HikerLong Path Section 15: Rondout Creek to Riggsville
This is currently a road-walking connection between the Rondout valley and Riggsville. It links mountain areas but should not be presented as an uninterrupted forest trail.
Make this outing your own
Plan this connection for what it is: a road-walking link between larger hiking areas. Arrange transport, check the current alignment and think through the roadside portions before committing the day. A section checklist should describe the full route honestly, even when it differs from the mountain scenery around it.
The published mileage is one way. Arrange the return journey or choose an accurately mapped partial out-and-back before departure.
Before you head out
Arrange transport between the two ends before you start. Save the official section map and any current detours, set a turnaround time, and check weather and daylight for the whole route. A section can take several outings: mark it complete only after covering its full required route.
Keep these essentials in your plan
- Save the official map and directions while you have reception.
- Tell someone your route and expected return, and set a turnaround time.
- Pack water, food, layers and a headlamp for the full outing.
- Check current closures, permits, weather and parking with the land manager.
Read the landscape
Use the historic-map viewer to compare an area where coverage is available. Look for changes in road alignments, settlement symbols and rail corridors; record observations from public trails. A map symbol alone does not identify a surviving structure or a public right of way.
After the hike
Wurtsboro and Ellenville make useful town stops for these Shawangunk sections. Consider a separate canal-history visit rather than adding an unplanned detour late in the day.
Town, food & history planning sources
- Wurtsboro · town and local businesses ↗
- Yanni’s Gyro Express · Wurtsboro menu and visiting details ↗
- Sullivan Catskills · places to eat ↗
- D&H Canal Interpretive Center & Linear Park ↗
- High Falls · D&H Canal Museum ↗
These are regional planning resources, not verified nearby or currently open businesses. Check the actual drive and opening hours.
Keep exploring this collection
Long Path Section 14: Sam’s Point to Rondout Creek
From Sam’s Point, the Long Path crosses Minnewaska terrain toward Rondout Creek. Verkeerder Kill Falls and the High Point area are route landmarks; the SRT branches away before the Long…
Route notes, maps & local exploring →
Long Path Section 16: Riggsville to Bull Run
Vernooy Falls and the Sundown landscape introduce the southern Catskills. Woodland and old-road walking give way to rougher terrain and a steep descent toward the Bull Run end.
Route notes, maps & local exploring →
