This hike circles Sterling Lake in a clockwise direction, following the Sterling Lake Loop, marked with dark blue plastic blazes.
Leave the park visitor center, using the front entrance, and turn right (west) on a dirt path, following the blue blazes of the Sterling Lake Loop. The trail briefly joins the paved entrance road, then bears right and goes across a grassy field, passing the stone foundations of a former church on the right. It enters the woods on a footpath and soon reaches a junction with the yellow-blazed Lakeville Ironworks Trail, whic
h begins on the left. Here, the ruins of the Sterling Furnace are visible below.
Continue ahead, following the blue blazes of the Sterling Lake Loop, which crosses the outlet of Sterling Lake on a wooden bridge. Just beyond, the trail turns left and descends to a paved road. It turns right and follows the road, soon passing ruins of concrete and brick structures on the left. These are remnants of the former mining operations in the area. Sterling Forest was once a center of mining activity, with the first mines opened in the 1700s. The last active mine in the area closed down nearly 100 years ago.
Just beyond these ruins, you’ll pass the western end of the Lakeville Ironworks Trail. Continue ahead along the road, which soon begins to run alongside Sterling Lake, with views across the lake. About three-quarters of a mile from the start, a sign marks the start of the Bare Rock and Fire Tower Connector Trails, and the paving ends just beyond. Continue ahead on a woods road, blocked by a wooden gate. The road which runs inland for some distance, then again parallels the lakeshore.
Near the northern end of the lake, the yellow-blazed Sterling Valley Trail joins from the left, and you now follow both yellow and blue blazes. Soon, you’ll pass a former boat-launching ramp on the right. Just beyond, the trail crosses an earthen causeway, with broad views over the lake. A quiet, picturesque pond is on the left.
The trail now goes slightly inland and climbs over two rises. After descending through a mountain laurel thicket, it again 
emerges on the lakeshore at a small sandy beach, with a dead pine tree overhanging the water. It crosses another earthen causeway over an arm of the lake, with a beaver lodge on its east side. At the end of the lake, the trail bears left and heads north, running parallel to the narrow arm of the lake.
When you reach the end of this arm, follow the blue-blazed Sterling Lake Loop as it turns sharply right onto another woods road (the yellow-blazed Sterling Valley Trail continues straight ahead). The blue trail proceeds south along the road, which climbs gradually, then descends a little. It crosses the outlet of Cricket Pond, visible on the left, and continues to run above the lake, climbing gently. You can catch some glimpses of the lake through the trees on the right.
After a mile of pleasant walking, the woods road turns away from the lake and reaches a fork. Bear left to continue along the blue-blazed trail, which narrows to a footpath. The trail crosses a wet area and soon widens to a rocky woods road, which climbs rather steeply.
Just beyond the crest of the rise, the blue-blazed trail turns right and descends on a footpath. (The orange-triangle-blazed Pine Meadow Connector begins here on the left.) Soon, the trail turns right on a gravel road and follows it for 75 feet, then turns left, leaving the road, and continues to descend more gradually to paved Old Forge Road, which it crosses. Just before reaching a second paved road (County Route 84), the trail turns right and crosses a wetland on an earth-and-rock embankment of a former mining railroad. It bears left at the end of the embankment, then soon turns right and joins a gravel road.
When the road curves to the right to end in a paved parking area, continue straight ahead on a footpath. Just ahead, the orange-triangle-blazed McKeags Meadow Connector begins on the left. Proceed ahead on the Sterling Lake Loop, which soon emerges onto a grassy area. Continue ahead to paved Old Forge Road, then turn left and follow the road a short distance. Bear right at a sign for “overflow parking,” cross the parking area, then reenter the woods and follow the blue-blazed trail on a footpath back to the visitor center, completing the loop.
Publication: Submitted by Daniel Chazin on 05/02/2002 updated/verified on 08/23/2018
This loop hike circles scenic Sterling Lake, mostly on woods roads, and passes by relics of former mining activity.
This hike circles Sterling Lake in a clockwise direction, following the Sterling Lake Loop, marked with dark blue plastic blazes.
Leave the park visitor center, using the front entrance, and turn right (west) on a dirt path, following the blue blazes of the Sterling Lake Loop. The trail briefly joins the paved entrance road, then bears right and goes across a grassy field, passing 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 the New York Thruway to Exit 15A. Turn left at the bottom of the ramp onto Route 17 and head north for 1.4 miles to the exit for Sterling Forest. Follow Sterling Mine Road (County Route 72) west for3.0 miles, then turn right onto Long Meadow Road (County Route 84). Proceed north on Long Meadow Road for 3.5 miles, then turn left onto Old Forge Road and continue for 0.5 mile until you reach the Sterling Forest State Park Visitor Center, on the right side of the road. Stop at the visitor center to view the exhibits and obtain a free trail map.
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January 26, 2022
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