View across Mohonk Preserve with bench.jpg
Grendelkhan · CC BY-SA 3.0

Sky Top Viewpoint–Skytop, 8 lakes is a 4.1-mile out-and-back in Mohonk Preserve near Butterville, NY. The route passes Duck Pond, Skytop Reservoir, Skytop Reservoir and 3 more before reaching Sky Top Viewpoint at the turnaround, 2.1 miles in. It climbs 1,211 ft, with sections as steep as 66% grade. It scores 56/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi325 – 1,542 ft · steepest grade: 66%4.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: White Oak Bend Agricultural Road 41.75511, -74.13522
Nearest town Butterville, NY

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sky Top Viewpoint–Skytop, 8 lakes

4.1 mi · ▲ 1,211 ft · 1 hr 58 min

Elevation 324–1,541 ft

Out & Back · Mohonk Preserve

Trailhead: White Oak Bend Agricultural Road · 41.75511, -74.13522

Weather Sep 10: sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:17 PM

  1. Start on White Oak Bend Agricultural Road, heading S.
  2. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Lenape Lane, heading SW.
  3. 0.3 miSharp left onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading SW.
  4. 0.2 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. 100 ftContinue straight onto Duck Pond Road, heading NW.
  10. 500 ftTurn 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. 50 ftPass Skytop.
  17. 50 ftTurn right onto The Labyrinth, heading SW.
  18. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sky Top Road, heading SW.
  19. 100 ftPass Vernal Pool.
  20. 400 ftReach Sky Top Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  21. 0.1 miContinue straight onto The Labyrinth, heading N.
  22. 50 ftTurn left onto Staircliff Path, heading N.
  23. 0.2 miBear right onto Forest Drive, heading S.
  24. 50 ftBear left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading S.
  25. 0.7 miTurn right onto Duck Pond Road, heading SE.
  26. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading S.
  27. 50 ftContinue straight onto Duck Pond Trail, heading S.
  28. 50 ftTurn right onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading S.
  29. 50 ftTurn left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading S.
  30. 0.2 miSharp left onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading S.
  31. 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
  32. 0.1 miSharp right onto Lenape Lane, heading SE.
  33. 0.3 miContinue straight onto White Oak Bend Agricultural Road, heading NE.
  34. 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

43% gravel34% dirt23% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:32 AMSunset 7:17 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.9 mi in (~69 min). Leave by 5:47 PM for the 7:17 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:18 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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