HIKING GUIDE 110505 - Homesteadt65.homestead.com/HAG_2011-2012/phoeniciavillage_hikingguide.pdf ·...
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5987 Route 28 Phoenicia, NY 12464 (845) 688-7772 www.phoeniciavillage.com CATSKILLS HIKING GUIDE WOODLAND VALLEY TRAILHEAD/CAMPGROUND Two major trails are available from this trailhead: Wittenberg-Cornell-Slide Trail (also known as the Burrow Range Trail) and the Phoenicia-East Branch Trailhead, which links up with the Giant Ledge trails. Take a right onto Route 28, and take your first quick right onto Woodland Valley Road. Cross the Esopus Creek and take a right at the “T”. Bear left at the fork and continue on Woodland Valley Road 5.8 miles to the campground and trailhead. Day-use parking fee applies. Wittenberg-Cornell-Slide Trail (or Burroughs Range Trail) Phoenicia 9.75 miles (one-way) red markers 3,620-foot elevation gain Difficulty: challenging to Terrace Mountain Trail: 2.6 miles, 1 hr 30 min to Wittenberg summit: 3.9 miles, 2 hr 30 min to Cornell summit: 4.7 miles, 3 ht to Slide summit: 7.0 miles, 4 hr 30 min to Slide Mountain prkng area: 9.75 miles, 5 hr 30 min Accessed either from the Woodland Valley Campground on the east or the Woodland Valley- Denning Trail on the west, this trail provides a challenging route through the heart of the Slide Mountain Wilderness, ascending Wittenberg, Cornell and Slide Mountain. The eastern approach is notably more difficult, often requiring the use of one's hands to negotiate several rock ledges. At higher elevations, thick stands of balsam fir channel the hiker upwards, adding an element of surprise to the beautiful panorama that unfolds on the various summits. Phoenicia East Branch Trail A short trail connecting the Woodland Valley Trailhead with the Giant Ledge-Panther Mountain- Fox Hollow Trail. Accessed from the Woodland Valley Campground Trailhead. Curtis-Ormsbee Trail Olivera Difficulty: moderate Branches off the lower part of the Wittenberg- Cornell-Slide Trail. Often referred to as the scenic route up Slide Mountain, the Curtis-Ormsbee trail provides the hiker with three panoramic vistas to the south and west and a moderate "terraced" ridge hike through stunted northern hardwoods. It links the Phoenicia-East Branch Trail with the Wittenberg-Slide-Cornell Trail. The total length is 7.35 miles or 8.65 miles if you visit Slide Mountain. You will enter on the Phoenicia - East Branch Trail that is blazed in yellow. In 3.25 miles you will find the junction to the North East (on the left) to the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail, blazed in blue. Follow those markers for 1.6 miles to the junction with Wittenberg-Cornell-Slide Trail. This trail is blazed in red. If you turn right and walk .65 mile you will reach the summit of Slide Mountain. If you turn left you will pick up the Phoenicia-East Branch Trail (marked in yellow) that you originally came in on. From here, the parking lot is about 2.5 miles. Remember: Yellow, Blue, Red, and Yellow. GIANT LEDGE Giant Ledge-Panther Mountain- Fox Hollow Trail Shandaken/Olivera 7.45 miles (one way), blue markers 2,620-foot elevation gain from Fox Hollow Difficulty: challenging Take Route 28 to Big Indian, turning south onto County Road 47. Drive past the parking area at the hairpin turn on 47 to the next parking area and park This trail follows along a north-south ridge that offers spectacular views to the north (the Devil's Path) and to the east (Woodland Valley) from both Giant Ledge and the summit of Panther. The ascent from either direction is interspersed with level stretches suggesting a "terracing" effect through mixed hardwoods at lower elevations and ultimately through the scent-laden balsam fir. Popular in part but noticeably less traveled north of Panther Mountain, this section of trail provides the hiker with a sense of solitude. Blue Markers. Giant Ledge Olivera 1.6 miles (one way) 1,100-foot elevation gain Difficulty: easy/moderate Take Route 28 to Big Indian; turn south onto County Road 47. Travel about 8 miles to the hairpin turn. Park in the area there. The shortest and easiest route up Giant Ledge is from the Giant Ledge Trailhead. Begin by crossing the road and following the yellow marked Woodland Valley-Denning Trail east .75 miles until its juncture with the blue marked Giant Ledge-Panther Trail. Turn left, heading north .85 miles to the summit and excellent views to both the east and west. Terrace Mountain Trail Phoenicia 0.9 miles (one way), yellow markers, 300-foot descent Difficulty: easy Accessed from the Burroughs Range Trail, the Terrace Mountain Trail is a short and easy hike with a very gradual descent, ending at the Terrace Mountain Lean-to. Bare rock outcroppings and low blueberry bushes best characterize the open "meadows" interspersed along the trail. NOTE: there is no water source at the Terrace Mountain Lean-to. Tremper Mountain Fire Tower Phoenicia 2.75 miles to summit, red markers The Tremper Mountain Fire Tower can be reached from two different directions. The shortest, and most popular route begins at the trailhead of the red- blazed Phoenicia Trail along County Route 40 outside the hamlet of Phoenicia. The tower may also be reached via the 4.2-mile, blue- blazed, Willow Trail. This trailhead is located along Jessup Road in Willow.
Transcript of HIKING GUIDE 110505 - Homesteadt65.homestead.com/HAG_2011-2012/phoeniciavillage_hikingguide.pdf ·...
5987 Route 28
Phoenicia, NY 12464 (845) 688-7772
www.phoeniciavillage.com
CATSKILLS HIKING GUIDE WOODLAND VALLEY TRAILHEAD/CAMPGROUND Two major trails are available from this trailhead: Wittenberg-Cornell-Slide Trail (also known as the Burrow Range Trail) and the Phoenicia-East Branch Trailhead, which links up with the Giant Ledge trails. Take a right onto Route 28, and take your first quick right onto Woodland Valley Road. Cross the Esopus Creek and take a right at the “T”. Bear left at the fork and continue on Woodland Valley Road 5.8 miles to the campground and trailhead. Day-use parking fee applies. Wittenberg-Cornell-Slide Trail (or Burroughs Range Trail) Phoenicia 9.75 miles (one-way) red markers 3,620-foot elevation gain Difficulty: challenging
to Terrace Mountain Trail: 2.6 miles, 1 hr 30 min to Wittenberg summit: 3.9 miles, 2 hr 30 min to Cornell summit: 4.7 miles, 3 ht to Slide summit: 7.0 miles, 4 hr 30 min to Slide Mountain prkng area: 9.75 miles, 5 hr 30 min
Accessed either from the Woodland Valley Campground on the east or the Woodland Valley-Denning Trail on the west, this trail provides a challenging route through the heart of the Slide Mountain Wilderness, ascending Wittenberg, Cornell and Slide Mountain. The eastern approach is notably more difficult, often requiring the use of one's hands to negotiate several rock ledges. At higher elevations, thick stands of balsam fir channel the hiker upwards, adding an element of surprise to the beautiful panorama that unfolds on the various summits.
Phoenicia East Branch Trail A short trail connecting the Woodland Valley Trailhead with the Giant Ledge-Panther Mountain-Fox Hollow Trail. Accessed from the Woodland Valley Campground Trailhead. Curtis-Ormsbee Trail Olivera Difficulty: moderate
Branches off the lower part of the Wittenberg-Cornell-Slide Trail. Often referred to as the scenic route up Slide Mountain, the Curtis-Ormsbee trail provides the hiker with three panoramic vistas to the south and west and a moderate "terraced" ridge hike through stunted northern hardwoods. It links the Phoenicia-East Branch Trail with the Wittenberg-Slide-Cornell Trail. The total length is 7.35 miles or 8.65 miles if you visit Slide Mountain. You will enter on the Phoenicia - East Branch Trail that is blazed in yellow. In 3.25 miles you will find the junction to the North East (on the left) to the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail, blazed in blue. Follow those markers for 1.6 miles to the junction with Wittenberg-Cornell-Slide Trail. This trail is blazed in red. If you turn right and walk .65 mile you will reach the summit of Slide Mountain. If you turn left you will pick up the Phoenicia-East Branch Trail (marked in yellow) that you originally came in on. From here, the parking lot is about 2.5 miles. Remember: Yellow, Blue, Red, and Yellow. GIANT LEDGE Giant Ledge-Panther Mountain- Fox Hollow Trail Shandaken/Olivera 7.45 miles (one way), blue markers 2,620-foot elevation gain from Fox Hollow Difficulty: challenging Take Route 28 to Big Indian, turning south onto County Road 47. Drive past the parking area at the hairpin turn on 47 to the next parking area and park This trail follows along a north-south ridge that offers spectacular views to the north (the Devil's Path) and to the east (Woodland Valley) from both Giant Ledge and the summit of Panther. The ascent from either direction is interspersed with level stretches suggesting a "terracing" effect through mixed hardwoods at lower elevations and ultimately through the scent-laden balsam fir. Popular in part but noticeably less traveled north of Panther
Mountain, this section of trail provides the hiker with a sense of solitude. Blue Markers. Giant Ledge Olivera 1.6 miles (one way) 1,100-foot elevation gain Difficulty: easy/moderate Take Route 28 to Big Indian; turn south onto County Road 47. Travel about 8 miles to the hairpin turn. Park in the area there. The shortest and easiest route up Giant Ledge is from the Giant Ledge Trailhead. Begin by crossing the road and following the yellow marked Woodland Valley-Denning Trail east .75 miles until its juncture with the blue marked Giant Ledge-Panther Trail. Turn left, heading north .85 miles to the summit and excellent views to both the east and west. Terrace Mountain Trail Phoenicia 0.9 miles (one way), yellow markers, 300-foot descent Difficulty: easy Accessed from the Burroughs Range Trail, the Terrace Mountain Trail is a short and easy hike with a very gradual descent, ending at the Terrace Mountain Lean-to. Bare rock outcroppings and low blueberry bushes best characterize the open "meadows" interspersed along the trail. NOTE: there is no water source at the Terrace Mountain Lean-to. Tremper Mountain Fire Tower Phoenicia 2.75 miles to summit, red markers The Tremper Mountain Fire Tower can be reached from two different directions. The shortest, and most popular route begins at the trailhead of the red-blazed Phoenicia Trail along County Route 40 outside the hamlet of Phoenicia. The tower may also be reached via the 4.2-mile, blue-blazed, Willow Trail. This trailhead is located along Jessup Road in Willow.
