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An easy to follow short loop.
The short-but-intense hike to Bonticou Crag is one of the most thrilling short hikes in the Hudson Valley.
Starting from the Spring Farm Trailhead in the Mohonk Preserve, the Bonticou Crag loop hike climbs steadily through mixed forest before arriving at the base of the Bonticou Scramble—a steep and sketchy boulder field that leads up to the dramatic, white cliffs of the Crag. This is a hands-and-feet scramble that’s short, and exhilarating, with increasingly wide-open views the higher you go.
At the top, a flat expanse of open rock offers panoramic views stretching east to the Hudson River and north to the Catskills. From here, the trail continues along a scenic ridge before looping south toward the viewpoint known as the Million Dollar View, where the Catskill escarpment rises suddenly across the horizon.
The hike ends with an easy walk through rolling terrain and open fields, returning you to the trailhead. It’s a loop of big drama and high reward, packed into a modest distance. It’s perfect for hikers who want an exciting outing without a full-day commitment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to hike Bonticou Crag?
Allow about 2 hours. Most of the trail is quite easy, but the scramble takes a long time, and then you’ll want to spend some time up top enjoying the views.
What is the elevation gain at Bonticou Crag?
The elevation gain for this hike is just 500 feet (apx 152 meters) but don’t let that low number fool you. If you do the scramble route, it’s intense.
Do you have to pay to hike at Mohonk Preserve?
Yes.
How much does it cost to go to Bonticou Crag?
The entry fee to Mononk Preserve at this location is $15 per person.
Bonticou Crag Trail Guide
The Bonticou Crag hiking trail includes…
- Easy flat trails
- One tough scramble (I counted three tricky lifts)
- A stunning multi-layered ridge
- Incredible views of the surrounding land, and the Catskills
- A $15 entry fee per person
A full breakdown is provided below in the hike notes with lots of photos.
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Bonticou Crag Trail Notes & Gallery
Begin at the parking area. Head uphill a little and look for the Bonticou Trail sign on the opposite side of the road, at a small set of steps. Follow the trail signs up to the point where the trail dips down to the left.
Before going down, head about 150 feet farther up the trail to the view point where you can see Bonticou Crag’s summit through a window in the trees, as seen in this trail guide’s featured image.
Here is the Bonticou Crag AllTrails track of the exact route I hiked for this trail guide.
Head back to the junction and head down to the start of the fun part…
You will have to pick your way through the talus field, following the red painted blazes. It is not easy. Right away, it’s awkward and requires very thoughtful foot placement.
Make sure you’re wearing proper hiking boots or trail runners with excellent grip.
Note: You can also take the longer non-scramble route to the top and still enjoy the incredible views. The scramble is only about 150 feet up but a fall on any part of it could be catastrophic. To take the safe route up, turn left at the bottom of the scramble and head north about â…“ mile until you meet the junction that brings you uphill.
But if you take the scramble route…
It’s so much fun!
But it definitely gave me pause.
Experienced rock climbers will have no issue. My 20-year-old daughter figured it all out in short order. But there were several points where I had to screw up my courage and trust my abilities. The trickiest one for me was right below this spot…
Another was at the top of this section—but look how much fun this looks…
This section, like others, is quite exposed. We were both moving very carefully here.
From just above this section, the first good view opens up…
From here on, if memory serves, it was pretty easy going. Super fun scramble.
Bonticou Crag Summit
The ridge up top is long and gorgeous, with fantastic views south, and northwest to the Catskills.
And the mountain itself is impressive to look at, with a sheer drop to talus field below.
Descent from Bonticou Crag: 2 Options
Head back along the ridge to the trail and head north for â…“ mile until you hit the junction that heads downhill. Turn left, and left again at a second junction, then hike back â…“ mile to the base of the scramble. From there, head back the way you came originally.
Or, you can follow the Cedar Trail out, as shown in this post’s GPS track. There are many trails in the area with lots of options to get back to the Spring Farm Trailhead.
Million Dollar View
Before you hit the parking area, take a minute to enjoy this fab view of the Catskills…
Ashokan High Point is most prominent, 10 miles distant.
Similar Hikes
The west side of Twin Mountain also has a short but very fun scramble. That’s part of the Eastern Devil’s Path which has many short scrambles.
Check out my list of the best scrambles.
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Bonticou Crag Trail & Scramble Trailhead
$15 per person for entry, here. Large parking area.
Google Maps Location: 41.795119, -74.127885
The map below shows the exact topographic location of the trailhead
Cell Service
Good throughout. Patchy but mostly very good. My network is Verizon. YMMV.
The parent mountain for this hike is Bonticu Crag.
