The blue-blazed trail starts at the gate where Katrina Falls Road ends.
It starts out as a rocky woods road.
After signing in at the trail register...
... the trail smooths out and becomes more scenic.
Several yellow-blazed side trails lead to the river. This is the first one on the right.
There were lots of rhododendron tunnels on this hike but I must have missed full bloom by a week or two.
There were still a few blooms hanging on.
Neversink River at the end of the yellow trail.
More rhododendron blooms along the water.
Old stonework at a creek feeding into Neversink River.
Heading back to continue on blue.
A bridge over that same creek on blue.
At the fork the red-blazed Mullet Loop Trail is on the left, blue continues right.
The blue trail ascends and gets closer to the river down below.
The second yellow side trail on the right at 1.9 miles.
This trail also leads down to Neversink River.
Shawnee can only go in the water on a leash now because she tends to slip and fall and it's the only way I can help her without going in to get her.
See, down she goes.
But all is well.
Retracing and continuing on blue at 2.45 miles.
Crossing Mullet Brook on a wavy bridge.
I almost did not take this third yellow side trail to the river thinking it would be the same as the last two but I am glad I did decide to because it was the best, if not the most challenging of the three.
On the way down (very steeply at times) I saw movement to the left. When I turned to look all l I saw was black bear butt taking off into the woods. Since the bear was heading well away from our direction, all was good and we continued on. It was the first bear I have ever seen in New York.
As we neared the river, a trail of litter :(
Those are two of the many plastic water bottles straight ahead on the rock slab.
Neversink River
In for another dip.
Before I could even enjoy this gorgeous spot, I had to clean up the mess left by others who, quite frankly, have no business being there if they are not capable of packing their garbage out.
Trash all compacted and packed up and I am capable of packing it out. Shame on them.
Denton Falls
Heading back to blue again.
A short distance farther on blue then left on the other end of the red-blazed Mullet Loop Trail.
At the fork where red veers right, veer left on the yellow trail to Mullet Falls.
Coming up on the falls.
It felt like air conditioning coming off of those falls on this hot day.
Thanks for your excellent pictorial. You portrayed that hike perfectly. I enjoyed seeing your faithful companion Shawnee enjoying the hike as well. Is there anything better?
For the first time, I ventured this April to take the full Blue trail from Katrina beyond Denton to High Falls to explore some of the more remote fishing spots in the deepest parts of the gorge. I can relate that the trail south of Denton is the roughest and most challenging in this awesome reserve. Regretfully, after two hours, I peeled off the trail to try to get down to the pools above High Falls and had to do some serious bushwhacking. Despite a fabulous mid-afternoon caddis hatch, the trout were evidently still waiting for a little warmer water. Getting back, either by wading the river or traversing the steep walls across to the Denton trail, was punishing. There are, to be sure, fabulous pools and rushes in those steep parts for anyone either hardy or foolish enough to get to them.
The folks who leave their junk behind obviously don't get it. Maybe some trash bags at the top will give them the message. Thanks again for sharing. Nice work. B.J.Murray
hi enjoyed your report. I am trail supervisor for the gorge. Thanks for picking up the debris at Denton Falls. Thanks to the NYDEC, we have a new bridge over Mullet Brook. Lou Baldanza
It was a very beautiful area!
ReplyDeleteGlad you found that spot. It's really something special.
ReplyDeleteYes it is and I am glad I found it, too!
DeleteThanks for your excellent pictorial. You portrayed that hike perfectly. I enjoyed seeing your faithful companion Shawnee enjoying the hike as well. Is there anything better?
ReplyDeleteFor the first time, I ventured this April to take the full Blue trail from Katrina beyond Denton to High Falls to explore some of the more remote fishing spots in the deepest parts of the gorge. I can relate that the trail south of Denton is the roughest and most challenging in this awesome reserve. Regretfully, after two hours, I peeled off the trail to try to get down to the pools above High Falls and had to do some serious bushwhacking. Despite a fabulous mid-afternoon caddis hatch, the trout were evidently still waiting for a little warmer water. Getting back, either by wading the river or traversing the steep walls across to the Denton trail, was punishing. There are, to be sure, fabulous pools and rushes in those steep parts for anyone either hardy or foolish enough to get to them.
The folks who leave their junk behind obviously don't get it. Maybe some trash bags at the top will give them the message. Thanks again for sharing. Nice work. B.J.Murray
Thanks, BJ! Yes, we did hike south of Denton a few months later and the trail definitely is more challenging beyond that point.
DeleteDaniela
hi enjoyed your report. I am trail supervisor for the gorge. Thanks for picking up the debris at Denton Falls. Thanks to the NYDEC, we have a new bridge over Mullet Brook.
ReplyDeleteLou Baldanza
Thanks, Lou and thank you for your work on the trails. Love that place!
Delete