Sterling Forest State Park, NY - Sterling Ridge/Bare Rock Loop

ABOUT THE PARK:
Sterling Forest State Park - NY State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Sterling Forest State Park - Hudson Valley Web TV

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.187056, -74.308043

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TRAIL MAP:
Sterling Forest Trails Map 100 - NY/NJ Trail Conference
Sterling Forest State Park Trail Map - NY State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

HIKE DISTANCE:  10.6 miles

HIKE DESCRIPTION:
Start on the white/red line Lake-To-Lake trail.

This trail will dip into New Jersey before reaching the Sterling Ridge Trail.

Shortly after turning left on the combined white/blue dot Sterling Ridge Trail and teal diamond Highlands Trail scramble up rocks to a view.

View from Sterling Ridge Trail (click on picture to enlarge)

At just under 5 miles, arrive at the Sterling Fire Tower:

View from the 5th level of the fire tower - maybe someday I'll work up the nerve to make it all the way to the top.

View from Fire Tower

Sterling Lake from the Sterling Ridge Trail

Bare Rock Trail

Greenwood Lake from Bare Rock Vista

Greenwood Lake

Fire Tower Trail

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Start on white with red stripe Lake-To-Lake Trail at south end of parking lot
[  0.50]  White/red line trail turns left and joins woods road
[  0.80]  Continue beyond barrier on woods road
[  1.35]  Keep straight at cairn at intersection
[  1.65]  Cross bridge, veer right after crossing bridge to continue on trail
[  1.90]  NY-NJ Line marker
[  2.40]  At fork keep left then after short distance left again
[  2.45]  Left on White/blue dot Sterling Ridge Trail and teal diamond Highlands Trail
[  2.85]  View at top of rock scramble
[  4.10]  Turn right when unmarked goes left
[  4.25]  Keep straight when red trail joins in from the left
[  4.90]  Sterling Fire Tower
[  5.80]  Turn left on orange Bare Rock Trail at intersection
[  6.45]  Right on orange at fork when green goes left
[  7.15]  Right on Bare Rock Vista side trail
[  7.25]  Right on orange returning from Bare Rock Vista
[  8.90]  Turn right on red with white line Fire Tower Trail when orange trail ends
[10.20]  Unmarked side trail to right to view of Greenwood Lake (Bare Rock Vista has better view)
[10.45]  Cross bridge
[10.60]  Back at parking lot

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