Sam's Point Preserve, NY - South Gully Trail

ABOUT THE PARK: Sam's Point Preserve - The Nature Conservancy Sam's Point Preserve Trail and Hiking Information - The Nature Conservancy Sam's Point Preserve - Open Space Institute

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates  41.69251, -74.39387

Parking is on Old Route 52 which is a woods road off of Route 52.  The Long Path follows this gravel road.  There is room for a few cars and a place beyond where these cars are parked to turn around.

TRAIL MAPS: Shawangunk Trails Map #104 - NY/NJ Trail Conference
Shawangunk Ridge Trails Map 3 - NY/NJ Trail Conference (free map)
Sam's Point Reserve, NY - South Gully Trail at EveryTrail


HIKE DISTANCE:  8.4 miles

THE HIKE:

Walk back out to Route 52, turn left and walk just a short distance to where the trail continues on the right before the bridge and across from two houses.

The trail starts out relatively flat and smooth. 

This hike follows the aqua-blazed Long Path the entire time, this part also named the South Gully Trail.

The trail follows high above South Gully down below.

The trail becomes more rugged and is mostly uphill.

We took three breaks on the way up.  Be sure you eat your Wheaties before starting out!

The trail does finally meet up with South Gully with some cascades and small waterfalls along with a few rock hops over.

The only road crossed is South Gully Road where you turn left then cross to the continuation of the trail on the right.

Continuation of the trail after crossing South Gully Road.

That is the "You did remember to bring my chicken jerky, didn't you?" look.

Mountain Laurel will be blooming soon!

Up at top it's like taking a step back in time - trees are just starting to bloom where down below everything is in full bloom.

At the old berry picker shack it is almost the end of the South Gully Trail.

I have seen 2.5, 2.6 and 2.7 miles for the South Gully Trail but my GPS and pedometer are in agreement that we measured it at about 3.1 miles.

Several more old berry picker shacks along the way.

The Long Path now follows the gravel Sam's Point Road.

The main parking lot for Sam's Point Preserve where a $10 parking fee is charged.  Hike in on the South Gully Trail and it's free!  Plus, the lot is already full at 11 AM.

Heading up to Sam's Point with the throngs of visitors who drove up.

One more mile from the South Gully Trail to Sam's Point for outstanding views.

The parking lot from Sam's Point.

The Catskills

Lots and lots of people come here in season.

Some of them should not be allowed to come.

Heading back down.

High Point Monument in New Jersey

Properly disposing of litter in recycling container at the Visitor Center for those who were too lazy to do so themselves.

And one more break.  Mostly downhill from this point so we did not need any more breaks.

Looking back up from the visitor center.

It is Memorial Day weekend and the ice caves are still closed!  Must be a lot of ice in there still from the awful winter we had.

As great as the views were, so nice to be back in the quiet, peaceful woods that we had all to ourselves.

Crossing back over South Gully Road.

Views of the Catskills from the South Gully Trail.

Back at Route 52.

Hang gliders!

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Walk back to Route 52, turn left a short distance, cross over to the right before the bridge and opposite two houses to access the aqua-blazed Long Path/South Gully Trail
[  1.50]  Rock hop over creek
[  1.95]  Rock hop over creek
[  2.15]  Rock hop over creek
[  2.20]  Turn left on South Gully Road then cross over to right to continue on trail
[  3.25]  End of South Gully Trail, turn right on gravel Sam's Point Road
[  3.50]  Visitor Center and parking on right; continue on Sam's Point Road to right of kiosk towards Sam's Point
[  4.20]  Sam's Point; retrace
[  4.80]  Visitor Center and parking lot; continue on Sam's Point Road
[  5.15]  Turn left on South Gully Trail
[  8.30]  Cross Route 53
[  8.40]  Back at parking

Wildcat Ridge WMA, NJ - Hibernia Brook Trail and Beach Glen Trail Loop

ABOUT THE PARK:
Wildcat Ridge Hawkwatch - New Jersey Division of Environmental Protection
Wildcat Ridge Hawkwatch

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.944798, -74.492975

View Larger Map

When we arrived at 6:30 AM the lot was empty and we had the trails to ourselves.  End of the hike at 10:50 AM and the lot was full!

TRAIL MAP:
Jersey Highlands Trail Map #125 - NY-NJ Trail Conference
Wildcat Ridge WMA Trails - Jersey Off Road Bicycle Association
Wildcat Ridge WMA - Hibernia Brook Trail and Beach Glen Trail Loop at EveryTrail


HIKE DISTANCE:  6.2 miles

THE HIKE:

The orange and white (Four Birds) trails start and the blue trail ends to the right of the kiosk.

On the white-blazed Four Birds Trail.

Just a short distance in, keep straight when white turns left to get to ...

The Hibernia Mine Bat Cave where there are, unfortunately, not many bats left due to white nose syndrome.

Back on the Four Birds Trail.

Then taking the orange Hibernia Brook Trail.

Dogwood blooming everywhere.

Although orange shows as a continuous trail on the JORBA map, the blazes stop as the trail follows a woods road then after a right turn at a gate the orange blazes start again.

You can either take the gravel road (boring) or the orange trail to the right (very pretty) to Hawkwatch.

Orange crosses over the white-blazed Four Birds Trail shortly before ...

... coming up on ...

Hawkwatch

You can even see the moon from Hawkwatch!

Far away in the distance.

Great break spot.

The last time I was here it was humid and hazy but cool and crystal clear today!

The annoying gnats were out of control.

On the Four Birds Trail...

... heading to Graffiti Cliffs on a somewhat defined, old yellow-blazed trail.  No trail maintenance here so there are a few downed trees across the trail.

Coming up on Graffiti Cliffs.

The town of Hibernia down below.

Another nice break spot.

Heading back on a woods road.

Then a sharp right on another woods road with some partial views before descending steeply.

The woods road becomes badly eroded on the steepest sections so it's a bit slippery on the rocks.

The blue-blazed Beach Glen Trail.

Out of the many, many, many birds seen and heard during this hike, this little Eastern Bluebird was the only one who would sit still 2 seconds to have a picture taken.

Hibernia Brook before the end of the Beach Glen Trail at the parking lot.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Begin from the parking lot on orange/white
[  0.10]  Keep straight on white when orange leaves to the left
[  0.15]  Keep straight towards bat caves when white leaves to the left
[  0.20]  Bat caves; retrace
[  0.25]  Turn right on white
[  0.45]  Turn right on orange when white continues straight almost at top of climb
[  0.50]  Looks like orange ends (triple blaze on tree) but according to map it should continue; keep straight and there will eventually be orange blazes again
[  0.95]  White crosses over, continue on orange (although not blazed on the woods road)
[  1.40]  Continue beyond gate, turn right towards next gate then right on orange
[  1.90]  Cross woods road at yellow marker WR0050
[  2.15]  Cross over white continuing on orange
[  2.25]  Hawkwatch overlook; retrace
[  2.35]  Turn left on white
[  2.50]  Rock hop over creek
[  2.95]  Cross woods road at cairn and keep straight
[  3.00]  Turn left on unmarked at yellow marker FB0012 where white veers right (there will be some faded yellow blazes on this trail but it is not maintained and there are blowdowns to navigate around)
[  3.30]  Navigate around blowdown and turn right at cairn, trail becomes grassy woods road
[  3.75]  Graffiti Cliffs; retrace
[  4.35]  Make hard right turn on to unmarked woods road
[  4.50]  Partial view to left - trail to left can be taken as it connects back to the woods road
[  4.70]  Keep right at fork
[  4.85]  Turn right on blue
[  5.10]  Keep right at fork
[  5.35]  Trail continues on far side of huge pit - not clearly blazed in this area
[  5.80]  Rock hop creek
[  5.90]  Keep straight when woods road goes to the right
[  6.20]  Back at parking