Saturday, June 27, 2015

Goosepond South and Goosepond Mountain State Park, NY


ABOUT THE PARK:
Groundswell of Community Passion Helps OSI Preserve More Goosepond Mountain - OSI
Your Environment Podcast - OSI
Open Space Preserved in Chester - The Chronicle
Trail Walker (page 2) - New York New Jersey Trail Conference
Goosepond Mountain State Park -New York State Parks

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.30814, -74.24732
Goosepond South parking off Bull Mill Road.

TRAIL MAPS:
Goosepond South - New York New Jersey Trail Conference
Goosepond Mountain State Park - New York State Parks
Goosepond Mountain State Park and Goosepond South, NY at EveryTrail

HIKE DISTANCE:  5.8 miles
plus .4 miles separately at Goose Mountain Pond Area

THE HIKE:
Birds serenading in the parking area.
Common Yellowthroat
Newly constructed section of the Highlands Trail through Goosepond South.
Trout Brook
The trail is a work in progress and is well-blazed until ...
... the view.
At this time there are some blazes beyond the view but also ribbons.
We actually lost the trail and ended up checking out what appeared to be some mountain bike trails.
Until we had to turn back.
Another unmarked trail up above Bull Mill Road.
It descends to Bull Mill Road but it's all homes on the other side so back to connect up with the Highlands Trail.
A sign that we are back on the Highlands Trail.
Confirmation!
Crossing Bull Mill Road ...
... the continuation of the Highlands Trail on the other side.
Creek Crossing
The trail crosses a power cut that appears to be overgrown but there was actually a faint path.
Currently the end of the new part of the Highlands Trail stops at a stone wall but I wanted to see if there were any mountain bike paths into Goosepond State Park.
Sure enough, Shawnee saw it the same time I did - a few steps to the left ...
... an unmarked trail!  You really need a GPS to navigate these trails.  I would still be there wandering around if I hadn't had mine.
A double power cut crossing.
Horses use this trail!
Perhaps this is the new part of the Highlands Trail marked with ribbons that will connect to the existing Highlands Trail?  It was in the direction I wanted to go so that is the way we went.
Indeed, straight ahead, Lazy Hill Road which is ...
... the existing Highlands Trail. 
A bridge over ...
(It is much more sturdy than it looks.)
... Seely Brook.
The Highlands Trail exits the park on to ...
... Laroe Road.  This is the road walk portion that is being eliminated by the new section through Goosepond South and that is a VERY good thing because this road walk is just awful!
Tried to make the most of the 1-mile road walk by looking for wildlife but ...
... stinky, loud trucks and nonstop traffic, ugh.
Finally, our turn at Bull Mill Road.
Red-Winged Blackbird
A red-winged blackbird chasing a turkey vulture.  That little bird was tenacious and chased that big bird right out of his airspace!
Crossing over Trout Brook on Bull Mill Road.
Back at the parking area.

Goosepond Mountain Area, NY


ABOUT THE PARK:
Goosepond Mountain State Park -New York State Parks

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.34826, -74.23442
Parking lot off of 17W.

TRAIL MAP:

Goose Pond Mountain Area, NY at EveryTrail

HIKE DISTANCE:  .4 miles
Hiked with 5.8 miles at Goosepond South and Goosepond Mountain State Park, NY

THE HIKE:
It might be less than half a mile around but there are tons of wildflowers and birds.
Female Red-winged Blackbirds everywhere.
Goosepond Mountain
A male red-winged blackbird.