Sullivan County is full of beautiful parks. and State and Federal land, along with the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River-a National Park!
They don’t all have designated hiking trails, but they are a great place to spend the day. All of these are listed on our Trails page, or follow the links back to find more information about each park. For more information on County Parks and Lake Superior State Park, email scparks@co.sullivan.ny.us.
County Operated Parks
The park, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places is dedicated to the brave men who fought and died at the “Battle of Minisink”, the Upper Delaware’s only major Revolutionary War skirmish. Included in the park’s 57 acres are picnic areas, a group picnic pavilion (fee required), restroom facilities and walking trails. An interpretive center contains displays that explain the various themes of the park: the battle, the flora and fauna and mankind’s use of the park down through the ages.
Self guiding trails run throughout the park providing the visitor with an opportunity for a more in-depth knowledge of these themes. This facility is located within the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, a unit of the National Park Service, and is in close proximity to the famous Roebling Bridge and Zane Grey Museum.
STONE ARCH BRIDGE HISTORICAL PARK
A scenic three arched bridge is the centerpiece of this is a 20 acre park at the intersection of State Route 52 and State Route 52A between Jeffersonville and Kenoza Lake. The bridge was originally built in 1880 by Swiss immigrants Henry and Philip Hembt. It was restored in 1980-81 by the Sullivan County Division of Public Works and is listed on the National Register of Historic Plances. There are no official trails, but there are picnic tables with grills, a playground and a restroom. Park hours are from 8:00 AM to dark.
LIVINGSTON MANOR COVERED BRIDGE
The Livingston Manor Covered Bridge was built in 1860 and was restored in 1984. The park is owned and operated by Sullivan County and is located in the Town of Rockland, within a few short miles from downtown Livingston Manor. The bridge is 103 feet long and spans Willowemoc Creek, where fishing is permitted. Picnic areas, group picnic pavilion (fee), and portable toilet facilities are available.
Located on Dr. Duggan Road in the Town of Bethel, Lake Superior State Park does not offer formal hiking trails, but features a beach with lifeguards, boat rentals and launches (no gas motors), children’s playground, picnic tables with grills. Picnic pavilions are also available to rent for events. There is a full service bathhouse, first aid station, and vending machines. There is a per person fee for admission during the summer season. Large game hunting is allowed during hunting season.
Extending from Phillipsport to Wurtsboro, this trail has been built on the former D&H Canal towpath. It is approximately 3.5 miles long and is perfect for hiking, biking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. No motorized vehicles are allowed. The D&H Canal Museum at Lock 50 is located on Bova Road in Philliipsport. This site includes a small museum, and a large interpretive area of a dry dock, waste weir and canal lock.
NYSDEC Campgrounds
This area of the Beaverkill is part of the campground, and accessible from a pay for camping parking area. Creek access is allowed. Check the NYS DEC map of the Beaverkill Campground.
Beaverkill Campground is located on the famous Beaverkill trout fishing stream, which flows through the entire developed length of the site, roughly east to west. A historic covered bridge, originally constructed in 1865, spans the stream on the town road.
Hours of Operation: The campground opens in mid-May and remains open until Labor Day. The registration booth is open daily 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Source: https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/24455.html
NYSDEC MONGAUP POND CAMPGROUND
The Mongaup Pond Campground surrounds the 120-acre lake, which is the largest in the Catskill Park. It includes picnic areas, boat rentals, fishing areas, and a beach for swimming. Eight of the 163 campsites are handicapped-accessible with accessible showers and a trail to the beach. And of course, it is connected to a network of beautiful wooded trails within the Mongaup Pond Intensive Use Area.
NYSDEC Wildlife Management Areas
NYSDEC BASHAKILL WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
The Bashakill Wildlife Management Area contains the Bashakill D&H Canal and O&W trails. The land was purchased by New York State in the early 1970’s and the NYSDEC installed a permanent dam to create habitat for wood ducks and black ducks. The Bashakill is a Bird Conservation Area. For more information about the Basha Kill, visit the Basha Kill Area Association’s website.
NYSDEC MONGAUP WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
The Mongaup Valley Wildlife Management Area comprises nearly 12,000 acres of land, about half of which are open for public access, so there are anumber of other outdoor recreational opportunities. Mongaup Valley WMA is a Bird Conservation Area. It’s a great place to view eagles, and there are prime fishing opportunities.
The Mongaup Valley WMA also contains the Mongaup Valley Bird Conservation Area and a series of reservoirs (Rio Reservoir, Mongaup Falls Reservoir and Swinging Bridge Reservoir), along with Mongaup River and creeks.
The National Park
National Park Service ROEBLING BRIDGE TOLLHOUSE
The bridge was designed in 1847 by John A. Roebling, who went on to design the Brooklyn Bridge. There is a walking path on the single-lane bridge for pedestrians, and it’s a great place to view nesting eagles all year. For more information, click here to view the NPS Brochure. The Roebling Bridge Tollhouse is located over the Delaware River, within the boundaries of the National Park.
NATIONAL PARK: UPPER DELAWARE SCENIC AND RECREATIONAL RIVER
The Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River is a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System under the stewardship of the National Park Service.
Canoe through rapids and quiet pools as the Delaware winds its way through a valley of swiftly changing scenery or fish amid rolling hills and riverfront villages in one of the finest fishing rivers in the northeastern United States. The clean water of the Delaware, the last major undammed river in the eastern United States, supports a healthy ecosystem and offers tranquility and excitement. The Upper Delaware Council has issued this helpful user’s guide to the resources of the Upper Delaware River.
NATIONAL PARK: “TAKE A HIKE” PROGRAM
Join the National Park Service and the Lets Move Campaign to get outdoors, get great exercise, and earn a free Upper Delaware Hikes patch. Visit the hiking trails located within the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. Even though this is a Sullivan County Trailkeeper website, we have still listed all National Park Take A Hike trails on this website, even though they may be located across the river in Pennsylvania or cross over the Sullivan County border and into Orange County, NY and Delaware County, NY. There locations are noted below. In order to get a badge you must do the following:
- Hike all of the trails listed on the Take a Hike! brochure.
- Record your hikes on the Upper Delaware hikes checklist.
- Return the checklist to any Upper Delaware location to receive your free patch.
- Minisink Battleground Park (Sullivan County Park, located in Barryville, NY)
- Tusten Mtn Trail (located in Tusten, Sullivan County, NY)
- Jensen’s Ledges (located in Long Eddy, Sullivan County, NY-but crosses over into Delaware County, NY)
- Damascas Forest Trail (located across the river in PA)
- Cobey Pond Trail (located across the river in PA)
- Mongaup River Trail (located just over the Sullivan County border in the Town of Deerpark, Orange County, NY)