This 3.3 mile section of the Finger Lakes Trail follows the red discs of the Touchmenot Trail and is within Middle Mountain as well as Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forests of the Catskill Forest Preserve.  This section also marks the trail crossing over from Delaware County to Ulster County as you start from the small parking area near Big Pond.  There is a kiosk and trail register where the trail leaves the parking area.  The panorama above of Big Pond is from the parking area next to the road/pond.

There is a total elevation gain of about 850 feet through this section.  Although there are some steep sections, this is still a very easy to moderate section of the Finger Lakes Trail.  This section is popular for those looking for remnants of the past.  You can expect to see a few old stone foundations and a few old stone walls.  The end of this section is at the parking area at Alder Lake.

There are a few pictures below as well as a map of this section.

Pictures from along the Finger Lakes Trail

Kiosk and register at parking area off Big Pond Rd	Trail leaving parking area off Big Pond Rd	Small parking area off Big Pond Road	View of Big Pond from the road.	Trail at Alder Creek Road.

 

Directions from Syracuse:  This section of the Finger Lakes Trail is over 160 miles away from Syracuse and is a 3 hour trip.  I-81 south to NY 17 East.  NY 17/I-86 East to Exit 94 Roscoe.  Turn left on Stewart Ave, then right on old NY 17/CR 179.  Sharp left on Beaverkill Rd/CR 152.  Beaverkill Road becomes Turnwood Road/CR 54 after 9 miles.  At the big bend turn left onto Big Pond Road prior to Turnwood General store.  Follow road to Big Pond Trailhead on right (prior to reaching pond).

You'll pass by the entrance to Little Pond State Campground on your way to the trail.

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