Trail Surface: The trail surface consists of stones and dirt with a few grassy areas. There are a few tree roots. The trail can be wet and muddy in places.
Hike Description: Start the hike by walking over the bridge just passed the trail register box and up the hill on the snowmobile and hiking trail. The first part of the trail is a short ascent. The trail levels off at the top of the hill and after about a mile, turn right and walk down to the pond on an unmarked but obvious path. This is the nicest view of the pond that is right on the trail. When you are done, walk back up to the main trail and turn left. Retrace your steps to the car enjoying the long downhill!
Moderate: Long Pond Short Loop – 3.5 mi

Trailhead GPS: Coordinates N41.9338 W74.6496
Getting There: From the east exit State Route 17 at Exit 96W and turn left on DeBruce Road near the caboose. From the west exit State Route 17 at Exit 96E and turn right on White Roe Lake Road. Drive to the T intersection and turn left on Old Rt 17. Turn left at the next intersection onto DeBruce Road. Drive under State Route 17 to the caboose. From the caboose drive 10.1 miles to Flugertown Road on the left. Turn left on Flugertown Road and stay left as you drive .85 miles to the parking area on the right.

Difficulty: This hike is rated MODERATE because it is almost 4 miles long and has an initial ascent up a short hill. The return trip is on roads. There may be wet or muddy areas along the way.

Trail Surface: The trail surface consists of stones and dirt with a few grassy areas. There are a few tree roots. The return trip is on local roads. The trail can be wet and muddy in places.

Hike Description: Start the hike by walking over the bridge and up the hill on the snowmobile and hiking trail. The first part of the trail is a short ascent. After about a mile, turn right and walk down to the pond. This is the nicest view of the pond that is right on the trail. Another .25 miles will bring you to a T trail junction. Turn left and walk north toward the road. The trail descends almost 200 feet along the way. Descend to the bridges across the streams and follow one of the paths out to Flugertown Road. During the winter the road will be covered in ice and snow. In the other seasons it is a dirt and gravel road with a few pullouts to park cars. Turn left to start the loop back to the parking area. Since the road is lightly traveled it is almost like walking on a nice flat trail but watch out for the occasional car. The walk back along the road is a little more than 1.5 miles and goes very quickly.

Trailhead GPS: Coordinates N41.9338 W74.6496

Getting There: From the east exit State Route 17 at Exit 96W and turn left on DeBruce Road near the caboose. From the west exit State Route 17 at Exit 96E and turn right on White Roe Lake Road. Drive to the T intersection and turn left on Old Rt 17. Turn left at the next intersection onto DeBruce Road. Drive under State Route 17 to the caboose. From the caboose drive 10.1 miles to Flugertown Road on the left. Turn left on Flugertown Road and stay left as you drive .85 miles to the parking area on the right.

Difficulty: This hike is rated STRENUOUS because it is 6 miles long and has an initial uphill section and a few uphill along the way. There may be wet or muddy areas on the trail.

Trail Surface: The trail surface consists of stones and dirt with a few grassy areas. There are a few tree roots. The return trip is on local roads. The trail can be wet and muddy in places.

Hike Description: Start the hike by walking over the bridge and up the hill on the snowmobile and hiking trail. The first part of the trail is a short ascent. After about a mile, turn right and walk down to the pond. This is the nicest view of the pond that is right on the trail. Another .25 miles will bring you to a T trail junction. Turn right on the red blazed Long Pond-Beaverkill Ridge Trail and follow the red blazes. At 1.85 miles a spur trail to the lean-to appears on the right. Continue on the main trail until it intersects Basily Road at 2.85 miles. Turn left on Basily Road and continue to follow the road from this point on. There will be no more trail blazes as the route follows local roads. At 3.4 miles the road crosses a small stream which is associated with a beaver pond and marshy area. A local hunting camp owns this land but they have given permission for hikers to cross their property. Be sure to walk on the road and head for the bridge over Willowemoc Creek. Just after crossing the bridge the road makes a sharp left. Continue to follow the road which at some point changes names from Basily Road to Flugertown Road. At 4.4 miles the Long Pond-Beaverkill Ridge Trail crosses the road. Continue on the dirt and gravel road to 5.5 miles where the road becomes paved. Walk another .5 miles down the road to the parking area on the left.

Trailhead GPS: Coordinates N41.9338 W74.6496

Getting There: From the east exit State Route 17 at Exit 96W and turn left on DeBruce Road near the caboose. From the west exit State Route 17 at Exit 96E and turn right on White Roe Lake Road. Drive to the T intersection and turn left on Old Rt 17. Turn left at the next intersection onto DeBruce Road. Drive under State Route 17 to the caboose. From the caboose drive 10.1 miles to Flugertown Road on the left. Turn left on Flugertown Road and stay left as you drive .85 miles to the parking area on the right.

Difficulty: This hike is rated MODERATE because it is almost 4 miles long and has an initial ascent up a short hill. The return trip is on roads. There may be wet or muddy areas along the way.

Trail Surface: The trail surface consists of stones and dirt with a few grassy areas. There are a few tree roots. The return trip is on local roads. The trail can be wet and muddy in places.

Hike Description: Start the hike by walking over the bridge and up the hill on the snowmobile and hiking trail. The first part of the trail is a short ascent. After about a mile, turn right and walk down to the pond. This is the nicest view of the pond that is right on the trail. Another .25 miles will bring you to a T trail junction. Turn left and walk north toward the road. The trail descends almost 200 feet along the way. Descend to the bridges across the streams and follow one of the paths out to Flugertown Road. During the winter the road will be covered in ice and snow. In the other seasons it is a dirt and gravel road with a few pullouts to park cars. Turn left to start the loop back to the parking area. Since the road is lightly traveled it is almost like walking on a nice flat trail but watch out for the occasional car. The walk back along the road is a little more than 1.5 miles and goes very quickly.

DELAWARE RIVER REGION TRAIL

The 57-acre Minisink Battleground Park is located on the site of a Revolutionary War battle, the only one fought in the Upper Delaware Region. Look for the Woodland Trail, Battleground Trail, and the Old Quarry Trail. Picnic areas and an Interpretive Center with informative displays are available to visitors and also has trail maps available. The Woodland Trail features wetlands and a wide variety of wildlife. Pick up the brochure from the Interpretive Center before the start of the trail and follow the guide to identify different types of trees as you walk along. This is a great easy hike for the family. Make a day of it and bring your lunch to eat under the pavilion.

Upper Delaware Take a Hike! Trail

The Old Quarry/Rockshelter Trail is actually two trails. The Old Quarry Trail comes first, with five interpretive stops identified by blue posts. The Rockshelter Trail continues from it, with eight interpretive stops, also identified by blue posts. Be sure to pick up the brochure at the Interpretive Center and follow along to learn about the trees, natural rock formations, an old quarry, and historic roads and stone walls found along the way. Eventually you will come to the Minisink Spring Rockshelter, which was used as much as 4,000 years ago by prehistoric Indians.

The Minisink Battleground Trail features wooded pathways through the historic battleground. Pick up the brochure in the Interpretive center to learn the story of the Battle of Minisink on July 20, 1779 and follow along through the major points of the battle as you hike through this historic park.

The Woodland Trail is a short trail that loops around to the monument.

There is no admission fee. Park hours are between 8AM until dark. All County parks are open from mid-May until mid-October. Phone: (845)-807-0287

To learn more visit these websites: https://minisink.org or https://co.sullivan.ny.us or www.upperdelawarescenicbyway.org

DIRECTIONS: Located off Scenic ByWay Rt 97 on Co Rd 168 in Barryville, NY. When coming from Barryville, follow Rt 97 towards the Roebling Bridge for about 4 miles then turn right onto Co Rd 168. Follow Co Rd 168 for about 1/2 mile. The entrance for the park will be on your left-follow to get to the parking lot.

CATSKILLS REGION TRAILS

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.

For additional trails in this area, check out the Willowemoc Wild Forest Trail System.

Directions: From Route 17 West: Take Exit 96 at Livingston Manor; turn left on County Road 81 & 82. Drive 6 miles to DeBruce, turn left onto Mongaup Road, and drive 3 miles to the campground. Where the road splits stay right on Mongaup Road. From Route 17 East: Take Exit 96 and turn right at the bottom of ramp, then left at the stop sign. Turn left on DeBruce Road/County Rte 81. Drive 6 miles to DeBruce, turn left onto Mongaup Road, and drive 3 miles to the campground. Where the road splits stay right on Mongaup Road. (See the description of each specific hike for directions to the trailhead parking.)

Mongaup Pond Campground is operated by the NYSDEC.

For more info: https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/24484.html

The Mongaup Valley Wildlife Management Area comprises nearly 13,000 acres of land, about half of which are open for public access, so there are a number of other outdoor recreational opportunities. It’s a great place to view eagles, and there are prime fishing opportunities. Camping is prohibited here, and watch out for the restricted areas through the winter which are set up to protect wintering bald eagles.

Be sure to check out the Rules and Regulations that are posted at eagle viewing sites. 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. As noted on the NYSDEC map, there are a series of boat launch ramps, car top boat launches, parking areas and eagle viewing sites.

There are no marked hiking trails located within this State Land, but check out the NYS DEC map of the Mongaup Wildlife Management Area.

The Rio Reservoir is a great place to fish as well as an excellent place to spot bald eagles. Gas motors are not allowed here, and ice fishing is prohibited because of the bald eagle population in the winter.

Rio has no marked trails. NOTE: This is a strenuous, nonmarked hike through the woods that may be slippery; attempt at the hiker’s own risk.The middle of Rio is bisected by private property. As a consequence, most trails end at the reservoir or cross private property. When the gas-line went through the Rio, the NYSDEC had the gas company build a parking lot with a NYSDEC billboard\kiosk. The parking lot is just past the Eagle Viewing Blind on Mongaup Falls Reservoir, about a mile up on the left. As of yet there are no trails. Game trails can be followed at the hiker’s own risk.

About 100 yards from the parking lot is a stream bed. Turn left at the stream: It can be followed through an incredibly beautiful ravine all the way to a magnificent waterfall (the Mongaup Falls).

DIRECTIONS: Mongaup Valley WMA is located in the towns of Forestburgh and Lumberland (also located in the Town of Deerpark, Orange County, NY). The Main Eagle Viewing Pavilion is located on Forestburgh Rd. Glen Spey/Forestburgh, NY. However, for additional parking areas check out the map provided by the NYSDEC. From Monticello, head onto State Route 42 South heading towards Forestburgh for about 9 miles. Then turn right onto County Rd 43/Forestburgh Rd (There is a small white building on the left hand side of the turn) Drive down this road (you will pass the Forestburgh Playhouse). Drive for approximately 2 miles. You will then come across a few different access points.