Hike Mill Brook Ridge Mountain from Beaver Kill Road |
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| View of the Mill Brook Ridge Mountain in the Mill Brook Ridge Mountain Wild Forest |
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OVERVIEW |
| | Trail Name: | 
Dry Brook Ridge Trail (Balsam Lake Mtn Parking Area to Mill Brook Ridge Mtn) |
| | Trail Name: | 
Balsam Lake Mountain Trail (Dry Brook Ridge Trail TO Mill Brook Ridge Mtn) |
| | Trail Name: | 
Mill Brook Ridge Trail (Mill Brook Ridge Mtn to Mill Brook Ridge Mtn PA
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| | Forest: | Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest |
| | Parking Area : | 30 spaces directly off Beaver Kill Road |
| | Winter Access: | Hardenburgh Parking Area (1.8 miles away from Mill Brook Ridge Mountain Parking Area) |
| | Camp sites: | NO Camp Site locations |
| | Lean-to sites: | One Lean-to (Balsam Lake Mountain Lean-to) |
| | Access: | Hike or snowshoe |
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| | Trail Length: | 9.40 (round-trip) |
| | Trail Type: | 19% Single-Track Trails - 81% Double-Track Trails |
| | Hiking Time: | Average 6-7 hours |
| | Lowest Elevation: | 2,575' (A) |
| | Highest Elevation: | 3,493' (A) |
| | Views : | One view spot - Beecher Lake Overlook |
| | Difficulty: | Moderate |
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| | USGS Map: | USGS Seager Quad Maps |
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| | USGS Map: | USGS Arena Quad Maps |
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| | DEC Trail Map: | DEC Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest Map (free) |
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Maps to Mill Brook Ridge Mountain from Beaver Kill Road |
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| | Notes About Hiking to the Mill Brook Ridge Mountain |
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| | TRAIL |
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The hike up the base of Balsam Lake Mountain is well travelled. The Mill Brook Ridge Trail is not used that much. So, it tends to be much more wild then other trails in the Catskill Mountains. The trail is overgrown on most of the trail, but still fairly easy to follow if you are an experienced hiker. If you hike the Mill Brook Ridge Trail, the chances of encountering another hiker is rare. It provide a lot of solitude from incredible masses of people who visit the Catskills. While 90% of the hikers are visiting only a few places, you will have this large mountain range to yourself.
Meanwhile at the Balsam Lake Fire Tower, hordes of people will be there on most summer weekends. On your way back after visiting Mill Brook Ridge Mountain, you may want to visit the Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower. Later in the day, there is often less people at the tower. It add another 1/2 mile to your hike (round-trip).
With most of the Mill Brook Ridge being populated by deciduous trees, it will exceptional in the Fall months.
Unfortunately, the Beecher Lake view point is almost completely overgrown. It is unlikely the DEC tree crew will be there anytime soon. So, you may be disappointed in the summer months. After the leaves have drifted slowly to the ground, you may have a much better view of Beecher Lake. Without leaves you may enjoy this hike better then summer months.
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| | PARKING |
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Parking at the Balsam Lake Mountain Parking Area can be difficult on summer weekends. As it can be quite crowded. There are about 25 spaces for cars. It is directly off the end of Beaver Kill Road. In the Winter months, you will most likely have to park at the Hardenburgh Parking Area 1.8 miles down the road.
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| | OTHER INFORMATION |
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There is NO cell phone service as of 2023 at lower elevations. You may be get reception at higher elevations.
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| | DIRECTIONS to BALSAM LAKE MTN Parking Area from Exit 18 (New Paltz) |
| | Balsam Lake Mtn Parking Area WGS84 (DEC): 42.0238, -74.60005 - Elevation is approximately 2,588 feet |
| | Balsam Lake Mtn Parking Area Deg/Min/Sec: N42 01 25, W74 36 00 - Elevation is approximately 2,588 feet |
| | Balsam Lake Mtn Parking Area GPS: N 42 01.428, W 74 36.003 - Elevation is approximately 2,588 feet |
| | Balsam Lake Mtn Parking Area UTM: 18N 533111 4652496 - Elevation is approximately 2,588 feet
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| | Get off New York State Thruway at Exit 18 (New Paltz). |
| | Take a LEFT out of the NYS Thruway onto Route 299 West. |
| | Go approximately 7.3 miles on Rt 299 West |
| | Take a RIGHT onto Rt 44 |
| | Go approximately 10.3 miles on Rt 44 |
| | Take a LEFT onto Rt 209 in Kerhonkson |
| | Go approximately 5.8 miles on Rt 209 |
| | Take a RIGHT onto Rt 52 |
| | Go approximately 19 miles on Rt 52 |
| | Take a RIGHT onto Rt 17 |
| | Go approximately 10 miles on Rt 17 |
| | Take a RIGHT on Debruce Road after getting off Rt 17 |
| | Go approximately 0.4 miles on Debruce Road |
| | Take a RIGHT onto Old Rt 17 |
| | Go approximately 1.3 miles on Old Rt 17 |
| | Take a RIGHT onto Beaver Kill Road (Rt 151) |
| | Go approximately 20.4 miles on Beaver Kill Road |
| | DEC Parking Area is at the end of Beaver Kill Road (on the RIGHT side of the road). |
| | NOTE: The Beaver Kill Road is closed 1.88 miles before the Mill Brook Ridge Mountain Parking Area during the Winter months. In the Winter park at the Hardenburgh Parking Area, which is located 1.88 miles from the BLM PA. |
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| | DIRECTIONS to BALSAM LAKE MTN Parking Area from Exit 19 (Kingston) |
| | Balsam Lake Mtn Parking Area WGS84 (DEC): 42.0238, -74.60005 - Elevation is approximately 2,588 feet |
| | Balsam Lake Mtn Parking Area Deg/Min/Sec: N42 01 25, W74 36 00 - Elevation is approximately 2,588 feet |
| | Balsam Lake Mtn Parking Area GPS: N 42 01.428, W 74 36.003 - Elevation is approximately 2,588 feet |
| | Balsam Lake Mtn Parking Area UTM: 18N 533111 4652496 - Elevation is approximately 2,588 feet
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| | Get off New York State Thruway at Exit 19 (Kingston). |
| | Take a RIGHT out of the NYS Thruway onto Route 28 West. |
| | Go approximately 45.4 miles on Rt 28 West |
| | Take a LEFT onto Spur to BWS Road No 10
(Look for Brown hiking signs for Huckleberry Loop & Kelly Hollow) |
| | Take a RIGHT onto BWS Road No 10 |
| | Go approximately 3.75 on BWS Road No 10 |
| | Take a LEFT onto Millbrook Road |
| | Go approximately 1.4 miles on Millbrook Road |
| | Take a RIGHT onto "Cross Mountain Road" (DO NOT take "Old Cross Mtn Road") |
| | Go approximately 4.3 miles on Cross Mountain Road (dirt road) |
| | Cross Mountain Road (dirt) will turn into Adler Creek Road (paved) |
| | Go approximately 2.2 miles on Adler Creek Road (paved) |
| | Take a LEFT onto "Beaver Kill Road" (No street sign - bridge on right) |
| | Go approximately 8.1 miles on Beaver Kill Road (paved then dirt) |
| | DEC Parking Area is at the end of Beaver Kill Road (on the RIGHT side of the road). |
| | NOTE #1: The Beaver Kill Road is closed 1.88 miles before the Mill Brook Ridge Mountain Parking Area during the Winter months. In the Winter park at the Hardenburgh Parking Area, which is located 1.88 miles from the BLM PA. |
| | NOTE #2: Cross Mountain Road may be closed during the Winter months. Use an alternate route, like Barkaboom Road (further down BWS Road #10). |
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MILEAGE CHART - Hike from Beaver Kill Road TO Mill Brook Ridge Mountain |
| | Mileage |
Mile Point |
Altitude |
Notes |
| | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,575' | Balsam Lake Mountain Parking Area (25 cars) |
| | 0.10 | 0.10 | 2,595' | DEC Registration Box |
| | 0.90 | 0.80 | 2,938' | Trail Junction for Balsam Lake Mountain Trail |
| | 1.33 | 0.43 | 3,500' | Side trail to Mill Brook Ridge Mountain Lean-to |
| | 1.55 | 0.22 | 3,673' | Trail Junction for Mill Brook Ridge Trail |
| | 3.49 | 1.94 | 3,745' | Beecher Lake View Point |
| | 4.70 | 1.21 | 3,348' | Dry Brook Ridge Mtn Summit |
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Hike to Mill Brook Ridge Mountain from Beaver Kill Road |
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As you come to the end of Beaver Kill Road, you will see the Balsam Lake Mountain Parking Area on the RIGHT side of the road. That is where you will park.
On the left side of the Beaver Kill Road is the entrance to the PRIVATE Balsam Lake Club. Do NOT drive or hike there!
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At the entrance of Balsam Lake Mountain Parking Area is the DEC sign marking the public parking area.
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This is the trailhead for the trail to the Balsam Lake Mountain, Dry Brook Ridge Trail, Mill Brook Ridge Trail, and the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail. The trailhead is located at the end of the parking spot.
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This is the trailhead for the Dry Brook Ridge Trail. There are two side trails that will take you to the summit of Balsam Lake Mountain. The trailhead is located at the end of the parking area.
The Dry Brook Ridge Trail will take you from this point to Mill Brook Road. The trail then continues to the Dry Brook Mountain Range, and finally ends close to Rt 28 in Margaretville, NY. The entire Dry Brook Ridge Trail runs about 13-to-14 miles long. But, for this hike, we will be taking the first side path up the Balsam Lake Mountain Trail, which will take us to the trail junction for the Mill Brook Ridge Trail.
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The beginning of the Dry Brook Ridge Trail, which starts out level, and then starts to climb elevation at a mild incline
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Around 500 feet from the Trailhead is the DEC Registration Box. Funds for maintenance of the regional trails depends upon how many people register for a hike in this region. Additionally, if you or someone else in your party have an emergency, Rangers and SAR will use the information in the registration box to find and help you. If someone goes missing, Rangers may call you to determine if you saw someone missing. Your life and someone else life may depend up you registering.
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The Dry Brook Ridge Trail (former logging road) will have a mild incline up the base of Balsam Lake Mountain.
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About 9/10 of a mile from the Trailhead is a Trail Junction. You want to make a LEFT here onto the Balsam Lake Mountain Trail. W
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Balsam Lake Mountain Trail has a moderate incline, that some call relentless for the next 2/3 of mile
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After over 4/10 of a mile, you will see a side trail on the left that will take you to the Balsam Lake Mountain Lean-to.
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OPTIONAL VISIT: The Balsam Lake Mountain Lean-to is about 500-600 feet off the Balsam Lake Mountain Trail. It does not have a view over the valley due to tree leaves blocking the view.
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After the side trail to Mill Brook Ridge Mountain Lean-to, the trail continues. In about 150 feet, you will encounter a DEC 3500 sign.
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After another 100 feet past the 3500 sign is a Spring that flows fairly well. Easy to collect cold water from the pipe.
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About 750-800 feet after the Spring on the Balsam Lake Trail is a Trail Junction. You want to go LEFT onto the Mill Brook Ridge Trail.
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After a short distance the trail will descend down a very steep slope in a zig-zag fashion with several switchbacks. It is questionable how difficult this steep section would be in the snow. This picture is just before the steep section begins.
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Like many trails in this region, there a plenty of fern glades.
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The trail continues across the Mill Brook Range, with several ups-and-downs. But, no serious elevation gains-or-losses.
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After almost two miles of fern glades and dense forest, you will come to the Beecher Lake View Point. While the ledge does not look at big, it is about 50 foot drop on the other side of the rock.
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Unfortunately, the Beecher Lake overlook is almost overgrown. The view is a lot better when the leaves are not on the trees.
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About 1-1/4 miles after the Beecher Lake Overlook, you will come to the summit of Mill Brook Ridge Mountain. There are two spots that are almost identical in elevation. The first one is on the right side of the trail. About another 100 feet is the second summit spot (pictured).
When you get done, turn around and hike back. If you still have energy, you can hike up to the Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower. If you are a view junkie, the trip may be worth it. About 1/4 mile to the fire tower, and another 1/4 mile back down to the Mill Brook Ridge Trail Junction.
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