Snake Hill Loop from Crystal Lake
September 11, 2022 – Newburgh, NY
Problem: Reasonable
Size: Roughly 3.5 miles
Max elevation: 705 ft.– complete elevation acquire roughly 670 ft.
Route sort: Circuit
Free map: Snake Hill Trail Map 2022 – Scenic Hudson
Trailhead parking: Crystal Lake, Temple Ave. – Newburgh, NY
Parking is accessible for about 6-8 vehicles – No restrooms on website
Crystal Lake and Snake Hill are Carry-in/Carry-out areas
Particulars on a hike to Snake Hill by way of totally different a route:
Overview:
Snake Hill is an area landmark that provides sweeping views of the Hudson River and surrounding panorama from its summit. The ridgeline of Snake Hill was privately-owned till lately when possession was transferred to Scenic Hudson, who manages the property as an unimproved nature protect. The Hill straddles the Metropolis of Newburgh/City of New Windsor border and is flanked on its northwestern slope by Crystal Lake, an 8-acre pond that was as soon as the centerpiece of a public park, and the smaller Miller’s Pond. A small Jewish cemetery resides on the western slope of the Hill. Other than Scenic Hudson’s parcel, the possession of those three sources is predominantly municipal.
Snake Hill rises 700 ft above the Hudson River and is the best elevation alongside Newburgh’s boundary with the City of New Windsor. Snake Hill is the dominant characteristic of the panorama surrounding Newburgh and New Windsor.
Snake Hill as seen from Denning’s Level – 2022
Snake Hill as seen from Mount Beacon – 2016
It drops off precipitously to the east, giving unobstructed views of the Hudson River, the East Hudson Highlands, the cities of Newburgh and New Windsor, Pollepel Island to the southeast, and Storm King Mountain to the south.
Blue Path benches – Snake Hill
Historical past:
As soon as named Muchattoes Hill (A lot-Hattoos, A lot-Hattoes), which loosely translated means dangerous or evil small hill. In native nomenclature the hill has lengthy been often called Snake Hill from the abundance of rattlesnakes that inhabited it, although few have been seen there lately.
On the summit of Snake Hill there’s a rock outcrop known as “Spy Rock.” In response to the Historic Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands, “Legends say native Indians after which colonial militia used the excessive level to look at exercise on the Hudson.”
Blue Path benches – Snake Hill
Through the American Revolution, patriots saved a sign hearth in readiness atop Snake Hill to warn surrounding communities of a British invasion upriver.
Though the land didn’t face any menace of improvement, Scenic Hudson felt it was value completely defending and the chance to take action arose. Scenic Hudson paid $1.06 million for 95 acres, comprising the majority of Snake Hill, in 2004.
The paths had been constructed from 2017-2018 (completed in spring of 2018) by Scenic Hudson and volunteers. Scenic Hudson maintains the paths, once more with volunteer assist.
Due to Reed Sparling, Author and Scenic Hudson Historian for offering the knowledge on its historical past.
Trails Overview:
There are three marked trails on the map and a paved highway that cuts via the middle of the property. There are additionally some unmarked “social” trails as effectively. The official trails are effectively marked and comparatively simple to comply with, though they will use an additional blaze or two at a few turns.
Snake Hill Path Map – 2022
The paths are marked with Scenic Hudson spherical plastic discs in numerous colours.
Snake Hill – Scenic Hudson
The Yellow Path, travels via the Metropolis of Newburgh property and is marked with painted rectangular blazes. The Scenic Hudson path map solely exhibits the spur that results in the view.
Yellow Path – Snake Hill
Hike Overview:
I’ve been seeing pictures posted on social media of the marvelous views from Snake Hill for a number of years. Since there’s extraordinarily restricted data on-line in regards to the trails, and no path map accessible till lately, it remained a hidden gem. Then I got here throughout a Fb publish about Snake Hill from Scenic Hudson. I requested a path map and so they added one on their web site. That made it a straightforward alternative for a go to.
On the day that we hiked Snake Hill, it was overcast and rain was predicted. A couple of drops fell on us that day, however not sufficient to remove from the enjoyment of the hike. We drove nearly one hour from the Decrease Hudson Valley and it was effectively value it. The attract of the wide-ranging views from Snake Hill is that I bought to see lots of the Hudson Highlands that I’ve beforehand hiked.
Panoramic view from Snake Hill
This loop hike is on the decrease finish of the “reasonable” scale. There are specific steep areas on the Blue Path, however for essentially the most half, the Blue Path climbs Snake Hill step by step. The Yellow Path descends steeply in elements, however totally on a paved highway.
Snake Hill Loop
elevation profile – Snake Hill Loop
The Hike:
This hike begins on the Crystal Lake Trailhead the place there’s a small lot with room for about 5-6 autos. The Purple Path begins simply previous the cut up rail fence and bollards. I didn’t discover any pink markers at first, however they do seem somewhat farther in. The Purple Path runs alongside the japanese shore of Crystal Lake, which on the day that we visited, was coated with Blue-green algae.
Purple Path – Snake Hill
Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake
Neighborhood Backyard at Crystal Lake.
Neighborhood Backyard – Crystal Lake
Proceed on the Purple Path and you must begin seeing the plastic spherical markers on the bushes. In about 0.3-mile, the Purple Path reaches Snake Hill Cemetery, a Jewish graveyard that dates again to the 1800’s.
Purple Path – Snake Hill
Purple Path – Snake Hill
Purple Path – Snake Hill
Purple Path – Snake Hill
Simply to the left of the cemetery on a tree, are three light yellow blazes marking the beginning of the Yellow Path. That can be your return route, however for now, proceed forward on the Purple Path. In about one other 250 yards, the Purple Path ends at a junction with the Blue Path proper on the northeast finish of Miller’s Pond, which is totally coated in Blue-green algae.
Snake Hill Cemetery
Snake Hill Cemetery
Snake Hill Cemetery
Purple Path – Snake Hill
Bear left on the Blue Path which travels on a woods highway alongside Miller’s Pond which is seen via the bushes on the correct.
Flip left on Blue Path
Flip left on Blue Path
In about 100 yards or so, the Blue Path turns left, leaving the woods highway. This flip is straightforward to overlook. We walked proper by it and needed to again monitor. The Blue Path now begins to ascend Snake Hill on switchbacks, passing an assortment of attention-grabbing wanting boulders alongside the way in which.
Blue Path – Snake Hill
Blue Path – Snake Hill
Blue Path – Snake Hill
Blue Path – Snake Hill
Blue Path – Snake Hill
Blue Path – Snake Hill
Blue Path – Snake Hill
Blue Path – Snake Hill
Blue Path – Snake Hill
Blue Path – Snake Hill
Blue Path – Snake Hill
Blue Path – Snake Hill
Blue Path – Snake Hill
Blue Path – Snake Hill
Blue Path – Snake Hill
Blue Path – Snake Hill
In a couple of mile from the beginning of the Blue Path, it turns left on a paved entry highway for about 60 ft, then turns proper on a footpath, leaving the highway.
Flip left on paved highway
Blue Path – Snake Hill
Blue Path – Snake Hill
Blue Path – Snake Hill
The Blue Path climbs to the southeast fringe of the ridge, just under the summit. Right here the Blue Path turns left, however you must flip proper leaving the Blue Path and comply with the White Path for about 300 yards to a southeast-facing viewpoint.
Blue Path – Snake Hill
Flip proper on White Path
White Path – Snake Hill
White Path – Snake Hill
View southeast from White Path – Snake Hill
From this spot you possibly can see Breakneck Ridge (left) and Storm King Mountain (proper) which kind the northern gateway to the Hudson Highlands. Sugarloaf Mountain is simply to the left of Breakneck with Pollepel Island and Bannerman Fortress simply in entrance of it within the Hudson River.
View southeast from White Path – Snake Hill
View southeast from White Path – Snake Hill
Trying immediately throughout the Hudson River, the 2 excessive factors are North Beacon Mountain (1,526 ft.) with its communications towers and South Beacon Mountain (1,611 ft.) with its hearth tower. The lengthy knobby ridge to the correct is Scofield Ridge. On the japanese shore of the Hudson River is Denning’s Level.
View east from White Path – Snake Hill
If you end up carried out having fun with the view, retrace your steps uphill again to the Blue Path. Simply to the correct there’s a rock outcrop with comparable views as these on the White Path.
Finish of White Path – Snake Hill
Blue Path – Snake Hill
View southeast – Blue Path – Snake Hill
View southeast – Blue Path – Snake Hill
Proceed North on the Blue Path for about one other 415 ft to its terminus at a pair of benches positioned upon a big rock outcrop. This makes for a fantastic place to calm down and take within the majestic view.
Blue Path – Snake Hill
Blue Path benches – Snake Hill
Blue Path benches – Snake Hill
Blue Path benches – Snake Hill
Blue Path benches – Snake Hill
Blue Path benches – Snake Hill
If you end up able to proceed, stroll a brief distance on an unmarked footpath immediately behind the benches that result in the paved entry highway. Flip proper on the entry highway and proceed north.
Paved highway – Snake Hill
After the highway passes a communications tower, it’s now not paved.
Entry highway – Snake Hill
Quickly, the highway involves a gate with one other communication tower simply past on the left. You at the moment are leaving Scenic Hudson property and getting into property owned by the Metropolis of Newburgh. Proceed downhill on the paved highway previous the gate for about 400 ft.
Entry highway – Snake Hill
Entry highway – Snake Hill
Entry highway – Snake Hill
Search for a large footpath on the correct, simply previous phone pole #38 (phone pole #37 is immediately throughout from the path) that leads uphill. Though you might not see any blazes, that is the route of the Yellow Path that’s proven on the path map. Observe this path for about 360 ft to a different viewpoint.
Yellow Path – Snake Hill
Yellow Path – Snake Hill
Yellow Path viewpoint – Snake Hill
Right here the panorama is extra in depth, with views north in addition to south. The Beacon waterfront and the East Hudson Highlands may be seen throughout the river. The historic structure of Newburgh is seen down beneath to the north with the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge simply past.
Yellow Path viewpoint – Snake Hill
Yellow Path viewpoint – Snake Hill
View south from the Yellow Path.
Yellow Path viewpoint – Snake Hill
If you end up able to proceed, retrace your steps again to the paved entry highway and switch proper. You might begin to see painted yellow blazes on the bushes. This part of the Yellow Path is proven as an entry highway on the path map. Observe the highway steeply downhill for about 0.36-mile. The Yellow Path makes a pointy left activate an previous woods highway that descends step by step. This part of the Yellow Path isn’t proven on the path map. There is probably not any markers indicating this flip (I don’t bear in mind seeing any), however the woods highway is definitely discernible.
Yellow Path – Snake Hill
Yellow Path – Snake Hill
Yellow Path – Snake Hill
Observe the woods highway (Yellow Path) for about 250 yards to its terminus on the Snake Hill Cemetery. Flip proper on the Purple Path and retrace your steps again to the parking space at Crystal Lake, the place the hike started.
Yellow Path – Snake Hill
Yellow Path – Snake Hill
Purple Path – Snake Hill
Crystal Lake Trailhead – Snake Hill
Evaluate:
A very nice hike that results in among the greatest views within the Hudson Valley. The paths are effectively marked and straightforward to comply with. Solely noticed one individual all through your complete hike on the day that we visited. The one factor destructive that may be stated, is that the realm round Crystal Lake is somewhat run-down and I observed what seemed to be a homeless encampment within the woods simply off the Purple Path. I wouldn’t go away something of worth within the automobile or in plain sight. That is an space that one ought to most likely not hike alone. Aside from that, a hike value doing only for the views.
Execs:
Attractive Hudson River Valley views, effectively marked trails, not a lot foot site visitors.
Cons:
Trailhead is in an industrial space and seems somewhat sketchy.
Take a hike!
Snake Hill Loop
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