Appalachian Trail Connector–Furnace Loop, 6 sights is a 12.3-mile out-and-back in Sterling Forest State Park near Newburgh Junction, NY. It climbs 2,119 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade. It scores 23/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi545 – 1,135 ft · steepest grade: 28%12.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Sapphire Trail 41.29312, -74.14291
Nearest town Newburgh Junction, NY
Directions
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Appalachian Trail Connector–Furnace Loop, 6 sights
12.3 mi · ▲ 2,119 ft · 5 hr 10 min
Elevation 543–1,137 ft
Out & Back · Sterling Forest State Park
Trailhead: Sapphire Trail · 41.29312, -74.14291
Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:21 PM
Transit-accessible: Harriman stop 253 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Sapphire Trail, heading W.
- 2.1 miTurn right onto Appalachian Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Appalachian Trail Connector, heading S.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Indian Hill Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 450 ftTurn right onto Indian Hill Loop, heading SE.
- 1.1 miTurn left onto Furnace Loop, heading S.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Wildcat Mountain Trail, heading W.
- 1.6 miBear right onto Hickory Hollow Road, heading S.
- 0.1 miReach Sapphire Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.7 miBear left onto Furnace Loop, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Indian Hill Loop, heading N.
- 1.1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 500 ftTurn right onto Indian Hill Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Appalachian Trail Connector, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Appalachian Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Sapphire Trail, heading SE.
- 2 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
11% dirt89% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:21 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.2 mi in (~104 min). Leave by 5:18 PM for the 7:21 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:08 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Harriman stop 253 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Sapphire Trail Trailhead
- Sapphire Trail 4.4 mi · ▲ 686 ft
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