Black Rock Forest, NY

ABOUT THE PARK:
Black Rock Forest - Black Rock Forest Consortium

TRAIL MAP:
NY/NJ Trail Conference West Hudson Trails Map #113
Online Map (not recommended - NY/NJ Trail Conference map is much better)
No maps at the park - ran into two different hikers who were lost because they had no map!

PARKING DIRECTIONS:
New York Thruway (I-87) to exit 16; Route 17 West; Route 32 North; right on Smith Clove Road; right on Mine Hill Road to parking on right


HIKE DIRECTIONS:
This hike is 10.5 miles long and is longer version of the NY/NJ Trail Conference 6.5 mile Sutherland Pond/Scenic Trail/Eagle Cliff Loop which also incorporates Rattlesnake Hill, Hill of Pines and Black Rock.

Parking lot only has space for 3 cars so I suggest getting there early:

Trailhead is across the street from the parking area:


(Several trails are blazed yellow but are distinguished by the shape.)
Head uphill on the yellow diamond-blazed Mine Hill trail.

View from the yellow diamond-blazed trail:


At the intersection, turn right on the yellow circle-blazed Sackett trail.
At .6 miles turn left on the yellow square-blazed Stillman trail.
At 1 mile turn continue on the yellow square/blue blazed trail.
At 1.2 miles turn right on the blue/teal blazed trail.
At 1.3 miles turn left on the white-blazed trail.

View of Sutherland Pond from Split Rock on the white-blazed trail:


At 1.8 miles turn right on an unmarked woods road with Sutherland Pond on your left.
At 2.2 miles turn left on the blue/teal-blazed trail briefly before turning left on the yellow square-blazed Arthur trail and crossing a boardwalk.


At 2.5 miles keep left on the white-blazed Scenic trail.
At 3 miles turn right on the blue-blazed trail a short distance to the end marked on a large rock. Go around to the right of this rock for panoramic views at Eagle Rock:


New York City skyline in the distance from Eagle Rock:


Leaving Eagle Rock turn right on the red-blazed trail briefly then left on the yellow square-blazed trail.
At 3.5 miles turn right on the white-blazed Scenic trail.
At 3.7 miles turn left on the blue-blazed trail for a short distance to Spy Rock. The views aren't great but worth the short trip for historic value as this was a lookout post during the Revolutionary War.

View from Spy Rock:


Retrace your steps and continue left on the white-blazed trail, which you will be on for the next 3 miles.

View from Rattlesnake Hill:


View from Hill of Pines:


At 7 miles turn left on the yellow square/teal blazed Stillman Trail.

Arrive at Black Rock with views of the Hudson at around 8 miles:


At 8.5 miles turn right on the yellow circle-blazed Sackett Trail.
At 10 miles turn right on the yellow diamond-blazed Mine Hill Trail back to the parking area.

LITTER REPORT:
The only place we found litter was at Eagle Rock. This litter was particularly awful. There were two Capri Sun containers and a soda can. This leads me to believe two children were brought up to Eagle Rock to see the beautiful views, given their snacks and were taught that part of this wonderful outdoor experience is to leave your garbage behind. So sad.

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