Did you know that June 4th is National Trails Day?

To Celebrate we are partnering with the Catskill Mountain Club to offer a special hike on the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) – a 575-mile trail along the southern edge of New York, with its eastern terminus in the Catskill Park.

WHERE: We’ll hike between two semi-remote Catskill waters, Alder Lake and Big Pond, on a 4-mile section of the FLT. Along the way we will pass stone foundations and stone walls from a hundred year old farmstead. There is also a shorter, easier option to hike a 1.5-mile loop trail around Alder Lake.  The 4-mile hikers will drop a car at the end-point of the hike. Hike Helpers will be there to meet you and help form a carpool to Alder Lake’s parking lot where the hike begins. Here are the details:

WHEN:

1:30 PM- MEET and leave a car at Big Pond Trailhead Parking area on the Barkaboom Rd.,  then CARPOOL to Alder Lake (15 mins.) to start the hike. Both Alder Lake and Big Pond have DEC, 1st come, primitive camping sites surrounding the lakes. Excellent for an overnight camping and hiking adventure.

–OR–

2:00 PM- All hikers will MEET at Alder Lake Parking area: You can take the unguided hike around the Lake (approx. 1.5 miles) OR choose the longer 4 mile hike to Big Pond.

Wear sensible shoes or boots, long pants and long sleeved shirt (may encounter some berry briers). Might want to bring along a raincoat and/or extra layer as weather sometimes changes quickly in the Catskills. Insect repellent is advised. Bring plenty to drink, at least one quart. Well behaved unleashed dogs allowed.

How long: 3-4 hours

Difficulty: Moderate

REGISTER: Call Morgan Outdoors at 845-439-5507.  You can also contact the Hike Leader: Rick Roberts.607 746-9694 or [email protected].

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:

From Livingston Manor to Big Pond Trailhead for longer hike: take Old Rte. 17 north 1.3 miles to Beaverkill Rd. Take a right and drive 10.8 miles to Barkaboom Rd. Turn north 0.8 miles to the Big Pond Trailhead parking area on the right.

To Alder Lake Trailhead for shorter hike: See above. take Old Rte. 17 north 1.3 miles to Beaverkill Rd. Take a right and drive 12.2 miles to Alder Creek Rd. Turn north 2.2 miles to the Alder Lake parking access road on the right, just before Cross Mountain Rd.

From the North:

-From SR 28 in Margaretville, drive west about 2 miles to Reservoir Rd. Turn left and then bear left, following the road along the south shore of the Pepacton Reservoir for 8.3 miles to Barkaboom Rd. Turn left and go 5.4 miles (passing Big Pond) to the Big Pond trailhead parking area on the left.

-From SR 28 in Andes, go west on Main St. briefly and turn south onto CR 1/Tremperskill Rd.  Drive 8 miles to SR 30 and turn right, crossing the the Shavertown Bridge. Turn east (left) immediately after crossing and drive 2.2 miles to Barkaboom Rd. Turn south and go 5.4 miles to the Big Pond parking area on the left.