Outings

If you do not feel well, please stay home!

Click Here to download printable PDF of the rating charts.

OUTINGS RATING CHART

IS THIS OUTING RIGHT FOR YOU?

Please take care to match your physical condition, abilities and limitations to the stated length and elevation gain of the outing you choose and refer to the ratings chart above. The “level of effort“ is not the same for everyone. If you are new to hiking or unconditioned, a hike listed as moderate would be very strenuous for you. The outing leader may ask questions in order to determine if you can complete the trip safely. Please cooperate for your safety and the safety of the group. It is your responsibility to have appropriate equipment and clothing for an outing. It is in your best interest to let someone know if you have limiting physical conditions or are taking a medication.

JUNE

SUNDAY, JUNE 1: SPRING GATHERING, GRAFTON LAKES STATE PARK (GLSP)

Join us at the THC Spring Gathering at Grafton Lakes State Park, at the Deerfield Pavilion on Sunday, June 1. You may come for all or part of the event. Meet old friends and make new friends!

We will start with a brief meeting at 9:30 at the Deerfield Pavilion, followed by a group hike. We plan to hike around Shaver Pond and take a side trip on the Granville Hicks Trail. You can paddle on Long Pond or stroll along the beach if you don’t want to hike.

We will meet again at the Deer Field Pavilion for a “bring your own” picnic lunch. If you cannot make the morning hike you can still join us for the picnic lunch; plan to arrive by 11:30. 

After the picnic you can paddle on Long Pond, take another hike, or relax and hang out at the pavilion. Bring your own kayak or canoe; remember to bring your life vest, white light, and whistle.

To register: Margaret Parks, margaretparks213@gmail.com or Martha Waldman, martha829r@aol.com . Let us know if you are planning to attend all of the gathering or if just attending the meeting, and/or hike and/or lunch.

Monday, June 2: Grafton Lakes State Park, Mill Pond to White Lily Pond RT B-

Starting at Mill Pond, we will hike the Spruce Bog Trail to the Conklin Pass Trail. The spruce trees are beautiful, and we really aren’t going through a bog! We will hike down the Conklin Pass Trail and turn down the White Lily Trail to the pond. We will stop at White Lily Pond, enjoy the view, then return the same way. Note that there are a some rooty and rocky sections on the older sections of the Spruce Bog trail so you will need to watch your footing. Bring plenty of water, lunch, and snacks.

The hike will be 7.2 miles RT with 500+ feet gain, moderate pace. Contact leader for meeting time and location. Note that there is no fee to park at the Mill Pond parking area.

Leader: Jim Gorman, email: jimgorman102@hotmail.com

Tuesday, June 3, Afternoon ramble at Kinderhook Preserve, East Nassau NY  C

Meet at noon at Kinderhook Preserve (off Martha Hicks Road). We will walk a half mile to the picnic table at the creek and eat our lunches there and then continue to walk about 3 + miles up and down the ridges. Contact leader to register.

Leader: Sharon Bonk, scbonk@gmail.com 917-864-7437.

Wednesday, June 4: Coxsackie Four Mile Preserve Paddle B

 We’ll be launching from the Four Mile Preserve Road near Coxsackie. When you reach the parking lot at the Preserve, bear right on the curve at Four Mile Road and drive a short distance to a parking area and a launch site next to the road.  PLAN TO BE IN THE WATER AND READY TO PADDLE AT 9:00AM. We’ll take advantage of the incoming tide (HT 11:30am; LT 5:41pm) to explore the back sets of Vosburgh Swamp. Afterwards we’ll cross over to explore Stockport Creek. We’ll then use the incoming tide to paddle upriver and visit the Empire Brickyard and Gay’s Point. This is an all-day event, so bring lunch and rain gear.  Plan on a 6 hour, 12 mile paddle. You must wear a securely fastened PFD and have a white light and whistle. For directions enter Four Mile Preserve into Google Maps.

Please let me know if you're coming. 

Leader: David Pisaneschi, dapadk@gmail.com 518-227-5630

Monday June 9th: Long Path reroute and extension  C+

The Long Path in Thatcher Park has been rerouted off some very wet trail and has been extended down to Altamont.

We will spot a car in Altamont.  Starting our hike at the Hailes cave parking area we will hike the reroute and then the new trail which has a nice section along the escarpment then goes down the escarpment into Altamont. This is a 5 miles hike with 900’ of descent. There is 1.25 miles of road walking. There are only minor uphills, but the descent is steep in places.

This is a beautiful new trail, and many hours of work were put into it by volunteers from Long Path, Historic Altamont, ADK and the boy scouts.

Contact leader for meeting time and location.

Leader: Leslie Siegard, email: lsiegard2@gmail.com

Friday, June 20: Mountain Laurel Hike: Bear Mountain (Mt. Riga State Park) Salisbury, CT,  B

This hike will feature the most amazing display of mountain laurel I’ve ever seen. From 5 minutes onto the trail, all the way to the summit of Bear Mountain, there are groves of mountain laurel at various stages of maturity. In addition, there is a great view from the summit.

For anyone familiar with Bear Mountain, we will be skipping the steep, rocky scramble when approaching the summit from the northeast side of the loop, and instead, we will hike the trail as an out-and-back using the west side of the loop, where the elevation gain is steep, but more gradual. The out-and-back hike is about 5.5 miles with an overall elevation change of about 1,600 feet.

Please contact leader for meeting time and directions.

Leader: David Dutra, email: ddutra@nycap.rr.com

Wednesday, June 25: Another Mountain Laurel Hike: Bob’s Way & Mt. Hunger at Konkapot Ridge, Monterey, MA,  B-

Although not as spectacular as the mountain laurel display on the way to Bear Mountain on the 6/17 hike, toward the end of June Bob’s Way usually has an impressive display of white and pink mountain laurel along the trail approaching the beaver pond and surrounding the pond itself. Other features include a colonial era stone foundation, a built-in stone bench with a view, and an abandoned motorboat (in the woods!). When we finish Bob’s Way, we will drive about 5 minutes to one of BNRC’s newest reserves, Mt. Hunger at Konkapot Ridge, which has a nice vista at the summit.

At Bob’s Way, we will incorporate the basic loop trail with both the Truman Dowd and Cathcart cross-trails to configure a loose figure 8. The trail to Mt. Hunger is a relatively short out-and-back. Combined, the hikes will total just under 5 miles, and a little under 700 feet of gain.

Please contact leader for meeting time and directions.

Leader: David Dutra, email: ddutra@nycap.rr.com

Thursday June 26th: Harlem Valley Rail Trail Bike: B             

I was hoping to do this last year but a portion of the trail was closed for repaving.  We will start at the newly repaved section in Copake and cycle down to Millerton, approx. 12 miles.  We will then turn around and cycle back. Beautiful views of the farmland in Columbia County and the Taconic Hills.

This is 100% off road!

Contact leader for meeting time and location.

Leader: Leslie Siegard, email: lsiegard2@gmail.com

Thursday, June 26: Hand Hollow C

Join me for a leisurely 3.5 - 4 mile at Hand Hollow, one of my favorite Columbia County properties. We will hike through fields, woods, and past a lake, where we may see some recent beaver activity. We will enjoy a snack at the lakeshore. Then it’s back through the woods to our cars.

Meet at the parking lot off CR 9. Bring water and a snack to eat at the lake. Contact Leader for the meeting time and to sign up.

Leader: Blanche Nelson 914-462-8054 or biancanelson45@aol.com

JULY

Wednesday, July 2: Snow Hole, Petersburg Pass B-

We will hike to the popular Snow Hole from Petersburg Pass on the Taconic Crest Trail.  If you haven’t been there, the Snow Hole is a deep crevasse in the limestone, in which snow can often be found well into the summer. After the steep climb up off Rte. 2 we will be quickly rewarded with a viewpoint towards the Rensselear Plateau.  The trail will take us by the White Rocks viewpoint, with views towards Petersburg Pass and Berlin Mountain. Bring lunch, snacks, and plenty of water.

The hike is 6 miles round trip with 900 feet of gain at a moderate pace.  Contact the leader to register and for meeting time and location.

Leader: Martha Waldman, email - martha829r@aol.com

Monday, July 14 Burbank Preserve & Brothers Trails Lenox MA C+

Meet at Olivia's Outlook in Lenox for a rolling uphill with rocky descent followed by more rolling terrain. Loop hike of about 4 miles. Additional stop at Stevens Glen to see a cascade (trail & stairs).  Optional ice cream stop in W. Stockbridge.  Carpooling encouraged as paring is limited at these popular spots.
Leader: Sharon Bonk, scbonk@gmail.com 

Wednesday, July 16: Tom Ball Mt. Reserve (Gt. Barrington) & Alford Springs Mother Loop (Alford)  B

The hike begins on the Longview Loop, the first trail in the newest BNRC reserve, Tom Ball Mountain in Great Barrington, MA. The 3.4 mile loop is a beautiful combination of forest, fern, new and rustic stonework, and sustainably built trail work. To get a feel for the new trail, you may want to take a look at BNRC’s Spring report, which is entirely devoted to an in-depth look at the Tom Ball Reserve.  BNRC_Report_Spring_2025.pdf

After hiking the Longview Loop, we’ll take a short drive to the Mother Loop at Alford Springs Reserve. This 2.4 mile loop includes a forested trail, an open field with old apple trees, and a foundation that serves as a convenient place to sit and have lunch.

The two loops total just under 6 miles with a little less than 1,000 feet of elevation gain.

Please contact leader for meeting time and directions.

Leader: David Dutra, email: ddutra@nycap.rr.com

Thursday, July 17: Field Farm C

Join me for a 3-4 mile ramble through the fields and woods of Field Farm, a Trustees of the Reservation property in Williamstown, Ma.

The hike is mostly flat with some ups and downs and beautiful views of Mt. Greylock. The pace is relaxed.

Meet me at Field Farm at 10. Bring water and a snack.

Register with Blanche Nelson 914-462-8054 or biancanelson45@aol.com

Monday, July 21, Troy Waterfalls C

Adirondack Sports Monthly (May 2025) had a description of 7 waterfall hikes and viewing points in and close to Troy. This would not be a traditional hike but an activity that would involve driving to several and walking paths/trails.  If we were to do all, it would be a two-part activity. If there is interest, contact me at least a week before so I can organize.
Some of these are cascades in city preserves/parks, other ravines, and of course Barberville Falls in Poestenkill, just east of Troy.
Leader: Sharon Bonk, scbonk@gmail.com

 Thursday, July 31: Stony Ledge C

Join me for a walk on Sperry Road through the Mt. Greylock campground to Stony Ledge where we will have beautiful views of the Hopper, and the summit. We will enjoy the views and have our snacks.

Sperry Road is slightly uphill-no steep climbs! - to Stony Ledge, but we will walk at a leisurely pace.

The distance is approximately 3 1/2-4 miles round trip.

We will meet at the Mt. Greylock Visitor Center on Rockwell Road in Lanesboro at 10:00-restrooms available-and carpool from there to the small parking lot across from Sperry Road.

Bring water and a snack if you wish. See you on the mountain!

Please register with Blanche Nelson 914-462-8054 or biancanelson45@aol.com