Sterling Forest State Park
McKeags Meadow Trail–McKeags Meadow, 7 sights
8.4 mi · ▲ 1,401 ft · 3 hr 30 min
McKeags Meadow Trail–McKeags Meadow, 7 sights is an 8.4-mile out-and-back in Sterling Forest State Park near Lakeville, NY. It climbs 1,401 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 70/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
McKeags Meadow Trail–McKeags Meadow, 7 sights
8.4 mi · ▲ 1,401 ft · 3 hr 30 min
Elevation 556–1,040 ft
Out & Back · Sterling Forest State Park
Trailhead: Laurel Meadow Drive · 41.19470, -74.25251
Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:22 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on McKeages Meadow Connector, heading SE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto McKeags Meadow Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto McKeags Meadow, heading SW.
- 1 miSharp right onto McKeags Meadow / Redback, heading SW.
- 500 ftTurn left onto Redback Hike Pink Blaze, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Redback South, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Redback Hike Pink Blaze, heading SW.
- 0.1 miSharp left onto Redback South, heading S.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Redback Hike Pink Blaze, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Scott Mine Road, heading S.
- 250 ftReach McKeags Meadow Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Redback Hike Pink Blaze, heading E.
- 1.5 miTurn left onto Redback Doubletrack, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left onto Redback, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Redback Doubletrack, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Redback, heading N.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Redback Doubletrack, heading N.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Redback, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Redback Doubletrack, heading SW.
- 100 ftBear right onto Redback, heading SW.
- 450 ftTurn left onto Red Back Trail, heading SW.
- 150 ftBear right onto Redback, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Redback Doubletrack, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Redback, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Redback Douubletrack, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Redback, heading NW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Redback Doubletrack, heading N.
- 0.8 miTurn left onto Red Back, heading N.
- 0.6 miSharp right onto McKeags Meadow, heading N.
- 0.6 miSharp left onto McKeags Meadow Trail, heading N.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto McKeages Meadow Connector, heading S.
- 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 1.8 mi in (~58 min). Leave by 6:04 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:29 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Laurel Meadow Drive Trailhead
- McKeags Meadow / Red Back–McKeags Meadow Trail, 3 sights 3 mi · ▲ 309 ft
- McKeags Meadow Trail–McKeags Meadow, 3 sights 3 mi · ▲ 175 ft
- Augusta Mine Trail–Hutchinson Trail, 3 sights 4.1 mi · ▲ 447 ft
- McKeags Meadow Connector–Pine Meadow Trail, 3 sights 5 mi · ▲ 554 ft
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Hikes near Lakeville, New York