Vernooy Kill Falls Trail, in the Sundown Wild Forest in the Town of Denning, provides hiking access to Vernooy Kill Falls and to Balsam Swamp, a unique and extensive balsam fir-mountain laurel swamp and sphagnum moss bog. A 1.8-mile walk from the Cherrytown trailhead crosses two streams and gains 600 ft. elevation to reach the falls. There are two other trailheads: one from Yeagerville Rd in Greenville, and another from Trails End Rd. Balsam Swamp is nearer the Greenville trailhead. Blackburnian, Black-throated Blue, Canada, Yellow-rumped, and Hooded warblers nest in the laurel and hemlock thickets along the trail. Veery, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and several species of vireos and flycatchers breed in the surrounding forest. Northern Waterthrush, White-throated Sparrow, and Dark-eyed Junco breed in the swamp.
Directions: At the traffic light in Kerhonkson, on US 209, turn northwest onto Clay Hill Rd. Go 1.5 mile and merge left onto CR 3 for 1/10 mile. At the Pine Grove Resort, turn left onto Cherrytown Rd, following the current route of the Long Path (aqua blazes). In 3.7 miles, turn left onto Upper Cherrytown Rd and continue for 3.1 miles to the NYSDEC parking lot on the right. The trail, following the Long Path, starts across the road.
Latitude, Longitude: 41°51’38″N, 74°20’52″W
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