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WARNING/DISCLAIMER: Hiking can be dangerous and the information furnished below may contain errors! |
Schunemunk Mountain Hike
Total Distance:
approximately 9 milesThe re-routed Jessup Trail (yellow blazes) leaves from the road opposite the parking area (from where the hike ends)
After about two miles, at a 4-way trail intersection, the Western Ridge Trail (red blazes initially, blue dots on white rectangles) forks right. Make a right onto this trail. After a while you will be on the Long Path (blue blazes) heading south. Take the Long Path until you intersect the Jessup Trail (yellow blazes).
Turn left to go onto the Jessup Trail (it may have both yellow and blue blazes but it is the yellow that indicates the Jessup trail). Just beyond the peak (1664') white marks on the rocks will point west to the Megaliths (to the left). Follow the white arrows and small white squares and eat lunch where they lead you to.
A short while after returning to the Jessup trail and continuing north, you will intersect the black dot on white blazed Dark Hollow trail. Stay on the Jessup trail. Turn right onto the Sweet Clover trail (white blazes, this turn is not well marked!). The trail emerges besides railroad tracks (fast trains run here throughout the day!). Go across the tracks and and continue on the Sweet Clover trail (which continues, slightly to the left, on the other side of the tracks). Make a left onto the (second) dirt road when you get to the beginning of the open field (before the highway). This will be the second dirt road you will pass after the train tracks (the first one comes soon after crossing the tracks). Take this dirt road and emerge onto Taylor Road opposite your car following, eventually, the same road you took at the beginning of the hike.
References: NY-NJ Trail Conference Map #8 (highly recommended, the 1992 map is outdated regarding the rerouted Jessup trail!), similar hike in 50 Hikes in the Hudson Valley (second edition, p.69-72), Orange County map
What to Bring (hiking boots required!)
Other Useful Information
Hiking boots are required on this hike! We are meeting, promptly, at 8:00am in front of TBA. Drivers should double park their cars in front of the building (please gas up BEFORE coming). All passengers are expected to contribute their fair share towards gas, parking fees, and tolls! We will return to the city in mid to late afternoon. Rain cancels the trip.
Driving Directions from New York City
Take the George Washington Bridge to the Palisades Interstate Highway heading North. In about 19 miles exit the parkway at exit 9W onto the Thruway (Route 87/287) which heads west. About 24 miles later, exit the Thruway at exit 16.
Just after the toll booths at exit 16 veer right to take Route 32 north for about 7.5 miles until Pleasant Hill Road. Turn left onto Pleasant Hill Road (a sign for the "Black Rock Fish & Game Club" may be at this turn, it is also a left turn soon after Creamery Road).
This turn is easy to miss!After turning left onto Pleasant Hill Road, make the next left (onto Taylor Road) over a small bridge. Veer right at the next fork (do not turn onto Starr Road). Taylor Road crosses over the Thruway. From the initial left turn onto Pleasant Hill Road you will drive a total of about 0.35 to 0.4 miles until a small parking area ("P" in the upper right on the map below) on the right side of the road (park here, N 41.40762, W 074.08155).
The entire trip is about 60 miles and should take less than and hour and a quarter.
Questions: Michael Brochstein
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The parking area. (August 2001) |
Signs in the parking area. (August 2001) | |
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| View of the trail head taken from the parking area. (August 2001) | ||
Last updated: 5/2005