Bonticou Crag Rock Scramble
The Nose of Bonticou Crag
Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Strenuous
Length: 3 miles
Route Type: Circuit
The Shawangunk Ridge, companion to the Rondout Creek, forms the southern boundary of Rondout Valley and provides the familiar views of the ‘Gunks that are backdrop of our lives.
Our area is an embarrassment of riches when it comes to hiking, biking, and cross-country ski trails.
Bonticou Crag, located on the Mohonk Preserve, is one of the classic hikes in the ‘Gunks. It’s a short but strenuous hike and rock scramble up to some of the best views around.
That being said, it’s not a great choice for young kids or dogs.
Bonticou is best accessed from the Spring Farm parking lot. From High Falls, Route 213, take a right onto Mohonk Road/ County Highway 6-A, for 3.7miles and take the left onto Upper 27 Knolls Road, yes that’s really the name of the road, ins tead of following to road to the right. Take Upper 27 Knolls Road for 1/3 of a mile to the gate.
There is a $12 per person day use fee at the Mohonk Preserve. The guide at the gate will give you a map upon request.
From the parking lot take Table Rocks trail, with the blue blaze, to Bonticou trail, red blaze. Bonticou trail intersects with Cedar Drive and Bonticou Road. It’s about a half an hour hike on carriage roads.
Follow Bonticou Road to Bonticou Assent Path with the yellow blaze. This is the rock scramble!
Keep your eyes peeled, the scramble winds and switches back. The yellow markings are sprayed onto the rock. If the path turns the blaze will point the direction the path turns.
Yelllow trail blaze at the start of the rock scramble.
The good news and the bad news about the rock scramble is that it requires hands and feet. There is even a butt shimmy to get up a particularly narrow section.
When you reach the summit the crag plateaus and dwarf pines, which are unique to the Northern Shawangunks, grow.
Side note- Dwarf pines require fire to regenerate. Their seeds are inside the pine cones which need fire in order to open.
To get some amazing views of the valley, bear to the right and follow the ridge line out as far as you are comfortable.
The Wallkill Valley lies below the crag. This time of year it is a field of lush green tones. The same view in mid-October is a riot of rich golden hues.
We like to stop here and have a snack. The rock is fairly flat, the view breathtaking, and there’s usually another hiker or two to reveal in the beauty with.
When it’s time to go back follow the yellow blazes through the trees until you reach the blue trail blazes take a left and down.
It’s a semi-step downhill of the crag and a mostly flat hike out.
This will make a circle and lead you back to Bonticou Assent Path and you head out the way you came.
When you reach the summit the crag plateaus and dwarf pines, which are unique to the Northern Shawangunks, grow.
Side note- Dwarf pines require fire to regenerate. Their seeds are inside the pine cones which need fire in order to open.
To get some amazing views of the valley, bear to the right and follow the ridge line out as far as you are comfortable.
The Wallkill Valley lies below the crag. This time of year it is a field of lush green tones. The same view in mid-October is a riot of rich golden hues.
We like to stop here and have a snack. The rock is fairly flat, the view breathtaking, and there’s usually another hiker or two to reveal in the beauty with.
When it’s time to go back follow the yellow blazes through the trees until you reach the blue trail blazes take a left and down.
It’s a semi-step downhill of the crag and a mostly flat hike out.
This will make a circle and lead you back to Bonticou Assent Path and you head out the way you came.
View of the Wallkill Valley from Bonticou
