Little Pond Loop

Description:

• The yellow-blazed Little Pond Loop travels between Little Pond off SR 54 and ascends approximately 1,900 feet to the summit of Touchmenot Mountain, elevation 2,700 feet. The trail begins in the day use area alongside the bathhouse traveling the shoreline of Little Pond. The walk offers wonderful sights of mixed hardwood and conifer forest topped with mountain laurel and azalea at the higher elevations. The forest understory is dotted with a variety of wildflowers including jack-in-the-pulpit, trillium, violets, clintonia and Mayflower. The woodland breaks open onto several meadows allowing a broken view of the surrounding mountains and your destination, Touchmenot Mountain. At 1.7 miles, the trail offers a red-blazed spur left to Cabot Mountain, elevation 2,970 feet. This slender rock ridge offers more spectacular views of the Catskill area. After returning to the junction, continue on the red-blazed trail. At 3.8 miles, bear right onto the blue-blazed trail to climb Touchmenot Mountain. The red-blazed trail leads to Big Pond. After enjoying limited ledge views, travel the blue trail for a rapid descent over the next 4.3 miles, closing the loop back at the bathhouse.