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
Getting there
Directions
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
- Start on White Oak Bend Agricultural Road, heading S.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Lenape Lane, heading SW.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading SW.
- 0.2 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.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Duck Pond Road, heading NW.
- 500 ftTurn 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.
- 50 ftPass Skytop.
- 50 ftTurn right onto The Labyrinth, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Sky Top Road, heading SW.
- 100 ftPass Vernal Pool.
- 400 ftReach Sky Top Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto The Labyrinth, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Staircliff Path, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Forest Drive, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading S.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Duck Pond Road, heading SE.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading S.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Duck Pond Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading S.
- 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 SE.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto White Oak Bend Agricultural Road, heading NE.
- 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
Weather
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.
More from White Oak Bend Agricultural Road Trailhead
- Bonticou Crag–Koi Pond, 6 sights 14.5 mi · ▲ 2,403 ft
- River-to-Ridge Viewpoint–Lower Duck Pond Road, 3 sights 8.5 mi · ▲ 474 ft
- Lenape Lane & Lower Duck Pond Road 2.5 mi · ▲ 302 ft
- Millbrook Mountain–Welcome Boulder, 14 sights 16 mi · ▲ 2,602 ft
- Lenape Lane 1.9 mi · ▲ 109 ft
- Arbuckle Woods–White Oak, 3 groves 3.7 mi · ▲ 309 ft
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