Hike from Phoenicia to Woodland Valley |
 |
| View of Wittenberg Mountain from Mt Pleasant |
| |
| |
|
OVERVIEW |
| | Trail Name: | 
Phoenicia East Branch Trail (Phoenicia to Trail Junction to Wittenberg) |
| | Trail Name: | 
Phoenicia East Branch Trail (Slide-Wittenberg Trail) - (Wittenberg to Woodland Valley) |
| | | |
| | | Forest : | Slide Mountain Wilderness |
| | Parking Area #1: | Woodland Valley Parking Area |
| | Parking Area #2: | Romer Mountain Parking Area on Lane Street in Phoenicia |
| | Winter Access: | Parking Areas are Plowed in the Winter |
| | Camp sites: | 2 Primitive Camp Site locations |
| | Lean-to: | 1 Lean-to at Terrance Mountain |
| | Campgrounds: | 1 full service - Woodland Valley Campground (not free) |
| | | |
| | | Trail Length: | 11.62 miles |
| | Trail Type: | Single-track trail |
| | Hiking Time: | Average 8-9 hours (1 or 2 days) |
| | Views : | 6 view spots |
| | Difficulty: | Moderate |
| | | |
| | | USGS Map: | USGS Phoenicia Quad Maps |
| | | |
| | | DEC Trail Map: | DEC Slide Mountain Wilderness Map (free) |
| | | |
| | | Digital Mapper: |
Topo
Terrain
Satellite |
|
|
Maps for Phoenicia East Branch Trail (Romer PA to Woodland Valley PA) |
 |
|
 |
|
|
| | Notes About Hiking from Romer PA to Woodland Valley PA |
|
| | TRAIL INFORMATION |
|
| |
This hike is fairly easy hiking with a when compared to other hikes in the Slide Mountain Wilderness. The difficulty is the length of the hike for some hikers.
The trail to Romer Mountain, Mt Pleasant, and Cross Mountain is very remote, and few people visit it. Maybe 1 person a day for Romer Mountain, and maybe 1 visitor a week for Mt Pleasant. Best to hike it with a friend.
The trail from Phoenicia to Wittenberg Mountain is fairly new, and follows new trail building and maintenance standards. It is very enjoyable hike. The steeper parts of the trail use rock steps.
There are ticks on this hike, so check yourself for ticks once your hike is done. We saw a number of deer on this hike, and where you see deer, you can find ticks.
There is only ONE place to get water between the Romer Parking Area and Trail Junction to Wittenberg Mountain. It is located about a 1/2 mile from the Romer Mountain Trailhead. If you are backpacking this section, make sure you carry enough water for the length of your stay on this section. The next water source is over 10 miles away.
|
|
| | CAMPING |
|
| |
This trail is around 12 miles long. Some people can do all 12 miles in one day. Others need to split it up into 2 days. On this hike there are two DEC Primitive campsites, and one Lean-to. Groups more the 10 people require a camping permit from the NY State DEC.
We do not recommend camping in the forest between Romer Mountain and Cross Mountain. There are a lot of ticks when you leave the trail. Also remember, that you cannot camp within 150 feet of a trail, road, water source. You cannot camp above 3,500 feet elevation in the Spring, Summer, and Fall months (This trail does not go above 3,500 feet in elevation).
The first primitive campsite is located 8 miles from the Romer Parking Area. About 1/3 of a mile above the Giant Bluestone Slab, and 9/10 of a mile from the Burroughs Trail (Slide-Wittenberg Trail). The drawback to this location is the lack of a water source. You have to hike a long ways to obtain water. If you do stay here bring water from the beginning of the trail. If you do stay here, you will likely be the only person camping there.
The next location is the Terrance Lean-to. It is located about 10 miles from the Romer Parking Area. The Terrance Lean-to was replaced in 2023. There is also a view there. Again, there is NO water source there, or anywhere close by. If you do stay here bring water from the beginning of the trail. If you do stay here, you will likely be sharing the lean-to with other people camping there. This is a popular lean-to.
The second primitive campsite is located 10-1/3 miles from the Romer Parking Area. It is located about 1-1/2 miles from the trail junction to the Terrance Lean-to Trail. You will pass a water source once you pass the trail junction to Terrance Lean-to. In drought conditions, this water source can dry up. This primitive campsite is fairly new (as of 2022), so you may be the only person camping there. The campsite is located near the edge of a ledge in a conifer forest.
At the end of the hike, you can also stay at the Woodland Campground (not free). You will also need reservations.
|
|
| | OTHER INFORMATION |
|
| |
The views from Mt Pleasant are an outstanding 5-star view point on a clear day. It has stunning depth-of-field on a clear day.
The view point from the Giant Bluestone Slab is quite nice also. In a few years (past 2023), it probably will become over grown, which is sad.
Parking at the Woodland Parking Area cost money in the summer months.
Cell phone reception might exist is certain areas.
|
|
|
| | DIRECTIONS to WOODLAND VALLEY PARKING AREA from Exit 19 (Kingston) |
| | Woodland Valley Parking Area WGS84 (DEC): 42.03615, -74.35745 - Elevation is approximately 1,399 feet |
| | Woodland Valley Parking Area Deg/Min/Sec: N42 02 10, W74 21 26 - Elevation is approximately 1,399 feet |
| | Woodland Valley Parking Area GPS: N 42 02.169, W 74 21.447 - Elevation is approximately 1,399 feet |
| | Woodland Valley Parking Area UTM: 18N 553184 4653990 - Elevation is approximately 1,399 feet
|
| |
|
| | Get off New York State Thruway at Exit 19 (Kingston). |
| | Take a RIGHT out of the NYS Thruway onto Route 28 West. |
| | Go approximately 23.1 miles on Rt 28 West |
| | Take a LEFT onto Woodland Valley Road (after Phoenicia exits) |
| | Go approximately 0.2 miles on Rt Woodland Valley Road |
| | Continue RIGHT onto Woodland Valley Road after going over bridge) |
| | Go approximately 4.8 miles on Woodland Valley Road |
| | DEC Parking Area is on the RIGHT side of the road. Large Parking Area - Holds 50 cars |
|
|
| | Directions from WOODLAND VALLEY PA to ROMER PA |
| | Romer Mountain Parking Area WGS84 (DEC): 42.07895, -74.31915 - Elevation is approximately 874 feet |
| | Romer Mountain Parking Area Deg/Min/Sec: N42 04 44, W74 19 08 - Elevation is approximately 874 feet |
| | Romer Mountain Parking Area GPS: N 42 04.737, W 74 19.149 - Elevation is approximately 874 feet |
| | Romer Mountain Parking Area UTM: 18N 556317 4658766 - Elevation is approximately 874 feet
|
| |
|
| | Leave Woodland Valley Parking Area onto Woodland Valley Road. |
| | Take a Woodland Valley Road for 5.2 miles (Do NOT take bridge over creek!) |
| | Take a RIGHT off onto Lane Street |
| | Go approximately 0.1 miles on Lane Street (To end of Lane St) |
| | Take a RIGHT into Romer Mountain Parking Area |
| | Go approximately 350' up dirt road |
| | Park your vehicle - Holds 5 cars |
|
|
| | Directions to Romer Mountain Trail Head from Exit 19 (Kingston) |
| | Romer Mountain Parking Area WGS84 (DEC): 42.07895, -74.31915 - Elevation is approximately 874 feet |
| | Romer Mountain Parking Area Deg/Min/Sec: N42 04 44, W74 19 08 - Elevation is approximately 874 feet |
| | Romer Mountain Parking Area GPS: N 42 04.737, W 74 19.149 - Elevation is approximately 874 feet |
| | Romer Mountain Parking Area UTM: 18N 556317 4658766 - Elevation is approximately 874 feet
|
| |
|
| | Get off New York State Thruway at Exit 19 (Kingston). |
| | Take a RIGHT out of the NYS Thruway onto Route 28 West. |
| | Go approximately 22.2 miles on Rt 28 West |
| | Take a RIGHT off ramp onto Bridge Street |
| | Go approximately 0.2 miles on Bridge Street |
| | Take a LEFT onto High Street |
| | Go approximately 0.5 miles on High Street |
| | Take a LEFT onto Lane Street |
| | Go approximately 0.1 miles to the end of Lane Street |
| | Take a RIGHT on dirt road that has Romer Mountain Trailhead sign |
| | DEC Parking Area is 350' down nice dirt road. Small Parking Area - Holds 5 cars |
|
|
Mileage Chart from Romer Mountain Parking Area to Woodland Parking Area |
| | Distance | Mile Point | Altitude | Notes |
| | 0.00 | 0.00 | 870' | Romer Mountain Parking Area (off Lane Street in Phoenicia) |
| | 0.02 | 0.02 | 898' | DEC Registration Box |
| | 0.45 | 0.47 | 1,159' | Trail to Spring |
| | 2.71 | 3.18 | 2,249' | Romer Mountain |
| | 1.80 | 4.98 | 2,597' | Mt Pleasant View Spot of Wittenberg Mountain |
| | 0.56 | 5.54 | 2,490 | Hidden View Point |
| | 0.84 | 6.38 | 2,525' | Cross Mountain Summit |
| | 0.15 | 6.53 | 2,490' | View Point south of Cross Mountain |
| | 1.15 | 7.68 | 2,749 | Giant Bluestone Slab (View Point) |
| | 0.32 | 8.00 | 2,769' | DEC Primitive Campsite - Base of Wittenberg |
| | 0.90 | 8.90 | 2,755' | Trail Junction with Slide-Wittenberg Trail (Burroughs Trail) |
| | 0.19 | 9.09 | 2,677' | Trail Junction with Terrance Mtn / Lean-to |
| | 1.45 | 10.54 | 2,730' | DEC Primitive Campsite - on Slide-Wittenberg Trail heading towards Woodland Valley |
| | 1.08 | 11.62 | 1,347' | Burroughs Trailhead on Woodland Valley Road |
|
|
Hike from Phoenicia to Woodland Valley |
 |
This is the DEC driveway that leads up to the Romer Mountain Trailhead Parking Area. It is about 350' long. Please stay on the road, because the area off the road is private property. Please be respectful of the private property owners.
|
|
 |
This is the DEC sign for the Romer Mountain Trailhead Parking Area at the entrance of the driveway from Lane Street in Phoenicia, New York
|
|
 |
This is the Romer Mountain Trailhead Parking Area. Holds about 5 cars.
|
|
 |
Take note of messages in the Kiosk for this hike. It also has the emergency contact number. On the left is the Trailhead for the Phoenicia East Branch Trail that runs from this point in Phoenicia, New York to Neversink, New York. This hike is for the first section of the trail.
|
|
 |
At the Romer Mountain Trailhead, there is this sign that contains mileage to certain points, as well as DEC Emergency Phone Number. Take a photo of the Emergency Phone Number with your cell phone. |
|
 |
This is the very beginning of the Phoenicia East Branch Trail. This trail gets approximately 1 hiker per day on the trail (as of 2023). This part of the trail is considered to be very remote.
|
|
 |
150' after you start up the trail, you will come to this DEC Registration Box. Please Register. If you have an emergency, the New York State Rangers will look here for information. Also, trail maintenance funds are allocated based upon the number of people who register here.
|
|
 |
The beginning of the Phoenicia East Branch Trail has a fairly easy incline that goes up the mountain for approximately 1 mile. There are steps on some parts that are a little steeper then this.
|
|
 |
After you hike up approximately 1/2 mile, there is a side trail on the left that goes to the Spring. This is the ONLY water source for a very long ways. So, if you need water, please get it now.
|
|
 |
This is the Spring that is 150' off the Phoenicia East Branch Trail. It flows well most of the year.
|
|
 |
The first mile of the trail is the hardest part of the hike. Generally, the incline is fairly gradual. But, on steeper sections, you will find steps like you see in this photo.
|
|
 |
After you get up near the ridge, you will encounter this unique rock next to the trail. It is about 2 miles up the trail
|
|
 |
This is the summit of Romer Mountain. There is NO view from the summit.
You can then continue on the trail to Mt Pleasant. The trail wraps around the summit of Romer Mountain.
|
|
 |
Once you wrap around Romer Mountain, the trail heads down into the col between the two mountains.
|
|
 |
There is a side trail that goes off to a view point. The View Point gives you a glimpse of the valley floor in the summer and winter months.
|
|
 |
The trail then winds through the col with some interesting locations. This part of the path runs along a ledge.
|
|
 |
The trail then goes through some nice moss covered ground that is pleasing to hike on.
|
|
 |
As you approach Mt Pleasant, the trail opens up a bit. This section of the path has a wide variety of terrain that is easy to hike on and enjoy
|
|
|
This is the view spot on the trail near Mt Pleasant. On a nice day, many consider this a 5-star view. The mountain you see in the middle is Wittenberg Mountain.
On the right is Slide and Panther. Cornell is hidden from view behind Wittenberg. To the left is Friday and Balsam Cap. The valley below is Cross Mountain Hollow.
At this point, you have hiked 5 miles from the Trailhead.
|
|
 |
 |
After taking some time at the Mt Pleasant view point, continue further down the trail. The trail continues to wrap around Mt Pleasant on a fairly level path. After it gets most of the way around, it then dropping down to the ridge line in the col between Mt Pleasant and Cross Mountain.
|
|
 |
After you drop all the way down to the ridge line off Mt Pleasant, there is a great view spot of the Ashokan Reservoir. It is not a defined trail, so you will have to bushwhack a little bit off the trail to find it. This view spot is better then the one on Cross Mountain.
|
|
 |
The trail continues across the ridge line from Mt Pleasant to Cross Mountain. Part way across the ridge line is a large slab of bluestone you can hike across.
|
|
 |
 |
The bluestone slab continues for quite a ways across the ridge line between Mt Pleasant and Cross Mountain
|
|
 |
When you reach Cross Mountain there is another view point a couple feet off the trail of the Ashokan Reservoir. This view is a little bit different then the view point of the Ashokan Reservoir at the base of the north side of Mt Pleasant.
After you are done viewing the Ashokan from this view point on Cross Mountain, continue further down the path. The trail will wind it's way through the forest on the ridge line until you reach the base of Wittenberg Mountain.
|
|
 |
 |
When you reach the base of Wittenberg Mountain, you will encounter a series of staircases.
The lower staircase has approximately 28 steps. The middle staircase has approximately 14 stairs. The upper staircase has 7 stairs.
|
|
 |
Once you have climbed up the the series of staircases, you will encounter the bottom of the giant bluestone slab. Continue to hike up the bluestone slab.
This bluestone slab was wiped clean by the glaciers thousands of years ago. All the the erratic rocks are still where the glaciers left them. So, PLEASE leave the rocks where they have rested for thousands of years, so that others can enjoy them. This is one of the last places in the Catskill Mountains that is untouched by people.
|
|
 |
You also get a nice view of Wittenburg Mountain while hiking up the Giant Bluestone Slab.
|
|
 |
When you get up to the upper part of the Giant Bluestone Slab, the beautiful view of the Catskill Mountains will come into view.
|
|
 |
 |
After visiting the Giant Bluestone Slab, the trail heads back into the forest, and is a little windy. The trail then climbs in elevations and then turns right.
Once it turns right, the trail levels off in elevation. The trail also becomes a little rocky.
|
|
 |
About a 1/3 of a mile past the Giant Bluestone Slab, there is a DEC Primitive Campsite on the west side of the trail.
|
|
 |
The trail to this primitive campsite is not well defined, and some find it a little difficult to find. You want to hike up this small ledge to the conifer trees on the top left side of the picture.
|
|
 |
This is the primitive campsite that is about 100 feet off the trail. Again, there is NO water at this campsite.
|
|
 |
 |
About 9/10 of a mile after the primitive campsite, you will come to the trail junction to the Wittenberg-Cornell-Slide Trail (Burroughs Trail).
You want to go RIGHT.
|
|
 |
The trail will head north towards the Terrance Lean-to Trail. This is a fairly short section of the trail of about 750-1000 feet.
|
|
 |
After a short distance, you will come to another trail junction. You want to go LEFT if you are not going to camp at the Terrance Lean-to.
Straight will take you to the Terrance Lean-to. About 9/10 of a mile.
|
|
 |
As you go left down the Phoenicia East Branch Trail, you will hike through a small conifer forest. The path is a bit rocky.
|
|
 |
In the distance is a water source on the Phoenicia East Branch Trail. During drought conditions, this water source can dry up, so beware.
|
|
 |
The Phoenicia East Branch Trail will mainly decline in elevation from the Terrance lean-to to Woodland Valley. But, there are a few sections of a little uphill.
|
|
 |
About 1-1/3 miles from the trail junction to Terrance Lean-to is a small trail to a DEC Primitive Campsite. The campsite sits on a ledge. The campsite is located about 100 feet off the trail.
The side trail to the campsite is not marked on the way down the trail to Woodland Valley. The campsite is marked on the way up the trail. So, you might have to turn around and look at the trees behind you. Pay attention when you get near the ledges. When the trail comes down near the ledge, this is where the side trail is located.
|
|
 |
If the trail gets right next to the ledge, you have gone too far past the Primitive Campsite. This is a real nice section of the Phoenicia East Branch Trail.
|
|
 |
The climb up to the conifer forest on the ledge, is quite rooty, but not real difficult. It is slippery when wet.
|
|
 |
As you descend down the Phoenicia East Branch Trail, the trail will take a 90 degree left turn. It then heads down to the Woodland Creek. Once the Trail turns left, you will leave the conifer forest for a deciduous forest.
|
|
 |
This is the final part (of this section) of the Phoenicia East Branch Trail as you descend down to the Woodland Valley from Wittenberg Mountain.
|
|
 |
Bridge over the Woodland Creek on the Phoenicia East Branch Trail. Once you hike across the bridge, take a LEFT and head to the campsite paved road. Once at the paved road, take a right and walk towards the Woodland Valley Road
|
|
 |
Once at the Woodland Valley Road, take a LEFT, and walk about 100' up the road to the Woodland Valley Parking Area. Take a right into the Woodland Valley Parking Area.
|
|
 |
This is the Woodland Valley Parking Area. It holds about 60 cars. In the summer months you need to pay to park here. It is a popular parking area.
|
|
|
S E C T I O N S
|
W E A T H E R
|
O T H E R
|
