Roosa Gap State Forest, NY

ABOUT THE PARK:
Shawangunk Ridge - Wikipedia
The Long Path - New York New Jersey Trail Conference
The Shawangunk Ridge Trail - SRT Run/Hike

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.606240, -74.426607

Parking for this hike is in the Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest lot.

TRAIL MAP:
Shawangunk Ridge Trail Map 3 - New York New Jersey Trail Conference
Roosa Gap State Forest Map - Andyarthur.org

HIKE DISTANCE: 6.8 miles

THE HIKE:
The ongoing fugitive manhunt in the forests of Pennsylvania, bear mauling in New Jersey, how about hiking in New York?

This sign was in the parking lot by the start of the yellow trail.  It was 7:30 AM and 51 degrees so I figured the bees would still be asleep (they were) and we could road walk in lieu of the yellow trail on our return route, which is what we did.

Just too inviting not to go so we tiptoed through and did not wake the bees up.

There would normally be several creek crossings and waterfalls but everything was bone dry.

Turn right at the Long Path/Shawangunk Ridge Trail intersection.

Cross Ferguson Road and continue on the Long Path North.

It's a steep, relentless climb up.

Views south with low clouds in the valley early in the morning.

Looking south to High Point Monument in NJ about 25 miles away.

The Catskills start to come into view.

A memorial at an intersection.  The trail to the right goes to the fire tower, now used by the NY State Police, I believe, but I investigated that on the way back since in the morning the sun was blinding from that direction.

Onward on the Long Path.

Sam's Point

More open views of the Catskills.

View east towards the Hudson Valley and South Taconics.

Break spot with Catskill views.

Heading back south, High Point Monument in the distance.

Back at the intersection and turned left to explore now that the sun had moved around.

Roosa Gap Fire tower.  No admittance - it's fenced off.

The access road to Roosa Gap Fire Tower.

The clouds have lifted and the valley can now be seen.

As well as Kohl's warehouse.  It looked better under the clouds.

View west into the valley.

One last view of the Shawangunk Ridge to the south with High Point Monument about in the middle.

High Point Monument

Starting the descent.

The descent becomes rockier and steeper.

To avoid the bees on the yellow trail, we turned left on Ferguson Road.

Not her idea of a good time but better than her snapping at a swarm of bees.

We stopped for a drink then ...

... a dunk since there was absolutely no water for her to cool her paws off in. 

Revived enough to finish.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Take the yellow trail from the parking lot
[  0.80]  Turn right on the Long Path/Shawangunk Trail (Teal/Blue); cross Ferguson Road
[  2.10]  Keep left at intersection with memorial
[  3.30]  Turn around and begin retrace when trail starts to descend
[  3.40]  Break spot off to the right with Catskill views
[  3.70]  On the left is one end of the orange trail on the Andyarthur.org map but it was too overgrown to follow
[  4.50]  Turn left at memorial intersection
[  4.70]  Turn right at intersection and loop around Roosa Gap Fire Tower
[  5.00]  Keep straight on Long Path/Shawangunk Trail at memorial intersection
[  5.40]  Trail go left goes short distance to more open views
[  6.20]  Left on Ferguson Road
[  6.80]  Back at parking lot

Bear Creek Preserve, PA - Shades Creek

ABOUT THE PARK:
Bear Creek Preserve - Natural Lands Trust

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.182318, -75.704151

View Larger Map

TRAIL MAP:
Bear Creek Preserve Trail Map - Natural Lands Trust
Bear Creek Preserve, PA at EveryTrail


HIKE DISTANCE:  7.2 miles

THE HIKE:

I had originally planned on hiking at the Pennel Run Natural Area in Delaware State Forest but having never heard of Canadensis, PA, figured I should find how close that was to my hike since there was a manhunt in progress for a fugitive accused of killing a Pennsylvania State trooper.  Yes, a little too close for comfort so hiking plans changed.

When I returned home and watched the news conference I found out that while I was hiking the manhunt was taking place where I had originally planned on hiking.  Glad I looked up where Canadensis is and avoided that area.

So the hike was moved about half an hour farther west to Bear Creek Preserve.

The trails all start at the information board and gate.

We started on the red trail to the left of the information sign.

Lots of early fall color in the forest.

Turned left on gray to take the trail along Shades Creek.

The map shows this as a primitive stream crossing so pleasantly surprised to find a new bridge!

Not so amused that she has to stand on a log to get to the bridge.

Shades Creek from the bridge.

The trail often goes through thick rhododendron.  This must be gorgeous when the rhododendron is in bloom.

A random purple marker on the gray trail.

Shades Creek to the right below the trail.

Fall colors in the pipeline cut.

Fall flowers.

More bear and coyote scat on this hike than I usually see.

Interesting tree mushroom.

Taking a dip in Shades Creek.

This crossing is a rock hop.

I could have jumped across but I have had a couple of incidents of going down on slippery rocks recently so I decided not to risk it.

Water shoes for just such an occasion.

And she didn't mind munching her chicken jerky while I changed back into hiking shoes.

After crossing Shades Creek it's left on red then red/purple when purple joins in from the left.

Crossing the pipeline cut again but what is that?

A mourning dove enjoying the beautiful day in the pipeline cut.

A random gray marker on the red trail.

An ovenbird.

A snake in the grass.

At the intersection where yellow joins in, turn right on yellow to go to the overlook.

Coming up on the overlook.

Back at the car.

Someone really enjoyed this hike!

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Take the red trail into the woods to the left of the information board
[  0.40]  Turn left on gray when red goes right
[  0.70]  Cross footbridge then right right on gray when gray also goes left
[  2.10]  Veer slightly right in pipeline cut picking up woods road back into woods
[  2.20]  Gray continues straight as footpath leaving woods road that turns right
[  3.00]  Rock hop Shades Creek then left on grassy woods road which is the red trail
[  3.10]  Turn right on purple/red when purple comes in from the left
[  3.50]  Turn right on red when purple leaves to the left
[  3.90]  Cross power cut veering slightly right then back into woods
[  4.00]  Keep straight on red when unmarked trail goes left
[  4.70]  Keep straight on red when woods road goes left
[  4.80]  Keep right on red at fork
[  5.40]  Turn right at intersection (will still be on red)
[  5.50]  Straight on red/green when green comes in from the right
[  5.80]  Keep right on red/green at intersection
[  6.20]  Cross wooden bridge; turn right on yellow/green
[  6.30]  Left on yellow when green leaves to the right
[  6.60]  Overlook
[  6.80]  Straight on yellow when green crosses over
[  6.90]  Turn right at T-intersection following blue marker to parking lot (is yellow/red trail)
[  7.00]  Left on gravel road
[  7.20]  Back at parking