AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Long Pond Ironworks State Park

Horse Pond Mountain–Monksville Reservoir, 12 sights

16.1 mi · ▲ 1,936 ft · 6 hr 20 min

Horse Pond Mountain–Monksville Reservoir, 12 sights is a 16.1-mile out-and-back in Long Pond Ironworks State Park near Sterling Forest, NY. The route passes Monksville Reservoir, Burnt Meadow/Highlands Viewpoint, Horse Pond Mountain and Lake Sonoma before reaching Manaticut/Lake Sonoma Viewpoint at the turnaround, 8 miles in. It climbs 1,936 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade. It scores 55/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi404 – 955 ft · steepest grade: 20%16.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Stering Forest Road 41.17939, -74.31393
Nearest town Sterling Forest, NY
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Horse Pond Mountain–Monksville Reservoir, 12 sights

16.1 mi · ▲ 1,936 ft · 6 hr 20 min

Elevation 402–956 ft

Out & Back · Long Pond Ironworks State Park

Trailhead: Stering Forest Road · 41.17939, -74.31393

Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:31 AM · sunset 7:22 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 50 ftTurn right onto Lake to Lake Trail, heading S.
  3. 450 ftTurn right, heading S.
  4. 0.5 miTurn left onto Jennings Hollow Trail, heading NE.
  5. 1.8 miContinue straight onto Sterling Ridge/Highlands Trail, heading S.
  6. 0.6 miBear right onto Hasenclever Iron Trail, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftBear left onto Sterling Ridge/Highlands Trail, heading SW.
  8. 150 ftPass Monksville Reservoir.
  9. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  10. 1.2 miBear left onto Highlands Trail, heading NW.
  11. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Burnt Meadow/Highlands Trail, heading SW.
  12. 0.7 miPass Burnt Meadow/Highlands Viewpoint.
  13. 50 ftPass Horse Pond Mountain.
  14. 150 ftContinue straight onto Burnt Meadow Trail, heading S.
  15. 0.6 miBear left onto Tapawingo Trail, heading NW.
  16. 1.1 miTurn left onto Lake Sonoma Trail, heading SW.
  17. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  18. 0.3 miPass Lake Sonoma.
  19. 0.2 miTurn right onto Manaticut Trail, heading SW.
  20. 100 ftContinue straight onto Lake Sonoma Trail, heading SW.
  21. 150 ftTurn left onto Lake Sonoma/Manaticut Trail, heading SW.
  22. 0.2 miPass Manaticut/Lake Sonoma Viewpoint.
  23. 300 ftContinue straight onto Manaticut/Lake Sonoma Trail, heading S.
  24. 50 ftReach Horse Pond Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  25. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Lake Sonoma/Manaticut Trail, heading E.
  26. 200 ftTurn right onto Lake Sonoma Trail, heading W.
  27. 150 ftContinue straight onto Manaticut Trail, heading NW.
  28. 100 ftTurn left onto Lake Sonoma Trail, heading NW.
  29. 0.7 miTurn right onto Tapawingo Trail, heading N.
  30. 1.1 miBear right onto Burnt Meadow Trail, heading N.
  31. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Burnt Meadow/Highlands Trail, heading S.
  32. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Highlands Trail, heading NE.
  33. 0.3 miBear right onto Sterling Ridge/Highlands Trail, heading N.
  34. 1.2 miBear left, heading N.
  35. 0.1 miBear right onto Hasenclever Iron Trail, heading N.
  36. 50 ftBear left onto Sterling Ridge/Highlands Trail, heading W.
  37. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Jennings Hollow Trail, heading N.
  38. 1.8 miTurn right, heading N.
  39. 0.5 miTurn left onto Lake to Lake Trail, heading NW.
  40. 450 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  41. 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/horse-pond-mountain-monksville-reservoir-out-back-13-sights

Trail surface

32% dirt68% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:31 AMSunset 7:22 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Stering Forest Road Trailhead

Hikes near Sterling Forest, New York