Shawangunk Ridge as seen from a Mohonk Preserve hiking trail.jpg
Grendelkhan · CC BY-SA 4.0

Penny's Perch–Copes Lookout, 13 sights is a 5.8-mile out-and-back in Mohonk Mountain House Property near Butterville, NY. The route passes Duck Pond, Skytop Reservoir, Skytop Reservoir and 6 more before reaching Penny's Perch at the turnaround, 2.9 miles in. It climbs 1,362 ft, with sections as steep as 35% grade. It scores 61/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi417 – 1,476 ft · steepest grade: 35%6.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Lower Duck Pond Road 41.75671, -74.13614
Nearest town Butterville, NY

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Penny's Perch–Copes Lookout, 13 sights

5.8 mi · ▲ 1,362 ft · 2 hr 37 min

Elevation 415–1,475 ft

Out & Back · Mohonk Mountain House Property

Trailhead: Lower Duck Pond Road · 41.75671, -74.13614

Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:29 AM · sunset 7:22 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Lower Duck Pond Road, heading SW.
  2. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Lenape Lane, heading SW.
  3. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading S.
  4. 0.3 miSharp right onto Duck Pond Trail, heading SW.
  5. 0.2 miTurn right onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading NW.
  6. 50 ftPass Duck Pond.
  7. 50 ftTurn left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading NW.
  8. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading NW.
  9. 50 ftContinue straight onto Duck Pond Road, heading NW.
  10. 0.1 miTurn left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading N.
  11. 0.7 miPass Skytop Reservoir.
  12. 50 ftBear right onto Forest Drive, heading NW.
  13. 50 ftBear left onto Birchen Trail, heading NW.
  14. 0.2 miPass Skytop Reservoir.
  15. 50 ftPass Mohonk Mountain House Property Beach.
  16. 100 ftTurn right onto The Labyrinth, heading SW.
  17. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  18. 50 ftPass Mohonk Lake.
  19. 250 ftTurn right onto Lake Shore Road, heading W.
  20. 200 ftSharp left onto Woodland Path, heading W.
  21. 50 ftSharp right onto Partridgeberry Trail, heading W.
  22. 50 ftTurn left onto Lakeshore Path, heading NW.
  23. 0.2 miPass Eagle Cliff Viewpoint.
  24. 50 ftContinue straight onto Short Woodland Drive, heading NW.
  25. 0.1 miPass Artist's Rock.
  26. 50 ftTurn right onto Humpty Dumpty Road, heading SW.
  27. 0.3 miPass Copes Lookout.
  28. 100 ftTurn right onto Copes Lookout Road, heading N.
  29. 0.3 miPass Mohonk Mountain House Property Beach.
  30. 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
  31. 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  32. 200 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  33. 150 ftReach Penny's Perch, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  34. 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
  35. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  36. 0.4 miTurn left onto Humpty Dumpty Road, heading S.
  37. 0.3 miTurn left onto Short Woodland Drive, heading SW.
  38. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lakeshore Path, heading SE.
  39. 0.2 miTurn right onto Partridgeberry Trail, heading S.
  40. 50 ftSharp left onto Woodland Path, heading S.
  41. 50 ftSharp right onto Lake Shore Road, heading S.
  42. 200 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  43. 350 ftBear right onto The Labyrinth, heading S.
  44. 50 ftTurn left onto Staircliff Path, heading S.
  45. 0.2 miBear right onto Forest Drive, heading N.
  46. 50 ftBear left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading N.
  47. 0.7 miTurn right onto Duck Pond Road, heading E.
  48. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading SE.
  49. 100 ftContinue straight onto Duck Pond Trail, heading SE.
  50. 50 ftTurn right onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading SE.
  51. 50 ftTurn left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading SE.
  52. 0.2 miSharp left onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading SE.
  53. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  54. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lenape Lane, heading SE.
  55. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading SE.
  56. 0.1 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

49% gravel26% dirt2% paved23% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:29 AMSunset 7:22 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.6 mi in (~63 min). Leave by 5:59 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:19 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Lower Duck Pond Road Trailhead