More Information
Loop – 3.3 mi
Trailhead GPS: Coordinates N42.0376 W74.7436
Getting There: From the east exit State Route 17 at Exit 96W and turn right on DeBruce Road. Drive to the T intersection and turn right on Old Rt 17 toward Roscoe. Drive 1.3 miles to Beaverkill Road on the right. Exit State Route 17 at Exit 96E and turn right on White Roe Lake Road. Drive to the T intersection and turn right on Old Rt 17. Drive 1.2 miles to Beaverkill Road on the right. Turn right on Beaverkill Road and drive 10.8 miles to Barkaboom Road on the left. Turn left on Barkaboon Road and drive to the access road to Little Pond State Campgrounds on the left. Turn left and drive up the access road to the gatehouse and pay the day use fee. Drive to the parking area near the bathhouses and park there. NOTE: The access road to the campgrounds is closed when the campgrounds is closed. You may park at the bottom of the hill at the start of the access road but this will add almost 2 miles and several nudged feet of elevation gain to your hike.
Difficulty: This hike is rated MODERATE because it is more than 3 miles long and has a continuous climb from the pond to the vista in a field. There is also a steep descent on the return trail.
Trail Surface: The trail surface starts out as flat, smooth gravel until the turn onto the Little Pond Trail. This trail consists of stones and dirt with a few grassy areas and quite a few tree roots. The descent on the Campground Trail is dirt and rocks and is steep in places. The trail can be wet and muddy in some areas.
Hike Description: To start the hike walk from the parking area walk passed the bathrooms at the campsite. Walk on the loop trail on the east side of the lake to the head or inlet end of the lake. The walk is only .5 miles. Turn right on the yellow Little Pond Trail and walk 1.3 miles to an area where the trail opens out into a field with a nice view (vista) of the valley below and the surrounding hills. There is a small pond on the left and the foundation of an old farmhouse on the right. Continue to the junction with the red Touch-Me-Not Trail at 1.7 miles. At the junction with the red Touch-Me-Not Trail turn right and follow the red blazes to for .5 miles to the junction with the blue Campground Trail at 2.15 miles. In this short distance the Touch-Me-Not Trail climbs 280 feet and you will find several interesting passages over and between large rocks. At the trail junction bear right on the blue Campground Trail to return to the parking area. The trail gains a little elevation and then starts to descend. In about .8 miles the trail loses 780 feet averaging an 18% grade. Several areas are much steeper and care should be taken especially if the trail is wet or covered in ice or snow. The trail exits the forest just behind the bathhouses and the parking lot where you left your car. NOTE: This route works equally well in reverse!