A gentle run under craggy cliffs …
Undercliff and Overcliff Carriage Roads
Easy, 5 miles round- trip
West Trapps Trailhead
From Trapps Bridge head north on Undercliff Carriage Road. Come to the junction of Overcliff Carriage Road after 2 miles and follow Overcliff Road back to your starting point.
Cool down on your way to the falls…
Trapps Carriage Road to Awosting Falls
Moderate, 7.5 miles round- trip
West Trapps Trailhead
Run a long, fairly flat, carriage road route, which takes you through a verdant hemlock grove — cool even on hot days! The route also passes Awosting Falls, an awesome, 80-foot-high waterfall.
From Trapps Bridge head south on Trapps Carriage Road. Cross the paved Lyons Road and continue on Trapps Carriage Road to the Minnewaska State Park Preserve border, where the road becomes Awosting Carriage Road. Follow this to the Awosting Falls. Return by the same route.
Take the uphill challenge…
Guyot Hill
Moderate to Strenuous, 9.25 miles round- trip
Spring Farm Trailhead
Run a long, hilly route through an oak forest past the white cliffs of Bonticou to the summit of Guyot Hill on carriage roads and on fairly rough, cross-country, single-track trails.
From the trailhead, head out on Spring Farm Carriage Road. Travel uphill about 2 miles and make a left on Bonticou Carriage Road. Pass Bonticou Crag and follow the signs for Guyot Hill at the Intersection of Bonticou, Cedar Drive, and Guyot Hill carriage roads. Go left at the first intersection, then right at the next 3 intersections. This section will take you in a loop up and over Guyot Hill, with great views of Bonticou Crag.
When you are back at the intersection of Bonticou, Cedar Drive, and Guyot Hill carriage roads (about 5 miles), take Cedar Drive and head downhill, staying on Cedar Drive until you see signs for Cedar Drive Loop. Bear right on Cedar Drive Loop and look for the “Ski Loop” sign on your right. Take the Ski Loop until it forks, bear right, and follow this to Farm Carriage Road where you go left. Farm Carriage Road takes you through the fields around Spring Farm and intersects with Spring Farm Carriage Road. A right on Spring Farm Carriage Road takes you back to the Trailhead.
Banner photo by John Mizel