Minerva Weather Forecast, NY

Best of the North Country Trail in New York Stony Pond

This 3.5 mile round trip hike features a pleasant walk past beaver dams, as well as walking on top of an old beaver dam and on to the featured attraction of this hike, Stony Pond.  There is a lean to with a picnic table in front of the pond, making the perfect place for lunch or a break.  When you hike this section of trail, you'll see why we've included this in our "best of the North Country Trail".

Officially, this is not the North Country Trail.  It is just the planned route the trail is scheduled to take as part of its journey through Adirondack Park.  We have more information on the complete planned route at our North Country Trail in the Adirondacks page.

The Stony Pond Trail will be used as a "connector" for the future North Country Trail.  The future NCT will use the northern branch of the Stony Pond Trail toward Hewitt Pond from the lean to.  The future NCT won't go all the way to Hewitt Pond.  A future trail will be built south of Barnes Pond that will bring the NCT toward Bailey Pond in Hoffman Notch Wilderness.

This hike is located in Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest and the trailhead is located on NY 28N, north of Minerva.  There is a DEC sign and parking along the side of the road.  This hike can be done along with the Hudson River Bridge hike for those looking for a little bit more.

Look below for pictures, a video, detailed description and map of this hike along the future North Country Trail.

Pictures from along the future North Country Trail

Trailhead on NY 28N	Privy at Stony Pond	Stony Pond	Trail to Hewitt Pond	Stony Pond Lean To
Scrappy enjoying view	Beavers causing difficult crossing on trail to Hewitt Pond near lean To	Future North Country Trail....under water due to beavers	Stony Pond Lean To	Stream
Beaver pond	Crossing a beaver dam	another beaver dam	Boulders	wet section
Future North Country Trail "connector"	Trail register	trail	Future North Country Trail off Northwoods Club Road.	Very wet section of trail

Mile	Elevation	Hike Description (from NY 28N trailhead)
0.0	2024 feet	From NY 28N, follow red trail discs into woods along wide path.  Shoulder parking.  Soon trail register.
0.3	2050 feet	Unmarked side trail on right leads 0.1 mile to Twenty-ninth Pond.
0.5	2109 feet	Pass a "jumble" of boulders on your left.
0.9	1989 feet	The trail crosses over a beaver dam.  Another beaver dam on your left.  Ascend.
1.4	2024 feet	Trail passes through a very wet area.
1.55	2036 feet	Pass the edge of a wet meadow.
1.75	2073 feet	Reach Stony Pond and the Stony Pond Lean To.  End of this hike.  The future North Country Trail will use the trail to the left of the lean to toward Hewitt Pond.