Hike the Hodge Pond Loop |
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| View of Hodge Pond from the dam on the Flynn Trail |
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Maps for the Hodge Pond Loop |
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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 Hodge Pond Loop |
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| | TRAIL |
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The Hodge Pond Loop is a fairly easy hike. The Flynn Trail is a very easy trail to hike on. The only exception is the last 4/10 of a mile to Junkyard Junction, which is exceptionally wet. We also do a detour around Hodge Pond so that you can see the large pond from different directions.
The trip from Junkyard Junction down the Quick Lake Trail is fairly easy. It is mainly all downhill. Near the end you get a nice view of Frick Pond.
Some hikers like to mix up the trails. One common side trip is to Beech Mountain. The new trail around the summit region is quite nice with multiple view points. It adds about 2-1/2 miles to your hike.
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| | CAMPSITES & LEAN-TO |
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There is only one DEC primitive DEC campsite on the western side of Frick Pond. 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 Hodge Pond Loop Trail |
| | Miles | Total | Altitude | Notes |
| | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,173' | 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 | 2,756' | Trail Junction (Go left on the Flynn Trail |
| | 0.43 | 2.47 | 2,609' | Hodge Pond (by foot of pond and dam) |
| | 0.23 | 2.70 | 2,629' | Trail Junction (Left for Hodge Pond Loop) |
| | 0.42 | 3.12 | 2,632' | Trail Junction (sharp 180 degree right onto Flynn Trail) |
| | 0.17 | 3.29 | 2,734' | DEC Gate - Leave Beech Mtn Nature Preserve to DEC land |
| | 0.39 | 3.68 | 2,756' | Junkyard Junction (Straight onto Quick Lake Trail) |
| | 1.65 | 5.33 | 2,314' | Ironwheel Junction (Go Right for Quick Lake Trail) |
| | 1.06 | 6.39 | 2,165' | Graveyard Junction (Go Straight ) |
| | 0.43 | 6.82 | 2,173' | 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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After a short distance from 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 from the dam.
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The Flynn Trail will then start to descend in elevation to Hodge Pond 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 trail around Hodge Pond. It is about a mile long.
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This is a better picture of Hodge Pond. You can also be able to view 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 LEFT.
Going straight would take you to the top of Beech Mountain. To complete the Beech Mountain loop and return to this spot is about 2-1/4 miles.
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The trail will descend down in elevation, and will come close to the shore. This picture was taken at the head of the pond.
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As you wrap around Hodge Pond to the west side, you will leave the shore line and climb up in elevation slightly.
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You will come out here after climbing up in elevation. This is the intersection with the Flynn Trail. You want to take a 180 degree turn onto the Flynn Trail and head west. This picture was taken looking backwards. In the picture, the trail on the left is the Flynn Trail, and the trail on the right is the Hodge Pond Loop Trail you just came up on.
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As you are traveling west on the Flynn Trail, you will come to this DEC gate. You will now be leaving the Beaverkill Valley Nature Preserve, and entering New York State public land again.
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Ironwheel Junction on the
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Unfortunately, the trail on New York State land is wet and muddy. There are drainage points, but they were all clogged when we were there. You can hike next to the trail in the woods. It is muddy on-and-off for about 4/10 of a mile.
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This is Junkyard Junction. You want to go STRAIGHT onto Quick Lake Trail towards Frick Pond.
Right will take you to Coyote Junction, Bobcat Junction, Flatrock Junction, and finally to Quick Lake.
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After hiking down the Quick Lake Trail for 1.65 miles, you will come to Ironwheel Junction (Iron wheel to the right of big tree). You want to go RIGHT towards Frick Pond.
Straight will take you down Loggers Loop Trail.
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This is the outflow (foot) of Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail bridge.
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This is the DEC Registration Box on the Quick Lake Trail. You actually registered on the Flynn Trail, which is about 750 away.
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You are now back to the Frick Pond Parking Area. Hope you enjoyed this 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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Flynn Trail
Hodge Pond Loop Trail
Quick Lake Trail