Sterling Forest State Park

Mombasha Lake & Appalachian Trail

12.2 mi · ▲ 1,527 ft · 4 hr 50 min

Mombasha Lake & Appalachian Trail is a 12.2-mile out-and-back in Sterling Forest State Park near Dutch Hollow, NY. The route reaches Mombasha Lake at the turnaround, 6 miles in. It climbs 1,527 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade. It scores 38/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi856 – 1,381 ft · steepest grade: 27%12.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.22968, -74.26041
Nearest town Dutch Hollow, NY

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mombasha Lake & Appalachian Trail

12.2 mi · ▲ 1,527 ft · 4 hr 50 min

Elevation 856–1,380 ft

Out & Back · Sterling Forest State Park

Trailhead: 41.22968, -74.26041

Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:22 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 2.5 miTurn right, heading E.
  3. 0.8 miTurn left, heading NE.
  4. 0.2 miTurn right onto Appalachian Trail, heading N.
  5. 1.9 miBear left, heading E.
  6. 0.6 miTurn left, heading N.
  7. 450 ftReach Mombasha Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 450 ftTurn right, heading N.
  9. 2.5 miTurn left, heading W.
  10. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  11. 0.8 miTurn left, heading SW.
  12. 2.5 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

31% dirt69% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:22 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~21 min). Leave by 6:40 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:54 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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