Vernal Pool–Joppenbergh Mountain Beach, 6 sights is a 10.4-mile out-and-back in Mohonk Preserve near Binnewater, NY. The route passes Joppenbergh Mountain Beach before reaching Vernal Pool at the turnaround, 5.1 miles in. It climbs 1,432 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade. It scores 50/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi43 – 945 ft · steepest grade: 24%11.2 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Wallkill Valley Rail Trail 41.85656, -74.08567
Nearest town Binnewater, NY
Directions
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Vernal Pool–Joppenbergh Mountain Beach, 6 sights
10.4 mi · ▲ 1,432 ft · 4 hr 11 min
Elevation 44–946 ft
Out & Back · Mohonk Preserve
Trailhead: Wallkill Valley Rail Trail · 41.85656, -74.08567
Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:29 AM · sunset 7:22 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, heading S.
- 0.8 miPass Joppenbergh Mountain Beach.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Lime Kiln Trail (Green), heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 1 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Northeast Trail, heading W.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Cedar Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Cedar Drive, heading SW.
- 400 ftContinue straight onto Cedar Drive Loop, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Ski Loop, heading NW.
- 350 ftReach Vernal Pool, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 300 ftTurn left onto Cedar Drive Loop, heading N.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Cedar Drive, heading N.
- 350 ftBear left onto Cedar Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Northeast Trail, heading W.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading N.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.8 miContinue straight onto Lime Kiln Trail (Green), heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
- 150 ftBear right, heading N.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Rosendale Trestle, heading N.
- 0.8 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
52% dirt24% gravel2% other22% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:29 AMSunset 7:22 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.3 mi in (~127 min). Leave by 4:55 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:31 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Wallkill Valley Rail Trail Trailhead
- Fourth Lake & Fifth Lake via Wallkill Valley Rail Trail 2.4 mi · ▲ 120 ft
- Joppenbergh Mountain Viewpoint & Joppenbergh Mountain Beach via Joppenbergh Mountain Loop 2.5 mi · ▲ 474 ft
- White Dot–Joppenbergh Mountain Beach, 3 beaches 3.5 mi · ▲ 440 ft
- Flooded Mine–Joppenbergh Mountain Beach, 3 beaches 5.8 mi · ▲ 403 ft
- Table Rocks–Joppenbergh Mountain Beach, 4 sights 9.7 mi · ▲ 1,351 ft
- Joppenbergh Mountain Beach–Lime Kiln Trail (Green), 3 sights 10 mi · ▲ 1,140 ft
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