Sterling Forest State Park

Appalachian Trail;Highlands Trail & Doris Duke Trail

9.6 mi · ▲ 1,534 ft · 3 hr 58 min

Appalachian Trail;Highlands Trail & Doris Duke Trail is a 9.6-mile out-and-back in Sterling Forest State Park near Dutch Hollow, NY. It climbs 1,534 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 30/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi807 – 1,322 ft · steepest grade: 18%9.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.22968, -74.26041
Nearest town Dutch Hollow, NY

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Appalachian Trail;Highlands Trail & Doris Duke Trail

9.6 mi · ▲ 1,534 ft · 3 hr 58 min

Elevation 807–1,323 ft

Out & Back · Sterling Forest State Park

Trailhead: 41.22968, -74.26041

Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:22 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 2.5 miTurn right, heading SE.
  3. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Doris Duke Trail, heading SE.
  4. 0.1 miReach Doris Duke Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  5. 1.7 miSharp right, heading SW.
  6. 0.2 miTurn left onto Appalachian Trail;Highlands Trail, heading NE.
  7. 0.9 miBear left, heading W.
  8. 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  9. 1.3 miSharp right, heading SE.
  10. 2.1 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 7:22 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~21 min). Leave by 6:41 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:54 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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