Roosa Hole State Forest

Might 6, 2023 – Wurtsboro, NY

Issue: Straightforward to reasonable

Size: Roughly 3.5 miles

Max elevation: 1,644 ft.– complete elevation acquire roughly 414 ft.

Route sort: Out and again

Free map: Roosa Gap State Forest Trail Map – 2021

Free map: Shawangunk Ridge Trail Map – 2016

Purchase Map (Paper & Avenza): Shawangunk Trails Map 106B – 2019

Trailhead parking: 159-143 Firetower Rd, Bloomingburg, NY 12721

Pull-off parking for a number of automobiles – No restrooms on website

Roosa Hole State Forest is a Carry-in/Carry-out space

Overview:

The 688-acre Roosa Hole State Forest (RGSF) is a part of an interconnected and preserved hall of land that stretches south from Ulster County, by Sullivan County and into Orange County, NY. It is sandwiched between two bigger state forests. The Shawangunk Ridge State Forest (1,411 acres) to the north, and the Wurstboro State Forest (1,139 acres) to the south. Roosa Hole State Forest is a part of the southern part of the Shawangunk Mountain vary often known as the Shawangunk Ridge. Probably the most seen geological characteristic of the ridge is the white rock that kinds its “spine.”

Coaligned SRT/Lengthy Path – Roosa Hole State Forest

Looking and trapping are allowed throughout acceptable seasons.

Roosa Hole State Forest

Parking:

There are a number of entry factors into this state forest.

• Cox Road Trailhead, which is the entry level into the Shawangunk Ridge State Forest.
• Ferguson Road Trailhead, which is about the place the SRT/LP crosses the street.
• Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest Trailhead on Ferguson Street, close to the intersection with Pickles Street and Shawanga Lodge Street.
• Fire Tower Road, on the finish of the paved part there may be pull-off parking for a number of automobiles. That is the parking space that we used.
• Fire Tower Road Trailhead, is on the high of Fireplace Tower Street alongside an unpaved part of street. The gravel street is severely rutted and eroded. I do NOT advocate this parking space except you have got 4-Wheel Drive and an SUV. There may be loads of unfastened gravel alongside this steep part of street and for those who don’t wish to injury your paint job, I might advise that you just don’t try driving on this phase of the street.

Fireplace Tower Street Trailhead – Roosa Hole State Forest

Historical past:

The forested slopes had been used within the 18th and nineteenth century for a wide range of farming makes use of, together with Silviculture. The summit of the ridge is usually pitch pine and slab rock, and never terribly usable for agriculture.

The Open House Institute (OSI) and the NY-NJ Path Convention (NYNJTC) started buying parcels for the Roosa Hole State Forest within the 1990’s. The method continues at the moment, with OSI shopping for extra parcels to additional defend and develop the state forest. In all, OSI and its conservation companion, the NYNJTC, created or expanded seven state forests, defending a lot of the Shawangunk Ridge between Minnewaska State Park Protect and the New Jersey border, some 30 miles to the south. Most of those lands, after being acquired by OSI or the Path Convention, are transferred to the DEC for possession and administration.

The title “Roosa,” will be traced to a household of early Dutch settlers and later to rich landowners of the world that dates again to 1660.

The hearth tower at Roosa Hole is an Aermotor LS-40 35′ metal tower, erected by the Conservation Division in 1948 and closed in 1972. The stair risers run forwards and backwards up the hearth tower between massive landings. It’s now formally open to the general public.

Roosa Hole Fireplace Tower

The remark room, a small, 7-foot by 7-foot sq. cab, is steel-framed, clad with metallic sheeting, and topped with a hipped metallic roof.

Roosa Hole Fireplace Tower

Trails Overview:

Roosa Hole State Forest contains a three-mile part of the coaligned Shawangunk Ridge Path (SRT) and the Lengthy Path (LP). The SRT is marked with round blue NYSDEC blazes. The Lengthy Path is marked with rectangular aqua blazes.

Coaligned SRT/Lengthy Path

Along with this part, there are about 2 miles of unmarked a number of use trails that department off from the Shawangunk Ridge Path.

The coaligned SRT/LP is pretty effectively blazed and comparatively simple to observe. The path is effectively maintained and freed from litter. Let’s hold it that manner.

The path is maintained by volunteers of the NY-NJ Path Convention.

Hike Overview:

We drove up right here a number of weeks earlier, however the dense fog didn’t permit for any views. In actual fact, simply the drive up was somewhat scary with so little visibility. So we made a return journey when the climate determined to cooperate.

Roosa Hole State Forest

It is a fairly primary out-and-back hike, following the identical marked path for many of the hike. As soon as on the ridge, it’s a reasonably stage hike with little elevation acquire.

Roosa Hole State Forest

elevation profile – Roosa Hole State Forest

The Hike:

This hike begins on the finish of the paved portion of Fireplace Tower Street. Proceed uphill on the gravel street, passing the Fireplace Tower Street Trailhead and previous the gate. Proceed uphill till you attain a junction with the coaligned SRT/Lengthy Path. Flip left and in a brief distance, you’ll arrive on the Roosa Hole Fireplace Tower.

Fireplace Tower Street

Fireplace Tower Street – Roosa Hole State Forest

Fireplace Tower Street Trailhead – Roosa Hole State Forest

Fireplace Tower Street – Roosa Hole State Forest

Fireplace Tower Street – Roosa Hole State Forest

Fireplace Tower Street – Roosa Hole State Forest

Climb the hearth tower for 360° views of the world.

Roosa Hole Fireplace Tower

At one time, there have been fireplace towers at 124 places in New York State.

Roosa Hole Fireplace Tower

Trying south in the direction of Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest and the Basha Kill.

Trying south in the direction of Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest from the Roosa Hole Fireplace Tower

Trying northwest over the route of the SRT/Lengthy Path and in the direction of the Catskills.

Trying northwest in the direction of the Catskills from the Roosa Hole Fireplace Tower

Trying northeast in the direction of Sam’s Level and Minnewaska State Park.

Trying northeast in the direction of Sam’s Level and Minnewaska State Park from the Roosa Hole Fireplace Tower

Trying west over Summitville and farmlands.

Trying west from the Roosa Hole Fireplace Tower

If you end up accomplished trying out the views, descend the steps of the hearth tower fastidiously. In the event you got here only for the views from the hearth tower, then retrace your steps again to your car. If you need to proceed the hike, head north on the coaligned SRT/Lengthy Path.

Roosa Hole Fireplace Tower

Chances are you’ll not see any blazes at first, however as soon as there are bigger bushes, the blazes will seem.

Coaligned SRT/Lengthy Path

Coaligned SRT/Lengthy Path

At a junction with an unmarked path, which begins on the left, there’s a memorial for John Hennessey, a devoted volunteer path maintainer.

John Hennessey Memorial – Roosa Hole State Forest

Proceed heading north following the aqua/blue blazes. Quickly the path comes out of the forest and also you’ll now be strolling over slabs of Shawangunk conglomerate rock, with the vegetation together with scrub oak and pitch pine. The path continues alongside the ridge, with some ups and downs, with the scrub oak remaining the predominant vegetation, together with some blueberries and mountain laurel.

Coaligned SRT/Lengthy Path – Roosa Hole State Forest

Coaligned SRT/Lengthy Path – Roosa Hole State Forest

Coaligned SRT/Lengthy Path – Roosa Hole State Forest

A brief distance later, views start to seem to the northwest and west.

Coaligned SRT/Lengthy Path – Roosa Hole State Forest

Coaligned SRT/Lengthy Path – Roosa Hole State Forest

Coaligned SRT/Lengthy Path – Roosa Hole State Forest

In just below a mile and a half from the beginning, you’ll come to 2 boulders on the path with views north in the direction of Minnewaska State Park. That is the flip round spot for this hike. After having fun with the north-facing views, retrace your steps alongside the coaligned SRT/Lengthy Path again to the hearth tower.

Coaligned SRT/Lengthy Path – Roosa Hole State Forest

Trying northeast in the direction of Sam’s Level and Minnewaska State Park

Trying northeast in the direction of Sam’s Level and Minnewaska State Park

Coaligned SRT/Lengthy Path – Roosa Hole State Forest

Chances are you’ll wish to climb the hearth tower once more to benefit from the 360° views earlier than you go.

Roosa Hole Fireplace Tower

A zoomed in view of the Bashakill Wildlife Administration Space (middle).

Trying south in the direction of the Basha Kill from the Roosa Hole Fireplace Tower

Trying south to the place the coaligned SRT/Lengthy Path climbs the ridge from Ferguson Street..

Trying south in the direction of Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest from the Roosa Hole Fireplace Tower

A pleasant view over Roosa Hole State Forest, with the Catskills within the distance.

Trying northwest in the direction of the Catskills from the Roosa Hole Fireplace Tower

A zoomed in view of the northern Shawangunk Ridge.

Trying northeast in the direction of Sam’s Level and Minnewaska State Park from the Roosa Hole Fireplace Tower

If you end up accomplished having fun with the fabulous views, retrace your steps alongside Fireplace Tower Street, previous the gate, and again downhill to the paved part of the street, the place the hike started.

Fireplace Tower Street – Roosa Hole State Forest

Fireplace Tower Street – Roosa Hole State Forest

Fireplace Tower Street – Roosa Hole State Forest

Evaluate:

A very nice hike with some attractive views. The ridgetop is spectacular, as is many of the Shawangunk Ridge. We solely noticed 2 folks by the hearth tower initially of the hike and a couple of girls close to the tip of the hike after we stopped on the fireplace tower a second time. Good spot for a straightforward hike with nice views.

Professionals:

Roosa Hole Fireplace Tower, Shawangunk Ridge, scenic views, flippantly trafficked.

Cons:

Parking state of affairs might be higher.

Take a hike!

Roosa Hole State Forest

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