| After you've read the early 1960's trail guide, you might find it interesting to see some of
the changes found in this guide from 1967. The Ernest Steinbrenner trail is completely
missing, and there are some new trails and side destinations. There's also some
information not on the other guides I have found so far, such as the fact that a camper
evidently took an unplanned dive off Wildcat Falls! Thanks
to Jean-Pierre Moreau for a copy of the guide!
THE WHITE TRAIL
The White Trail is the boundary trail at Onteora. It
travels through some of the most beautiful country at camp, including many interesting
rock formations.
HIKING STUMP - The trail starts at the Hiking Stump and follows the lake road
past the waterfronts. Past the dam at the junction of the upper and lower roads, the trail
goes off to the right and up through the woods.
LAKE UNCAS - The trail passes Lake Uncas on the left. This is a private lake and
the site of a Catholic Camp. DO NOT TRESPASS!
ROCKY LEDGES - The trail continues up Rattle Hill through a series of rock
cliffs and ledges.
RATTLE HILL - It then emerges at the top of Rattle Lean-to. Here the trail turns
left on the Hunter Road 1/8 mile down Rattle Hill and then turns right into the other
outpost lean-to.
NEW LEAN-TO - The trail passes this lean-to on the right and continues off
through the woods to an old logging road.
LOGGING ROAD - Here the trail turns left until it joins a major logging road. It
turns right on the road and follows it in a wide arc until it joins the Alder Lake Trail.
Along the logging road you can see Tom Quick's Stone Quarry, many deer tracks, and a
number of interesting views.
ALDER LAKE TRAIL - The White Trail ends at the Alder Lake Trail. Turn right onto
the Alder Lake trail and follow it down hill back to camp.
ALDER LAKE TRAIL
The Alder Lake Trail covers almost all the types of
trails in the Catskills. It goes up and down hills, follows logging roads, dirt roads,
macadam roads, goes through wooded areas and a meadow, and crosses a deep ravine. It is
approximately 10 miles long and offers a couple of beautiful views.
HIKING STUMP - The Alder Lake Trail starts at the hiking stump and follows the
Red and Yellow Trails past the Health Lodge. A short distance after the Health Lodge the
Red and Yellow Trails fork. Follow the Yellow trail to the right.
ALDER LAKE TRAIL - At the top of the hill on the Yellow Trail you will cross a
dirt logging road. At this point you will start to follow the Alder Lake Trail markers
(White with a Red pie slice.) You will follow these markers all the way to Alder Lake.
OLD STAFF TRAINING CAMP - At the old staff training camp the trail will follow
an old logging road a short distance and switch north to another along the trail. You will
see many deer tracks and a loading skid.
LOADING SKID -This is similar to the one we have at Onteora. The logs are rolled
up to one end and a truck pulls up to the high end and the log is rolled onto the truck.
At this point the trail proceeds into the woods, leaving the logging road. You will notice
that the trail is quite rocky.
STEEP CLIMB - The trail will begin a steep climb up hill. You will climb from
2400 to 2800 feet.
LOGGING ROAD - Near the top of the climb is a Logging road. Proceeding along
this road 1/8 mile you will see a double marker; this particular one designates a
beautiful view to the left. Follow the beaten path for about 15 yards. Be careful; it is a
steep drop.
TRICKY TURN - Proceed in 5/10 of a mile from the beautiful view. The trail then
turns left into the woods; 1 mile.
FALLEN LOGS - Immediately after re-entering the woods, you will come upon 2
logs, one you must climb over and the other you must go underneath. Further on this trail
you will come upon 3 trees crossing the trail. The trees lay parallel to the ground
and the branches grow straight up. The trail proceeds downhill, enters a meadow, and
reaches Shin Creek.
SHIN CREEK - The water in Shin Creek is not drinkable. The creek is at the
bottom of a 30 foot deep ravine. It is very slippery, steep, and dangerous; going down its
banks, be very careful.
DIRT ROAD - Proceed 50 yards from the creek and there is a dirt road running
north and south. Proceed south and it will turn, running east and west, with another road
meeting it going north and south. You proceed east, going up hill. This road passes
through a New York State Forest Preserve. At the top of the hill is the halfway point; 5
miles traveled and 5 miles to go. The road and trail proceed down hill passing through
some farm fields and passing a few houses. The road veers sharply to the right with a
driveway to a barn straight ahead. The trail follows the road to the Beaverkill.
BEAVERKILL RIVER - Here you must cross the bridge and proceed left in a
north-eastern direction on a macadam road. The distance from this point to the lake is 2
3/4 miles. Alder Creek is to your left and you will pass a farm on your right. About 1/8
mile from the bridge you will see a gravel sifter to your left. The water from Alder Creek
is drinkable but respect posted land. About one half mile from the bridge you will pass a
wooden bridge on your left. We have permission from the owner to take water upstream of
this bridge. Please do not throw rocks or wood into the pool below it.
THREE BRIDGES - About 200 yards above the wooden bridge the road crosses Alder
Creek. There are two similar bridges further upstream, all utilized by the trail. At the
third one, the creek bears right and the road bears left. Follow this to the fork.
FORK - Here there are three roads branching out. The trail bears completely
right onto a dirt road and drops slightly, but goes steeply up hill. At the top there is a
meadow. Proceed along the road and stop at the sign requesting all troops to halt. The
Senior Patrol Leader will follow the path down the hill to the right. After he has checked
in with the Staff at the outpost store, the Senior Patrol Leader will lead his troop to
their assigned camping area.
YELLOW TRAIL
The Yellow Trail goes to the Fish Hatchery, Toad Hollow,
Karst Property, Mongaup Pond, and Frick Pond.
HIKING STUMP - The Yellow Trail starts at the Hiking Stump and proceeds up the
road toward the Health Lodge.
FORK - Just before the Health Lodge the trail forks and you may go either way.
The left fork is shorter to Frick Pond and Toad Hollow and the right fork is shorter to
the Karst Property, Mongaup Pond, and the Fish Hatchery. The trail guide follows the right
fork away from camp and returns to camp via the left fork.
HUNTER ROAD - The right fork proceeds through the parking lot and then heads off
to the left where the road leaves the parking lot. This part of the trail is part of the
Old Hunter Road which was built in 1815 by John Hunter and it opened up the area for
settlement.
INTERESTING VIEW - About 1.5 miles up the Hunter Road there is a clearing on the
right with an old shack in it. From this field a panorama of the surrounding country side
can be seen.
FROG HOLLOW ROD AND GUN CLUB LODGE - About 1/8 mile farther down the trail there
is a large red building on the left. This is the hunting lodge for the Frog Hollow Rod and
Gun Club.
OLD CEMETERY - Proceeding down the trail there appears on the right an old
cemetery. The oldest stone is dated 1855. It is interesting to note the epitaphs carved on
some of the older stones.
FISH HATCHERY - About 1.5 miles past the cemetery the Hunter Road ends on a
paved road and the trail turns left. The large building on the right is the New York State
Fish hatchery. Here trout are raised under controlled conditions to stock the rivers and
streams of the Catskills. Scouts are asked to be at all times good Scouts and not disturb
or touch the fish or any of the equipment as this would upset their controlled breeding
process. The Scouts are asked to keep away from the large fly-wheel which is used to pump
the water from Toad Hollow to the Hatchery.
ROAD TO BEECH MOUNTAIN SCOUT CAMP - About 100 yards past the Fish
Hatchery the paved road becomes a dirt road which continues towards Beech Mountain Scout
Camp. The trail continues along this road to Frick Pond.
FRICK POND - Frick Pond is a part of Beech Mountain Scout Camp. In the center of
the pond is a old beaver house There is drinking water about 200 yards down stream from
the lake.
 |
1969: The waterfront
at Beech Mountain looked very much like the Onteora docks. |
|
|
1998 update: Sadly, Beech
Mountain Scout Camp is no longer with us, having closed several years ago. The site is now
a New York State public campground and hiking area. |
CORDUROY ROAD - The trail now goes through the woods following the old Corduroy
Road. This road was built over 100 years ago to haul logs through the swampy roads.
LOGGING CAMP - To the left of the Corduroy Road there are many fallen-down
buildings, the remains of an old logging camp. The trail here turns to the left and weaves
along a stream bed. Then it turns to the right and heads up through the woods.
SAW DUST PILE - Into the woods a few yards there is a clearing and a small mound
of brown sawdust shavings. This is a favorite spot for deer in early morning and late
evening.
LOGGING ROADS - The trail comes out of the woods on a logging road, turns right,
follows the road for a few yards then turns left into the woods. After going about 1/2
mile through the woods the trail comes out on another logging road and turns left.
ROCKY LEDGES - Two miles out of camp you will cross a very rocky area. This
stretch of the woods is very unusual because when a strong wind blows through the trees
and rocks, the grating of trees together creates weird noises and gives rise to many
legends about a haunted forest.
BASE CAMP ROAD - The Trail, after emerging from the woods, turns right on the
Base Camp Road and follows it, past the Old Staff Training Area.
HEALTH LODGE - The trail turns left and emerges on the parade grounds by the
Health Lodge.
SIDE TRIPS
WATERFALLS - Proceed along the paved and dirt roads from the Fish Hatchery. Take
the first road to the right and follow it to the bridge. Then follow the stream down to
the Waterfalls. These are not only interesting but many troops use them for showers.
MONGAUP POND - about 300 feet past the turn off to the Falls, there is another road to
the right. This leads to Mongaup Pond (1.5 miles). The drinking water is at the north end
of the lake, about 1 mile past Sucker Brook. There is an iron pipe close to the lake with
spring water flowing from it. The swimming area is at the south end of the lake and most
camping is done at the north end, near the spring.
BLUE TRAIL
The Blue Trail can be taken to Beaverkill or to Indian
Ridge. The trail divides when it reaches the Beaverkill Road with the left fork going to
the Beaverkill and the right fork to Indian Ridge.
HIKING STUMP - The trail begins at. the Hiking Stump and follows the camp road
up to the Council House. From here it continues past Red Cloud and Sitting Bull
campsites and up Rattle Hill on the Hunter Road.
RATTLE HILL - At the top of Rattle Hill (Elevation 2400 feet) there is a lean-to
off to the right and another set far back in the woods. These are designed to be used for
short overnighters.
TOM QUICK’S POND - About 1 mile from the top of Rattle Hill there is a pond
to the left. This was constructed by Tom Quick, the man who logs most of the country
around here and has been of great assistance to us in blazing many of our trails.
2001 update: There is a dispute over the use of the trail past this
point. Until the owner of the surrounding land and the State work it out,
hikers are advised to use the new State trail towards Frick Pond and then on
to Alder Lake.
BEAVERKILL ROAD - The Hunter Road comes out on a paved road which
runs left to the Beaverkill State Park and right to Lew Beach. The trail to Indian Ridge
crosses the road into the gravel pit on the opposite side. The trail to the Beaverkill
turns left and follows the Beaverkill Road,
BLUE TRAIL TO INDIAN RIDGE CAMP
ARTESIAN WELL - The trail to Indian Ridge continues across the Beaverkill
Road into the gravel pit on the opposite side. As you enter the pit you will see a large
pipe coming out of the ground to your left. This is an artesian well. The water is good
for drinking. Staying to the right of the well, you will notice a dirt road. Follow this
road to the Beaverkill Stream.
BEAVERKILL STREAM - At this point it will become necessary to get your feet wet,
as you must cross the stream. After crossing this obstacle successfully, you will notice
that the rocks are painted blue off to the right.
SAND CLIFF - Follow the blue rocks to a sand cliff. A rope is fastened securely
to the top to give you assistance in reaching the summit. After you have reached top, you
will notice a trail marker where the rope is secured. The trail goes off to the right
from here and you will notice that the trail markers are in great abundance from this
point on.
CLEARING - Follow these markers to a clearing. It is the first of two clearings
Proceed halfway down this first clearing aiming for the center. At this point you will see
a log across the trail with two trail markers on it. Make a sharp left at this log.
SECOND CLEARING - Follow the trail to the second clearing and go straight
through the center to the other side.
ROCK WALL - On the other side of the second clearing, the only thing that
separates you from the road into the Indian Ridge Camp is a small rock wall. After
crossing the rock wall turn right on the road and follow the road to the Indian Ridge
Camp.
INDIAN RIDGE CAMP - All Troops staying overnight at the Indian Ridge Camp must
bring their own tent poles. No live trees may be cut or marred after entering the camp.
The camp may be used for overnighters only when the camp is open.
BLUE TRAIL TO BEAVERKILL STATE CAMPSITE
ARTESIAN WELL - At the end of the Hunter Road, go left on the Beaverkill Road. If
you follow the Beaverkill Road for about 100 yards, then turn right through the woods, you
will come out in a large meadow. In this meadow you will see a large pipe about 6 feet
high. This is an artesian well and the water is good for drinking.
DIRT ROAD - After traveling on the Beaverkill Road for about 2 miles, the trail
goes off to the right on a dirt road.
BEAVERKILL STATE CAMPSITE - The dirt road turns into a path and then enters the
Beaverkill State Campsite. Scouts are permitted to swim in the Beaverkill and a
refreshment stand is available. Overnight encampments are not recommended.
INDIAN RIDGE TO BEAVERKILL BY ROAD
To get to the Beaverkill from Indian Ridge you simply take the main road at the
bottom of the hill. There is a spring on your right where the dirt road meets the paved
road. Turn left on the paved road and continue down the road for a few miles. When you
come to a fork in the road, take the left fork and follow that road through the back
entrance of the Beaverkill. Crossing the covered bridge and continuing down the road you
will pick up the blue trail which will take you back to camp.
RED TRAIL
This trail is all within the main operating area of the Reservation. It is designed to
familiarize anyone taking it with the major facilities necessary to a person's stay at
Onteora - as well as with some of the camp’s history and background.
From the Hiking Stump follow the main road as if leaving camp. Pass the two
roads on your left which lead to the barns and then turn sharp left across the large metal
pipe culvert as if taking the upper road to the barns. Immediately after crossing the
culvert turn right. The road or trail then bears around to the left and heads off
into the woods in a northerly direction with the Health Center and Administration Building
up on the hill on your right and the barn and Commissary Building down hill on your left.
You will see markers on trees indicating that this is both the yellow and red trails.
From here on be careful to follow only the red markers. The trail forks up ahead, the
yellow and red trails going separate directions.
The trail comes out into a fairly open area across a rocky stream bed with high rock
ledges off to your right. This is "Wildcat Falls". In the summer, only a
trickle of water comes down over these ledges, but in the spring when the snow is melting
this is a spectacular and beautiful falls. As you face the falls, a ledge and crevice will
be seen in the right hand wall of the cliff. This crevice has been used as a porcupine den
for years, evidenced by the many "droppings."
The trail goes up the right hand side of the falls. Care must be exercised if one tries
to "look over" from this area as the soil is very soft and gives way easily.
During the summer of 1962 a Scout trying this took the short (& quick) way down.
The trail continues through the woods to the right of the stream then swings left
(north) down into and up out of "Devil’s Gorge." This deep ravine has been
primarily caused by erosion of the spring snow melt off. It was named early in the
development of the camp when Base Camp was up in this area and for four years from 1957
on, it was crossed by a monkey bridge.
After coming up out of the gorge, turn right on the old "Base Camp Road" the
trails next makes a sharp left turn just before an old dilapidated wooden bridge. (Do not
cross the bridge or you will be off the trail.) From here the trail continues in a long
arch first North then West through the forest, the first part of which was logged off
during the winter of 1965. In the last stretch the road goes down hill until it comes out
into a large field which is designated to become the center of the third division of
Onteora.
The road continues along the south side of the field and becomes a well worn dirt road
as it leaves the field in its SW corner. This field was the skeet range for the old NY
Trout and Skeet Club which previously owned this land. It is now used as an overnight
campground by visiting Scouts. This area and along the stream below is used for the
Council Explorer winter campout - Operation Igloo.
The well graded dirt road swings south and follows along the west side of the stream
where much conservation work is being done by the Scouts in camp. You will pass the Catholic
Chapel on your left, then watch carefully for the right (west) turn where the trail
leaves the road and goes uphill through the woods. (If you continue along this road
crossing the main road first, you will be on the Lake Road which has on it the Trading
Post, the Protestant & Jewish Chapels, the two waterfronts,
and the conservation shelter.)
Turning down hill again the trail comes out on the old road to the sump (drainage beds)
for the Council House. (These sumps of which there are three in camp are to be avoided
because of their difficulty in repairing and because of their importance to the buildings
they serve. The water from the sewage tanks drains into them.)
Turning right on this road you will come out at the Council House. This is the
newer of Onteora's two food service buildings, which opened for the summer of 1960. It
houses the dining area, heater stack operation, "Country Store", outgoing mail
box, emergency phone, and the shower facilities for the Chiefs’ Camp. (The Chiefs’
Camp is made up of that half of the reservation where the campsites are named after
Indian Chiefs.)
As the Council House looms up in front of you, turn sharp right and follow the main
road. The Junior Leader Training Camp is the first campsite on your right. Around
the bend the road crosses the old Hunter Road and continues past the Lynx
and Bobcat Program Shelters. This section of the trail is known as the Chiefs’
Trail or the Venetian Way for its muddy condition during the first year of its
existence. Fifty to a hundred yards before the road comes to an end the Red Trail turns
sharp right and enters the woods. It comes out of the woods past an old spring which is no
longer safe for drinking water. This area appears as a house symbol on the 1921
Livingston Manor quadrangle of the topographical maps we use here at camp. The foundation
of the house can still be seem at the downhill end of the orchard near the main road along
with some rose bushes, which the inhabitants of the old farm house planted many years ago.
Dropping downhill through the orchard turn right on the road. (The Dan Beard Program
Area will be on the East - your left - side of the road.) This is the Tribes’
Trail which behind you hooks the Chiefs’ Trail which you took earlier.
At the Sioux campsite the trail turns sharply East (left) into the woods and brings you
out at the Long House, which was built during a big snow storm in the late fall of
1958. This food service building serves the same purpose as the Council House only for the
Tribes’ Camp (All of these campsites are named for Indian tribes.) To the
North you will see the shelter of the James E. West Program Area and the big 65,000
gallon water tank which supplies the whole camp. It draws it’s water from a well
which is located at the foot of the hill near the stream into the lake. The well is 240
feet deep and will produce 280 gallons of water a minute. When it is understood that the
National Engineering Service of the Boy Scouts of America estimates that it
takes 50 gallons of water a day to keep a boy in camp it can be understood that this
facility must be handled with care.
Turning right and passing along the West side of the Long House you enter the woods on
the dirt road known as the Long House Loop. This road curves around to the East and
if followed to the end cones back along the mountain below the Long House to the Peter
Tank. As you hike it you pass the Teddy Roosevelt Program Area to emerge on the Lake
Road near the South or Tribes’ waterfront. Turning right (south) follow
this road until you come to the dam at the end of the lake. This again is a crucial
area to the maintenance of the camp and must be treated with respect. The sheer drop from
the dam as well as the machinery makes it a dangerous and interesting place. The old stone
dam and its machinery controls the level of the water in the lake and is regulated by the
maintenance staff to insure adequate water for swimming and boating, as well as the
draining off of top water from time to time to keep the lake clean. This becomes quite
difficult in late summer duo to little rain and must be carefully controlled.
The trail turns Easterly (sharp left) below the dam and crosses the stream. From
here the trail swings North and follows along the West side of the lake. This is a good
wildlife area if one walks softly and quietly. A short distance along the lake one passes
the canoe racks for the Base Camp when it was in Tom Quick campsite which is on
the bluffs above. Just past this is an area where deer come to water in the early evening.
Mink have been seen several times near and in the water as you near the Council Ring and
in the area too can be seen an old beaver house covered with weeds in the water near the
shore. Along here are numerous trees, 6 to 8 inches in size, with the now dead tops laying
in the water. If you carefully examine the stumps you will see the thousands of small
teeth marks made by the beaver that that cut them down in the winter of 1963.
You come out of the woods into the Buckskin Council Ring where the camp wide
campfires are held on Visitors’ Days during the summer.
Passing the stage you come into the large "Parade ground field" where,
turning left, you follow the edge of the trees along the lake until you return to the
Hiking Stump where you started.
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