AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Mohonk Preserve

Duck Pond–Skytop Reservoir, 8 sights

8.1 mi · ▲ 1,282 ft · 3 hr 20 min

Duck Pond–Skytop Reservoir, 8 sights is an 8.1-mile out-and-back in Mohonk Preserve near High Falls, NY. The route passes Skytop Reservoir and Duck Pond before reaching Duck Pond at the turnaround, 3.9 miles in. It climbs 1,282 ft, with sections as steep as 29% grade, and is mostly gravel. It scores 70/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi600 – 1,161 ft · steepest grade: 29%8.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Chapel Trail 41.79465, -74.12848
Nearest town High Falls, NY
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Duck Pond–Skytop Reservoir, 8 sights

8.1 mi · ▲ 1,282 ft · 3 hr 20 min

Elevation 600–1,161 ft

Out & Back · Mohonk Preserve

Trailhead: Chapel Trail · 41.79465, -74.12848

Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:29 AM · sunset 7:22 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  3. 150 ftTurn right onto Table Rocks Trail, heading E.
  4. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  5. 350 ftContinue straight onto Crag Trail, heading SE.
  6. 0.1 miTurn right onto Spring Farm Road, heading E.
  7. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Bonticou Road, heading SW.
  8. 450 ftContinue straight onto Spring Farm Road, heading S.
  9. 0.7 miBear left, heading SW.
  10. 200 ftTurn right onto Whitney Road, heading SW.
  11. 0.6 miContinue straight onto North Lookout Road, heading SW.
  12. 500 ftBear left onto Glen Anna Path, heading SW.
  13. 0.2 miBear left onto Huguenot Drive, heading S.
  14. 250 ftContinue straight onto Kleine Kill Rd., heading S.
  15. 0.2 miTurn right onto Forest Drive, heading S.
  16. 0.4 miPass Skytop Reservoir.
  17. 150 ftBear left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading SW.
  18. 0.6 miPass Duck Pond.
  19. 50 ftBear right onto Duck Pond Connector, heading SE.
  20. 0.2 miTurn right onto Glory Hill Road, heading S.
  21. 0.1 miReach Duck Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  22. 0.1 miTurn left onto Duck Pond Connector, heading SE.
  23. 0.2 miBear left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading N.
  24. 0.7 miBear right onto Forest Drive, heading NW.
  25. 0.5 miTurn left onto Kleine Kill Rd., heading NE.
  26. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Huguenot Drive, heading NE.
  27. 250 ftBear right onto Glen Anna Path, heading NE.
  28. 0.2 miBear right onto North Lookout Road, heading N.
  29. 500 ftContinue straight onto Whitney Road, heading N.
  30. 0.6 miTurn left onto Spring Farm Road, heading NE.
  31. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  32. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Bonticou Road, heading NE.
  33. 450 ftContinue straight onto Spring Farm Road, heading NE.
  34. 0.4 miTurn left onto Crag Trail, heading N.
  35. 0.2 miBear left onto Table Rocks Trail, heading NE.
  36. 100 ftTurn left, heading E.
  37. 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
  38. 50 ftArrive 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-9-sights

Trail surface

68% gravel26% dirt1% grass5% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:29 AMSunset 7:22 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~14 min). Leave by 6:48 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:45 PM — 5 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Chapel Trail Trailhead

Hikes near High Falls, New York