Stissing Mountain: New Trail from Thompson Pond

A super fun new route (currently under construction) up a steep rugged side of Stissing Mountain.

Hike Length: 2.3 miles (3.70 km)

Total Ascent: 880ft (268m)

Intensity: Difficult Taconics Hike

Route Type: Loop

Includes: Blazed Trail, Unmarked Trail, Rock Scrambles, Road Walk

Parent Stissing

Similar Entries In: Taconics, The Difficult Hikes, , , , , .

pink flag delineating new route up Stissing Mountain from Thompson Pond

Pink flag on new route

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This new trail up the steep and rugged southeastern side of Stissing Mountain is currently under construction. It will not be completed until 2024.

But it’s a fun route to try out, if you’re comfortable with following the temporary pink flags that currently mark the route.

I chatted with a worker who was building the trail — a very impressive thing to witness — and this person let me know that it was okay to publish notes about the new trail. The builders are glad to see people exploring the trail as it’s being built and welcome our interaction — although, obviously, if you step off the established blazed trails in the area, this comes with inherent risks which you alone assume.

Note: You should be very experienced and comfortable hiking off-trail (i.e. bushwhacking) before you attempt this route.

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This project is being overseen by Friends of Stissing Landmarks who also maintain the existing trails and Stissing’s fire tower.

friends of stissing landmarks
Friends of Stissing Landmarks blaze

Stissing from Thompson Pond Hiking Trail

The new sustainably designed trail includes…

  • Steep and rugged terrain — much steeper that the existing classic trail up Stissing
  • Stunning rock staircases (currently under construction)
  • Multiple switchbacks
  • Some great views
  • You’ll literally see a new side of Stissing Mountain

Allow 1.5 hours for this hike.

Stissing Mountain Trail Notes & Gallery

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Similar Hikes

The classic hiking trail up Stissing Mountain provides a faster, easier, safer route to the fire tower.

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The parent mountain for this hike is Stissing.

If you do this hike, LMK how it went…

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Trailhead Info for this Hike

Small roadside lot

Google Maps Location: 41.969974, -73.682365

The map below shows the exact topographic location of the trailhead

Cell Service

Patchy down low, better up high. My network is Verizon. YMMV.