Appalachian Trail #4 (Graymoor Friary to NY/CT Border)

The Appalachian Trail winds for nearly forty-five miles in this final northbound section of New York. It passes near Clarence Fahnestock State Park and climbs a ridge for some nice views of Canopus Lake. The RPH Cabin is located just north of here at Hortontown Road. It is a former residence that was converted into hiker hostel and the cabin usually has a caretaker on duty in the summer.

The Trail climbs from the RPH cabin, crosses the Taconic State Parkway, and eventually reaches Nuclear Lake, a site that was contaminated by radioactive materials in the 70’s. The lake area is still closed to the public, but recent sampling by the National Park Service indicates that it is no longer active.The A.T. continues past Pawling where the Trail is mostly wooded with a few swampy areas. During Revolutionary times, this area was heavily farmed but now it has largely returned to forest. After ten miles, the Appalachian Trail finally reaches the NY/CT Border near the town of Wingdale, NY at Hoyt Road (just past the Gate of Heaven cemetery).