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Southern Zone

OPRHP State Park Regions

DEC Regions

The Southern Zone contains fourOPRHP Regions (Long Island,New York City, Taconic andPalisades) and the Catskill Park.It also contains DEC Regions 1,2, 3 and portions of Region 4.

OPRHP Regions

Long Island RegionBelmont Lake State ParkP.O. Box 247Babylon, NY 11802-0247(631) 669-1000

New York City Region163 West 125th StreetNew York, NY 10027(212) 866-2720

Palisades RegionAdministration HeadquartersBear Mtn., NY 10911-0427(845) 786-2701

Taconic RegionStaatsburg, NY 12580(845) 889-4100

DEC Regions

Region 1SUNY-Building 40Stony Brook, NY 11790(631) 444-0354

Region 21 Hunter’s Point Plaza47-40 21st StreetLong Island City, NY 11101-5407(718) 482-4900

Region 321 South Putt Corners Rd.New Paltz, NY 12561-1696(845) 256-3000

Region 41150 N. Westcott RoadSchenectady, NY 12306(518) 357-2234

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State ParksSouthern Zone

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Connetquot River State Park PreserveContact: Box 505

Sunrise HighwayOakdale, NY 11769(631) 581-1005

Trails in system: 50 miles.

Connetquot River State ParkPreserve continues the traditions ofconservation established on the 3,400-acre property by the South SideSportsmen’s Club of Long Island. Theclub was formed after the War Betweenthe States by a group of sportsmen who

found it difficult to get rooms atSnedecors Inn. The members maintainedthe land and waters for the protectionand propagation of of game birds, fishand animals.

The area was first opened tolimited public access in August of 1973,and was designated as the first StatePark Preserve in the State of New Yorkon August 7, 1987. The Park Preservelegislation ensures the preservation ofthis unique refuge in its present state,with diverse programs and activitiesgeared to develop awareness of the

value and beauty of the remainingnatural area of Long Island.

Deer and waterfowl are numerous,rare nesting birds, including the osprey,are present and there are numerous rareplants, such as trailing arbutus and pyxiemoss in their natural habitats. Thepreserve also has 50 miles of hiking,horseback riding, cross-country ski andnature trails, as well as fishing on theConnetquot River.

A permit is needed for all access tothe preserve. Requests should be madein writing directly to the park.

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Montauk Point State Park

Contact: 50 South Fairview AvenueMontauk, NY 11954(631) 668-3781

Trails: 6 miles

Montauk Point State Park is aheavily-wooded tundra leading to theeastern tip of Long Island and thehistoric Montauk Lighthouse. The parkoffers some of the best surf fishing inthe world. Montauk Point State Park isalso a favorite spot of birdwatchersbecause this park extends the farthesteast into the ocean and many species ofbirds stop at the park on their northwardmigration. The view at the park isunique. When the water is calm, visitorscan clearly see the “race” of convergingtides from the Atlantic and Block IslandSound. Visitors can picnic under the pinetrees, use the nature trails to hike orcross-country ski, or spend timewatching the seals sun on the rocksoffshore.

Most of the trails in the park aremultipurpose trails created on old dirtroads. These trails allow uses such ashiking, biking and horseback riding.

There are two trails that allow onlyhiking. The first is the Seal HauloutTrail. This trail begins at the MontaukState Parkway and winds its way toRocky Point. In late winter and spring,the harbor seals sun themselves on therocky shoreline east of Oyster Pond. Aviewing blind at Rocky Point (orStepping Stones) is accessed from theSeal Haulout Trail.

The second trail is a segment ofthe Paumanok Path that runs along thesouth east shore of Oyster Pond. Thissegment is also known as the OgdensBrook Trail. At Ogdens Brook a foot-bridge takes the trail to the other side ofthis “Adirondack Mountain-like” stream.The brook twists and tumbles over rocksand tree roots on the south side of thebridge and to the north, the brook makes

its way through woods and marsh beforeit flows into Oyster Pond.

The Paumanok Path, although stillincomplete, is being touted as theAppalachian Trail of Long Island.Completed, the trail will run a projectedlength of 125 miles from Rocky Point toMontauk Point. On its way to MontaukPoint the path traverses the PineBarrens, the Hampton’s and NapeagueState Park, Hither Hills State Park,Montauk Point State Park and CampHero State Park.

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Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve

Contact: 83 Nielson AvenueStaten Island, NY 10309(718) 967-1976

Hiking Trail: 1 mile.Equestrian Trail: 2 miles.

Clay Pit Ponds is unique in that itis a 260-acre natural area within NewYork City. The preserve offers theopportunity to experience wetland, field,

sand barren, stream and woodlandhabitats, all within the state’s largestmetropolis.

The hiking trails are only open tofoot traffic. Guided and self-guidednature walks on these trails expose thevisitor to a wide diversity of plant andanimal species for exploration. Theequestrian trail skirts around a pond inthe northern area of the park and heads

southward to another pond, where itbegins the return loop.

When visiting this park, pleasefollow the special rules that wereestablished to help preserve the area.

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Clarence Fahnestock State ParkCharcoal Burners Trail (red). Turning left,follow the Charcoal Burners Trail south towhere the Cabot Trail (white) turns off tothe right. It leads west on a forest road.Just before the forest road enters a postedarea, which should be avoided, the trailturns off sharply to the left. Continuingsouth, the Cabot Trail enters a field andends at the Perkins Trail (yellow), where aleft turn leads over several small ridgesback to the Charcoal Burners Trail (red).Turn right on this trail, which crossesRoute 301. Continuing south, it crossesthe Old Mine Trail (yellow), then a streambefore ending at the Three Lakes Trail(blue). Turn left on the Three Lakes Trail,then left on the Appalachian Trail (white)and continue back to Canopus Lake.

snowmobiling.Ridges running from southwest to

northeast dominate the terrain. Betweenthem are several lakes and ponds andnumerous wetlands and streams. Al-though there are occasional steepsections, there are no long or difficultclimbs and, for the most part, grades aremoderate. All trails are blazed with roundplastic discs in a variety of colors orrectangular painted marks. Trail maps areavailable at the Park Office. The followingis a sample of the many hikes available:

Cross-Boundary Circuit -- Includingtrails in Fahnestock State Park and theHubbard-Perkins Conservation Area, this6-mile hike begins on Route 301, at thesouth end of Canopus Lake, and proceedsnorth on the Appalachian Trail (white).Turn left onto the Fahnestock Trail (blue)which leads west to a junction with the

Contact: Clarence Fahnestock State ParkRte 301Carmel, NY 10512(845) 225-7207

Park Trails System: 70 miles.Cross-Boundary Circuit: 6 miles.

Located in the highlands of PutnamCounty, approximately one hour from NewYork City, Clarence Fahnestock State Parkoffers a variety of year-round activities. Inaddition to the nearly 70 miles of hikingtrails, the park offers facilities for swim-ming, camping, boating and fishing duringthe summer months. In the winter patronsenjoy cross-county skiing, snowshoeing,sledding and ice fishing. The park’s trailsare restricted to day use only. Camping ormaking fires is prohibited except in thedesignated campgrounds. Specific trailswithin the park have been designated formountain biking, equestrian use and

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Old Croton AqueductState Historic ParkContact: 15 Walnut St.

Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522(914) 245-4434

Trail: 26.2 miles.

The trail follows the general routeof the Old Croton Aqueduct thatconveyed New York City's first publicwater supply. Beneath the trail lies oneof the great engineering achievements ofthe 19th century. Construction of theaqueduct began in 1837 and wasdesigned and routed by West Pointengineering professor Major David B.Douglass. The aqueduct is an ellipticaltube measuring 8.5 feet high by 7.5 feetwide. It is lined with brick throughoutmost of its length. Dropping 13 inchesper mile, the aqueduct was gravity-fed asin Roman times. Some sections of theaqueduct were cut into hillsides, whileothers were constructed in earthen fillsthrough valleys and rivers. Still othersections were constructed in archedbridges; two were used to cross SingSing Kill and the Harlem River. Conicalventing towers were built approximatelyevery mile to relieve pressure and tokeep the water fresh.

The aqueduct was capable oftransporting 100 million gallons of watera day to the growing population of NewYork City. The aqueduct was originallydesigned to meet the needs of New YorkCity for 100 years; however, the capacityof the aqueduct was exceeded muchsooner than expected and a newaqueduct was begun in 1885. The oldaqueduct supplied water into the 1950s.

The present trail route waspurchased by the state in 1968. The parktrail begins in Cortlandt at the site of theNew Croton Dam and parallels the riverfor most of its route to the Yonkers-NewYork City line. The trail is used byhikers, bicyclists, photographers, birdwatchers, naturalists, historians andjoggers. The trail surface is mostly grassexcept when local streets are used. TheOssining Heritage Area Visitor Centercontains information about the construc-tion and history of the aqueduct. Theaqueduct remains intact, under the trail,as it was constructed.

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Minnewaska State ParkContact: PO Box 893

New Paltz, NY 12561(845) 255-0753

Beacon Hill Trail: 2 miles.

To enjoy the marvels of Min-newaska on foot you need only basicequipment, such as a map, comfortablefootwear, water, lunch or snacks. Awealth of spectacular scenery becomesavailable to those making the effort toexplore the park on its 38 miles of trails.The park sits atop the Shawangunk

Ridge with high cliffs that overlook thevalley to the east. The trail shown onthe map is a sample of what is available.Park at the Wildmere parking lot, go backdownhill on the auto road a shortdistance towards the park entrance towhere the Beacon Hill Carriagewayleaves the auto road on the right (orangeblazes.) Follow this shady, meanderingroad for about a mile until you reach thepanoramic view at Beacon Hill. The viewis spectacular and encompasses theCatskills to the left, tree-covered DickieBarre and the rock formations immedi-

ately in front, and the Taconic Hills ofConnecticut and Massachusetts to theright. The route back is on a hiking pathfrom the right of the viewpoint (yellowblazes.) Beacon Hill Path ascends anddescends sharply until it exits near thesite of the old Cliff House picnic field.Turn right at the end of the path onto acarriageway (red blazes) leading back tothe parking lot. Other trail activities atMinnewaska include hiking, biking,horseback riding and cross-countryskiing.

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State Lands and ForestsSouthern Zone

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Willowemoc Wild Forest

Contact: Department ofEnvironmental Conservation21 So. Putt Corners Rd.New Paltz, NY 12561(845) 256-3000

Frick Pond Loop: 2.1 miles.

The Willowemoc Wild Forest is 18miles north of Liberty and 9 milesnortheast of Livingston Manor, theclosest village with amenities. The WildForest surrounds the Mongaup PondCampground and abuts the Big IndianWilderness. From Route 17 at exit 96,take county roads 81 and 82 east to DeBruce, turn left onto Fish HatcheryRoad. From Fish Hatchery Road, turnleft onto Beech Mountain Road (onemile south of the campgrounds,) thendrive one-quarter mile to the Frick PondTrailhead. The Frick Pond Loop Trailleaves the trailhead parking area andfollows red DEC trail markers northwest0.5 miles to Frick Pond. To make a looparound the pond, follow the yellow trailmarkers.

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Big Indian Wilderness Area

Contact: Department ofEnvironmental Conservation21 So. Putt Corners Rd.New Paltz, NY 12561(845) 256-3000

Rider Hollow-Mine Hollow Loop:4.8 miles.

The Big Indian Wilderness Areaencompasses over 35,000 acres of“forever wild” forest preserve land in theheart of the Catskill Park. The Big IndianWilderness Area has the longest stretchof trail through uninterrupted virginforest in the Catskill Mountains, offeringnumerous opportunities for solitude in aremote and rugged environment.

The Big Indian Wilderness Area

lies in the northwest corner of UlsterCounty, just south of the hamlet ofPine Hill, nearly evenly divided amongthe neighboring towns of Denning,Hardenburgh and Shandaken. Cres-cent-shaped, the area also straddlesthe divide between the Delaware andHudson River Basins.

The Big Indian Wilderness Areacan best be described as a rugged,mountainous area marked by deepglacial cuts resulting in a series ofparallel, steep-sided hollows. The areais host to eight prominent peaksincluding Balsam, Fir, Haynes andEagle, as well as several unnamedmountain tops. Elevations range from1,500-3,860 feet.

Access to the wilderness areacan be obtained from a number of

trailheads that have parking lots. Forexample, from the Rider Hollow Trailheadlocated in the town of Hardenburg onthe Rider Hollow Road, follow redmarkers to the Mine Hollow junction.The trail turns northeast and followsyellow markers for a one-mile ascent tothe Pine Hill-West Branch Trail. Turningsouth and following blue markers for twomiles, the trail leads to the summit ofBalsam Mountain. The hamlet of BigIndian can be seen from this point. Atthe junction of the McKenley Hollow-Rider Hollow Trail, the route turnsnorthwest and follows red markers 1.4miles back to the parking area.

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