Hike to Beech Mountain |
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| Views to the east near the summit of Beech Mountain |
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OVERVIEW |
| | Trail Name: | 
Flynn Trail |
| | Trail Name: | 
Hodge Pond Loop Trail |
| | Trail Name: | 
Beech Mountain Spur Trail |
| | Trail Name: | 
Beech Mountain Road |
| | Trail Name: | 
Beech Mtn Summit Loop Trail |
| | Trail Name: |
Beech Mountain Road |
| | Trail Name: |
Flynn Trail |
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| | Forest : | Willowemoc Wild Forest |
| | Parking Area : | Frick Pond Parking Area |
| | Pay Camp sites: | Moungaup Campground |
| | Access: | Hike, bike, ski, snowshoe |
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| | Trail Length: | 7.04 miles |
| | Trail Type: | 1% Single-Track Trail - 99% Double-track trail |
| | Hiking Time: | About 3-4 hours |
| | Lowest Elevation: | 2,149' (A) |
| | Highest Elevation: | 3,079' (A) |
| | Views : | Hodge Pond & Beech Mountain |
| | Difficulty: | Easy |
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| | USGS Map: | USGS Willowemoc Quad Maps (free) |
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| | DEC Trail Map: | DEC Willowemoc Wild Forest Map (free) |
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| | Mongaup Campground Info: | DEC Mongaup Campground Information |
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| | Mongaup Campground Map: | DEC Mongaup Campground Map (free) |
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| | Digital Mapper: |
Topo
Terrain
Satellite |
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Maps for Beech Mountain |
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| Flynn Trail |
Beech Mountain Loop Trail |
 Loggers Loop Trail |
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Beech Mountain Road |
 Big Rock Trail |
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Beech Mountain Road Spur |
 Quick Lake Trail |
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Hodge Pond Loop Trail |
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 Shin Creek Trail |
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| NY State Mongaup Campground Map ( $ Reservations Required - see link at bottom of page )
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| | Notes About Hiking to Beech Mountain |
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| | STARTING FROM THE FRICK POND PARKING AREA |
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The Beech Mountain hike is a favorite hike of local hikers. It is a fairly easy hike. During this hike you will get to see Hodge Pond, which is quite nice. You will also get to see a very nice view point to the east at the end of Beech Mountain Road by the Club House. There is another view spot looking to the west, with views of Hodge Pond, on the Beech Mountain Loop Trail. You also have the option of mixing up the return trip to get views of Frick Pond.
There are numerous trail junctions on this map, so take a picture of the map above to ensure that you take the correct paths.
During a portion of this hike you will leave New York State Public Land, and you will be hiking on Beaverkill Valley Nature Preserve. They have a different set of rules for hiking on their property. None of the trails are marked, with the exception of the Beech Mountain loop Trail, which has Red Trail Markers. There are NO signs at road and trail junctions. So, make sure you have a map of the region.
Beech Mountain is the highest Point in Sullivan County with an elevation of 3,126 feet.
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| | START FROM SHIN CREEK |
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Starting at the Shin Creek Parking Area, this hike is reduced to 4.24 miles round trip. This could allow you to hike several of the surrounding mountains, like Hodge Pond Mountain, Beech Mountain, and Mongaup Mountain. The Shin Creek Trail is a little bit steeper then the Flynn Trail.
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| | START FROM MONGAUP CAMPGROUND |
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Starting at the the Mongaup Campground will increase the mileage to 7.36 miles. The climb from the Mongaup Campgrounds to the Flynn Grail has a steady up hill climb. If you are camping in the campground, this might be an option for your. The Trailhead for the Big Rock Trail is in Loop D, around campsite #158. See the campground map for campsite #158.
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| | CAMPSITES & LEAN-TO |
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There are NO campsites or lean-to on this hike. You may NOT camp anywhere on Beaverkill Valley Nature Preserve.
You can camp at Mongaup Pond Campgrounds, which requires reservations. Campsites in the Mongaup Pond Campgrounds are not free.
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| | PARKING |
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The Frick Pond Parking Area has two places to park. The larger parking area on the LEFT of the DEC Kiosk holds 10-12 cars. The smaller parking area on the RIGHT of the DEC Kiosk holds 3-5 cars.
The Shin Creek Parking Area can hold 5-10 cars. Finding the entrance to the Shin Creek Parking Area can be difficult. There are NO signs telling you where the road goes. The entrance is on a sharp curve on the Shin Creek Road.
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| | OTHER INFORMATION |
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There is limited cell phone service at the Frick Pond Parking Area and at certain locations on the trail.
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| | DIRECTIONS from Exit 19 (Kingston) |
| | Frick Pond Parking Area WGS84 (DEC): 41.951, -74.707183 - Elevation is approximately 2,173 feet |
| | Frick Pond Parking Area Deg/Min/Sec: N41 57 03, W74 42 25 - Elevation is approximately 2,173 feet |
| | Frick Pond Parking Area GPS: N 41 57.060, W 74 42.431- Elevation is approximately 2,173 feet |
| | Frick Pond Parking Area UTM: 18N 524269 4644377 - Elevation is approximately 2,173 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 30.4 miles on Rt 28 West |
| | Take a LEFT onto Rt 47 in Big Indian |
| | Go approximately 19.3 miles on Rt 47 |
| | Take a (180 degree) RIGHT onto Pond Road |
| | Go approximately 9.4 miles on Pond Road (turns into Willowemoc Road) |
| | When Willowemoc Road splits - Go RIGHT |
| | Take a RIGHT onto Mongaup Road |
| | Go approximately 3.0 miles on Mongaup Road |
| | Take a LEFT into one of two Frick Pond Parking Areas |
| | NOTE: There is parking on both side of the Frick Pond Kiosk |
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MILEAGE CHART for Beech Mountain Trail |
| | Miles | Total | Altitude | Notes |
| | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,163' | Flynn Trailhead & DEC Registration Box |
| | 0.16 | 0.16 | 2,215' | Detour around private property to the old Beech Mtn Road |
| | 1.59 | 1.75 | 2,748' | Trail Intersection with the Big Rock Trail |
| | 0.18 | 1.93 | 2,756' | DEC Gate - Beginning of Beech Mtn Nature Preserve |
| | 0.11 | 2.04 | 2,749' | Trail Junction (Go left on the Flynn Trail |
| | 0.43 | 2.47 | 2,609' | Hodge Pond (by foot of pond and dam (4)) |
| | 0.23 | 2.70 | 2,629' | Trail Junction (Right for Beech Mtn Trail Spur (3) |
| | 0.15 | 2.85 | 2,750' | Trail Junction (Left onto Beech Mountain Road (2)) |
| | 0.45 | 3.30 | 3,035' | Trail Junction (go Left) |
| | 0.19 | 3.49 | 3,039' | Go Straight |
| | 0.12 | 3.61 | 3,018' | View over valley by club house - Go Straight) |
| | 0.12 | 3.73 | 3,032' | Beech Mountain Loop Trail |
| | 0.58 | 4.31 | 3.035' | Beech Mountain Road - go Left |
| | 0.45 | 4.76 | 2,165' | Beech Mountain Road (Go Straight past both trail junctions) |
| | 0.24 | 5.00 | 2,749' | Flynn Trail (go Left) |
| | 0.11 | 5.11 | 2,756' | DEC Gate (end of Nature Preserve) |
| | 0.18 | 5.29 | 2,748' | Trail Junction (Go Straight) |
| | 1.59 | 6.88 | 2,215' | Trail Intersection with the Big Rock Trail - go Straight) |
| | 0.16 | 7.04 | 2,173' | Go LEFT - Detour around private property to Frick Pond Parking Area |
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After parking your car in the Frick Pond Parking area, walk out to the kiosk. Directly across the street from the kiosk is the Flynn Trailhead. Walk across the street to the Flynn Trailhead.
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Walk down this single-track trail to the DEC Registration Box (can be seen in the picture).
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Register for your hike at this DEC Registration Box for your hike. After registering, walk up the trail about 800 feet. The trail will then meet up with the old Beech Mountain Road. This single-track trail was created to get around the house that now owns part of the old road.
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Once back on the double-track Beech Mountain Road, now called the Flynn Trail. You will follow the Flynn Trail on a very gentle incline for the next 1-3/4 miles until you reach the intersection of the Big Rock Trail that runs from Mongaup Pond to Frick Pond.
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This is the intersection of the Big Rock Trail. You want to continue STRAIGHT.
Left will take you to you Frick Pond and Times Square Trail Junction. Right would take you to Mongaup Pond (2.34 miles)
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This is one of the DEC trail signs. Some of the mileages are reasonable close with the exception of the Mongaup Pond Campground, which is off by a 1/2 mile.
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After about 1,000 feet down the Flynn Trail, you will come to this vehicle gate. Go around the gate. You will then be entering the Beech Mountain Nature Preserve.
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The Beech Mountain Nature Preserve has different rules then New York State land. So, take a moment to read the short list of rules.
The land is owned by The Beaverkill Valley Land Trust. Previously it was managed by the Open Space Institute. It is now managed by Catskill Mountainkeeper. It should be noted that OSI does own land adjacent to the Beaverkill Valley Land Trust by Shin Creek Road.
There are trails to the top of Beech Mountain (3,126' A), which is the highest mountain in Sullivan County. We do not cover them in this hike, but we do have a different hike where we do discuss this hike extensively.
There is a trail completely around Hodge Pond. There is also another trail that goes up to the summit region of Beech Mountain. There is also a new trail around the summit region of Beech Mountain (Red Trail Markers).
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About 500 feet after entering the Beaverkill Valley Nature Preserve, you will come to this Trail Junction. You want to go LEFT (stay on the Flynn Trail). Hodge Pond is a little over 4/10 of a mile away.
Right will take you to the summit region of Beech Mountain on the Beech Mountain Road. You would also miss seeing Hodge Pond by going right.
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The Flynn Trail will then start to descend in elevation as you approach Hodge Pond.
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This is Hodge Pond. This is the foot of the pond, where there is a small dam. You want to go RIGHT.
There is a loop trail around Hodge Pond. It is about a mile long.
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This is a better picture of Hodge Pond. There is another view of Hodge Pond from the head of the pond.
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After going RIGHT at the foot of the dam, you will follow this double-track trail up the hill.
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After almost a 1/4 mile, you will come to this trail junction. You want to go STRAIGHT on Hodge Pond Spur Trail.
Left would take you around Hodge Pond, and eventually bring you back to the dam at the foot of Hodge Pond.
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About 750 feet later, you will come to this Trail Junction with Beech Mountain Road (2). Go LEFT.
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About 200 feet later, you will see another trail junction for the Shin Creek Trail. Go STRAIGHT past this Trail Junction.
Left would take you down to Shin Creek Road (about 1-1/2 miles)
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The Beech Mountain Road then climbs up the base of Beech Mountain at a steeper incline.
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After a little less then 1/2 mile, you will come to another Trail Junction. Go LEFT.
Right is the Beech Mountain Loop Trail. You will come out this trail after you circle Beech Mountain via the Beech Mountain Loop Trail (Red Trail Markers).
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As you reach the highest point on the Beech Mountain Road, you will see a trail on the right. Go STRAIGHT.
Right would take you part way to the summit of Beech Mountain. From there you would need to follow one of the small faint herd trails to the summit. There are NO views from the summit.
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About 300 feet after the high point on Beech Mountain Road, you will come to this Trail Junction. You want to continue STRAIGHT.
Right is the beginning of the Beech Mountain Loop Trail (red trail markers). It is better to continue straight so that you can see the view point. Then there is a trail that will take you to the Beech Mountain Loop Trail (red trail markers).
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About 600 feet after the trail junction to the Beech Mountain Loop Trail (red trail markers), you will come to the Club House and very nice view spot.
Once you are done here, continue straight across the lawn to a spur trail back to the Beech Mountain Loop Trail (red trail markers). When you get to the end of the spur trail, take a LEFT.
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This is the Beaverkill Valley Club House. Walk across the lawn to continue on the spur trail to Beech Mountain Loop Trail (red trail markers). When you get to the end of the spur trail, take a LEFT.
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This is the Beech Mountain Loop Trail. It follows a ledge on the west side.
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Part way down the western side of the Beech Mountain Loop Trail is a nice view spot where you can see Hodge Pond.
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This is the view of Hodge Pond from the view spot on the Beech Mountain Loop Trail.
After you come to the end of the Beech Mountain Loop Trail, take a left down Beech Mountain Road.
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Go STRAIGHT past BOTH trail junctions further down Beech Mountain Road. This is the Beech Mountain Road past the second Trail Junction. It is about 1/4 mile long and will take you directly to the Flynn Trail. It bypasses Hodge Pond.
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After a 1/4 mile, you will come to the Flynn Trail. You want to go LEFT.
Right would take you back to Hodge Pond.
After about 600 feet you will come to the DEC gate you passed on the Flynn Trail on the way up from the Frick Pond Parking Area.
Then about 1000 feet later you will come to the Big Rock Trail Junction. Go STRAIGHT.
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As you come down near the end of the Flynn Trail on the old road you will need to go LEFT on a single-track trail, to avoid trespassing on private property.
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After about 750 feet down the final part of Flynn Trail on this single-track trail, you come to the DEC Registration Box. Please check out.
Then about 100 feet later you will come back to the Frick Pond Parking Area where you parked your car. I hope you enjoyed this hike as much as we did. It is a nice gem in the western Catskill Mountains.
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S E C T I O N S
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W E A T H E R
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