Note: The Anthony Wayne Recreation Area, the starting point of this hike, has temporarily been converted to a COVID-19 testing area and is inaccessible to hikers. Until the area is reopened to the public, you should choose a different hike.
From the parking area, walk back along the entrance road until you reach a gravel road on the right blocked off with a gate. Turn right and follow this road, marked with the white blazes of the Anthony Wayne Trail (as well as with blue-on-white Bike Trail markers). Bear right at the next fork and continue uphill, proceeding ahead across a four-way intersection.
When you reach a T-intersection, turn left. Then, in 25 feet, you’ll notice three red-“F”-on-white blazes on a tree to the right, which mark the start of the Fawn Trail. Turn right onto the Fawn Trail, which climbs, using switchbacks and rock steps for part of the way, to reach a junction with the blue-blazed Timp-Torne Trail.
Turn left onto the Timp-Torne Trail, which climbs to a rock ledge, with Bear Mountain and the Perkins Memorial Tower on its summit visible through the trees on the right. The trail now descends, with more views of Bear Mountain on the way down. You’ll pass one end of the white-blazed Anthony Wayne Trail on the left, but you should continue ahead, following the blue-blazed Timp-Torne Trail.
At the base of the descent, the 1777W Trail (red 1777W on white) comes in from the right and joins the Timp-Torne Trail. Turn left, following the joint 1777W/Timp-Torne Trail, which crosses a highway ramp, then turns left to cross the Palisades Interstate Parkway on a bridge that carries the Seven Lakes Drive over the Parkway.
At the west side of the bridge, turn right and head north on paved Queensboro Road, which crosses over a stream and passes
the dam of Queensboro Lake and a water treatment facility on the left. Follow the blue and 1777W blazes as they continue ahead on a gravel road, but a short distance beyond, they turn right and re-enter the woods on a footpath to bypass a park pistol range.
The joint trails descend slightly to reach the gravel Queensboro Road. Here, the Timp-Torne and 1777W Trails turn right, but you should cross the road and continue straight ahead, now following the Popolopen Gorge (red square on white) and 1779 (blue 1779 on white) trails. The Popolopen Gorge/1779 Trails cross a stream on rocks, pass an historic marker that relates the story of the battle of July 15, 1779, and continue ahead on a grassy woods road.
You’ll soon reach the northern tip of Queensboro Lake. The trail (now a footpath) curves inland but soon returns to the lake shore once more, then again heads inland. After crossing another stream on rocks and climbing a little, you’ll come to a fork in the trail. Here, the 1779 Trail goes off to the left, but you should bear right, following the red-square-on-white blazes of the Popolopen Gorge Trail.
The trail now climbs rather steeply, then descends to Summer Hill Road (a dirt road 
built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933), with beautiful cascades in the stream just beyond. It turns left on the road to cross hte stream, then immediately turns right and climbs past the dam of Turkey Hill Lake to emerge onto the lake shore. The trail follows the shore of the lake for about half a mile, with panoramic views over the lake and Long Mountain (in the background). About halfway along the lake, there are views of Bear Mountain (with the Perkins Memorial Tower on its summit) to the east.
Near the southwest corner of the lake, you’ll reach an intersection with the white-blazed Anthony Wayne Trail, which begins on the left. Turn left and follow this trail, which climbs to the crest of a rise on a grassy woods road and then descends. With park maintenance buildings visible ahead, the trail turns right, leaving the road. In 200 feet, it turns right onto another woods road (the original route of what is now Route 6); it then turns left again, crosses a brook, and continues ahead to Route 6.
The trail bears left and follows the paved road for 50 feet, then turns right, crosses the road, and reenters the woods. In a third of a mile, after a relatively level stretch, it passes an abandoned stone comfort station and reaches the Seven Lakes Drive. The trail crosses the road diagonally to the left, continues along the road for 225 feet (crossing over Queensboro Brook), then turns right and reenters the woods. It climbs the shoulder of a hill (crossing the 1779 Trail on the way), then descends to a ramp of Exit 17 of the Parkway. It turns left, crosses the Parkway on an overpass, and continues along the road to the parking area where the hike began.
To view a photo collection for this hike, click here.
Publication: Submitted by Daniel Chazin on 11/24/2010 updated/verified on 01/18/2016
This loop hike follows two historic trails and runs along the shore of Queensboro Lake and Turkey Hill Lake.
Note: The Anthony Wayne Recreation Area, the starting point of this hike, has temporarily been converted to a COVID-19 testing area and is inaccessible to hikers. Until the area is reopened to the public, you should choose a different hike.
From the parking area, walk back along the entrance road until you reach a gravel road on the right blocked off with a gate....
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 the Palisades Interstate Parkway to Exit 17 (Anthony Wayne Recreation Area) and park in the large parking area just to the right of the entrance kiosk.
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September 25, 2021
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