41. Kanape Brook

Distance:	Dayhike
Difficulty :	Moderate for children
Distance :	3 miles, round trip
Hiking time :	3 hours
High point/elevation gain :	1500 feet, 300 feet
Hikable :	March-December
Map :	NY-NJ Trail Conference Map 43

If Reconnoiter Rock (Hike 40) is a little too much for your family, but you'd still like to explore this southern portion of Catskill Park, try this moderate hike along burbling Kanape Brook. The trail brings you to a couple of old stonework bridges and a perfect spot for a picnic lunch.

From New York City, take the Thruway (I-87) north to Exit 19 in Kingston. Follow NY-28 west for 3 miles to Stony Hollow and the junction with NY-28A. Follow NY-28A around the southern rim of the huge Ashokan Reservoir for nearly 17 miles to West Shokan. Turn left onto Ulster County 42, also known as Peekamoose Road (look for a brown wooden signboard pointing you in the right direction). Follow Peekamoose Road for 3.9 miles to the parking area for Kanape Brook on the right (west) side of the road.

The parking area is across the road from the trailhead for this hike. Look for the trail by the "NO SHOULDER" sign—you'll easily spot the red blazes on an old woods road. You'll also hear the gurgling of Kanape Brook. The trail quickly dips down to a bridge that takes you over the brook. You'll be following along Kanape Brook for the entire length of this hike. There are occasional red and yellow blazes on this trail, but for the most part it is unmarked. Not to worry—you're following an old road that once led over Mombaccus Mountain.

For the first 0.5 mile or so, the trail is fairly level. It takes you through shady woods; the understory is filled with New York fern and other fern species. Ask the kids to take a good look at a fern frond. Can they see the round, dark spore cases called sori (singular: sorus) on the underside of the frond? In the spring, look for fiddleheads—the unfurling fronds of ferns.

The trail now begins to climb a bit and gets a little rougher. It's still broad and very easy to follow, however. The stream begins to drop down below the trail (or the trail begins to rise above the stream, depending on how you look at it). Look down into the stream to spot a small waterfall.

A bridge takes you over a small stream that runs into Kanape Brook. As you walk along, look to your left to see the way seasonal runoff streams have carved channels down the side of the ravine. Because it is an old road, this trail has some culverts to channel the runoff under the trail. Even so, it can be a bit wet in places here when the runoff streams are very full in the spring. After 1.3 miles, look to the left to see a stream that is entirely lined with emerald-green moss. It empties into a round stonework pool. How did this pool get here? Perhaps it was put in by the original road builders more than a century ago as a place for horses pulling wagons to get a drink. It's a good place for an energy break and some splashing around. There's another stonework pool, square this time, about 0.25 mile farther along on the left.

At 1.4 miles, you'll cross Kanape Brook on a stonework bridge. In another 0.1 mile you'll arrive at a washed-out bridge made from bluestone slabs; Kanape Brook flows under the bridge through an old culvert. Although the bridge is very battered, it's perfectly safe to cross. On the other side, the path opens out to an open grassy glade along the southern bank of the brook. This is an ideal place for a picnic lunch. There's even a campfire site here, complete with a mortared brick-and-stone fireplace. Spread a blanket, set out the food, and enjoy the sunshine and sparkling water. The brook forms a broad, shallow pool here above the bridge—it's great for wading, frog-hunting, dragonfly-watching, and just relaxing. The area around the bridge is flat and open—there's a beautiful, open pine grove just past the bridge.

Return the way you came—it's downhill all the way. When you arrive back at your car, don't head home right away. Drive south on Peekamoose Road for 5.1 miles to spectacular Buttermilk Falls on the west side of the road. Park in the pullout and follow the short trail that takes you to the base of the falls (see also Hike 40).