline Drive to its western end at Greenwood Lake Turnpike in Ringwood. Turn right and proceed for about four miles to Margaret King Avenue. Continue ahead along Greenwood Lake Turnpike for another 0.3 mile and turn left into the access road leading to the northern boat launch area for the Monksville Reservoir. The access road is just east of the Monksville Reservoir and directly opposite Beech Road. Continue along the access road for about 0.2 mile to the parking area.
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