SHAWANGUNK REGION TRAIL

 

 

 

Check out the links below for more detailed trail info

The Neversink River Unique Area, also called the Neversink Gorge, is 4,881 acres of beautiful land. It is a great place for hiking and fishing, but camping is not allowed.

There are a number of access points and trails. However, only the Katrina Falls Rd Access and the Cold Spring Road Access points have maintained parking and maintained trails. The other access points are difficult to get to. Also, there currently is no way to hike from the Katrina Falls Rd Access trails to the Cold Spring Rd Access Trails (and vice versa)

For more information on the Neversink Unique Area, check out the NY-NJ Trail Conference Map.

DIRECTIONS: To the Katrina Falls Rd. Parking Area: Located at the end of the Katrina Falls Rd (a dead end road) in the hamlet of Rock Hill (located within the Town of Thompson). From NYS Rt 17 East, get off exit 109 and make a right onto Rock Hill Drive, then make your first right onto Katrina Falls Road (Dutch’s Tavern is on the right hand side). Follow Katrina Falls Rd all the way until the end. The parking area will be on your left. Park and then walk down the gravel road to reach the sign in sheet and trails.

From NYS Rt. 17 West, get off exit 109 and make a right onto Katrina Falls Road. Follow Katrina Falls Rd all the way until the end. The parking area will be on your left. Park and then walk down the gravel road to reach the sign in sheet and trails.

DIRECTIONS: To the Cold Spring Rd. Parking Area: Located on Cold Spring Rd in the Town of Forestburgh. From NYS Rt 17 East or West, get off Exit 105 (for Monticello) which will bring you onto Rt 42. Follow Rt 42 and make a Right at the traffic light at the end of the road. After making the right you will continue into Rt 42. Make a left at the 2nd Traffic light onto St John’s Street. After app. 1/2 mile, St John’s Street turns into Cold Spring Rd. Follow Cold Spring Rd. for app. 7 miles. The parking area will be located on your left hand side.

 

 

 

SHAWANGUNK REGION TRAIL

The Painter Hill Multiple Use Area is very overgrown and unmaintained. The markings on trees are not visible.

Directions: From Route 17, take exit 113 for Route 209; turn right onto Route 209 north; drive 8.6 miles and turn left (0.1 of a mile into Ulster County and just before the sign for the Town of Warwasing) and then a quick right onto Phillipsport Road; drive 3.6 miles (keep going straight from Phillipsport Road onto Mountaindale Road) and turn right onto Aldrich Road; drive 1.5 miles and turn right onto Painter Hill Road; drive less than one block and turn left into the parking area. (If on Mountaindale Road you reach Tomsco Falls, with the falls on the left, you have gone way too far.) Source: https://nynjctbotany.org/whudson/painterhill.html

 
Trailhead GPS: Coordinates N41.9296 W74.5070

Getting There: Drive to the Sullivan County hamlet of Grahamsville, NY. Turn north onto Rt. 55A in near the Rondout Reservoir. After about 2.25 miles, look for Sugarloaf Rd. on your left. Turn left on Sugarloaf Road and continue for about 4 miles. Watch for Red Hill Road. on the left. Make this sharp turn and Dinch or Coons Rd. will be on your right almost immediately after the turn. Continue on this road for a little over one mile. The road is not paved. It is a dead end and becomes rough enough that an SUV or a pickup might be a good idea. Watch for a short access road on the left to the small parking area.

Difficulty: This hike is rated MODERATE even though it is only 2.6 miles because there is an elevation gain of 840 feet. The trail is steep in places and on the final climb to the summit averages a 20% grade!

Trail Surface: The trail consists of areas of mostly packed dirt and stones of various sizes. The trail can be rough and eroded in places. There are tree roots to walk around and larger rocks to step over.

Hike Description: Out and Back
Start your hike by walking behind the kiosk and getting on the yellow blazed trail. After about .55 miles the slope increases slightly and increases again at .75 miles. After about 1.3 miles, you are at the summit. There isn’t much to see from clearing at the summit unless you climb the fire tower which has some nice views. After taking in the views and visiting the small observer’s cabin, reverse your route back to the parking area.

Trailhead GPS: Coordinates 41.7639° N, 74.6689° W

Distance: The distance of this trail is 0.3 miles

Getting There:

The SUNY Sullivan campus trail network is located at 112 College Road, Loch Sheldrake, NY.

From State Route 17, take Exit 100 in Liberty. Go east 3.4 miles on Route 52, and turn right at the college sign. Follow College Road to Parking Lot 2.

Difficulty: This is a relatively easy walk (wheelchair accessible).

Trail Surface: Smooth and even asphalt surface.

Hike Description: The Athletics Trail connects the Field House/Gym to the outdoor basketball and volleyball courts.

Trailhead GPS: Coordinates 41.7639° N, 74.6689° W

Distance: The distance of this trail is 2.0 miles

Getting There: 

The SUNY Sullivan campus trail network is located at 112 College Road, Loch Sheldrake, NY.

From State Route 17, take Exit 100 in Liberty. Go east 3.4 miles on Route 52, turn right at the college sign. Follow College Road to Parking Lot 1 on your right.

Difficulty: This is an easy walk (wheelchair accessible).

Trail Surface: Smooth and even asphalt surface.

Hike Description:

This “trail” is actually a walk (or bike) on the paved road in front of the campus.  To complete the full 2 miles, walk toward the flagpole and bus stop, around the “lightbulb,” to the Liberty exit, out to Route 52, and back around the rest of the “lightbulb” to the flagpole.

Trailhead GPS: Coordinates 41.7639° N, 74.6689° W

Distance: The distance of this trail is 0.4 miles

Getting There: 

The SUNY Sullivan campus trail network is located at 112 College Road, Loch Sheldrake, NY.

From State Route 17, take Exit 100 in Liberty. Go east 3.4 miles on Route 52, and turn right at the college sign. Follow College Road to Parking Lot 1 on your right.

Difficulty: This is an easy trail (wheelchair accessible) along an asphalt road. It connects the different trails, parking lots, and points of interest.

Trail Surface: Smooth and even asphalt surface.

Hike Description: The trail is clearly visible and starts at the end of Parking Lot 1 at the metal gate. The single-lane road around the back of the buildings is the trail. On the trail, you will pass by the apiary, the wind turbine, Hope Farm, the Community Garden, the geothermal pump house and well field, and the two entrances to the Solar Stroll. As a helpful note for environmental studies projects or anyone consulting a Ghostwriter Facharbeit, it leads to Parking Lot 2 on the Athletics Trail.