Bonticou Crag Trail & Cramble

The short and powerful hike is one of the most exciting short hikes in the Hudson Valley.

Starting from Spring Farm Trailhead in Mohonk Preserve, the Bonticou Crag Loop hike steadily climbs through the mixed forest, a steep and sketchy field of giant stone leading to a massive white cliff. It's a short and exciting road to carry, the higher you go, the wider you go.

On the top, flat open rocks provide panoramic views of the Hudson River to the east and north to the Catskills. From here, the trail runs along a scenic ridge and then cycles southward towards a point known as the Million Dollar View, Catskill Cliff Suddenly rising on the horizon.

Hike with an easy walk to rolling terrain and open fields that will bring you back to the trail. It's a huge dramatic and high reward loop with a very small distance. This is perfect for hikers looking to have an exciting outing without a full-day commitment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to hike bonticou crag?

Allowed for about 2 hours. Most trails are easy, but the battle takes a long time and then you need to take some time to enjoy the views.

What is the elevation increase of Bonticou Crag?

The elevation increase of this hike is only 500 feet (APX 152 meters), but don't let that low number fool you. If you are on a scramble for the route, it's very nervous.

Do you have to pay on foot at Mohonk Preserve?

Yes.

How much does it cost to go to Bonticou Crag?

Admission to Mononk Preserve at this location is USD 15 per person.

Bonticou Crag Trail Guide

Bonticou Crag Hiking Trails include…

• Simple flat trails
• A tough fight (I counted three tricky lifts)
• Amazing multi-layered ridges
• Incredible views of the surrounding land and Catskills
• Entrance fee of USD 15 per person

The hiking notes below provide a complete breakdown with many photos.

Bonticou Crag Trail Notes & Gallery

Start at the parking lot. Go up a little a little, then look for the Bonticou Trail sign on the curb on a small portion of the steps. Register along the trail until the trail slopes to the left and down.

Before going down, about 150 feet ahead of the trail, reaching the attractions, you can see the top of Bonticou Crag through the windows of the trees, as shown in the featured image of this trail guide.

This is Bonticou Crag Alltrails track My exact route to hike in this trail guide.

Go back to the intersection and go down to the interesting part to start…

You will have to pass Distance to the fieldsfollow the red painted fire. This is not easy. Right away, it is awkward and requires very thoughtful foot placement.

Make sure you wear proper hiking boots or the grip of the trail runner.

notes: You can also take longer non-blocking routes to the top and still enjoy incredible views. The battle is only about 150 feet, but any of the drops can be disastrous. To rise along a safe route, turn left at the bottom of the battle and head north to the north until you encounter the junction that brings uphill.

But if you go the scramble route…

This is so interesting!

But that definitely made me stop.

Experienced climbers will have no problem. My 20-year-old daughter figured it all out in a short time. But there are a few points I had to mess up my courage and trust my abilities. For me, the trickiest person is below this place…

The other is the top of this section – but look at how interesting this one looks…

Like other shows, this section has been exposed. We both moved very carefully here.

Starting above this section, the first good view opens…

From here, if memory is done, it's easy. Super fun scramble.

Bonticou Crag Summit

The ridge at the top is long and gorgeous, with beautiful views to the south and northwest Catskills.

And the mountain itself is impressive, the distance below is from Taras Field.

Bonticou Crag's drop: 2 options

Go ahead along the ridge and head north ⅓ miles until you hit the junction of the downhill. Turn left, then turn left and right again at the second intersection, and then climb back to the bottom of the cramble. From there, the way you first appear.

Alternatively, you can follow this article's GPS track to go out along the Cedar Trail. There are many trails in the area and there are plenty of options to go back to the spring trails.

Million dollar view

Before entering the parking area, take a minute to enjoy the views of Catskills…

Ashokan High Point Most prominent, 10 miles away.

Similar hikes

The west side Shuangshan There is also a brief but very interesting battle. That's The Devil's Road to the East There are many short-term struggles.

Check out my list The best battle.

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