Sterling Forest State Park
McKeags Meadow / Red Back–Red Back South Loop, 6 sights
4.9 mi · ▲ 696 ft · 1 hr 59 min
McKeags Meadow / Red Back–Red Back South Loop, 6 sights is a 4.9-mile loop in Sterling Forest State Park near Eagle Valley, NY. It climbs 696 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 79/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
McKeags Meadow / Red Back–Red Back South Loop, 6 sights
4.9 mi · ▲ 696 ft · 1 hr 59 min
Elevation 623–1,040 ft
Loop · Sterling Forest State Park
Trailhead: Redback · 41.17589, -74.22919
Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:22 PM
- Start on Redback Doubletrack, heading SW.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Redback, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Red Back Trail, heading SW.
- 150 ftBear right onto Redback, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Redback Doubletrack, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Redback, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Redback Douubletrack, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Redback, heading NW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Redback Doubletrack, heading W.
- 0.8 miTurn left onto Red Back, heading N.
- 0.6 miBear left onto McKeags Meadow / Red Back, heading NW.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto McKeags Meadow / Redback, heading SW.
- 500 ftTurn left onto Redback Hike Pink Blaze, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Redback South, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Redback Hike Pink Blaze, heading S.
- 0.1 miSharp left onto Redback South, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Red Back South, heading W.
- 0.9 miBear right onto Redback Doubletrack, heading E.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Red Back Trail, heading NE.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Redback, heading E.
- 400 ftBear left onto Redback Doubletrack, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear left onto Redback, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Redback Doubletrack, heading NE.
- 150 ftThe loop closes 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 1.4 mi in (~46 min). Leave by 6:15 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:11 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
More from Redback Trailhead
- Redback Doubletrack 2.2 mi · ▲ 346 ft
- Redback Doubletrack 2.2 mi · ▲ 346 ft
- Munsee Eagle South 2.4 mi · ▲ 385 ft
- Redback Doubletrack 2.4 mi · ▲ 414 ft
- Redback Doubletrack 2.4 mi · ▲ 414 ft
- Redback Doubletrack via Red Back 3.1 mi · ▲ 521 ft
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