Sterling Forest State Park
Orange Co.,
New York
Hiking Trails:
Townsend Trail: Orange with Green Stripe
Long Meadow Extension Trail: Green with White Stripe
Total Time: 1:55 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.7 Miles
Pros: Very quiet area, good views
Cons: Return Trail lacks excitement
As Coronavirus continues I am hiking in isolation by myself, in remote areas. This is not a popular hiking area, and it was also raining in the morning and in the afternoon, so people were not out hiking. I had a unique window of opportunity to hike between the morning and afternoon rains, but it was gray and damp.
Nevertheless, this is a very good hike and highly recommended. It's got two great views and is very quiet and peaceful. I parked at the parking area off Clinton Road directly off Route 17A, and took the Townsend Trail up the mountain to the view. I then continued along the trail to the next view, and then descended the mountain on the trail, passing a small but very scenic pond along the way. I took the trail to the end, at the parking area on Orange Turnpike, and walked on the road for a short distance past the Southfields furnace, and to the Long Meadow Extension Trail. This trail is a double-width path, and is mostly unremarkable. It also functions as a bike path, and can be walked on relatively quickly. It was very wet and muddy from all the rain. I took this trail to the end and and then back to my car.
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-691181E2SZA/XrS7XnR84QI/AAAAAAADWcI/R49woSE-TBcVBTwexhPRGWvnKhzfl6YSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/2020-04-26-Sterling-Forest-Townsend-Long-Meadow-Extension-Loop.jpg) |
Map of the Route |
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NDTVO9oBHys/XrS7XjHdkmI/AAAAAAADWcM/rhNUIbon84M6c8PA8pX_Jj_gZsDCS-seACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/collectors-edge-tucson-mineral-show-01.jpg) |
Confluence of the Townsend and Long Meadow Extension Trails |
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dtZ06dyXp3Y/XrS7XoqRaNI/AAAAAAADWcE/rHgNW9NYBO4JT5Sys21fRZIsZSXERq_nACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/collectors-edge-tucson-mineral-show-02.jpg) |
Approaching the View on a Large Rock Face |
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B9mR8NKnESU/XrS7YbgsdrI/AAAAAAADWcQ/5FR3JXTiHDY8cusTIekIS4kaIpK5BXcaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/collectors-edge-tucson-mineral-show-03.jpg) |
Rock Cairn Approaching the View |
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9eUvbT5K0BA/XrS7YbZZYVI/AAAAAAADWcU/uQG4sKlgw-I40zMikWsPLJcwLGRWk_ZpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/collectors-edge-tucson-mineral-show-04.jpg) |
View from the Townsend Trail, Facing East |
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NbGbGKOJP1s/XrS7YuN_AmI/AAAAAAADWcY/AkHYgmPfS6IMuhyy7VKrvrekmh8s8NenwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/collectors-edge-tucson-mineral-show-05.jpg) |
View of Route 17A from the View |
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ccpaUVKRX7g/XrS7ZNF8IZI/AAAAAAADWcc/VuIvgdSt7QswOucq1_1WOPnwSyd5I2GJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/collectors-edge-tucson-mineral-show-06.jpg) |
Indian Kill Reservoir from the Summit View |
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ipKSpKYNVbU/XrS7ZmMoq2I/AAAAAAADWcg/v5HZwxTATDoVUJv-MgKf71KFuUzOUeimACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/collectors-edge-tucson-mineral-show-07.jpg) |
At the View Facing North |
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qMsoMJZFdM4/XrS7aObZ9-I/AAAAAAADWck/uKqWwY_Ls44TVTL6uncf8UCD3tYk9EwBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/collectors-edge-tucson-mineral-show-08.jpg) |
Large Bedrock Face Approaching the Next View |
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uZ9Pl9U7PJs/XrS7ae84F-I/AAAAAAADWco/YRx1PDSTwHE3nWvDUZ65e5W4tQQIT4HXQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/collectors-edge-tucson-mineral-show-09.jpg) |
View Facing East |
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PvRUYqk2TlI/XrS7a3NR1sI/AAAAAAADWcs/ooUrFtB0gzMweMCEGnqOp92gbUmE90FhACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/collectors-edge-tucson-mineral-show-10.jpg) |
The Same View, Zoomed In |
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VSYYmgw_-No/XrS7bRJ5LdI/AAAAAAADWcw/0xdcGsREH8wv--kRw9DnFPsNzjhdITN4wCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/collectors-edge-tucson-mineral-show-11.jpg) |
View Facing South |
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kcT28Uw080w/XrS7blcWcmI/AAAAAAADWc0/QY1Wl1pgAggj6qtJ4SFIHiy42ftYHMEmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/collectors-edge-tucson-mineral-show-12.jpg) |
Small Pond Descending the Mountain on the Townsend Trail |
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1HUg2x_gfoQ/XrS7cQc4xWI/AAAAAAADWc8/m1En7Ai-HbsVSdUGaMUsoc0iWwPdnIUmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/collectors-edge-tucson-mineral-show-13.jpg) |
Water Cascading Down the Dam of the Small Pond |
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t0feE5lBg7M/XrS7c3rE9gI/AAAAAAADWc4/EBptm0al6fYJh3pZglME59alQ0PeCye-QCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/collectors-edge-tucson-mineral-show-14.jpg) |
Southfields Furnace at the End of the Townsend Trail |
No comments:
Post a Comment