50. Trout and Mud Ponds

Distance:	Dayhike or overnight
Difficulty :	Moderate for children
Distance :	4.5 miles, loop
Hiking time :	4.5 hours
High point/elevation gain :	2510 feet, 900 feet
Hikable :	June-October
Map :	NY-NJ Trail Conference Map 44

Water, water, water! We know kids love it, so we've included this hike, which encompasses one waterfall, two ponds, and more streams than you can count. Since a sinkful of tapwater will keep most kids amused on a rainy afternoon, imagine how many games your young hikers will invent on this route through the western Catskills. It is the length (4.5 miles), rather than the elevation gain, that makes this hike challenging for some little tykes. Allow plenty of time for the kids to take extended energy breaks, dawdle on stream banks, skim nets across the surfaces of the ponds, and even take a swim. If you think your gang might be better off tackling this trip in two days, bring overnight gear and pitch your tent near Trout Pond, taking care to follow the posted camping rules for restricted areas.

From New York City, take the Thruway (I-87) north to Exit 16 in Harriman. Follow NY-17 west to Exit 93: "TO COOK'S FALLS." Drive northwest for 1 mile to Butternut Grove and turn north onto Russell Brook Road. Drive 3.8 miles to substantial shoulder parking on the left. (This is a "seasonal limited use highway," unmaintained from December 1 through April 1.)

Head southwestward on Russell Brook Road. Almost immediately, take a hard right (north) onto an access road. Dodge a metal gate and drop toward hurrying Russell Brook. After crossing the brook on a footbridge, cut through a clearing used (illegally) for camping. When the road forks at 0.1 mile, the Trout Pond Trail heads northwestward as you turn left (southwest) onto another gravel road, marked with the blue blazes of the Mud Pond Trail and the orange markings of a snowmobile trail. Just beyond the fork, the Mud Pond Trail leads over a sturdy footbridge spanning a stream and begins a moderate ascent. At 0.4 mile, cross a seasonal stream on stones.

At 0.6 mile, an attractive gorge with another seasonal stream comes into view. Shortly, hop across the stream in three or four steps and embark on a gentle climb through spruce forest, now trending westward. Who will be the first to spot a trailside spider's web? (Hint: Look closely at the barren lower branches of spruce trees.) Do the kids know why spiders don't get caught in their own webs? (In addition to the sticky thread it produces, a spider incorporates strands of "nonsticky" thread in its web so that it is able to walk across without getting stuck.)

Nearly 1 mile from the start, the trail opens onto a meadow that nurtures a few isolated pines. Tell the kids to push aside the tall grass to look for woodchuck den holes. Woodchucks, common to the Catskills, prefer to live in clearings where they can see a predator approaching. If you find a hole, you may find its inhabitant, since woodchucks never wander very far away from the safety of their homes. As it divides the field, the trail crests and begins to descend.

Beyond the field, a sign at a trail junction indicates you have come 1.1 miles from the Russell Brook parking lot; Mud Pond, it promises, is another 0.3 mile straight ahead (northwest). An indistinct trail meanders left toward the park boundary, while to the right (north) the Mud Pond Trail marches 2.1 miles to Trout Pond and completes the loop to the Russell Brook parking area in 3.4 miles. For now, continue straight toward Mud Pond. As you descend gradually through the woods, tell the kids to look for cellar holes on either side of the trail. (Warn the kids that where there are cellar holes, there may be old wells, still filled with water, but no longer covered.) Old homesites often yield treasures such as bottles, tools, or dishes. Watch through the trees for glimpses of Mud Pond.

Two-tenths mile beyond the intersection, the snowmobile trail continues straight as you turn left (south) to follow a woods road toward Mud Pond. After tracking across a soggy pasture, the trail reaches the wild bank of Mud Pond. True to its name, this pretty little pond has a very mucky bottom, although you can walk along the firm bank for a good distance in either direction. The kids can change into their wading shoes and search for water critters. Unpack the coat hangers, nylon stockings, empty peanut butter jars, and magnifying glasses. Send the kids on a "hunt" for minnows, tadpoles, water striders, and pond skaters. Ask the kids how they distinguish frogs from toads. (Toads are dry and bumpy while frogs are smooth and slick.) Observant little naturalists may have noticed that most frogs have teeth and most toads don't. Those who prefer not to wade can skip stones across the still water. The grassy area above the pond's bank is a nice area to picnic or just relax.

Return to the intersection 1.1 miles from the parking area and turn left (north), still following the blue blazes of the Mud Pond Trail (and the orange snowmobile markers). The initially grassy path rises gently and, 0.2 mile from the intersection, wanders through an overgrown field and then crosses a seasonal stream. One-half mile later, the character of the trail has changed, and you tread on rocks, pushing aside wild blackberry and raspberry bushes in an area known as Cherry Ridge. In another 0.25 mile, a faint woods road joins from the right.

Finally the road embarks on a descent, and shows signs of mild erosion. Can you spot any garter snakes slithering among the rocks? As the road arcs southeastward, it drops moderately through mixed deciduous woods. The kids will revive along this stretch since you are descending. Peer through the trees for the shimmering water of Trout Pond. The first one to spot it wins first use of the net!

Two miles from Mud Pond, you reach the northern end of Trout Pond where there is a lean-to near the site of an old cabin. Mud Pond Trail ends as Trout Pond Trail leads left (away from the pond) and right, along the shoreline. A sign posted here indicates that your car is 1.4 miles away (all gradually downhill). Turn right and follow the eastern bank of the long, thin pond. If you've decided to spend the night here, set up your tent in the woods to the left of the trail (more than 150 feet away from the trail and the pond). This is primitive camping, with no running water or other facilities. It may not be appropriate for families new to camping or with small children. Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

At the pond's southern shore is a sign pointing toward the parking area, now 0.9 mile away. Explore the shoreline; sections are actually sandy. Dive in if the weather's warm. Back on the main trail, begin a steady descent on the wide woods road, tracking beside a cool ravine on the right that carries a tributary to Russell Brook. Pass the intersection with the Mud Pond Trail and return to the footbridge over Russell Brook (but don't cross it). Head upstream, hugging the western bank. Less than 0.1 mile from the footbridge, you'll discover the delightful Russell Brook Falls. Stop for a rest before returning to the footbridge and retracing the final 0.1 mile to your car.

Note: Use of this area is restricted due to overuse. Camping is forbidden within 150 feet of a stream, pond, or spring. For more information, contact the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Region 4 (For more contact information "See Addresses").