Mohonk Lake–Skytop, 12 lakes is a 10.5-mile out-and-back in Mohonk Preserve (Foothills) near New Paltz, NY. The route passes Duck Pond, Skytop Reservoir, Skytop Reservoir and 7 more before reaching Vernal Pool at the turnaround, 5.3 miles in. It climbs 1,571 ft, with sections as steep as 45% grade, and is mostly gravel. It scores 30/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi180 – 1,529 ft · steepest grade: 45%11.4 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 41.75139, -74.09562
Nearest town New Paltz, NY
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Mohonk Lake–Skytop, 12 lakes
10.5 mi · ▲ 1,571 ft · 4 hr 17 min
Elevation 181–1,528 ft
Out & Back · Mohonk Preserve (Foothills)
Trailhead: 41.75139, -74.09562
Weather Sep 8: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:20 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.
- 50 ftPass Skytop.
- 250 ftPass Thurston Rock.
- 50 ftPass Mohonk Lake.
- 50 ftPass Vernal Pool.
- 50 ftPass Hayes Lookout.
- 50 ftTurn right onto The Labyrinth, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Sky Top Road, heading NE.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Sky Top Path, heading W.
- 150 ftBear right onto Sky Top Road, heading SW.
- 0.2 miPass Lily Pond.
- 50 ftPass Vernal Pool.
- 450 ftBear left, heading N.
- 50 ftReach Mohonk Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Sky Top Path, heading NE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Sky Top Road, heading E.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto The Labyrinth, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Staircliff Path, heading NE.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Forest Drive, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading W.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Duck Pond Road, heading SE.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading SE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Duck Pond Trail, heading SE.
- 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 SE.
- 2.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 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
77% gravel13% dirt10% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:20 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.8 mi in (~141 min). Leave by 4:39 PM for the 7:20 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
- Laurel Ledge Viewpoint–Copes Lookout, 17 sights 15.7 mi · ▲ 2,578 ft
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