Sterling Forest State Park, NY - Sterling Lake and McKeags Meadow

ABOUT THE PARK:
Sterling Forest State Park, NY - New York State Parks

 

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.205330, -74.242645

Pine Meadow Parking - Sort of an odd shaped lot and it's unclear exactly how to park.  Nothing says not to block the gates on either side of the lot but it would feel strange doing that so this is where I ended up.  Doesn't seem like many park here anyway.

TRAIL MAP:

Sterling Forest Trails Map 100 - NY/NJ Trail Conference

HIKE DISTANCE:  10.2 miles

THE HIKE: 

Starting at the yellow barrier.  I was concerned about how overgrown it was but it was not a preview of the entire trail.  Just a few short patches of overgrowth and the rest was clear.

Coming off of the connector trail and turning right on the Pine Meadow Trail.

At the end, left on the Sterling Valley Loop.

Right on the Sterling Lake Loop.

This trail passes between ...

... a swamp on the right and ...

... Sterling Lake on the left.  You have to get here early if you want solitude.  We were just leaving when a large group was arriving from the opposite direction.  It was about 9 AM.

Going on around the loop ...

... to a side trail to a still quiet spot for a break.

Another side trail ...

... leads to more lake views.

Coming up on this gate, droves of people were starting to arrive heading towards the lake.

It's a little bit of a road walk along private homes.

Right on the Lakeville Ironworks Trail which was a very interesting trail with mining ruins and no other people around.  The lake is the main attraction so that is where everyone goes.

At the end of the Lakeville Ironworks Trail, right towards the Visitor Center on the Sterling Lake Loop.

Right on the McKeags Meadow Connector.  This also appears overgrown at first but opens up.

Coming out at the entrance road to the ...

... McKeags Meadow Parking Lot.  I had thought there would be others using this trail but turns out there was nobody else.

The cars belonged to those constructing new trails.

At the loop intersection, we went right to loop around counterclockwise.

I could see some new trail and flags so we went in a short distance to check it out.

New trail going in.

The Red Back Trail joins in for a bit.

Having completed the loop, veering right to retrace the connector trail.

Right on the Sterling Lake Loop.

Just before this huge rock pile ...

... right on the Pine Meadow Trail Connector.

Wildflowers seen on the hike:

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