If you’re coming from Route 28, the lot is on the right side of the road, on a bit of a curve. Pull in and park. The information board is at the back of the lot, and the trail also begins at the back of the lot — which is not immediately clear, so that’s where to head.

Walk to the back of the lot, and look toward the road. You’ll see an arrow sign with a red blaze pointing down and across the road…

Cross the road, and continue over the footbridge.

Not long after, you’ll come to the Ashokan High Point trail register. As a precaution in these COVID days, disinfect your hands before signing in, then disinfect your hands again when you’re finished.

The trail follows Kanape Brook. It’s really lovely the whole way to the junction in the col between Ashokan High Point and Mombaccus Mountain at the back of the hollow.

John Canape was one of the first settler-farmers in the area. You’ll pass the remnants of hillside farms, and there are many great spots on both sides of the brook to camp out.

About a mile into this hike, I was set upon by yellowjackets. That’s never happened before and hasn’t happened since. But who doesn’t enjoy a new experience?

Yellowjackets have lance-like stingers with small barbs, and they typically sting repeatedly — something I learned by picking up 8 stings in about 20 seconds. They were so aggressive! Head, front, back and arms. It was more or less instant.

Luckily, I’m not allergic and I carry alcohol swabs in my pocket, so I was able to deal immediately. Other than being a bit sore, it didn’t slow me down.

But it made me think that for any allergic person, it might be wise to pack an Epi-Pen on hikes — especially in the fall.

During the fall, many stinging insects become super aggressive as they prepare their queens for the winter. And they’re especially protective near their hives.

Anyway…

Norway Spruce Plantation

About half way along the first section, just before the trail crosses Kanape Brook, it runs through a lovely Norway spruce plantation — reminiscent of the magical spruce forest on Windham High Peak.

It’s another great place to camp out…

The DEC’s Catskills Hikes page states, “Once these trees would have been used for lumber and logs, and protected the farm that stood here from winds and snowdrifts.”

Ashokan High Point Col & Campsite

After 2.7 miles of gradual ascent, you’ll arrive at the col between Ashokan High Point at Mombaccus Mountain. The approach to the col is dominated by hemlock and mountain laurel.

The Ashokan High Point Trail continues on your left.

Straight ahead, however, you’ll notice some logs strewn across the trail. This is a common way-finding technique that means, “Not this way!”

But just past the logs you’ll find a primitive campsite on public land. It’s a nice grassy open patch and looks like a great spot to spend a night.

This campsite also has a good LTE signal — which may be a bonus, or not, depending on your needs.

Don’t follow the old road any further, as the land soon becomes private property — but this is also the beginning of the bushwhack route up to Mombaccus.

Ascent to Ashokan High Point

Head back to the junction and turn right. The trail starts gently, and you’ll almost immediately pass the connecting junction (on the left) that you’ll be coming back down later.

For now, stay to the right. The trail begins to get steep.

Much of the Ashokan High Point trail is packed on either site by thick stands of mountain laurel. Also some maple, white pine, and oak. I didn’t notice too much beech.

Some sections are rocky and rugged…

Just above 2500’, you’ll come to a dramatic set of rock stairs. I didn’t get a good photo, so please now imagine a dramatic set of rock stairs. Okay, thank you.

The trail continues to switch between dense vegetation and slightly more open rock trail. Some sections are quite steep. Take your time, resting as needed.

Around 2800’, there’s a very cool erratic rock overhang that would be fun to take shelter under during a downpour.

Ashokan High Point’s Summit Ledge & Views

Just below the summit of Ashokan High Point, you’ll pass this very excellent boy…

This rock outcrop is a marker for two things: 1) a herd path right in front of it leads around, off-trail, to the lower summit ledge, and 2) you can continue out that way to Little Ashokan via a difficult bushwhack route.

For now, walk right past the outcrop, heading uphill a few more feet to reach Ashokan High Point’s upper summit ledge.

I’d heard the view from Ashokan High Point wasn’t so great but, in fact, it’s pretty sweet. You can see Mohonk, Skytop and the Shawanagunk Ridge. The mountains in the background are the Hudson Highlands.

You can also look down at the lower ledge, where these friendly people were setting up their camp for the night.

The lower ledge is well protected from the elements. It’s a great spot.

Some notes on this survey marker which is labeled SAMSON…

Why is this marker labeled SAMSON? Such markers are not always named for the summits on which they are placed. Mostly, they are. Just not always. Interesting historical background to this by John Sasso explains all.

Before you go: on a rock on the left side of the upper ledge, notice four anchor bolts — the provenance of which is also explained in John’s article. (It was not a fire tower!)

Descend Ashokan High Point Trail via the Loop

From here, you can either turn around and head back down the way you came — it’s 1.1 miles back to the main junction.

Or you can continue onwards and descend Ashokan High Point via the longer western route — it’s a 2.5 mile trek back to the main junction.

Ashokan High Point Blueberry Heaths

About 1000 feet northwest of Ashokan High Point’s summit, you’ll find two blueberry heaths.

This DEC Sundown Wild Forest page states: “Repeated fires have created a ridge-top blueberry heath with impressive westerly views of the Rocky-Balsam Cap-Friday Mountain ridge, especially adjacent Hoopole Mountain.” (Hoopole Mountain is a reference to pair of small knobs you’ll hike over before your final descent to the main junction.)

This area has been well-known since the 1800’s as a great place to pick blueberries.

Michael Kudish states in his fantastic The Catskill Forest: A History (pp 149) that Ashokan High Point has been burned over, repeatedly, for thousands of years.

With our current improved land management practices, we should see far fewer mountain fires — in which case, these beautiful heaths may eventually disappear.

For now, especially at sunset, the partial view of Slide Mountain and the Burroughs Range feels very serene.

Reservoir View?

That DEC page also states, “A good view of the Ashokan Reservoir and the Rondout Valley framed by the Shawangunk Ridge is available from a large blueberry patch, a short but hilly bush walk to the northeast.”

At the time, I did not know about this, so I’ll have to look for this reservoir view on my next trip. It must be off in the woods to the right…? Or is this a reference to Little Ashokan? It sounds like it might be…?

Hoopole “Mountain”

The trail descends a little into a small col, before one last bit of elevation gain as you climb over Hoopole Mountain.

Honestly, this pair of knobs barely qualifies as a mountain, and I can find no modern map reference to “Hoopole” — though Kudish mentions “Hoop Pole Mountain” on page 150.

In any event, once you’re over the knob, the trail takes a very sudden and sharp 90° left turn that’s easy to miss. I didn’t notice any double-blazes to alert me to the turn, but it was dusk… Anyway, watch for this sudden turn left.