Catskill Mountaineer

Hike the Trout Pond Trail
View near summit of Trout Pond
Trout Pond Trail
 
 

OVERVIEW

  Trail Name: Trout Pond Trail
  Forest: Delaware Wild Forest
  Parking Area : 7 spaces (DEC) directly off Campbell Mountain Road
  Parking Area : 7 spaces (DEC) directly off Campbell Brook Road
  Parking Area : 15+ spaces (DEC) directly off Russell Brook Road
  Winter Access: Russell Brook Road & Campbell Mountain Road
  Lean-to sites: 2 on the north side of Trout Pond
  Campsites : 10+ near Trout Pond
   
  Trail Length miles: 5.42 miles (one-way)
  Trail Tread Type : 50% Double-track trail - 50% Single-track trail
  Hiking Time : 3-4 hours (one-way)
  Lowest Elevation : 1,811' (A)
  Highest Elevation : 2,559' (A)
  Views Locations : Trout Pond & Russell Brook Falls
  Trail Difficulty : Easy
   
  USGS Map: USGS Downsville Quad Maps
   
  USGS Map: USGS Roscoe Quad Maps
   
  DEC Trail Map: DEC Delaware Wild Forest Map (free)
   
  Digital Mapper: Topo     Terrain     Satellite

Maps to the Trout Pond Trail

Map of the Trout Pond Trail

 

Notes About Hiking the Trout Pond Trail

 HISTORY
  While everyone now calls the 26 acre water body, "Trout Pond", the offical name of the water body is, "Cables Lake", according to the USGS. However, the 1922 USGS topo maps shows the name as, "Trout Pond". The 1965 USGS topo map, then shows the named changed to "Cables Lake". In 1981, the USGS officially named the water body, "Cables Lake". At some point, the DEC started to call Cables Lake, "Trout Pond". Many believe that the water body should be called, "Trout Pond", and the name has stuck. Now everyone calls it "Trout Pond". Hopefully, sometime in the future the USGS will change the name back to "Trout Pond". Catskill Mountaineer will only use the name, "Trout Pond" in our listings.

Trout Pond has been one of the few water bodies that contained self-sustaining populations Eastern Brook Trout. Eastern Brook Trout are considered the only native trout in the Catskill Mountains. Trout Pond is well known to anglers as a "Right of passage" to fish in. Special fishing rules apply to this region.

Where the Russell Brook DEC Parking Area is now located used to have have a school located nearby. It was called the Russell School. There also used to be railroad tracks that ran up near the eastern trailhead to Mud Pond Trail. There was also a company, named "Dye Works" further down the Russell Brook just south of the Mud Pond Trailhead. The company had a contract with the US Military to dye all the army uniforms during WW I. The company shut down operations in 1949.

Both Trout Pond and Mud Pond have dams at the foot of these water bodies. Trout Pond has a concrete dam, where Mud Pond has a thick stone dam where the water flows through the lower rocks.


 TRAIL
  The Trout Pond Trail runs from the DEC Parking Area directly off Campbell Mountain Road down to the DEC Parking Area directly off Russell Brook Road. During that route, it will also pass over Campbell Brook Road. Most hikers start on the northerly Parking Area on Campbell Mountain Road and hike it south to the southerly Parking Area on Russell Brook Road. But, it can be hiked in either direction.

Some hikers will add the Mud Pond Trail to their hike, which is located on the southern end of the hike. Other hikes start on the Campbell Mountain Trail off Little Spring Brook Road, and stay at the Campbell Mountain Lean-to on the southern end of the hike. And, then complete Trout Pond Trail the following day.

If hikers have only one car, they may start on Campbell Brook Road Parking Area, and hike south to Russell Brook Road. And, then hike back to Campbell Brook Road. Some might add the Mud Pond Loop to the hike.

Camping at Trout Pond and off Russell Brook Road is very popular in the summer months, so finding a camping spot an be difficult. Mud Pond is less popular, but just as nice as Trout Pond.

Most of the trail Campbell Mountain Range down to Russell Brook Road are used by snowmobilers in the Winter months, so most of the trails are wider then normal. Although, in the summer months the vegetation can overgrown in certain areas of the Trout Pond Trail. The trail north of Trout Pond is much less popular so you can enjoy your hike in more solitude.

In regards to difficulty, most Catskill Mountain hikers find the trails easy to hike.


 PARKING
  There are basically three good places to park:

Campbell Mountain Road - This DEC Parking Area can hold about 7 cars and is directly off the road. Road IS maintained in the Winter.

Campbell Brook Road - This is a DEC Parking Area can hold about 7 cars and is directly off the road. The road is NOT maintained in the Winter.

Russell Brook Road - This DEC Parking Area can hold about 15 cars. There are also two more parking areas south of Trout Pond Trailhead. But, they only hold about 3 cars. There are a couple other spots along the road. The Russell Brook Road is NOT maintained in the Winter. There is a parking area at the road junction to Russell Brook Road and Morton Hill Road where you can park year around.


 OTHER INFORMATION
  WATER: You can obtain water at a number of locations along this hike. Many trails in the Delaware Wild Forest are challenging to find water. The Trout Pond Trail is the exception to that rule.

There is limited cell phone service in some parts of the region (as of 2023). Higher elevation locations often are the most promising locations for cell service.



 

DIRECTIONS to the Campbell Mtn Road Parking from Exit 19 (Kingston)

 
  • Campbell Mtn Road (DEC) - WGS84 (DEC): 42.0433, -74.935917 - Elevation is approximately 2,228'
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  • Campbell Mtn Road ( (DEC) - Deg/Min/Sec: N42 02 35, W74 56 09 - Elevation is approximately 2,228'
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  • Campbell Mtn Road ( (DEC) - GPS: N42 02.598, W74 56.155 - Elevation is approximately 2,228'
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  • Campbell Mtn Road ( (DEC) - UTM: 18N 505304 4654586 - Elevation is approximately 2,228'

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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.
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  • Go approximately 46.4 miles on Rt 28 West
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  • Take a LEFT onto Rt 30
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  • Go approximately 19.9 miles on Rt 30 around the Pepecton Reservoir
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  • Take a LEFT onto Rt 206 (Cat Hollow Road)
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  • Go approximately 2.8 on Rt 206
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  • Take a RIGHT onto Jug Tavern Road
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  • Go approximately 1.5 on Jug Tavern Road
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  • Take a RIGHT onto Campbell Mtn Road
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  • Go approximately 0.7 on Campbell Mtn Road
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  • Take a LEFT into DEC Campbell Mtn Road Parking Area


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    DIRECTIONS to the Campbell Brook Road Parking from Exit 19 (Kingston)

     
  • Campbell Brook Road (DEC) - WGS84 (DEC): 42.030683, -74.9384 - Elevation is approximately 2,230'
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  • Campbell Brook Road ( (DEC) - Deg/Min/Sec: N42 01 50, W74 56 18 - Elevation is approximately 2,230'
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  • Campbell Brook Road ( (DEC) - GPS: N 42 01.841, W 74 56.304 - Elevation is approximately 2,230'
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  • Campbell Brook Road ( (DEC) - UTM: 18N 505099 4653185 - Elevation is approximately 2,230'

    •  
     
  • Get off New York State Thruway at Exit 19 (Kingston).
    •  
  • Take a RIGHT out of the NYS Thruway onto Route 28 West.
    •  
  • Go approximately 46.4 miles on Rt 28 West
    •  
  • Take a LEFT onto Rt 30
    •  
  • Go approximately 19.9 miles on Rt 30 around the Pepecton Reservoir
    •  
  • Take a LEFT onto Rt 206 (Cat Hollow Road)
    •  
  • Go approximately 2.8 on Rt 206
    •  
  • Take a RIGHT onto Jug Tavern Road
    •  
  • Go approximately 1.5 on Jug Tavern Road
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  • Take a LEFT onto Campbell Mtn Road
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  • Go approximately 0.4 on Campbell Mtn Road
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  • Take a RIGHT into DEC Campbell Brook Road Parking Area
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  • Go approximately 0.5 on Campbell Brook Road
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  • Take a LEFT into DEC Campbell Brook Road Parking Area (directly next to road)


    •  

    DIRECTIONS to the Russell Brook Road Parking from Exit 19 (Kingston)

     
  • Russell Brook Road (DEC) - WGS84 (DEC): 41.9943, -74.94155 - Elevation is approximately 1,832'
    •  
  • Russell Brook Road (DEC) - Deg/Min/Sec: N41 59 39, W74 56 29 - Elevation is approximately 1,832'
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  • Russell Brook Road (DEC) - GPS: N 41 59.658, W 74 56.493 - Elevation is approximately 1,832'
    •  
  • Russell Brook Road (DEC) - UTM: 18N 504841 4649145 - Elevation is approximately 1,832'

    •  
     
  • Get off New York State Thruway at Exit 19 (Kingston).
    •  
  • Take a RIGHT out of the NYS Thruway onto Route 28 West.
    •  
  • Go approximately 46.4 miles on Rt 28 West
    •  
  • Take a LEFT onto Rt 30
    •  
  • Go approximately 19.9 miles on Rt 30 around the Pepecton Reservoir
    •  
  • Take a LEFT onto Rt 206 (Cat Hollow Road)
    •  
  • Go approximately 2.8 on Rt 206
    •  
  • Take a RIGHT onto Jug Tavern Road
    •  
  • Go approximately 1.5 on Rt 206
    •  
  • Take a LEFT onto Campbell Mountain Road
    •  
  • Go approximately 0.4 on Campbell Mountain Road
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  • Take a LEFT onto Morton Hill Road
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  • Go approximately 2.7 on Morton Hill road
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  • Take a RIGHT onto Russell Brook Road
    •  
  • Go approximately 1.7 on Russell Brook Road
    •  
  • Take a RIGHT into Russell Brook Parking Area (directly off road)


    • MILEAGE CHART - for the Trout Pond Trail

      Mileage Mile Point Altitude Notes
      0.00 0.00 2,230' Campbell Mountain Road & Trailhead
      1.96 1.96 2,559' Northern section of the Trout Pond Trail - Goes over Campbell Brook Mountain
      0.05 2.01 2,230' Walk east on Campbell Brook Road
      0.08 2.09 2,227' Beginning of the middle section
      1.13 3.22 2,480' Campbell Brook Road to SMT #21
      0.79 4.01 2,082' SMT #21 to head of Trout Pond
      0.54 4.55 2,100' Head of Trout Pond to the foot of Trout Pond
      0.45 5.00 1,919' Foot of Trout Pond to trail to campsite
      0.26 5.26 1,811' Trail to campsite to Trailhead to Mud Pond
      0.16 5.42 1,832' Trailhead to Mud Pond to Russell Brook Road PA

    Hiking the Trout Pond Trail

    Campbell Mountain Road DEC Parking area for the Trout Pond Trail
    This is the Campbell Mountain Road Parking Area. It is located on the Campbell Mountain Road. It holds about 7 cars. This parking area servers as the trailhead to the Trout Pond Trail and Campbell Mountain Trail.
    Campbell Brook Road DEC Parking Area
    This is the Campbell Brook Road Parking Area. It is located on the Campbell Brook Road. It holds about 7 cars.

    NOTE: There are two parking areas with similar names: (1) Campbell MOUNTAIN Road; (2) Campbell BROOK Road.

    Some hikers use this trailhead if they are going to hike to Trout Pond and back. Some also like to add the Mud Pond short Loop to this hike, so this parking area allows this to be reasonably done in one day.
    Trout Pond Parking Area off Russell Brook Road
    This is the Trout Pond Parking Area. It is located on the Russell Brook Road. It holds about 15 cars. If this parking area is full, there are a number of other places to park along this road. In the summer months this region is very popular.
    Northern trailhead for the Trout Pond Trail
    This is the Northern Trailhead for the Trout Pond Trail on Campbell Mountain Road.

    There are two trailheads at this parking area, so make sure you take the correct trailhead. The Trout Pond Trailhead is located on the same side of the street as the parking area.
    DEC sign at the northern trailhead on campbell mountain road
    This is the sign at the Northern Trailhead of the Trout Pond Trail on Campbell Mountain Road.
    beginning of the Trout Pond Trail from the northern trailhead
    The beginning of the Trout Pond Trail starts by going downhill on a double-track trail. When you get down to the Campbell Brook, the trail will turn to the right.
    The Trout Pond Trail turns left to cross the Campbell Brook on the wooden bridge
    As you hike a short distance parallel to the Campbell Brook, the trail will take another 90 degree turn to the LEFT and go over a wooden bridge for the Campbell Brook.

    NOTE: Many hikers miss this turn, so pay attention once down in the valley with the Campbell Brook. Look for the wooden bridge on your left.
    the Trout Pond Trail crosses the Campbell Brook over the wooden bridge
    The Trout Pond trail then crosses the Campbell Brook over this wooden bridge.
    The Trout Pond Trail will then start climb up Campbell Brook Mountain after crossing campbell brook Trout Pond Trail widens up near the top of Campbell Brook Mountain
    After crossing the wooden bridge over the Campbell Brook, the trail will start to ascend the mountain.
    The trail opens up a little as you get closer to the top of the mountain.
    the Trout Pond Trail will then circle around the north side of Campbell Brook Mountain.
    As you approach the Campbell Brook Mountain summit region, the trail will turn to the left and circle the summit region.
    summit region of Campbell Brook Mountain
    The Trout Pond Trail then goes across the a fairly flat section of the Campbell Brook Mountain. This section is nice to hike across.
    Highest elevation that the Trout Pond Trail takes on Campbell Brook Mountain
    The large tree in the middle of this image is the highest spot on Campbell Brook Mountain.
    Trout Pond Trail makes a number of sharp turns down the south side of Campbell Brook Mountain
    As you start to descend Campbell Brook Mountain, the trail will take a few 90 degree turns. In this picture, the trail turns 90 degrees to the LEFT.
    Trout Pond Trail approaching Campbell Brook Road
    The then descends at a gradually to Campbell Brook Road.
    Trailhead of the Trout Pond Trail on Campbell Brook Road
    The Trout Pond Trail then comes to another Trailhead on Campbell Brook Road. Sign into the Registration Box to continue further down Trout Pond Trail.
    Turn left at Campbell Brook Road to continue south on the Trout Pond Trail
    After you register again in the DEC registration box on Campbell Brook Road, you want to take a LEFT, and hike up Campbell Brook Road in a easterly direction.
    Snowmobile Trail markers on Campbell Brook Road for the Trout Pond Trail
    If you look across Campbell Brook Road, you can see an ORANGE Trail Marker (snowmobile trail marker). This marks the direction to the next section of the Trout Pond Trail. The Trout Brook Trail continues off Campbell Brook Road 250 from this point.
    Blue DEC Trail markers on Campbell Brook Road for the Trout Pond Trail
    About 150 feet after leaving the DEC Registration Box, you will see a BLUE Trail Marker on the large tree on the side of Campbell Brook Road telling you that you are heading in the correct direction for continuing on the Trout Pond Trail.
    Continue on the Trout Pond Trail south off Campbell Brook Road
    After another 100 feet you will come to the continuation of the Trout Pond Trail on the RIGHT side of Campbell Brook Road. You can leave Campbell Brook Road and continue past the DEC yellow gate south on the Trout Pond Trail.

    OPTION: Some hikers continue up Campbell Brook Road for another 1/3 of a mile, and then take Snowmobile Trail #21. Snowmobile Trail will intersection the Trout Pond Trail in about 1-1/2 miles.
    Cross another wooden bridge over tributary of Campbell Brook on the Trout Pond Trail
    About 750 feet after leaving the Campbell Brook Road, you will cross this wooden bridge over a tributary of the Campbell Brook.
    crossing another tributary of the Campbell Brook on the Trout Pond Trail
    After another 600 feet you will cross another tributary of the Campbell Brook
    The Trout Pond Trail will then climb uphill for 200 vertical feet before turning to the left
    The Trout Pond Trail will then start to climb uphill for about 200 vertical feet before turning to the left.
    The Trout Pond Trail will circle around a hill as it approaches snowmobile trail #21
    The Trout Pond Trail will slowly circle around the summit of a hill. The trail is relatively flat and enjoyable to hike around.
    trail junction on the Trout Pond Trail with Snowmobile Trail #21
    You will then encounter a trail junction for Snowmobile Trail #21 (SMT #21). You want to continue STRAIGHT.

    Left would take you down Snowmobile Trail #21 back to Campbell Brook Road. You would then be 4/10 of a mile from the Campbell Brook Road Parking Area. Some hikers like to take SMT #21 on a return trip back north.
    The Trout Pond Trail from Snowmobile Trail #21 to Trout Pond
    At this point, you will then head downhill to the north side of Trout Pond. The trail is very enjoyable to hike down.
    approaching Trout Pond on the Trout Pond Trail
    As you get closer to the northern side of Trout Pond, the Trout Pond Trail will start to level off.
    The DEC registration box and Kiosk for the Western section of the Trout Pond Trail on Rt 206
    The Trout Pond Trail will come to Trail Junction of the northern end of Trout Pond. You want to go STRAIGHT.

    Right will take you both Lean-to and two campsites, as well as, the trailhead to Mud Pond Trail.

    At this point there are two Lean-to within 500 feet of this location. The Trout Pond Lean-to (north) and Trout Pond Lean-to (south). There are 3 campsites within 750 of this location.

    The Mud Pond Trailhead is 100 feet to the right. Even on cloudy days, Trout Pond is beautiful. Mud Pond is equally beautiful.
    Bridge on the northeastern side of Trout Pond
    As you continue STRAIGHT after the Trail Junction to Trout Pond, you will cross this bridge.

    This picture was taken looking backwards. Straight ahead is the Northern Trout Pond Lean-to and a campsite. A little to the left is another (smaller) bridge that takes you the Mud Pond Trailhead, Southern Trout Pond Lean-to, and two campsites.
    Southern end of Trout Pond
    This is the foot of Trout Pond (Southern end). There is a trail here that takes you to the dam of Trout Pond. Further to the left is another campsite.
    the downhill hike from Trout Lake to the Russell Brook Valley floor
    After you pass the foot of Trout Pond, the trail will descend downhill about 200 vertical feet. Easy hiking down this section of the Trout Pond Trail.

    when you get to the bottom, there is a trail that goes to another campsite. You want to continue straight.
    Trail junction with Trout Pond Trail and Mud Pond Trail
    After another 1/4 mile, you will come to the second Trailhead to Mud Pond Trail. You want to continue STRAIGHT.

    Right would take you up to Mud Pond in a about 1-1/4 miles. There are 6 campsites around Mud Pond. The campsites are more isolated and harder to find.
    Russell Brook Falls off the Trout Pond Trail
    About 150 past the trail junction to Mud Pond Trail, there is an unmarked trail on your left. That unmarked trail will take you to the base of lower Russell Brook Falls. The Bussell Brook Falls are 150 feet of the Trout Pond Trail. Some consider this one of the highlights of this hike.

    You can see the upper part of Russell Brook Falls from Russell Brook Road.
    heavy-duty bridge over Russell Brook on the Trout Pond Trail
    About 150 beyond the unmarked trail to Russell Brook Falls is a heavy-duty bridge over the Russell Brook.

    About 500 feet beyond the bridge is the southern trailhead for the Trout Pond Trail.
    The Russell Brook Road Parking Area next to the Trout Pond Trail
    Next to the Trout Pond Trailhead is the Russell Brook Road Parking Area.

    Links and References:


    DEC Information on the Delaware Wild Forest

    NY DEC map of the Delaware Wild Forest (free)

    USGS Topo Map of the Downsville Quad

    USGS Topo Map of the Roscoe Quad



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