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

Welcome Boulder–Duck Pond, 10 sights

11.3 mi · ▲ 1,642 ft · 4 hr 35 min

Welcome Boulder–Duck Pond, 10 sights is an 11.3-mile out-and-back in Mohonk Preserve near Butterville, NY. The route passes Duck Pond, Skytop Reservoir and Welcome Boulder. It climbs 1,642 ft, with sections as steep as 31% grade, and is mostly gravel. It scores 54/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi417 – 1,250 ft · steepest grade: 31%11.9 mi

Getting there

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

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Welcome Boulder–Duck Pond, 10 sights

11.3 mi · ▲ 1,642 ft · 4 hr 35 min

Elevation 415–1,250 ft

Out & Back · Mohonk Preserve

Trailhead: Lower Duck Pond Road · 41.75671, -74.13614

Weather Sep 10: sunrise 6:31 AM · sunset 7:18 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 ftTurn left onto Forest Drive, heading NW.
  13. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Old Stage Road, heading N.
  14. 50 ftTurn right onto Forest Drive, heading N.
  15. 300 ftContinue straight onto Home Farm Drive, heading W.
  16. 0.1 miBear left onto Old Minnewaska Trail, heading SW.
  17. 0.8 miTurn right onto Rhododendron Bridge, heading NW.
  18. 100 ftTurn right onto Overcliff Carriage Road, heading NW.
  19. 2.4 miPass Welcome Boulder.
  20. 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  21. 50 ftBear left onto Trapps Parking Access, heading SW.
  22. 100 ftContinue straight onto West Trapps Parking Connector, heading SW.
  23. 350 ftBear right onto Shongum Path, heading SW.
  24. 0.3 miTurn left onto Enderly's Path, heading N.
  25. 0.3 miReach Welcome Boulder, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  26. 0.3 miTurn right onto Shongum Path, heading E.
  27. 0.3 miBear left onto West Trapps Parking Connector, heading SE.
  28. 350 ftContinue straight onto Trapps Parking Access, heading SE.
  29. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  30. 50 ftSharp right onto Overcliff Carriage Road, heading SE.
  31. 2.4 miTurn left onto Rhododendron Bridge, heading NE.
  32. 100 ftTurn left onto Old Minnewaska Trail, heading E.
  33. 0.8 miBear right onto Home Farm Drive, heading NE.
  34. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Forest Drive, heading N.
  35. 350 ftTurn left onto Old Stage Road, heading NE.
  36. 50 ftContinue straight onto Forest Drive, heading NE.
  37. 0.1 miTurn right onto Duck Pond Trail, heading N.
  38. 0.7 miTurn right onto Duck Pond Road, heading SE.
  39. 500 ftContinue straight onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading NE.
  40. 100 ftContinue straight onto Duck Pond Trail, heading NE.
  41. 50 ftTurn right onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading NE.
  42. 50 ftTurn left onto Duck Pond Trail, heading NE.
  43. 0.2 miSharp left onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading S.
  44. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  45. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lenape Lane, heading SE.
  46. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lower Duck Pond Road, heading SE.
  47. 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/welcome-boulder-welcome-boulder-out-back-12-sights-18-km

Trail surface

71% gravel17% dirt12% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:31 AMSunset 7:18 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.3 mi in (~82 min). Leave by 5:37 PM for the 7:18 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:32 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

Hikes near Butterville, New York