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WARNING/DISCLAIMER: Hiking can be dangerous and the information furnished below may contain errors! |
Hiking in Sterling Forest State Park:
Total Distance:
8.7 miles
Difficulty: Medium+ (1,100'+ total elevation gain)
Estimated hiking time: 5+ hours (group)
The Allis trail (blue blazes) starts across the road (Route 17A) from the parking lot. Take the Allis trail for about 3.6 miles until its termination and make a right onto the Appalachian Trail (AT, white blazes). Walk about 0.8 miles north and eat lunch on top of Mombasha High Point (1280'). Reverse course to get back to the parking lot.
Optional extra: Instead of making a right at the junction of the Allis and Appalachian trails, make a left and take the AT for 1.2 miles until Fitzgerald Falls. Turn around here and return to the junction and continue on towards Mombasha High Point as discussed above. This option adds 2.4 miles to the hike.
References: NY-NJTC Trail Map 100 (Sterling Forest Trails), Appalachian Trail Map Set #3
Driving Directions from New York City
Take the George Washington Bridge to the Palisades Interstate Highway heading North.
In about 19 miles exit the parkway at exit 9W onto the Thruway (Route 87/287) which heads west.
About 10 miles later, exit the Thruway at exit 15A. At the exit turn left onto Route 17 North.
After about 4.9 miles you will see the Tuxedo (Park) Train and Police Stations on your right. Continue straight.
In about 2.5 miles turn left onto Route 17A West. Drive about 5.8 miles on Route 17A West and then make a left turn onto a dirt road at the sign "Sterling Ridge Trail". An unpaved parking area is about one-tenth of a mile up the road. Park here. (N 41.13783, W 74.15609).
The entire trip is about 50 miles and should take about an hour.
Click here for What to Bring on a Hike
Click here for Information for Group Hikes
Questions: Michael Brochstein
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| The dirt road (and the sign "Sterling Ridge Trail") which you should turn left onto from Route 17A West (January 2008). | The parking area where you should park (January 2008). | |
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| Signs at the entrance from Route 17A to the parking area. (December 2012 & January 2008) | ||
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| The parking area (during hunting season). (December 2012) | ||
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| On the north side of the road (Route 17A), opposite the sign for Sterling Ridge Trail (and the parking area) is another sign delineating another trail, the Allis Trail. This is where the hike will begin and end. (January 2008 & December 2012). | ||
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| Markers for the Allis (blue rectangles) and Highlands trails, where the hike starts and ends by Route 17A. There is no hunting allowed in the area of this hike. (December 2012). | ||
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| A utility line cut that you will pass while on the Allis trail, the image on the left looks south while the image on the right looks north. (December 2012) | ||
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| Elevation profile | ||
Last updated: 12/2012