Shawangunk Ridge State Forest Loop from Cox Highway Trailhead
October 15, 2022 – Pine Bush, NY
Issue: Average
Size: Roughly 3.5 miles
Max elevation: 1,791 ft.– complete elevation achieve roughly 550 ft.
Route sort: Circuit
Free map: Shawangunk Ridge State Forest Trail Map – 2021
Free map: Shawangunk Ridge Trail Map – 2016
Purchase Map (Paper & Avenza): Shawangunk Trails Map 106B – 2019
Trailhead parking: Cox Highway Parking Space – 336 Cox Rd, Pine Bush, NY 12566
Gravel parking zone for about 15 vehicles – No restrooms on website
Shawangunk Ridge State Forest is a Carry-in/Carry-out space
Overview:
The 1,411-acre Shawangunk Ridge State Forest is a part of an interconnected and preserved hall of land that stretches south from Ulster County, via Sullivan County and into Orange County, NY. It’s a part of the northern part of the Shawangunk Mountain vary generally known as the Shawangunk Ridge.
Shawangunk Ridge State Forest as seen from Bear Hill Nature Protect – October 2016
Pronounced shuh-WAN-gunk, or SHON-gum by locals, “The Gunks” are identified broadly for his or her dramatic cliffs and landscapes, dwarf pine barren forests, “ice caves”, and basic mountain climbing.
Bear Hill Nature Protect as seen from Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Historical past:
Within the 12 months 2000, the Shawangunk Ridge State Forest was created via a partnership between New York State, Open House Institute (OSI), Belief for Public Land (TPL) and others.
The Open House Institute bought a number of main parcels alongside the Shawangunk Ridge and transferred them to the New York State Division of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to be held and managed as state forests.
Subsequent acquisitions through the years have considerably expanded the chain of state forests, together with the Shawangunk Ridge, Roosa Hole, Wurtsboro, and Huckleberry Ridge State Forests.
Trails Overview:
A 1.8-mile part of the co-aligned Shawangunk Ridge Path and the Lengthy Path passes via Shawangunk Ridge State Forest. To the south the path continues on into Roosa Hole State Forest. To the north the path continues onto personal land and ultimately onto Minnewaska State Park to the north of Route 52.
The 1.2-mile part of the co-aligned SRT and Lengthy Path traversed on this hike, present spectacular views of the encompassing valley, extending all the way in which to the Catskills.
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Beginning in 2015, the NY-NJ Path Convention created 4 miles of latest trails in Shawangunk Ridge State Forest, connecting the Lengthy Path (and SRT) to parking areas, making loop hikes doable.
Hike Overview:
October is leaf peeping season and The Gunks are nothing in need of spectacular throughout that point. That’s most likely the busiest time of the 12 months in that space. The extra well-known spots like Minnewaska State Park, together with the Sam’s Level Space and the Mohonk Protect, can get extraordinarily crowded throughout that point, particularly on weekends. I made a decision to strive a much less widespread part of the ridge, or so I assumed. We arrived on the parking space on Cox Highway at 10am on a Saturday morning and the 15-car gravel lot was practically full. By the point that we completed the hike, the lot was jammed and there was an extended line of autos parked alongside the facet of Cox Highway. My recommendation is to get there early or go to on a weekday. You must also again your automobile into one of many parking spots, making it loads simpler to exit. You’ll be glad you probably did.
Cox Highway Parking Space – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Whereas researching this hike, I couldn’t discover a lot info on-line and figured that this was a lesser trafficked space and probably a hidden gem. Although the small lot was practically full after we arrived (10am), I used to be shocked on the finish of our hike once I noticed how jammed the parking zone was, making it tough to again out and depart.
I might recommend doing this hike clockwise as the general public we encountered have been getting into the other way. By going clockwise, it’s a shorter distance to the ridge and after reaching the highpoint, you should have nearly steady views in entrance of you as you descend.
This reasonable loop is likely one of the higher hikes that I’ve achieved with regards to the all-around mountain climbing expertise. It has views and intensely scenic panorama alongside the ridge and slightly below it. It must be skilled to be actually appreciated.
Shawangunk Ridge State Forest Loop from Cox Highway Trailhead
elevation profile – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest Loop
The Hike:
From the kiosk on the parking space, head uphill on the Pink Path, which follows a woods street. Virtually instantly, a wood submit marks a department of the path that goes to the proper. This might be your return route, however for now, proceed forward on the woods street, following the purple blazes.
Cox Highway Parking Space – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
In 0.4 mile, you’ll cross a stream on giant stepping stones. Quickly, the Pink Path begins to climb extra steeply and narrows to a footpath.
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
After passing cliffs on the proper and going via an fascinating passage between rocks, you’ll attain a junction with the Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path on the crest of the ridge. Flip proper onto the Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path, which you’ll be following for the subsequent 1.2 miles.
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
The ridge that you just’re following was burned in a forest fireplace in Could 2015. Low vegetation was destroyed within the fireplace, and plenty of small bushes have been burned, however the trunks of bigger bushes remained unscathed. The vegetation has begun to regenerate, however many small useless bushes scarred by the hearth can nonetheless be seen.
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Quickly, you’ll come to a broad west-facing viewpoint from open slabs of Shawangunk conglomerate rock. The path strikes to the east facet of the ridge, shifts again to the west facet, then returns to the east facet. You’ll discover some fascinating rock formations on the east facet of the ridge, with the path in locations working close to the sting of steep 30-foot-high cliffs.
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
The path begins a gradual climb to the excessive level on the ridge (1,791 ft). Simply past, there’s a panoramic north-facing view over Bear Hill. The path now begins to descend over slabs of conglomerate rock dotted with pitch pines, with views of the Catskill Mountains to the northwest. As you method the bottom of the descent, there are panoramic west-facing views.
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
After pausing to admire the spectacular views, comply with the path because it bears proper and heads into the woods. In a brief distance, you’ll come to a junction with the northern leg of the Pink Path. Flip proper, leaving the Lengthy Path/Shawangunk Ridge Path, and start as soon as once more to comply with the purple blazes.
Flip proper on Pink Path
You’ll quickly emerge into an space with dramatic cliffs and overhanging rocks on the proper. You’re now instantly paralleling the route you adopted alongside the open slabs of conglomerate rock, however you’re following the cliffs that assist these open rock slabs. In the direction of the tip of this part, the path has been routed via a slim passage, with cliffs on one facet and large boulders on the opposite.
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
On the finish of this spectacular part, the path turns left and begins to descend. It quickly joins a woods street, which it follows all the way in which again to a junction with the opposite department of the Pink Path. Flip left at this junction and proceed for a brief distance to the parking space the place the hike started.
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Pink Path – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
Assessment:
I might extremely advocate this hike to all. It covers an especially scenic space with implausible views and big rock formations. The paths are nicely marked and simple to comply with. The decrease areas on the Pink Path have good tree cowl, however the ridge is generally uncovered. This hike is greatest achieved in the course of the Fall foliage season for the array of colours on show, however I’m positive that it’s lovely in any season. I like to recommend doing the loop clockwise so the views are in entrance of you as you descend the ridge versus them being at your again as you ascend. This seems to be a well-liked mountain climbing spot so both get there early or strive visiting on a weekday.
Professionals:
Incredible views alongside the ridge, fascinating rock formations, nicely marked trails, scenic panorama.
Cons:
Attracts crowds, Pink Path is usually a little swampy after rainfall.
Take a hike!
Shawangunk Ridge State Forest Loop from Cox Highway Trailhead
Sources:
