Sterling Ridge Trail from Route 17A

Sterling Ridge Trail from Route 17A
Sterling Forest State Park
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Sterling Ridge Trail: (Blue blaze)
Highlands Trail Aqua blaze)

Total Time: 1:40 min
Estimated Distance: 2.15 miles
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Level of Recommendation: Not recommended
Points of Interest: Sterling Lake View
Pros: Quiet area
Cons: Too many power lines and lack of significant good views

Google Map of Parking:


I want to start covering more areas in Sterling Forest. I parked on Route 17A on the high ridge between the Tuxedo Ridge Ski Area and the village of Greenwood Lake. There is a small parking area off the road, where the trails can be accessed. This parking area is for both hikers and hunters in the winter. Throughout the winter (Oct 1 - Feb 28) this area is open to hunters, so it is very important not to hike in this area without wearing highly visible clothing.

I took the Sterling Ridge Trail where it is combined with the Highlands Trail, and took its south. It goes along the side of the a nice ridge, and in some parts  there is a 100 foot cliff face on the east part. I continued along the trail past the power lines until the first view on the map. This view shows some of the ridges in the distance, and Sterling Lake is visible through the trees. The rocky exposure is scenic but the actual view is not so impressive. I was thinking of bushwacking down the valley to the Sterling Valley Loop trail and taking that trail back up to the parking area, however due to the active hunting season I reasoned that I’d rather play it safe. I therefore returned back to my car back along the same route.

Map of the Route.
Sterling Forest Maps

Sign at the Parking Area Warning Hikers of Hunting Season

Beginning of the Trail

Plaque at the Trail Intersection at the Trailhead

Interesting Scenery Along the Sterling Ridge Trail. Facing East.

Sterling Lake Behind the Trees from the Sterling Ridge Trail

Nice View by the Power Lines Gap, though Somewhat Marred by the Power Lines.
The Body of the Water is the Northern Finger of Sterling Lake.

Another View from the Power Lines

Approaching the Viewpoint with the Large Rock

At the View on top of a Large Rock

At the View, Where I Turned Around

At the View, Facing Northeast

Sterling Ridge and Fire Tower

Sterling Forest State Park,
Orange County, NY

Trails:
Sterling Mine Trail: Yellow Blaze
Sterling Lake Loop: Blue Blaze
Fire Tower Connector Trail: Red Blaze
Fire Tower Trail: Red Blaze
Sterling Ridge Trail: Blue Blaze
Sterling Valley Loop Trail: Yellow Blaze

Total Time: 3:30 min
Estimated Distance: 6.2 Miles

Hiking Partner:
Yehuda Koblick


I have been to the Sterling Ridge Fire Tower several times but the Fire Tower is always closed off. I think this was my first time there during the summer when it was open. We parked on Sterling Lake road right by the Sterling mine and took the short Sterling Mine Trail through the mine dumps and shafts and abandoned buildings. From there we took the Fire Tower Connector Trai trail until the Fire Tower Trail, all the way up the Fire Tower. This is a very easy two lane trail, and although the climb is good it is not steep at all and gradual.

We climbed up the Fire Tower, took some pictures, and then continued along the Sterling Ridge Trail north past some views and the Power Lines, and a little further by a stream we bushwacked down near the stream to the Sterling Valley Loop Trail. From there continued along until the lake and then continued along the road back to the car.

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Map of the Route

Pit in the Sterling Mine

Ruin in the Sterling Mine

Sterling Lake from the Southern Shore

Another view from the Southern Shore

The top of the Fire Tower.
Looking north at Sterling Lake.

Sterling Lake from the Fire Tower.
Looking North.

Yehuda on the top of the Fire Tower.

Looking west from the Fire Tower.

Me Looking Down from the Fire Tower.

A Giant Fly we saw at the Fire Tower.
This fly was the size of a large bumble bee.

Sterling Lake from the view on the Sterling Ridge Trail.
Facing north.

Me at the above view.

Big Beech Mountain

Long Pond Ironworks State Park/
Wanaque Wildlife Management Area/
Tranquility Ridge (a Passaic County Park),
Passaic County,
New Jersey

Total Time: 3:00 Hours
Total Distance: 5 Miles

Trails:Sterling Ridge Trail (Blue Blaze)

This was an absolutely brutal hike. Not because of the terrain, but because of the conditions. There had been a huge snowstorm a week before, with about 2 feet of snow, and the warm weather in the week following the snowstorm has melted much of the snow. I had thought that most of the snow had melted even on top of the mountain, but I was very wrong. There were deep wet patches and I was totally unprepared in dress, but I just kept going.

I parked at the Long Pond Ironworks site by the Intersection of Greenwood Lake Turnpike and Awosting Road, and started hiking at the southern terminus of the Sterling Ridge Trail, heading north past the abandoned iron works sites. The iron works are remnants from the revolutionary war age where this area was heavily mined for its rich iron ore. I passed many foundations and historic markers at the beginning of the trail. Continued heading up the trail, and finally ascended Big Beech Mountain. This was the most strenuous part, and proved almost impossible in the deep wet slushy snow and worn out low boots. But I was determined and made it up the mountain. There is a false summit - once you reach the lower viewpoint which has nice views to the south, you realize the mountain keeps on climbing ahead of you. Continued along to the main viewpoint, which provided excellent views to the south, west (including Greenwood Lake), and the east.

I wanted to continue a bit forward and take a lollipop loop back via the Jennings Hollow Trail, but was too wet and cold to do so. I headed back the same way following my own bootmarks and came home to a warm chicken soup.

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Map of the Route

Historical Marker by the abandoned Company Store

The company store ruins

Bridge crossing the Wanaque River.

This river drains Greenwood Lake

and enters the Monksville Reservoir right here.

Notice the confluence of trail markers.

Ascending the lower viewpoint

on Big Beech Mountain.

This part was almost impossible.

Magnificent view of the Wyanokies

Facing south towards Monksville Reservoir

Zoomed in to Wyankoie High Point

Facing east from near the summit

to the Ramapo Mountains.

Fantastic Tree at the top lookout

From the lookout facing Southwest

Facing west towards Greenwood Lake

Sterling Mine and Fire Tower

Sterling Forest State Park,
Orange County
New York

Trails:
Sterling Lake Trail - Blue Blaze
Bare Rock Trail - Orange Blaze
Sterling Ridge Trail - Blue Blaze
Fire Tower Trail - Red Blaze
Fire Tower Connector Trail - Blue Blaze
Iron Mine Trail - Yellow Blaze

Total Time: 2 Hours
Total Distance: 4 Miles

Started at the Sterling Lake Visitor Center, and took the Sterling Lake Trail alongside the southern edge of the lake to the Bare Rock Trail, where I started asceding the mountain. Climbed up to the intersection of the Sterling Ridge Trail, and went south along the Sterling Ridge Trail until the Fire Tower. The Fire Tower was closed for the season - it is only open during the summer, usually only on nice days. There is a ranger station right next to the tower and a ranger oversees the visitors who climb the tower. I did contemplate jumping the fence that blocks the tower steps, as the people in front of me had just done, but I decided against it. Part of the reason was that the weather was cloudy and foggy anyways, so my view would have been limited.

From the Fire Tower, descended along the Fire Tower Trail, which is actually more like a dirt road, to the Fire Tower Connector Trail, which took me back to the south shore of Sterling Lake and the Sterling Lake Trail. Took a turn off the Sterling Lake Trail to the Iron Mine Trail, which walks through all the ancient workings of the massive Sterling Mine. It walks next to the mine pits and dumps, and goes next to the old abandoned mine buildings. It then goes through to the old Sterling Furnace where the Iron Ore was smelted. From here took the road back to the parking lot to return to my car.

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Map of the route.

Southern shore of Sterling Lake

Sterling Lake with Mountains in background.

Looking north.

Same picture as above zoomed out.

View from the Sterling Ridge Trail.

Looking north toward Sterling Lake.

Approaching the Fire Tower in the distance

in the cloudy haze.

The Fire Tower with the ranger station.

Looking up under the Fire Tower

The Ruins at the Sterling Mine

More Ruins at Sterling Mine.
The further building in the cable hoist.

One of the mine adits.
Entrance is sealed off by a gate.

The Sterling Furnace, where the iron ore was smelted.

Descriptive sign in front of the furnace