Home⎟Hikes & Wanderings⎟New York⎟Hudson Valley⎟Sterling Forest⎟Sterling Forest: End-to-End

Distance: 9.4 miles

Time: 5 hours

Difficulty: Moderate-Strenuous

Elevation Gain: 576 feet

Dog Friendly: Yes.

Trailhead Directions: From the NYS Thruway, take exit 15A and turn left at the bottom of the exit ramp. Continue 7.3 miles to the left exit ramp for Route 17A. Turn left at the top of the ramp and continue 5.6 miles to the Trailhead parking lot, down a dirt road on your left marked “Allis / Sterling Ridge.” If your car is low to the ground, please be careful here as the parking lot is covered in depressions and large rocks.

Nearest GPS Address: 798 Miniturn Bridge Road

Hike Directions: From the trailhead, walk to the gate at the back of the parking area, and pass to the other side. Walk 100 feet and at the fork for the Sterling Ridge and Sterling Valley Trails, turn right and uphill onto the blue blazed Sterling Ridge Trail. Ascend along the ridge for 1 mile before crossing a power line and continuing 0.85 mile to an overlook over Sterling Lake to the East. 1.25 miles beyond the power line, the trail intersects with the orange blazed Bare Rock Trail. Continue straight uphill on the blue blazes. In less than a quarter mile you’ll reach an expansive overlook looking north and south over Sterling Lake. Continue 0.6 miles along the rocky ridge, soon arriving at the Sterling Forest fire tower. Enjoy the views from the fire tower then from there, continue straight toward a brown hut, large enough to be a dog house and veer to the right of it, staying on the blue blazed Highlands Trail, which now also follows the red blazes. In 0.5 miles the red trail departs to the right as you continue straight on the blue/teal blazes. The trail winds up and down two small prominences, then intersects with the white blazed Lake-to-Lake trail. Again, continue straight on the blue blazes. In 022 miles you’ll cross into New Jersey (marked by a handwritten sign). Continue to the summit of Big Beech Mountain. Though its summit is viewless, continuing a few hundred feet beyond the summit you’ll find some great views to the south and west over Bearfort Ridge and the Monksville Reservoir. 1.4 miles after crossing into New Jersey, reach an intersection with the yellow blazes Jennings Hollow trail and continue straight on the Highlands Trail. In 0.6 miles you’ll reach the Charcoal House Ruins and the ruins of a stone bridge along the Wanaque River to your right. There used to be a bridge crossing here leading to a closer parking area, but it was destroyed by Hurricane Irene in 2011 and it still has yet to be rebuilt, unfortunately. But fortunately, this is a great area to explore, or take a cool dip in the river. To continue on the trail from here, turn left onto the yellow blazes of the Hasenclever Trail. The trail ascends for a short while before descending toward the reservoir, then veering left and running parallel to the water. 0.75 from the Western terminus of the Hasenclever Trail, veer uphill on the yellow blazes, though the path looks like it continues straight. Continuing straight however, will only lead you to private property. After veering uphill you’ll soon reach a small metal bridge over Beech Brook, and cross. 1.15 miles from where you began the yellow trail, the trail ahead turns to green blazes, while the yellow trail goes uphill, ascending another prominence. Depart from the yellow blazes here and continue straight on the green blazes for 500 feet before passing through a gate next to a sign marked “Tranquility Ridge.” The parking area is 0.28 miles beyond the gate, on your right.

Scenery: 6/10