Hike the Frick Pond Loop |
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| View of Frick Pond from the Frick Pond Loop in the Willowemoc Wild Forest |
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Maps for the Frick Pond Loop |
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| Map of the Frick Pond Loop Trail |
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| Map of the Western Willowemoc Wild Forest |
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| NY State Mongaup Campground Map ( $ Reservations Required - see link at bottom of page )
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| | Notes About Hiking the Frick Pond Loop |
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| | TRAIL |
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The Frick Pond Loop is one of the shortest hikes in the Willowemoc Wild Forest. It is 2.15 miles in length. The view of Frick Pond from the foot bridge is nice. Some hikers would have preferred to get closer to the edge of Frick Pond. The problem is that the area surrounding Frick Pond is a marsh, and very wet.
There are NO mountain view points along the Frick Pond Loop. But, there are nice view of Frick Pond. The trail is enjoyable due to it's mild incline.
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| | CAMPSITES & LEAN-TO |
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There is only one DEC primitive DEC campsite on the western side of the Willowemoc Wild Forest. Camping at this primitive campsite is free. It is located near Frick Pond on the Loggers Loop Trail. You can camp anywhere in the forest as long as you are 150 feet away from a road, stream, or trail.
You can also 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.
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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 Frick Pond Loop |
| | Miles | Total | Altitude | Notes |
| | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,173' | Frick Pond Trailhead for the Frick Pond Loop |
| | 0.39 | 0.39 | 2,155' | Frick Pond Cemetery - Lobdell Childreen Gravestone (on left) |
| | 0.02 | 0.41 | 2,165' | Graveyard Junction - Loggers Loop (on right) |
| | 0.59 | 1.00 | 2,164' | Times Square Jucntion - Intersection of Big Rock Trail & Loggers Loop |
| | 0.50 | 1.50 | 2,143' | Western end of the Big Rock Trail |
| | 0.23 | 1.73 | 2,165' | Gravestone Junction |
| | 0.41 | 2.14 | 2,173' | Frick Pond Trailhead for the Frick Pond Loop |
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You want to go to the Frick Pond Parking Area and Trailhead. This trail has two different trailheads less then 50 feet apart.
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This is the Frick Pond Parking Area. There is a smaller parking area on the other side of the kiosk. Between the two Frick Pond parking areas, they can handle up to 15 vehicles.
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This is the Frick Pond Kiosk. There are two parking areas and trailheads. Additionally, there is the Flynn Trailhead across the street from the Kiosk.
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This is the Frick Pond Trailhead in the larger parking area. It is located in the northwest side of the parking area. There is a short trail that takes you down the DEC Registration box on the Quick Lake Trail.
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These are some of the mileages to particular locations along the trail. Most of the mileages are somewhat accurate.
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This is the DEC Registration Box. It is important to register for your hike. If you are injured or lost it helps the Rangers find you faster. Your life may depend upon it. The amount of money spent on the trails for maintenance depends upon how many hikers are using the trails.
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This is the beginning of the Frick Pond Loop from the Frick Pond Parking Area to Gravestone Junction. Most of the trail has an easy grade and is a double-track trail.
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After about 4/10 of a mile, you will see this gravestone on the left side of the trail. Just before you get to Gravestone Junction.
In the middle of the night, on February 27, 1933, a faulty stove pipe caused the 2-story home to catch fire. The parents along with their son Cleo, and a baby slept on the first floor. Two other children, Lyle Sherman Lobdell (age 12) and his sister, Marjorie Berdessa Lobdell (age 11), were trapped by flames on the second floor. Due to high winds, the fire spread rapidly. Their father Elwin K Lobdell tried in vain to rescue the two children by using a ladder, but the flames had already consumed the entire second floor. Both children on the second floor died in the fire. Everyone else in the home survived.
Their home was located on the top of a mountain above Frick Pond. One of the children was severely burned, and the other child was consumed to ashes. The funeral was held in the Debruce Church, and plans were to bury both children at the Henry Family Cemetery in Debruce, NY. The Henry Family Cemetery is located on Old Hunter Road. At some point, a decision was made to bury both children at the Frick Pond Cemetery. The two children, are the only people buried at the Frick Pond Cemetery. The Frick Pond Cemetery is an official cemetery.
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Less then 100 feet past the Frick Pond Cemetery is the Gravestone Junction. You want to go RIGHT onto the Loggers Loop Trail.
Left continues down the Quick Lake Trail. You will return from that direction on the Quick Lake Trail.
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This is the main sign at the Gravestone Junction. Use the sign on top of the post for this hike. You want to head towards Times Square Junction on the Loggers Loop Trail. It is actually 0.59 miles. The Loggers Loop Trail gets it name from loggers who used to collect logs from a staging area further down the Loggers Loop Trail, near Ironwheel Junction.
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As you hike past Frick Pond, you will hike through some high brush before you enter back into the forest.
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Once you go back into the forest, you will see a Primitive Campsite on your left. It is about 1/10 of a mile from Gravestone Junction. It is somewhat close to Frick Pond.
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After about 6/10 of a mile down Loggers Loop Trail, you will come to Times Square Junction. You want to take a LEFT at the Times Square Junction onto the Big Rock Trail.
Straight will take you further down Loggers Loop Trail to Ironwheel Junction. Right will take you up Big Rock Trail to the Flynn Trail. Further beyond Flynn Trail the Big Rock Trail continues to Mongaup Pond. Mongaup Pond is a little less then 4 miles away.
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The beginning of the Big Rock Trail from the Times Square Junction.
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Shortly after turning onto the Big Rock Trail, you will enter into a conifer forest.
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This is the first wooden bridge you will cross on the Big Rock Trail from the Times Square Junction.
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You will continue in the conifer forest until you are almost to the Quick Lake Trail.
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This is the longest wooden boardwalk on the Big Rock Trail. The small water paths you see are feeding Frick Pond.
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This is the end of the Big Rock Junction. You want to take a LEFT back onto the Quick Lake Trail.
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After about 750 feet you will come to the foot bridge on the Quick Lake Trail. This is the view of Frick Pond from the foot bridge. You will be crossing the outflow of Frick Pond.
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In about 500 feet after the view of Frick Pond, you will pass Gravestone Junction, and you will see the Lobdell gravestone on the right side of the trail. The Frick Pond Parking Area is about 4/10 of a mile away.
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When you return to the DEC Registration Box, please check out. You can take either trail back to your vehicle. Both are about the same distance back to the Frick Pond Parking Area. Hope you enjoyed this short hike.
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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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O T H E R
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Frick Pond Loop
Loggers Loop Trail
Big Rock Trail