History of the Long Brown Path
Hiking Through History
In 1931, Vincent J. Schaefer of the Mohawk Valley Hiking Club envisioned the Long Path as New York’s answer to Vermont’s Long Trail. Designed as an unmarked route from Bear Mountain for Appalachian Trail hikers, the Long Path was meant to connect scenic and historic points. Schaefer encouraged hikers to embrace exploration and use maps and compasses to navigate between these points, making each journey an adventure in discovery.
The Long Brown Path
In 1933, Raymond Torrey rallied public support for the Long Path, with W. W. Cady scouting the route from the George Washington Bridge through the Catskills. Vincent Schaefer and his brother mapped the path north to Whiteface Mountain. Torrey documented their progress in his New York Post column, “The Long Brown Path.” However, the unmarked route concept was hard for many to grasp. Interest revived when the Palisades Interstate Parkway project began in 1935, but despite marking progress to Peekamoose Mountain by 1943, World War II halted the project for nearly 20 years.
A Ramblin’ Revival
In 1960, Robert Jessen and Michael Warren revived the Long Path project, now evolving into a blazed trail due to suburban growth. Much of the original route had been lost to development. By the 1980s, the trail extended to the Catskills, with new sections built over Peekamoose and Table Mountains. In 1987, the “missing link” around Kaaterskill High Peak was completed, allowing continuous hiking from the George Washington Bridge to East Windham, though some road sections remained.
Long Path North Hiking Club and the SRT
In the 1990s, the Long Path North Hiking Club, with help from the National Park Service, built and maintained over 75 miles of the Long Path through Schoharie and Albany Counties. They are now extending it through Schenectady County. Additionally, the Shawangunk Ridge Trail (SRT) was created, linking High Point, NJ, to Minnewaska State Park, NY, providing an alternative route for the Long Path. The SRT joins the Long Path near Greenville, NY, and shares 30-plus miles before diverging toward Rosendale.
Long-Term Challenges
As suburban development expanded in the late 1970s and 1980s, the Long Path faced new challenges. What once required a handshake now needs formal agreements, and parts of the trail were moved from woods to public roads. Today, about 60 miles of the trail follow roadways, with efforts ongoing to reduce road walking, especially in Orange County, where development complicates finding a suitable route.
Building a Solution
In Rockland County, the Long Path navigates through public parks with key links on private land. Threatened by suburban development, the trail’s protection was strengthened with a 1989 report that established it as the “spine of a Rockland County Greenway.” Major relocations since 2000 have removed several miles of road walking, including new trails over Plateau and Indian Head Mountains. The main Long Path now stretches 358 miles from NYC to near Albany, with efforts underway to extend it into the Adirondacks. Key sections are recognized as National Recreational Trails.
Join the Legacy: Volunteer as a Long Path Trail Maintainer
Help preserve the Long Path for future generations by becoming a Trail Maintainer. Your efforts ensure that hikers continue to enjoy its breathtaking views and serene landscapes. Whether you’re an experienced hiker or new to the trails, your contribution makes a real difference.