AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
View across Mohonk Preserve with bench.jpg
Grendelkhan · CC BY-SA 3.0
Mohonk Preserve

Duck Pond–Skytop Reservoir, 10 sights

10.6 mi · ▲ 1,475 ft · 4 hr 16 min

Duck Pond–Skytop Reservoir, 10 sights is a 10.6-mile out-and-back in Mohonk Preserve near Lake Minnewaska, NY. The route passes Skytop Reservoir and Duck Pond before reaching Duck Pond at the turnaround, 5.3 miles in. It climbs 1,475 ft, with sections as steep as 30% grade. It scores 60/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi604 – 1,250 ft · steepest grade: 30%10.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Trapps Hamlet Path 41.73611, -74.20034
Nearest town Lake Minnewaska, NY
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Duck Pond–Skytop Reservoir, 10 sights

10.6 mi · ▲ 1,475 ft · 4 hr 16 min

Elevation 604–1,250 ft

Out & Back · Mohonk Preserve

Trailhead: Trapps Hamlet Path · 41.73611, -74.20034

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

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Trapps Hamlet Path, heading N.
  2. 0.2 miSharp right onto Enderly's Path, heading E.
  3. 0.3 miTurn left onto Shongum Path, heading N.
  4. 0.3 miTurn right onto Old Minnewaska Trail, heading NE.
  5. 2.1 miTurn right onto Laurel Ledge, heading S.
  6. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Overcliff Carriage Road, heading E.
  7. 300 ftTurn left onto Rhododendron Bridge, heading SE.
  8. 100 ftTurn left onto Old Minnewaska Trail, heading SE.
  9. 0.8 miBear right onto Home Farm Drive, heading N.
  10. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Forest Drive, heading NE.
  11. 300 ftPass Skytop Reservoir.
  12. 50 ftTurn left onto Old Stage Road, heading NE.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Forest Drive, heading NE.
  14. 0.1 miTurn right onto Duck Pond Trail, heading NE.
  15. 0.6 miPass Duck Pond.
  16. 50 ftBear right onto Duck Pond Connector, heading S.
  17. 0.2 miReach Duck Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 0.2 miBear left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading NE.
  19. 0.7 miTurn left onto Forest Drive, heading W.
  20. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Old Stage Road, heading N.
  21. 50 ftTurn right onto Forest Drive, heading N.
  22. 350 ftContinue straight onto Home Farm Drive, heading W.
  23. 0.1 miBear left onto Old Minnewaska Trail, heading SW.
  24. 0.8 miTurn right onto Rhododendron Bridge, heading NW.
  25. 100 ftTurn right onto Overcliff Carriage Road, heading NW.
  26. 300 ftContinue straight onto Laurel Ledge, heading W.
  27. 0.3 miTurn left onto Old Minnewaska Trail, heading NE.
  28. 2.1 miTurn left onto Shongum Path, heading SW.
  29. 0.3 miTurn right onto Enderly's Path, heading SW.
  30. 0.3 miSharp left onto Trapps Hamlet Path, heading S.
  31. 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/duck-pond-duck-pond-out-back-12-sights

Trail surface

58% dirt27% gravel15% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:22 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.6 mi in (~72 min). Leave by 5:50 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:48 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Trapps Hamlet Path Trailhead

Hikes near Lake Minnewaska, New York