High Peters Kill Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This trail can be accessed from either Mohonk Preserve at the Coxing Creek parking area or from Minnewaska State Park. There is a fee to park at Minnewaska in an established lot, but hiking is free. Mohonk charges $12/person to use their land. It is more economical to start from the Minnewaska side if you are interested in the terrain and don't intend to use the Mohonk areas.

Starting from the Mohonk side, park at the Coxing Creek area. The trail starts at the top left corner of the parking lot (facing the parking lot from the road). The first thing you'll see is the old Enderly family graveyard on your right. The trail continues through a swampy section that crossed on planks. This requires good balance. It crosses a small stream over planks. This stream is later crossed by hopping from rock-to-rock.

After this crossing there is a split in the trail. King's Highway goes straight up the hill. High Peters Kill Trail goes left and traverses under the hill. Take the left and continue following the trail as it traverses around the Dicke Barre Wilderness Area. The trail gains the ridge line and crosses past an old ski area. It continues through a beautiful section of cliffs with a stream and a waterfall at the foot and exits at a small parking area along 44/55.

Snakes are abundant, especially once you hit the Peters Kill ridge. There is a section the state has cordoned off due to prolific eastern diamondback rattlesnake nesting. I frequently hear coyotes near dusk. Black bears are rare, but they live here. In the winter, I saw big cat prints. The rockier sections of the hike are their habitat. Deer are common. There are lots of ferns, large trees, wildflowers, lady slipper orchids in the spring, and dwarf pitch pines on the ridge line.