Saturday, February 11, 2023

Clarence Fahnestock State Park, NY - AT-Fahnestock-Perkins Loop from Dennytown Road

ABOUT THE PARK: 
Clarence Fahnestock State Park - New York State Parks

DIRECTIONS: 
GPS Coordinates 41.420584, -73.868904
Dennytown Road Appalachian Trail Parking

TRAIL MAP: 
East Hudson Trails Map 103 - NY-NJ Trail Conference


HIKE DISTANCE:  12.7 miles

THE HIKE:
Taking the Appalachian Trail northbound for the first 4 miles of the hike.  We would be returning from the 3 Lakes Trail.
Crossing Sunken Mine Road.
Crossing the blue 3 Lakes Trail.
Coming up on Route 301.
Canopus Lake
It's a short road walk on Route 301 with new (as of June 2021) AT parking on the left up ahead and the AT continuing at the kiosk on the right.
Leaving the AT on the blue Fahnestock Trail.
The red Charcoal Burners Trail joins in from the left.
Beaver Pond
Staying left on blue when red leaves to the right.
Left on blue when white starts to the right.
It's much easier hiking on a smoother woods road for a bit.
Leaving blue and taking the yellow Perkins Trail straight ahead.
Yellow leaves to the left as a footpath.
It descends steeply ...
... crosses Glynwood Road ...
... then rock hops over Clove Creek.
Clove Creek
The yellow trail then follows along scenic Clove Creek for a while.
Ascending to the left leaving Clove Creek.
The trail becomes mowed grass at the top - a welcome change after miles of rugged trail.
Coming up on the new (as of June 2021) parking lot.
I missed the turn to stay on yellow here.  It actually goes behind the parking lot.
I road walked to the kiosk up head ...
... where the white trail passes behind and leads directly to the yellow trail to the right.
Yellow crosses the parking lot access road.
At the end of yellow, right on the red Charcoal Burners Trail.
Crossing back over Route 301.
Crossing over the yellow Old Mine Railroad Trail.
At the end of red, right on the blue 3 Lakes Trail for the rest of the way.
John Allen Pond
The 3 Lakes Trail turns right on Sunken Mine Road.
The trail leaves Sunken Mine Road to the left.
This is a steep descent and I was glad I made it through that part before the sun set completely.
Passing by the opposite end of the swamp from the beginning of the hike.
Coming off the trail at the ruins along the edge of the parking lot just before dark.