The Long Path begins in Fort Lee, on the New Jersey side of the George Washington Bridge. For the first twelve miles to the New York State line, it follows along the Palisades through lands of the Palisades Interstate Park. There are many spectacular views of the Hudson River and New York City and Yonkers along the way.
After crossing into New York, the Long Path turns away from the Hudson River, but continues to follow the Palisades Escarpment to its end in Mt. Ivy. Much of this route is through units of the Palisades Interstate Park system and county and town parks. However, some of the vital links along the way take the trail through private property, and there is some road walking through the towns of Piermont and Nyack. There are extensive views of the lower Hudson River valley along the way, with the most dramatic views on Hook Mountain and High Tor.
Leaving the Palisades, the Long Path enters Harriman State Park, passing through the park in a northwesterly direction. Since Harriman is only thirty miles from New York City, it is frequented by hikers from the city. The park is criss-crossed with an abundance of trails, and there are many opportunities for circular hikes, using the Long Path for part of the route. Harriman State Park contains a portion of the Ramapo Mountains which, at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 1,400 feet, are the lowest mountains in the Appalachian mountain chain. At the northern end of the park, the Long Path goes over Long Mountain, the site of the Torrey Memorial for Raymond H. Torrey, one of the founders of the Trail Conference and an early supporter of the Long Path.
North of Harriman, the trail descends to the Hudson Valley. For the next fifty miles, the Long Path largely follows roads through Orange County. Once consisting primarily of farms, this area is rapidly being developed into a bedroom community for New York City. However, the trail has been recently relocated to more rural roads. The Long Path follows off-road routes through Orange County only in three sections; Schunemunk Mountain and the abandoned Erie Railroad Right-of-Way , and Highland Lakes State Park. Schunemunk is the dramatic long ridge that is the westernmost mountain near the Hudson in this vicinity. It is made up of conglomerate rock and has spectacular views both east to the Hudson River and north to the Shawangunks and the Catskills.
North of Schunemunk, the trail follows a five-mile section of an abandoned Erie Railroad branch line right-of-way. Beyond the Erie Railroad, the trail follows rural roads until it reaches Highland Lakes State Park. The trail passes through Highland Lakes Sate Park and again traverses rural roads until it intersects the Shawangunks along the Wurtsboro Ridge. It is hoped that the trail will in the future be moved off the roads onto roadside paths.
Beyond the Hudson Valley, the Long Path climbs the escarpment of the Shawangunk Mountains. Characterized by beautiful white cliffs and spectacular waterfalls, the Shawangunks are one of the gems of the eastern United States. The Shawangunks are also the site of five mountaintop lakes that are rimmed with white cliffs. The Long Path passes two of these lakes; Mud Pond and Lake Awosting. The trail climbs up and over many of the cliffs and passes two of the waterfalls; Verkeerder Kill and Rainbow Falls. There are many spectacular views of the Hudson Valley and the Catskills, sometimes with Lake Awosting in the foreground.
Beyond the Shawangunks, the Long Path crosses the Rondout Valley entirely on roads. To date, this rural area has avoided the development pressures that have hit the Hudson Valley. At the west end of the Rondout Valley, the Long Path enters the Catskill Park. The Catskills were once thought to be the highest mountains in New York, as they rise abruptly from the Hudson River valley. The Long Path continues through the Catskill Park for 95 miles and goes over nine of the 35 peaks which are over 3,500 feet in elevation. There are many views along the way, and one gets a true sense of wilderness here. Camping is permitted throughout the Catskill Park, except within 150 feet of a trail or stream and in areas over 3,500 feet in elevation, and several leanŠtos are located along the Long Path. There are several roadwalking sections, but these are generally through undeveloped areas.
North of the Catskill Park, the trail follows a series of mountains that form a part of the Catskill Mountains. While only about 2,700 to 3,400 feet in elevation, these mountains offer a beautiful hiking experience. About eight miles north of the Catskill Park, the Long Path enters a State reforestation area, which is a working forest (as opposed to the Catskill Park, which must be kept "forever wild''). At the western edge of the Huntersfield Ridge, the trail makes a gradual descent to the Schoharie Reservoir. Upon reaching the Schoharie Reservoir, which is the last outpost of the New York City water system, the Long Path heads north for 30 miles through the beautiful Schoharie Valley. The Schoharie Valley was home to many early settlements and was once a major Indian route. As the trail passes through the valley and the highlands to the west, there is much evidence of early settlement. At the northern end of the valley, the trail passes over the sentinel of Vroman's Nose, with its magnificent view, before descending to Middleburgh. In Middleburgh the Long Path turns east and traverses a region known as the "Endless Mountains", largely through reforestation areas. farming is still viable in this region, and the trail passes along the edge of many open fields. In the east, the "Endless Mountains" end abruptly at the Helderberg Escarpment. Upon reaching the escarpment, the Long Path turns north again to follow the escarpment into John Boyd Thacher State Park. The trail currently ends in Thacher Park at the northern end of the historic Indian Ladder Trail. The Trail Conference is currently negotiating with landowners to extend the trail north to the Mohawk River and the Adirondacks, with a long term goal of reaching the Canadian border.
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This page is maintained by Howard Dash, Long Path Chair, New York-New Jersey Trail Conference.
Last Updated 3/13/97
For further info: Please E Mail howiedash@aol.com