Shawangunk Ridge as seen from a Mohonk Preserve hiking trail.jpg
Grendelkhan · CC BY-SA 4.0

Laurel Ledge Viewpoint–Copes Lookout, 17 sights is a 15.7-mile out-and-back in Mohonk Preserve near New Paltz, NY. The route passes Duck Pond, Skytop Reservoir, Skytop Reservoir and 7 more before reaching Outback Slab at the turnaround, 7.9 miles in. It climbs 2,578 ft, with sections as steep as 55% grade, and is mostly gravel. It scores 45/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi180 – 1,476 ft · steepest grade: 55%16.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.75139, -74.09562
Nearest town New Paltz, NY

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Laurel Ledge Viewpoint–Copes Lookout, 17 sights

15.7 mi · ▲ 2,578 ft · 6 hr 31 min

Elevation 181–1,475 ft

Out & Back · Mohonk Preserve

Trailhead: 41.75139, -74.09562

Weather Sep 10: sunrise 6:31 AM · sunset 7:18 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 100 ftTurn right onto River-to-Ridge Trail, heading S.
  3. 2.4 miTurn right onto Lenape Lane, heading SW.
  4. 1.1 miSharp left onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading N.
  5. 0.2 miSharp right onto Duck Pond Trail, heading SW.
  6. 0.1 miPass Duck Pond.
  7. 300 ftTurn right onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading N.
  8. 50 ftTurn left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading NW.
  9. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading NW.
  10. 100 ftContinue straight onto Duck Pond Road, heading NW.
  11. 500 ftTurn left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading NW.
  12. 0.7 miPass Skytop Reservoir.
  13. 350 ftBear right onto Forest Drive, heading W.
  14. 50 ftBear left onto Birchen Trail, heading W.
  15. 0.1 miPass Skytop Reservoir.
  16. 50 ftPass Mohonk Mountain House Property Beach.
  17. 250 ftPass Mohonk Lake.
  18. 200 ftTurn right onto The Labyrinth, heading NE.
  19. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  20. 350 ftTurn right onto Lake Shore Road, heading SW.
  21. 250 ftSharp left onto Woodland Path, heading SW.
  22. 50 ftSharp right onto Partridgeberry Trail, heading W.
  23. 50 ftTurn left onto Lakeshore Path, heading W.
  24. 0.1 miPass Eagle Cliff Viewpoint.
  25. 450 ftContinue straight onto Short Woodland Drive, heading W.
  26. 200 ftPass Artist's Rock.
  27. 400 ftTurn right onto Humpty Dumpty Road, heading W.
  28. 0.2 miPass Copes Lookout.
  29. 400 ftTurn right onto Copes Lookout Road, heading SW.
  30. 250 ftContinue straight onto Laurel Ledge, heading N.
  31. 0.5 miPass Laurel Ledge Viewpoint.
  32. 450 ftBear right onto Maple Path, heading NE.
  33. 250 ftBear right onto Sassafrass Path, heading NE.
  34. 50 ftTurn left onto Maple Path, heading NE.
  35. 0.3 miTurn left onto Stokes Trail, heading NE.
  36. 1.1 miSharp left onto Undivided Lot Trail, heading W.
  37. 0.1 miPass Ouback Slab.
  38. 50 ftPass Outback Slab.
  39. 300 ftTurn right onto Outback Slab, heading NE.
  40. 100 ftReach Laurel Ledge Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  41. 150 ftTurn left onto Undivided Lot Trail, heading NE.
  42. 0.2 miSharp right onto Stokes Trail, heading NE.
  43. 1.1 miTurn right onto Maple Path, heading S.
  44. 0.3 miTurn right onto Sassafrass Path, heading SW.
  45. 50 ftBear left onto Maple Path, heading SW.
  46. 250 ftBear left onto Laurel Ledge, heading S.
  47. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Copes Lookout Road, heading SW.
  48. 250 ftTurn left onto Humpty Dumpty Road, heading SW.
  49. 0.3 miTurn left onto Short Woodland Drive, heading SW.
  50. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lakeshore Path, heading S.
  51. 0.2 miTurn right onto Partridgeberry Trail, heading SW.
  52. 50 ftSharp left onto Woodland Path, heading SW.
  53. 50 ftSharp right onto Lake Shore Road, heading SW.
  54. 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  55. 300 ftBear right onto The Labyrinth, heading SW.
  56. 50 ftTurn left onto Staircliff Path, heading SW.
  57. 0.2 miBear right onto Forest Drive, heading NE.
  58. 50 ftBear left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading NE.
  59. 0.7 miTurn right onto Duck Pond Road, heading SW.
  60. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading SE.
  61. 100 ftContinue straight onto Duck Pond Trail, heading E.
  62. 50 ftTurn right onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading E.
  63. 50 ftTurn left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading E.
  64. 0.2 miSharp left onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading S.
  65. 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
  66. 0.1 miSharp right onto Lenape Lane, heading S.
  67. 1.1 miTurn left onto River-to-Ridge Trail, heading NE.
  68. 2.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
  69. 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 surface

64% gravel30% dirt6% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:31 AMSunset 7:18 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.9 mi in (~146 min). Leave by 4:32 PM for the 7:18 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:35 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead