Millbrook Mountain

1.  You can start this hike either from the West Trapps parking lot or the Wawarsing parking lot (see the “Directions to the trailhead” section below for directions to each) in the Mohonk Preserve.  This trail guide assumes you’re starting at the Wawarsing lot, though the Trapps option is way more popular – as evidenced by the fact that it often fills up early on nice weekend days, as it did during my last visit.  If you’re starting from the Trapps lot, your hike will be about a mile shorter, and you’ll miss out on some of the sights and crazy rock climbers on the Undercliff carriage road.  You’ll also skip one giant stone staircase that climbs about 175 feet, so that’s a benefit of starting at the West Trapps lot.

If you’re starting from the West Trapps lot, head up the main trail (away from the guard shack) and climb the stone steps up to the Trapps Bridge that crosses Route 44/55 (if you didn’t pay the entrance fee at the guard shack, there will probably be someone at the top of the stairs to relieve you of your cash).  Wait on that bridge for a moment – the rest of us from the Wawarsing lot are still catching up to you, cursing you for taking the easy way.  Meet us at step #4 below.

If you’re starting from the Wawarsing lot, pay your entrance fee at the end of the lot and begin climbing the stairs.

2.  Keep climbing!  Don’t worry, the stairs can’t go on forever.  Can they?

It actually only took us about seven minutes to climb all the stairs and reach the intersection with Undercliff Road, where you’ll catch your breath and turn left.

Here, you can stroll casually along, enjoying the splendor of the cliffs to your right, the views to your left, and perhaps most beautifully, the lack of more stairs to climb.

3.  Meander along Undercliff Road, taking plenty of time to rubberneck at the rock climbers.

In fifteen or twenty minutes, you’ll see the Trapps Bridge (for pedestrians and bikers only), on your left, crossing Route 44/55.

4.  Head across Trapps Bridge.  On the far side, keep straight/right, following signs toward the blue-blazed Millbrook Ridge Trail, which we’ll be following all the way out to the summit of Millbrook Mountain.

5.  Just a minute or two after Trapps Bridge, turn left (and steeply uphill) onto the blue-blazed start of the Millbrook Ridge Trail.

6.  Ascend rocky terrain as views open up almost immediately behind you.  Just keep following those blue blazes over the rocks and through beautiful woods with occasional views as you skirt the top of the ridge.

7.  About thirty minutes after joining Millbrook Ridge Trail, you’ll come to your first intersection, with the red-blazed Bayards Path departing to your right.  Keep heading straight on the Blue Trail.

8.  In less than ten minutes, mo’ views!  Careful, that first step is a doozy.

9.  If the leaves are down, you might catch a glimpse of Millbrook Mountain through the trees.  Don’t worry – it’s not as far away as it looks.  Okay, I’m lying, sorry.  It’s exactly as far away as it looks.  Good thing you’re so tough!

About 30 minutes after the intersection with Bayards Path, you’ll come to a second intersection, with the red-blazed Millbrook Cross Path departing to your right.  Keep straight on the blue-blazed Millbrook Ridge Trail.

10.  The trail passes through more beautiful woods before beginning the ascent of Millbrook Mountain.  From the intersection with Millbrook Cross Path, it’s about 1.1 miles to the summit of Millbrook Mountain, gaining 544 feet in elevation.

As you ascend, you’ll pass several clifftop spots with awesome views.

Behind you, Catskill views reappear.  Getting nicer with every step, isn’t it?

11.  Towards the top of Millbrook Mountain, the red-blazed Millbrook Mountain Trail joins from the right (coming from Minnewaska).  Remember this junction – we’ll be taking the red-blazed Millbrook Mountain Trail back down the mountain soon.  For now, keep heading straight/left to climb just a few more feet to the summit.  The best view of the day is just ahead.

12.  Boom!  This is why we do this.

Have a seat and enjoy the long views across the Hudson Valley, all the way to the Hudson Highlands, past the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge.  To your left, you can see up the ridge to the Skytop Tower at the Mohonk Mountain House.  What an awesome spot.

Just beyond the viewpoint, you can see one of the Minnewaska carriage roads that brings bicyclists to this overlook.  (If you hit that carriage road, you’ve gone a little too far.  We won’t be using that road today.)

13.  Once you’ve soaked in the views and housed a granola bar or two, head back the way you came, to the junction of the red-blazed Millbrook Mountain Trail and the blue-blazed Millbrook Ridge Trail.  Turn left to head downhill on the red-blazed Millbrook Mountain Trail.

**UPDATE September 2020** According to friendly hiker Katharine, the sign pictured above is no longer to be found at this intersection (though the three red blazes are still there).  Instead, you’ll find the sign pictured below, which points you toward Lake Minnewaska.  Follow that sign instead to hop on the red-blazed Millbrook Mt Trail!  (And thank you for the update and photo, Katharine!)

14.  In about five minutes, keep a sharp eye out for the blue-blazed Coxing Trail on your right, which we’ll take all the way until it dead ends into Trapps Road in about 1.75 miles.  Turn right onto the Coxing Trail when you see the three blazes that mark its beginning.  Or its end, if you want to get all philosophical.

15.  Enjoy the awesome scenery as you gently descend on the Coxing Trail.

As you keep heading downhill, the trail can get a little damp.  Enjoy strolling along the balance beams that help keep your feet dry.  In about a mile (it took us about 25 mins at a very casual pace) from the beginning of the Coxing Trail, you’ll see the red-blazed Millbrook Cross Trail joining from the right.  Just ignore it and keep following those blue blazes.

16.  About twenty minutes and .8 miles after the intersection with the Millbrook Cross Trail, the Coxing Trail ends abruptly, dumping you off onto Trapps Road.  Turn right onto Trapps Road and enjoy the relatively flat, leisurely stroll.  You’ve earned it.

17.  In about one more mile, Trapps Road brings you back to the start of the Millbrook Ridge Trail and then, in a few more yards, to the Trapps Bridge.  You’ve visited a lot of nice spots since the last time you were here, right?  From here, you can retrace your steps to the West Trapps parking lot or the Wawarsing lot, depending on where your day began.

18.  When you get back to your car, happy dance time!

It might be worth remembering that nearby New Paltz has plenty of pizza places, and at least one very nice brewery.  You’ve earned lots of whatever’s on their menus.