Camping in Sullivan
County
Willowemoc Wild Forest
Located in the southwest corner of the Catskill Park,
Willowemoc Wild Forest contains more than 14,800 acres of
Forever Wild Forest Preserve. With an extensive trail
network to several ponds, this wild forest is ideal for
hiking, camping,
fishing, hunting, backpacking, mountain
biking, snowmobiling, dogsledding and cross-country skiing.
Location
The Willowemoc Wild Forest is eighteen miles north
of Liberty and nine miles northeast of
Livingston Manor, the
closest village with amenities. It lies largely within the
northern Sullivan County towns of
Neversink and
Rockland,
with small appendages in the towns of Denning and Hardengburg in Ulster County. The Wild Forest surrounds the
Mongaup Pond State Campground and abuts the Big Indian
Wilderness.
Terrain
Although generally quite hilly, Willowemoc Wild
Forest does not include a named summit. Most of the terrain
does not vary more than 1,000 feet in elevation.
Trailheads
Trailheads with parking include:
Long Pond Trailhead is in the town of Neversink, Sullivan
County, on Fluger- town Road, three miles northeast of
Willowemoc.
Mongaup Pond Campground is in the town of Rockland,
Sullivan County. From Route 17 (Quickway) at Exit 96, take
County Roads 81 and 82 east to DeBruce, turn left onto Fish
Hatchery Road and drive north three miles to the campground.
A day-use fee must be paid to enter the campground
May-December, when it is open.
Frick Pond Trailhead is in the town of Rockland, Sullivan
County. Follow directions to Mongaup Pond Campground (see
above). From Fish Hatchery Road, turn left onto Beech
Mountain Road (one mile south of campground), then drive
one-quarter mile.
Two small parking lots along Johnson Hill Road (County
Route 151) provide access to Waneta Lake, in the town of
Rockland, Sullivan County, five miles north of Livingston
Manor. Primitive camping is allowed at six designated
campsites on the far shore of the lake.
Recreation
Willowemoc Wild Forest is laced with over forty
miles of recreational trails. Originating from old logging
roads, most trails are suitable for a variety of
recreational pursuits.
Hiking
All trails are open to foot travel. Approximately
fifteen miles are for hiking only, such as the
Mongaup-Hardenburg Trail to the Big Indian Wilderness.
Some suggested hikes:
Frick Pond Loop From Frick Pond Trailhead, follow red DEC
markers northwest one-half mile to Frick Pond. A loop around
the pond can be made by following the yellow DEC markers
(one mile around the pond; 2.1 miles round trip).
Hodge Pond Loop From Frick Pond Trailhead, follow the
blue DEC markers of Flynn Trail north to Beech Mountain
Nature Preserve, a private inholding with a NYS easement for
a public footpath. The trail passes by the south shore of
Hodge Pond, about 2.4 miles from the parking area, before
returning to State Forest Preserve. Continuing westward, the
Flynn Trail ends at Junkyard Junction (3.2 miles). From
here, one can return to the trailhead parking lot via the
red DEC markers of Quick Lake Trail, passing by Frick Pond.
Total distance, 6.3 miles.
Quick Lake Trail Follow red DEC markers from Frick Pond
Trailhead past Frick Pond, then up and over a long ridge
before descending to Quick Lake. Distance from trailhead
parking lot to Frick Pond, 0.5 miles; Junkyard Junction, 3.1
miles; Quick Lake, 7.2 miles.
Long Pond Trail follows orange DEC snowmobile markers
from the trailhead on Flugertown Road northeastward one mile
to Long Pond.
Cross-Country Skiing
All trails are open to cross-country skiing. The
foot trails from Frick Pond trailhead are particularly
suitable. Different trail combinations offer skiers loops of
varying lengths and degrees of difficulty, ranging from the
leisurely Frick Pond Loop (2.1 miles) to the more ambitious
Hodge Pond Loop (6.3 Miles), to the all-day adventure of the
Quick Lake Quest (14.4 miles out and back).
Snowmobiling
With over 29 miles of marked trails, Willowemoc
Wild Forest hosts the most expansive snowmobile system in
the Catskills. The system was developed jointly by DEC and
the Sullivan County Trails Association, a local group of
snowmobilers. The New York State Snowmobile Trail Grant
Program provides funds for summer maintenance and winter
grooming by the Sullivan County Trails Association.
On state lands within the Forest Preserve, snowmobiles
are permitted: 1) on trails marked by DEC as Snowmobile
Trail, when they are covered with snow or ice; and 2) on
frozen lakes and ponds, where access may be gained by public
highways or marked snowmobile trails.
Snowmobiles are otherwise prohibited on state lands
within the Forest Preserve: They are not permitted on hiking
paths, woods roads, or any other trails traversing state
land, unless the trails are marked with DEC’s round, orange,
snowmobile trail markers.
All snowmobiles operated in New York State must be
registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Registration numbers must be displayed on both sides of the
cowling.
The owner of a snowmobile operated on any public highway
must have a minimum liability insurance of $10,000 for
injury or death to one person; $20,000 for injury or death
of two persons; and $5,000 for the damage to or for the
destruction of property. Proof of insurance must be carried
on the snowmobile.
Please be considerate of others. The snowmobile trails
from Mongaup Pond to Quick Lake frequently cross and
occasionally share foot trails. Snowmobilers must yield the
right-of-way to cross-country skiers.
Mountain Bicycling
While there are no trails designated for bicycles,
Willowemoc Wild Forest offers an outstanding variety of
trails suitable for bicycles. The snowmobile trails are most
appropriate, but foot trails are open to bicycles as well.
Please use caution and yield the right-of-way to pedestrian
or horse, regardless of where you bicycle.
Horseback Riding
Horses are permitted throughout Willowemoc Wild
Forest, except: on marked foot trails, in Mongaup Pond
Campground, or on snowmobile or cross-country ski trails
covered with snow or ice.
Horseback riding is not encouraged on snowmobile trails
in spring due to erosion; but riding is welcome summer and
early fall. Access is best from Black Bear or Long Pond
Trailheads, where there is adequate parking for horse
trailers.
Camping
Primitive camping is allowed at sites marked with round,
yellow, DEC markers or throughout wild forest lands at least
150 feet from any trail, road, spring, stream, pond, lake,
or other water source. A camping permit is required for
groups of ten or more people. A permit is also required to
camp at the same site for more than three consecutive
nights.
Campfires are allowed, but only dead and down fuel may be
used. In an established campsite, use the existing fire
ring. Before you leave, completely extinguish the fire.
Never leave a fire unattended. The use of camp stoves is
encouraged.
A list of local campgrounds can be found by clicking here.
Remember, if you carry it in, carry it out.
Hunting & Trapping
Hunting and trapping are traditional uses which are
encouraged within the Forest Preserve. Black bear and
white-tailed deer are hunted in the fall. The eastern wild
turkey is hunted in spring and fall. Furbearers, including
beaver, fisher and coyote, are harvested annually. Hunting
is prohibited in posted areas, including the Mongaup Pond
Campground, the Catskill Fish Hatchery and the DeBruce
Environmental Education Camp.
Fishing
Fishing opportunities exist on several waterbodies:
Long Pond (15 acres), Frick Pond (6 acres) and Quick Lake (4
acres), all likely contain brown bullhead, golden shiner and
chain pickerel. They may also provide seasonal habitat for
brook trout.
A New York State easement allows public fishing on Hodge
Pond (19 acres). It likely contains the same fish species as
the State ponds.
Waneta Lake (30 acres) contains pumpkinseed, yellow
perch, brown bullhead, chain pickerel, and largemouth and
smallmouth bass. Waneta Lake is on a detached Forest
Preserve parcel west of the main unit.
Mongaup Pond (122 acres) contains pumpkinseed, yellow
perch, white sucker, yellow bullhead, golden shiner,
smallmouth bass and chain pickerel. Ice fishing is allowed.
A small launching area is open to hand-carried boats.
Gasoline motors are prohibited; electric motors are allowed
on boats with current registration. The pond has a
handicapped accessible fishing dock. Many perennial streams
provide excellent trout fishing, especially the Willowemoc,
where brown and brook trout abound. |
