Sterling Forest Park, NY
Located in the towns of Monroe, Warwick and Tuxedo, Sterling Forest State Park is the latest illustration of the kind of public-private partnership that has allowed PIPC to accomplish so much in the past 100 years.
In 1998, after 10 years of efforts, a consortium of private land trusts and government agencies was able to purchase more than 15,000 acres in Sterling Forest for $60 million. The land was transferred to PIPC, which, two years later, acquired an additional 1,949 acres, followed in 2002 by 2,490 acres. The Commission also manages 2,000 acres of the forest for the County of Passaic in New Jersey.
The rationale for such a massive investment is simple. Sterling Forest is among the largest contiguous forests in the state. It contains the richest area, species-wise, in New York State: it is home to 62 species of butterflies, as well as endangered timber rattlesnakes, bog turtles, salamanders, and 15 other threatened species. Preserving it from development is also crucial to maintaining water quality for more than 2 million New Jerseyans downstream.
To help disseminate knowledge about Sterling Forest's environment and history, the Commission built the U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg Visitor Center, which officially opened in May, 2003. The new center, overlooking Sterling Lake, features exhibits about the local environment, as well as an auditorium for related presentations.
Seasons/Hours: Open year round - dawn till dusk
Sterling Forest is located at:
116 Old Forge Road
Tuxedo, New York 10987
(845) 351-5907
CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS
Selected Hikes
FEATURES: This loop hike climbs to two panoramic viewpoints.
LENGTH: About 3.8 miles.
DIFFICULTY: Easy to moderate.
TIME: About 2 1/2 hours.
MAP: New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Sterling Forest Trails Map 100.
DOGS: Permitted on leash.
HOW TO GET THERE: Take Route 17 north to the New York State Thruway and take the first exit, Exit 15A (Sloatsburg). Turn left at the bottom of the ramp onto N.Y. Route 17 and continue for 8.6 miles to Orange Turnpike in Southfields. Turn left onto Orange Turnpike for 0.6 mile, then turn left at Hall Drive and go 500 feet to a gravel parking area on the left side of the road.
DESCRIPTION: Head into the woods, following the white-blazed Wildcat Mountain Trail, which immediately crosses a stream on rocks and continues on a woods road, passing stone walls and foundations on both sides of the trail.
In a third of a mile, you'll come to a junction. Here the Wildcat Mountain Trail bears left, and three green-stripe-on-orange blazes mark the start of the Townsend Trail. Bear right and continue on the Townsend Trail, which passes a small body of water — impounded by a stone dam — on the right and continues uphill on a woods road through a valley. Watch carefully for a double blaze, which indicates that the trail turns right, leaving the road to bypass an eroded section. It crosses a stream on rocks and bears left to parallel the stream.
The trail rejoins the road, then again turns right and proceeds on a footpath higher on the hillside, bypassing another eroded section of the road. After rejoining the road once more, the trail reaches the crest of the rise and begins to descend.
Soon you'll come to a junction where a short-cut trail, marked with orange triangles, branches off to the right. Continue on the Townsend Trail, which crosses another stream and reaches a rock ledge, with a view ahead through the trees. Here the trail turns right and, in another 50 feet, it turns right again. At the second right turn, follow an unmarked trail that bears left and comes out on a long rock ledge, with a panoramic view to the southeast over the hills of Sterling Forest and Harriman State Park. Route 17A is visible directly below, with the New York Thruway in the distance.
After taking in the view, return to the marked trail and turn left. The trail now climbs to arrive at another rock ledge, just to the left of the trail, which features a large cairn and offers a view to the southwest over the Indian Kill Reservoir.
From the second viewpoint, the trail climbs to a high point and then descends to reach a junction with a wide gravel road. Turn left on the road, which continues to descend. Although the blazing may be sparse in places (especially at the lower end), the road is easily followed.
After half a mile along the road, you'll come to a T-intersection, where a triple blaze marks the end of the Townsend Trail. Turn right onto another wide gravel road, the route of the Long Meadow Extension Trail, which is marked with white-stripe-on-green blazes (as well as blue markers indicating that the trail is also open to cross-country skiing and mountain biking). Signs point out that the trail follows the route of a gas pipeline.
At first, the road climbs steadily (this section was formerly paved, and you can see the crumbling asphalt). After reaching the highest point, the road becomes grassy and more pleasant. About a mile along the road (a quarter-mile beyond a cable barrier by a hunters' parking area), there is an interesting lichen-covered balanced boulder on the left.
The trail ends at a gate just before reaching Orange Turnpike, where Hall Drive joins from the right. Bear right and continue on paved Hall Drive for 500 feet to the parking area where the hike began.
"Hiking" is provided by Daniel Chazin of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. The trail conference is a volunteer organization that builds and maintains more than 1,700 miles of hiking trails and publishes a library of hiking maps and books, including a map for Sterling Forest Trails ($7.95) and the "New York Walk Book" ($22.95). The Trail Conference's office is at 156 Ramapo Valley Road (Route 202), Mahwah; 201-512-9348; nynjtc.org.
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