Trail Conditions Forum

Mud? Ice? High water at stream crossings?

This is the place to let the trail community know what you encountered, where and when (be as precise as possible). Suggestion: Make the trail or park name your subject.

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walkwoman's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/26/2013 - 11:22am
According to a park's spokesperson contacted by phone yesterday and contrary to alerts on NY State Parks' website (as well as here on NY/NJ TCF)...the following trail closures are no longer in effect:  
  • Lower Awosting Carriage Road
  • Awosting Falls Carriage Road: closed at the waterfall
  • Jenny Lane Footpath: closed at the Blueberry Run Footpath intersection    Rainbow Falls is accessable again via reopened Rainbow Falls Trail as well.   The only active advisory still noteworthy is that all bridges over the Peters Kill are still out and crossings are only recommended at times of low water.  Suggestions in that regard were to wait 2-3 days after any rainfall and (presumably) any Peters Kill crossings would/could be fordable. Doing this hike this weekend and hope the informtion given was correct.  We'll see.   
walkwoman's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/29/2013 - 11:12am
Did the TC's 10mi Minnewaska hike (plus additional 1.8mi. by starting from Jenny Lane Parking lot instead of parking inside park.  Returned to JL lot via woods road paralleling RT.44/55.  Out & return require crossing unbridged Sanders Kill both times. "Out" no problem on strategic rocks. Return doable in low water on rocks; higher water remove shoes or bring plastic covers.)     ALL previously noted trails are now opened including Rainbow Falls trail albeit a bit rough in spots. Fly Brook bridge replacement near complete and quite crossable.  Jenny Lane trail opened all the way to Rainbow Falls Trail. Notes: 
  • Jenny Lane blazes are now light blue. JL 'street sign' vandalized & missing. Keep watch for lot on left or rt 3/4mi from park entrance depending which way you're headed on Rt.44/55.  Lot only holds about 15 cars. Get there early!
  • Rainbow Falls blazes are orange.
  • Big Kudos to Jolly Rovers trail maintainers for putting in over 50 steps up washed out ascent from falls to carriage-road crossing    
Fantastic views & all-round great hike!  (Watchout for incoming hordes of late family park 'strollers' & untrained/unprofessional/rude biker-wannabees around 4:00pm-ish nearer Lake Minnewaska on weekends.)  
jbeard's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/22/2013 - 5:41pm
I did most of the Indian Hill loop today, starting from the parking lot off Orange Turnpike in Sterling Forest.  Using the yellow trail provides a nice, short loop hike with views of Route 17 and the NY Thruway on the eastern leg of the loop.  I started going north on the western leg, and coming back south on the other side, I cut it short by taking a shortcut I have used before.  Near where the red and yellow trails merge, you can walk west past a pond, follow some very broad wood roads past some abandoned buildings, and end up back on the western leg of the yellow trail, not far from the start.  Today I discovered this shortcut is now blazed with bright green plastic blazes with a yellow songbird in the center of each blaze.  Who blazed this trail?  Is it, or will it be on TC maps?  Jonathan
Daniel Chazin's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/22/2013 - 10:07pm
This trail was blazed within the past year.  It is called the Warbler Trail.  I guess that warblers are yellow.  It was blazed with the permission of the Park, either by the Park staff or by the Trail Conference.  It will be included on the next edition of the Sterlng Forest map.
banjolady's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/06/2013 - 11:15pm
as per the sign on rt 106 close to 17--- rt 106 from kanawauke circle west to 17 will be closed on the following dates apr 15-may 10 june 10-july 3 aug 5-sept 6 i spoke to the park police fri apr 5  to clarify where these closings were on 106. the officer said they were only west of kanawauke circle, the east part of 106 will stay open. he said also arden valley rd will be open soon but it was not open as of fri apr 5.  the officer said that the entire length of 106 from 17 to kanawauke will be closed for those time periods and that they would reopen the road for various summer holidays.
dhauser77's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/29/2013 - 6:50pm
Arden Valley Road is still close. I drove by today.
PVPatrick's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/07/2013 - 9:25am
Did they give an explanation for the closings Banjo?
Daniel Chazin's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/07/2013 - 11:02am
I will attempt to find out more.  However, I suspect that this is related to the agreement between PIPC and Orange County in which PIPC has agreed to assume responsibility for this road.  This is all conditional on Orange County first taking necessary steps to repair the road and hand it over to PIPC in top notch condition.  I presume that Orange County will be doing work on the road during the closure periods so that they can fulfill their part of the agreement and have PIPC take over maintenance of the road. It should be noted that it appears that not all of this section of Route 106 will be closed during these periods.  The latest information is that only portions of this section will be closed, as follows: Thruway to Wabenaki Road will be closed between April 15 and May 10. Wabenaki Road to Camp K-20 will be closed between June 10 and July 5 Camp K-20 to Little Long Pond will be closed between August 5 and September 6
banjolady's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/24/2013 - 9:34pm
last week 106 was open all the way from 17 to 7 lakes. today 4/24  there are signs from 7 lakes that road is closed, local traffic only.  we were able to hike out of the RD lot with no problem. some folks had parked at the WB lot as well, so far so good for the 106 parking lots.. no guarantees though--it could certainly be all closed up in the next few days, or it could remain open...if u go there its good to have plan B
smithg2010's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/07/2013 - 5:40pm
www.thendaramountainclub.org/2013/03/harriman-park-road-closures/
dzomick's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/04/2013 - 11:08am
Looking to go for a nice long hike this sunday. The book 60 hikes within 60 miles brings a 15+ miler combining Wawayanda and Bearfort Mt. it lists it as a "9 hour" hike. So I have two questions: 1) anyone been there recently and knows if the trail conditions are decent since sandy; 2) anyone done this hike or something similar and can confirm if the 9 hour time estimate is realistic or not? Thanks in advance David
WawayandaEast's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/05/2013 - 9:58am
Many of the blowdowns have been removed. A few still remain, but nothing major. I dont have this book, but i googled it and saw the map of the hike. It seems to me too long. My suggestion would be to pick a side of the park and stick with it. The western side of the park(divided by clinton road) is much easier hiking. The eastern side is more rugged. One can easily spend the whole day exploring either side. Bring along our North Jersey Map and enjoy the trip.
Daniel Chazin's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/05/2013 - 12:16pm
I took a quick look at the hike in the book, and I agree with Wawayanda East that the hike is too long, and that one should choose one side of Clinton Road to hike on.   The terrain on each side is completely different.  The hike up to Terrace Pond on the east side of Clinton Road is one of my favorite hikes, but it involves some climbing over rocks.  The hike on the west side is longer and less rugged.  If you want a longer hike, you might want to try the hike west of Clinton Road.
Daniel Chazin's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/04/2013 - 12:08pm
I have not been to the area recently, although I believe that all blowdowns from Sandy have been cleared by now.  However, I am generally familiar with the 60 Hikes within 60 Miles book, and am not particularly impressed with it.  Sometimes, they create very long hikes to "get everything in," and it sounds like this is one of those instances.  My own feeling is that this 15-mile hike is much too long.  When I get a chance, I will check the book and let you know what I think.
dzomick's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/05/2013 - 9:28am
Thanks so much, it seems very long to me and  I don't want to get caught after dark in the park.
Troop201's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/02/2013 - 8:52am
Can anyone tell me as to whether any of the bridges that cross both Pine Meadow Brook and Stony Brook are currently passable.
joerichkus's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/02/2013 - 9:46am
Two of the bridges have been repaired and replaced and two are still out.  The ones that have been replaced are the Pine Meadow Trail Bridge (Red Dot Trail)about midway between the Cascades of Slid and Ga-Nus-Quah Rock,  and the bridge just below the Cascades of Slid that crosses Pine Meadow Brook and joins the Stoney Brook Trail (Yellow).  The Big bridge that crosses Stoney Brook via the Kakiat Trail is still out as is the HTS Trail (Orange) bridge that crosses the Cascades of Slid.  I have found ways across both places at different times, but that varies along with water level and can be a bit dangerous.
banjolady's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/01/2013 - 7:26pm
i  saw a sign today on 106 near 17 that said something about the road closing between apr 15-may 10 but i didnt read the whole sign--just caught a glimpse--anyone know anything about this??
neil's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/27/2013 - 10:36am
Has anyone been to Abram Hewitt lately and know how much if any snow there is and especially how wet and how high the stream crossings are on the orange quail/jeremy glick trail?
WawayandaEast's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/29/2013 - 10:37am
Snow should not be an issue. Some ice in shady spots along the ernest walter trail a possibility. Bearfort ridge, ernest walter, and state line were cleared of 55 blowdowns recently. I did not get a chance to walk Quail trail yet. ATVs have been doing a number on the trail here in this area, and many muddy spots exist because of it.. Streams might be slightly high, as last i was up there they were still frozen.