Sentinel Rock–Mohonk Lake, 8 lakes is a 3.9-mile out-and-back in Mohonk Preserve near Butterville, NY. The route passes Duck Pond, Skytop Reservoir, Skytop Reservoir and 3 more before reaching Sentinel Rock at the turnaround, 1.9 miles in. It climbs 1,351 ft, with sections as steep as 50% grade. It scores 59/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi417 – 1,476 ft · steepest grade: 50%4.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Lower Duck Pond Road 41.75671, -74.13614
Nearest town Butterville, NY
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Sentinel Rock–Mohonk Lake, 8 lakes
3.9 mi · ▲ 1,351 ft · 1 hr 59 min
Elevation 415–1,475 ft
Out & Back · Mohonk Preserve
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
- Start on Lower Duck Pond Road, heading SW.
- 0.4 miSharp right onto Duck Pond Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Duck Pond.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Duck Pond Road, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading N.
- 0.7 miPass Skytop Reservoir.
- 50 ftBear right onto Forest Drive, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Birchen Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miPass Skytop Reservoir.
- 50 ftPass Mohonk Mountain House Property Beach.
- 150 ftTurn right onto The Labyrinth, heading SW.
- 0.1 miPass Mohonk Lake.
- 50 ftPass Vernal Pool.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Sky Top Path, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto The Labyrinth, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Sky Top Path, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto The Labyrinth, heading N.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftReach Sentinel Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Sky Top Path, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto The Labyrinth, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Sky Top Path, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto The Labyrinth, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Staircliff Path, heading N.
- 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.
- 500 ftContinue straight onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading SE.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Duck Pond Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.3 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
35% dirt32% gravel33% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:29 AMSunset 7:22 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.6 mi in (~58 min). Leave by 6:03 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Lower Duck Pond Road Trailhead
- Duck Pond Viewpoint–Dead Oak, 5 sights 1.8 mi · ▲ 369 ft
- Lenape Lane 1.9 mi · ▲ 81 ft
- Lenape Lane 1.9 mi · ▲ 109 ft
- Oak Tree–Maple Tree, 6 sights 2 mi · ▲ 343 ft
- Dead Oak–Kleinekill Pool, 6 sights 2.1 mi · ▲ 364 ft
- Lenape Lane & Lower Duck Pond Road 2.5 mi · ▲ 302 ft
Get outside more
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Hikes near Butterville, New York