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
Getting there
Directions
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
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 100 ftTurn right onto River-to-Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 2.4 miTurn right onto Lenape Lane, heading SW.
- 1.1 miSharp left onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading N.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Duck Pond Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miPass Duck Pond.
- 300 ftTurn right onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading NW.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Duck Pond Road, heading NW.
- 500 ftTurn left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading NW.
- 0.7 miPass Skytop Reservoir.
- 350 ftBear right onto Forest Drive, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left onto Birchen Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miPass Skytop Reservoir.
- 50 ftPass Mohonk Mountain House Property Beach.
- 250 ftPass Mohonk Lake.
- 200 ftTurn right onto The Labyrinth, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 350 ftTurn right onto Lake Shore Road, heading SW.
- 250 ftSharp left onto Woodland Path, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Partridgeberry Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Lakeshore Path, heading W.
- 0.1 miPass Eagle Cliff Viewpoint.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Short Woodland Drive, heading W.
- 200 ftPass Artist's Rock.
- 400 ftTurn right onto Humpty Dumpty Road, heading W.
- 0.2 miPass Copes Lookout.
- 400 ftTurn right onto Copes Lookout Road, heading SW.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Laurel Ledge, heading N.
- 0.5 miPass Laurel Ledge Viewpoint.
- 450 ftBear right onto Maple Path, heading NE.
- 250 ftBear right onto Sassafrass Path, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Maple Path, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Stokes Trail, heading NE.
- 1.1 miSharp left onto Undivided Lot Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miPass Ouback Slab.
- 50 ftPass Outback Slab.
- 300 ftTurn right onto Outback Slab, heading NE.
- 100 ftReach Laurel Ledge Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Undivided Lot Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Stokes Trail, heading NE.
- 1.1 miTurn right onto Maple Path, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Sassafrass Path, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Maple Path, heading SW.
- 250 ftBear left onto Laurel Ledge, heading S.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Copes Lookout Road, heading SW.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Humpty Dumpty Road, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Short Woodland Drive, heading SW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lakeshore Path, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Partridgeberry Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Woodland Path, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Lake Shore Road, heading SW.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 300 ftBear right onto The Labyrinth, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Staircliff Path, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Forest Drive, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading NE.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Duck Pond Road, heading SW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading SE.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Duck Pond Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Lenape Lane, heading S.
- 1.1 miTurn left onto River-to-Ridge Trail, heading NE.
- 2.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 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
Weather
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.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Bonticou Crag–Kleinekill Pool, 6 sights 13.7 mi · ▲ 1,922 ft
- Oak Tree–Duck Pond, 5 sights 8.1 mi · ▲ 599 ft
- River-to-Ridge Trail 4.8 mi · ▲ 195 ft
- Mohonk Lake–Skytop, 12 lakes 10.5 mi · ▲ 1,571 ft
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