Pearl
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING
you ever make a right on red and not stop all the way?
ooooo yesss, makes my toes tingle
Round Valley Conditions
- Thread starter Carson
- Start date
you ever make a right on red and not stop all the way?
ooooo yesss, makes my toes tingle
Yes, pavement. If you don't know Cushetunk then I won't be able to explain it. But there are only 2 trails. Don't pick the wrong one.
If I'm you, I park at Cushetunk, ride the road around the reservoir, then go in the park at the boat launch. Cross through the park, hit the red trail, take it to the Eagle Trail (closed) sign. Go up the hill. Then go down the hill and hold your jock when you do because it's steep. Here you are in Cushetunk. Follow the trails and figure out how to get out.
FitmanNJ
Well-Known Member
No, I got there late in the afternoon and only had a little over an hour before sundown. I rode from the boat launch to the base of Puke Hill. Norm seemed to ride from the other end, so you can add his report to mine and get a pretty good picture of things.
huffster
Well-Known Member
Thanks for this insight. I've been thinking about venturing to Round Valley (about 1:15 hr by car).
In this description are you actually taking the Eagle Trail or is this just a landmark and you just keep going on Red?
It sounds like somewhere after bombing downhill you'll see some access to the "Ridge trail" up in Cushetunk, right?
I always like riding ridges, so "Ridge trail" sounds like a nice option. Is the downhill on "Parking Lot trail" ridable? Or is "Scout trail" the better option down?
Thanks!
If it is during the week, during the day, let me know, and i'll do a full loop with you.
Rotating this RV map and locating the camp trail(Y) intersection with the cush trail(Red) (on the right side) is the location of the crossover to cushetunk park.
the cush trail north of this intersection is usually closed so the eagles are not bothered - might be open now for a month. anyway, crossing over is a hike-a-bike up, but ridable down between parks.
here is the cush map - the ridge trail(white) is a hiking trail - made harder by carrying your bike..the intersection with the RV map is at the blue/white intersection. I will also add that the white trail continues south from there, it is not maintained, but is worn in by hikers (or deer) it is ridable, except for the downed trees - a ride from awhile back https://www.strava.com/activities/43033712 - it includes some jeep roads to the east, and some railside to the north.
the turn-around point on the west side of this ride is the west intersection of the camp&cush trails. There is some riding to the west, including a nice switchback climb, and points with good picture op. this will terminate at the south parking lot - pick up the water trail to the damn - the fence to the damn is unlocked in the winter - to the boat ramp. hop on road - piece of pie.
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Like Pat said, shout out if you want to ride during the week and maybe 1 of us can go with you.
Eagle trail is closed now. It's just a reference. Actually from your perspective, it will just be a trail closed sign. When you hit it, go right, up the ridge.
When you get up to the top, you are on the ridge. I don't know if that's "ridge trail" or not, but you won't be riding it. You go down, and at some point on your left is a yellow blaze trail. IMO this is the best way out. It gives you a bit more to ride, but not a lot more. If you miss it, no big deal, just take the next left. If you miss it, you pop out of the woods facing the railroad. Go left, you'll find it.
If you do find the first left (yellow) take it until you hit a trail, then go right down the hill. If you go left you will go back up into the park and some brutal hike-a-bike trails that will just drop you to the (likely overgrown) Eagle Trails, which may or may not have eagles but are technically closed now. Either way not worth the time as they are long since pretty much abandoned because the park maintenance sucks.
So if you found the yellow, took it to the end, then went right - here you will drop down for a minute, then go left. And this will bring you back to the lot.
If you miss the yellow trail, take the next left. This will bring you to the same place eventually, more or less. You may have to take another right-left, and go through a rock garden. Again, hard to get lost. the wrong left will bring you to a cabin & car, dead end. If you miss one mroe turn - again you hit the field & tracks, go left.
You can pretty much explore this entire side in like 30 minutes, riding all the trails in both directions, more or less.
DO NOT RIDE BLUE! If you do, don't say I didn't warn you.
Eagle trail is closed now. It's just a reference. Actually from your perspective, it will just be a trail closed sign. When you hit it, go right, up the ridge.
When you get up to the top, you are on the ridge. I don't know if that's "ridge trail" or not, but you won't be riding it. You go down, and at some point on your left is a yellow blaze trail. IMO this is the best way out. It gives you a bit more to ride, but not a lot more. If you miss it, no big deal, just take the next left. If you miss it, you pop out of the woods facing the railroad. Go left, you'll find it.
If you do find the first left (yellow) take it until you hit a trail, then go right down the hill. If you go left you will go back up into the park and some brutal hike-a-bike trails that will just drop you to the (likely overgrown) Eagle Trails, which may or may not have eagles but are technically closed now. Either way not worth the time as they are long since pretty much abandoned because the park maintenance sucks.
So if you found the yellow, took it to the end, then went right - here you will drop down for a minute, then go left. And this will bring you back to the lot.
If you miss the yellow trail, take the next left. This will bring you to the same place eventually, more or less. You may have to take another right-left, and go through a rock garden. Again, hard to get lost. the wrong left will bring you to a cabin & car, dead end. If you miss one mroe turn - again you hit the field & tracks, go left.
You can pretty much explore this entire side in like 30 minutes, riding all the trails in both directions, more or less.
DO NOT RIDE BLUE! If you do, don't say I didn't warn you.
huffster
Well-Known Member
fidodie and norm - Huge help! Thank you.
I had tracked down both of those maps. But, now I understand the connecting point between them and some things to avoid.
I also appreciate the offer of the tour. Most of my rides are solo since my work schedule is unpredictable. I tend to see a chance on a couple hours notice and I launch. But, I like to gather the intelligence so I'm armed and ready. I do like the solitude/therapy of solo riding. But, I do think I'm missing out on the social aspect.
Thanks again!
I had tracked down both of those maps. But, now I understand the connecting point between them and some things to avoid.
I also appreciate the offer of the tour. Most of my rides are solo since my work schedule is unpredictable. I tend to see a chance on a couple hours notice and I launch. But, I like to gather the intelligence so I'm armed and ready. I do like the solitude/therapy of solo riding. But, I do think I'm missing out on the social aspect.
Thanks again!
qclabrat
Well-Known Member
great narratives guys, I was never aware of the other parking lot closest to Rt 22
the Cushetunk map explained it all
guess I didn't have to pay the $10 in season to ride in the park after all
I'll do it clockwise this time as I'm pretty familiar with the area near the main entrance
the Cushetunk map explained it all
guess I didn't have to pay the $10 in season to ride in the park after all
I'll do it clockwise this time as I'm pretty familiar with the area near the main entrance
Rumor on the street is that a local can get you in the door for $2.75*.
This reminds me of the time we got into Shea Stadium to see a Jets/Dolphins game.
* I want the quarter.
not true.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqU3egizsjA
was there with my college roomies. think marino had 550 passing and lost.
ok, the rest of them are snoozers! at least the jets seem to win a fair amount of them.
There is a lot of climbing at RV...climbing in snow sucks. When there is snow on the ground you want to find trails without much climbing because traction going uphill can be an issue. Lewis Morris may be better.
huffster
Well-Known Member
I owed an update on my visit. I went within a few days of getting the "intel" from Norm and fidodie (a page or so back on this thread). It was a spur of the moment, mid-day, mid-week decision.
Your directions were good. I parked at Cushetunk Mountain Nature Preserve. Then took the road around to the boat launch. Crossed the bridge, up and over the little peninsula and dropped into the south lot to pick up red (pic #1). And then it was red all the way.
There was one point where I got a little confused out at the west end of the reservoir. The red trail dips down and seems to head toward the water, but you need to take a bit of a right turn for a slight uphill to stay on red.
Once I saw the Trail Closed sign (pic #3), it was an obvious hike-a-bike, up to the top of the ridge (pic#4). I missed the yellow trail coming down, but it really wasn't hard to get out, just go down and left and I ultimately popped out down on the power-line (pic #5) near where I parked. There was a light snow flurry - back when that was novel.
Thanks again!
Your directions were good. I parked at Cushetunk Mountain Nature Preserve. Then took the road around to the boat launch. Crossed the bridge, up and over the little peninsula and dropped into the south lot to pick up red (pic #1). And then it was red all the way.
There was one point where I got a little confused out at the west end of the reservoir. The red trail dips down and seems to head toward the water, but you need to take a bit of a right turn for a slight uphill to stay on red.
Once I saw the Trail Closed sign (pic #3), it was an obvious hike-a-bike, up to the top of the ridge (pic#4). I missed the yellow trail coming down, but it really wasn't hard to get out, just go down and left and I ultimately popped out down on the power-line (pic #5) near where I parked. There was a light snow flurry - back when that was novel.
Thanks again!
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