Stissing Mountain Multiple Use Area
| Park Overview: | A park with a geologically significant mountain, and a steep trail to a fire tower with long views. |
| Trail Uses: | Hiking, Mountain biking |
| Dogs: | Dogs on leash |
| Trail Miles: | |
| Park Acreage: | 595 acres |
| City/County/ State: | Pine Plains/Dutchess/NY |
| Buy Book: | New York Walk Book |
| Park Description: | Stissing Mountain, at 1400 feet, soars above its neighbors. It is composed of the same Precambian bedrock as the Hudson Highlands but is separated from them or any other Precambian outcrop by many miles. There are several theories regarding its existence here, and there is an exhibit devoted to the region's geology in the American Museum of Natural History. The mountain's dominance of its surrounding landscape makes it a particularly enticing viewpoint, and its summit is capped by a historic 90-foot fire tower. The tower is owned by the Friends of Stissing Landmarks, a citizens group that formed to rescue it from demolition. Hunting is allowed in season. See also listing for Thompson Pond Preserve. |
| Trails Overview: | There is a trail to the fire tower at the top of the mountain. The trail is outside the multiple use area and passes through private property. Hikers are advised to please stay on the trail. Trailhead directions are below. The hike to the fire tower is short but steep. There are several other trails in the Multiple Use Area. Two of them are blazed blue and red respectively and both intersect with the trail to the tower. |
| Directions: | Follow NY 199 west of Pine Plains to Lake Rd. Trailhead for the tower trail is 1.7 miles on the right. To access the blue trail, take NY 825 miles south of Pine Plains to a right on Stissing Lane, then right on Mountain Rd. There is parking at the dead end of Mountain Rd. The red blazed trailhead is located on Hicks Hill Road 3.5 miles south of NY 199, west of Pine Plains. |
| Contact Information: | New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation 845-831-8780 |
| Region: | Dutchess County |
| Fees: | None |
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Comments
Blue Trail on Mountain Road Blocked?
The following report was submitted by a visitor to Stissing Mountain on April 3, 2010, but is unconfirmed. Additional reports on the status of access to these trails is welcome.
The information of Stissing Mountain seems to be out of date. The blue trail on Mountain Road is blocked by private property. I was there today, and I couldn't find the trail. A resident told me that the trail was not accessible from that area anymore.
The red trail on Hicks Hill Road goes around in a circle now more or less. It is accessible from the road in two spots. There is a cross country ski trail that follows the red trail. It is marked in yellow. The yellow markers go up the hill a little ( off of the red trail) to the east and then end in a coniferous forest.