Sleepy Hollow Trail
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 6.35 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,496 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 1,496 ft
- Max elevation
- 2,156 ft
- TrailRank
- 52
- Min elevation
- 676 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- 2 hours 26 minutes
- Coordinates
- 941
- Uploaded
- May 9, 2016
- Recorded
- May 2016
near Ledgewood Park, New York (United States)
Viewed 366 times, downloaded 8 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
In the mid-19th century steam powered transportation came into widespread use and a larger number of people found themselves with disposable income. These two things combined to create a new phenomenon: the American vacation. In this part of the country New York City dwellers would take the paddle wheeler up the Hudson River to the landing at Catskill and from there, the stagecoach to the Catskill Mountain House at the top of the mountain in Tannersville. (This also explains why the Village of Catskill is not in the Catskills themselves: it was the gateway to the mountains.) The Sleepy Hollow Trail is the final three miles of that journey.
I live in the area and this is my go-to hike. I've labelled the hike moderate not because of any advanced skill required to tackle it but only because the first mile is a relentless climb to the point of being exhausting both going up and coming back down. Don't give up, though! After the hairpin turn by the Rip van Winkle House site the grade lessens somewhat and there are enough level stretches that one can catch one's breath. The top of the trail has bathroom/picnic facilities and intersects with the Escarpment Trail/Long Path so you can easily extend your hike. Much of the trailbed is stone and rock, which tends to be fatiguing as well as hard on the knees, but overall it's a great workout and--if you can go during the week--you're almost sure to have the trail to yourself.
The bottom of the trail begins on private property. Please be aware and respectful of the residents.
I live in the area and this is my go-to hike. I've labelled the hike moderate not because of any advanced skill required to tackle it but only because the first mile is a relentless climb to the point of being exhausting both going up and coming back down. Don't give up, though! After the hairpin turn by the Rip van Winkle House site the grade lessens somewhat and there are enough level stretches that one can catch one's breath. The top of the trail has bathroom/picnic facilities and intersects with the Escarpment Trail/Long Path so you can easily extend your hike. Much of the trailbed is stone and rock, which tends to be fatiguing as well as hard on the knees, but overall it's a great workout and--if you can go during the week--you're almost sure to have the trail to yourself.
The bottom of the trail begins on private property. Please be aware and respectful of the residents.
Waypoints
Picnic
2,149 ft
North /South Lake
The toilets are to your right if you're looking from this point of view.
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