Orange County Highpoint Trip Report

Schunnemunk Mtn

Date: March 30, 2008
Author: Brennan Connelly

I followed Dan Case's excellent reports and ascended the Jessup Trail and descended the boring, yet more expedient Black Hollow Trail. The 1,664-foot point at the old fire tower is probably the highest but I headed over to the two 1,662-foot points for giggles, as it was a gorgeous day and I had nothing better to do.

The one thing I might add is that the Jessup Trail (yellow blazes) is a bit hard to follow in the lower reaches but much easier so higher up. Once you leave the field and enter the woods, you will shortly come upon a woods road (0.6 mile) and the trail swings right and downhill to follow the road for about a quarter of a mile or so before heading steeply uphill to cross the railroad tracks. After that, the trail is well marked.

On the return, the Black Hollow Trail (white with black) ends at the tracks. From there, a red blazed trail parallels the tracks for a quarter of a mile and crosses a stream and ravine before meeting up with the white blazed Sweet Clover Trail, which crosses the tracks and meets up with the Jessup trail at a marked junction in the farm field, behind the white house.