June is for Mountain Laurel

By Rich Macha

Mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia, is a native evergreen shrub with leathery deep green foliage and, in our area, is generally found south of I-90 at elevations above 500 feet. In June, exquisite clusters of delicate blossoms burst out in a colorful display that ranges from white to pink. Good places to go and witness this display include the southern Taconics, the Appalachian Trail in Massachusetts and Connecticut, the Catskills, and the Shawangunks.    

South Taconic Trail – This is a 21.3-mile trail that goes from the Catamount Ski Area on MA Route 23 between Hillsdale, NY and Egremont, Mass., and generally follows the ridgeline to its southern terminus on Shagroy Road in Hillsdale, near Rudd Pond State Park. There are several places where you can access the trail from either the New York or Massachusetts side. The two most popular destinations along this route are Alander Mountain (2,250’ elevation) and Brace Mountain (2,311’), both of which have open rocky summits with extensive views – the Hudson Valley and the Catskills can be seen to the west, and mountains associated with the Appalachian Trail are not far to the east.

Alander Mountain is often climbed from the Massachusetts side – the trailhead is at Mount Washington State Forest Headquarters on East Road.  You may be able to get a paper trail map there or find it online: mass.gov/locations/mount-washington-state-forest. Mount Washington, with a population of 160, is one of the least-populated towns in Massachusetts. The round-trip hiking distance is over six miles, with a net ascent of 800 feet from the low point to the summit. Be aware that timber rattlesnakes make their home in the area – I was once lucky to see one near the cabin below the summit.

Another option is to approach Alander Mountain from the north, starting on NY Route 344, a little east of Copake Falls. The large parking area is also the trailhead for an easy, and very popular, walk to Bash Bish Falls. The South Taconic Trail soon crosses Bash Bish Brook, and climbs steeply through hemlock woods up Bash Bish Mountain, and then follows the scenic ridge with stunted oaks and pitch pines over to Alander. Since this option starts at a lower elevation than the above route, it is somewhat more strenuous. Round-trip distance is about seven miles – add 1.5 miles if you decide to visit the falls.

A short but steep trail, with a gain of 1,600 feet over a distance of 1.9 miles, goes up Brace Mountain from the west – the trailhead is on Quarry Hill Road. Brace is also a popular paragliding spot – this can be quite entertaining to watch. Once you have had your fill of the views from Brace, you may then want to extend your hike and head over the border to Mount Frissell (2,453’), passing the tri-state marker along the way. The actual summit of Frissell is wooded but there is a very good lookout along the way.

Appalachian Trail – East Road in Mount Washington also gives you access to this most famous long trail. North of Mount Washington State Forest headquarters, a dirt road leads past a gate and heads uphill, and eventually reaches Guilder Pond and the AT. This road is open to vehicles for day-use only, backpackers should use the headquarters parking area since the gate is closed overnight. It is a pretty 1.2-mile hike around Guilder Pond, where I have seen some of the pinkest mountain laurel that I have ever witnessed. From the end of the road, heading south, the AT soon goes over Mount Everett, and continues to Mount Race where there are nice views and lots of mountain laurel. The AT then enters Connecticut and climbs up Bear Mountain, the state’s highest summit but not its highest point, which happens to be on the south side of Mount Frissell. Notably, the state flower of Connecticut is the mountain laurel.

The most popular hiking route up Bear Mountain is from the east on the Under Mountain Trail starting on CT Route 41. However, there is a much easier route from the west – from Mount Washington, continue driving south on East Road (which becomes a dirt road) into Connecticut. After passing the entrance of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Northwest Lodge, look for a small parking area on the east side of the road. Bear Mountain Road, an old road, but now just a trail, heads southeast and reaches the AT in under a mile. A left on the AT then reaches the summit in 0.5 miles for a round-trip distance of 2.8 miles with an elevation gain of just 500 feet!

Catskills – The 4.8-mile round-trip hike to Huckleberry Point is not a mountain climb but it does have some moderate changes in elevation. The view across Platte Clove (a clove is a steep valley or ravine) from its rocky ledge includes Plattekill and Overlook mountains, plus a large portion of the Hudson Valley. The trailhead is on Platte Clove Road – the drive up this seasonal road is a minor adventure in itself. The blue-marked route follows an old road/snowmobile trail for over a mile, at which point you take a right on a yellow trail that ends at the lookout. Note that the crossing of Mossy Brook can be challenging if it has been raining recently.         

The route to North Point via the Escarpment Trail from North-South Lake has an amazing number of interesting features and viewpoints: Artist’s Rock, Sunset Rock, Newman’s Ledge and Badman’s Cave. A seven-mile loop can be done by returning via the Mary’s Glen Trail.

Shawangunks – The Gunks, located south of the Catskills, are uniquely special, with hiking routes along carriage roads as well as rugged trails that lead to white rock cliffs and ledges with far-flung views. The Minnewaska State Park Preserve offers enough variety for repeat visits: parks.ny.gov/parks/minnewaska/details.aspx. From the preserve’s Awosting parking area, you can head out on the Mossy Glen Trail, cross the Peter’s Kill and Fly Stream, then take a left on the orange trail to drop down to the foot of Rainbow Falls in Huntington Ravine. You can then continue on to Litchfield Ledge, Battlement Terrace and Castle Point, where you can see all the way to New Jersey. You can then loop back on Blueberry Path for a round-trip distance of over nine miles and an elevation gain of over 1,000 feet.   

The above destinations are above average in most seasons, but the mountain laurel blossoms in June add an extra touch to your experience. If you happen to miss the laurel season, which often peaks about the third week in June, there is always blueberry (a relative of mountain laurel) season a month later.     

A lover of wild places, Rich Macha has led many trips for the Adirondack Mountain Club, and has spent 20 years in the paddlesport/snowsport business. More of Rich’s adventures can be found at northeastwild.blogspot.com.