Sterling Forest State Park
Appalachian Trail Connector–Furnace Loop, 5 sights
6.5 mi · ▲ 1,719 ft · 3 hr 2 min
Appalachian Trail Connector–Furnace Loop, 5 sights is a 6.5-mile out-and-back in Sterling Forest State Park near Southfields, NY. It climbs 1,719 ft, with sections as steep as 41% grade. It scores 19/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Appalachian Trail Connector–Furnace Loop, 5 sights
6.5 mi · ▲ 1,719 ft · 3 hr 2 min
Elevation 552–1,137 ft
Out & Back · Sterling Forest State Park
Trailhead: Southfields Branch Railway · 41.24923, -74.17740
Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:22 PM
- Start on Southfields Branch Railway, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Furnace Loop, heading NE.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Indian Hill Loop, heading E.
- 1.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 500 ftTurn right onto Indian Hill Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Appalachian Trail Connector, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Appalachian Trail, heading E.
- 0.7 miReach Southfields Branch Railway, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Appalachian Trail Connector, heading S.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Indian Hill Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 450 ftTurn right onto Indian Hill Loop, heading SE.
- 1.1 miTurn left onto Furnace Loop, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Southfields Branch Railway, heading SW.
- 0.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~49 min). Leave by 6:13 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:11 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
More from Southfields Branch Railway Trailhead
- Furnace Loop–Indian Hill Loop, 3 sights 3.9 mi · ▲ 696 ft
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