Bear Spring Mountain Wildlife Management Area Trails

Location: Walton, NY. Delaware County

Length/Configuration: 19.5 miles.

Terrain/Surface: Varied terrain from wide grassy surfaces to rocky hard-packed dirt.

Technical Difficulty: Intermediate/advanced

Elevation Change: Trails follow ridges paralleling the East and West Trout Brooks. There will be both gradual and steep climbs.

Caution: Mountain bikes share use with hikers and equestrians. This is a designated horse trail system.  During winter months be cautious of cross-country skiiers.

Directions:

Bear Spring Mountain is located in the western Catskills, 5 miles south of Walton, NY. From the south take Route 17 west to exit 90 (East Branch), take Route 30 north to Shinhopple, turn left on East Trout Brook road, 4-5 miles to Launt Pond Day Use Area and campground. From the north take Interstate 88 west to exit 20. Take Route 10 south to Walton. At Walton, take Route 206 east for 5.2 miles to East Trout Road. Turn right and travel about 1 mile to Launt Pond.

General Description:

Bear Spring Mountain is located in the transition zone between dairy country and the western Catskill Mountains and covers 7,186 acres. It features beautiful Launt Pond and steep hills covered by dense hardwood forest. There are several overgrown orchards and fields that DEC crews mow occasionally for the benefit of the wild turkeys and grouse that live here.

Launt Pond facilities include a swimming beach, bath house, picnic area with tables and grills, rowboat and canoe rentals. Bear Spring mountain also provides the only campground in New York designed specifically for horses and horse trailers.

24 miles of multi-use trails travel adjacent to the wildlife management area along the two ridges. They are used by hikers, mountain bikers, hunters, snowmobilers and equestrians.

The park is located only a few miles from the Delaware River. Cool off by tubing down the river after your ride. Enjoy the natural beauty of the area from a different perspective and unwind. If you are here for the weekend, try canoeing or rafting.

The Trails:

The well-marked trails vary in degree of difficulty. Maps are posted at the trailheads and indicate the rating of each trail. However, the maps do not list trail distances and signs indicating mileage are few and far between. The trails travel along the ridges. You will encounter gradual hill climbs and some steep sections.

In a clearing along the Middle Pond Shortcut, notice the ruins of an old farm. The "Box of Rocks" Trail is extremely rocky as it's name suggests. The Fork Mountain trail during autumn offers beautiful views westward after the leaves blanket the ground.

During winter months, the trails are marked and maintained for snowmobiling by the Delaware Valley Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club.  Trails are marked; alllowing riders passage to Downsville, NY, where riders have access to marked gas trails for for gasoline, convenience stores, a diner, and The Old Schoolhouse Inn bar/restaurant.

Trail Distances:

McMoy Hill Spur (Red) Trail - 0.7 mi.
McCoy Hill Trail (Blue) - 11.7 mi.
Launt Pond Spur (Red) - 1.25 mi.
Middle Pond Shortcut (Yellow) - 1.1 mi.
Spruce Grove Spur (Blue) - 4 mi.
"Box of Rocks" Endure (Blue) - 4.5 mi.
Switchback Spur (Blue) - 2 mi.
Fork Mountain Trail (Blue) - 4.7 mi.
Fork Mountain Spur - Not shown on maps
State Mill Trail (Blue) in combination with Spruce Grove Spur
and John Whalen Trail (Blue) - 13.85 miles