Catskill Mountaineer

Hike to the Dry Brook Ridge View Points from Ploutz Road
Dry Brook Ridge Trail
View of the Huckleberry Valley from the Dry Brook Ridge Trail
 
 

OVERVIEW

  Trail Name: Huckleberry Loop Trail (From Ploutz Road TO Dry Brook Ridge Trail)
  Trail Name: Dry Brook Ridge Trail (From Huckleberry Loop (south) TO View Point #3)
   
  Forest: Dry Brook Ridge Trail Wild Forest (North)
  Parking Area : 3 spaces directly off Ploutz Road
  Winter Access: NONE - Upper Ploutz Road not plowed (Use Mill Brook Road)
  Camp sites: NO Camp Site locations
  Lean-to sites: NO Lean-to
  Access: Hike
   
  Trail Length: 2.85 (one-way) - 5.70 (round-trip)
  Trail Type: 100% Single-Track Trails
  Hiking Time: Average 2-3 hours
  Lowest Elevation: 2,542' (A)
  Highest Elevation: 3,470' (A)
  Views : Three view spot
  Difficulty: Moderate
   
  USGS Map: USGS Seager Quad Maps
   
  DEC Trail Map: DEC Dry Brook Wild Forest Map (free)
   
  Digital Mapper: Topo      Terrain      Satellite     

Maps to Dry Brook Ridge Trail

Map of the Dry Brook Ridge Trail

 

Notes About Hiking to the Dry Brook Ridge

 TRAIL
  The section of the Huckleberry Trail that goes from the Ploutz Road Parking Area to the Dry Brook Ridge Trail is about 1-1/3 miles long and climbs 1,000 vertical feet. Once on the ridge the elevation does not change very much.

The section between View Point #1 and View Point #2 is significant exposure due to the trail being right on the edge of the ledge. If you fall off the ledge, you will die. If you are afraid of heights, you may want to stop at View Point #1. Due to this fact, we do not recommend children on this hike.

 WATER SOURCES
  One of your major concerns for this hike should be having enough water. There are NO locations where you can obtain water for this entire hike. Make sure that you obtain from another location BEFORE you arrive. So, BEWARE and plan carefully!

There is a small stream about 650 feet west of Ploutz Road on the lower section of the Huckleberry Loop Trail.
 PARKING
  The first half of Ploutz Road is a regular two-lane dirt road that goes for 6/10 of a mile. You will not encounter any problems driving on it.

The second half of Ploutz Road is a rough one-lane dirt/rock road that goes for another 6/10 of a mile. It is the kind of road that a 4WD or AWD vehicle would work fine. While it is possible to get a 2WD vehicle up the road, it will be difficult. Generally, vehicle clearance issues are not a problem either.

As you approach the rough one-lane road, you will start to see No Trespassing signs everywhere to discourage you from continuing. Some of the No Trespassing signs are erected to try and fool you into thinking that the road is private property. That is NOT true. The road will pass close to a local land owner's property. It is important to watch your odometer. The DEC Ploutz Road Parking Area is 1.2 miles from Mill Brook Road. About a 1/4 mile PAST the Ploutz Road Parking Area, the road then becomes private property. If you drive past the Ploutz Road Parking Area, you will encounter private property at about 1.5 miles from Mill Brook Road.

NOTE: The Ploutz Road Parking Area is NOT accessible in the Winter. The upper section of Ploutz road is NOT plowed, and there is NO place to park on the lower section.

 OTHER INFORMATION
  There is NO cell phone service as of 2023 at the Ploutz Road Parking Area. You may get reception at higher elevations, or further into the hike.



DIRECTIONS TO DEC PLOUTZ ROAD PARKING AREA / TRAILHEAD

 
  • Dry Brook Parking WGS84 (DEC): 42.070717, -74.5736 - Elevation is approximately 2,584 feet
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  • Dry Brook Parking Deg/Min/Sec: N42 04 14, W74 34 24 - Elevation is approximately 2,584 feet
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  • Dry Brook Parking GPS: N 42 04.243, W 74 34.416 - Elevation is approximately 2,584 feet
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  • Dry Brook Parking UTM: 18N 535274 4657716 - Elevation is approximately 2,584 feet
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  • Take New York State Thruway to Exit 19 (Kingston).
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  • Take a right out of the NYS Thruway toll booths onto Rt 28.
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  • Go approximately 33 miles west on Rt 28
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  • Take a left onto Rt 49A at Highmount (Belleayre Ski Center)
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  • Go 5 miles to the end of Rt 49A.
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  • Take a LEFT onto Rt 49/7A/Dry Brook Road
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  • Go approximately 5.2 miles to Mill Brook Road.
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  • Take a RIGHT onto Ploutz Road
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  • Go approximately 0.6 miles on Ploutz Road (two-lane dirt road)
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  • Continue for another 0.6 miles on Ploutz Road (ONE-lane rough dirt road - Ignore No Trespassing signs)
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  • The DEC Ploutz Road Parking lot is on the RIGHT side of the road


    • MILEAGE CHART - Hike from Ploutz Road TO Dry Brook Ridge

      Mileage Mile Point Altitude Notes
      0.00 0.00 2,556' Ploutz Road Parking Area (25 cars)
      0.00 0.00 2,556' DEC Registration Box
      1.37 1.37 3,461' Trail Junction for Dry Brook Ridge Trail
      2.24 0.87 3,445' Dry Brook Ridge View Point #1
      2.73 0.49 3,389' Dry Brook Ridge View Point #2
      2.85 0.12 3,380' Dry Brook Ridge View Point #3

    Hike to Dry Brook Ridge Trail from Ploutz Road

    entrance to the Ploutz Road Parking Area
    At the entrance to the Ploutz Road Parking Area from Ploutz Road.
    DEC sign at the entrance of the Ploutz Road Parking Area
    This is the DEC sign at the entrance to the Ploutz Road Parking Area. Unfortunately, all the mileage on the sign in inaccurate.
    DEC Ploutz Road Parking Area
    This is the Ploutz Road Parking Area. It holds about 3 cars.
    The beginning of the Dry Brook Ridge Trail
    This is the Ploutz Road Parking Area Kiosk, Registration Box, and beginning of the Huckleberry Loop Trail from Ploutz Road.

    Please register at the DEC Registration Box. Funds for maintenance of the regional trails depends upon how many people register for a hike in this region. Additionally, if you or someone else in your party have an emergency, Rangers and SAR will use the information in the registration box to find and help you. If someone goes missing, Rangers may call you to determine if you saw someone missing. Your life and someone else life may depend up you registering. Remember that this area is remote, and you will likely not see another person all day. On our visit no one had been here in the past week.
    Trail after the DEC registration box on the Huckleberry Loop Trail
    The trail starts out with an easy incline that winds through a nice conifer forest. This section of the Huckleberry Loop Trail will climb almost a 1,000 vertical feet in 1.4 miles, between Ploutz Road and Dry Brook Ridge Trail.
    The typical view of the Dry Brook Ridge Trail
    As you climb up towards the Dry Brook Ridge trail on the Huckleberry Loop Trail, the vegetation will increase. So, pay attention to the Trail Markers. Most people can follow the path through the thick vegetation. In the higher elevations of the mountain, the conifer trees will almost completely disappear.
    Huckleberry Loop Trail near the ridge
    Just one of several unique rocks you will encounter along the way on this hike.
    end of public land onto private property on the Dry Brook Ridge Trail
    Just before you reach the Dry Brook Ridge Trail, the vegetation will get thick. There are a few braided trails, so just keep pushing forward. The Dry Brook Ridge Trail is close by. At 1-1/3 miles up the Huckleberry Loop Trail, you will encounter the trail junction to the Dry Brook Trail. Take a LEFT.
    fern glades and muddy sections on the Dry Brook Ridge
    No shortage of fern glades on the Dry Brook Ridge. There are short ferns and tall ferns. With the name, "Dry Brook Ridge", you might think that the ridge is dry. Although it is true there is no water to collect, there is plenty of muddy sections of this trail. During a drought, it might dry up.
    approaching view point #1 on the Dry Brook Ridge
    After almost 3/4 of a mile on the Dry Brook Ridge, you will come to the first View Point that overlooks the Huckleberry Valley. Be careful around the open section. Easy to fall off.
    view point #1 on the Dry Brook Ridge
    This is a panorama picture from View Point #1. On a nice clear day, you can far into the distance. Be careful around the open section. Easy to fall off one of the rock ledges.
    Trail between view point #1 and view point #2 on the Dry Brook Ridge Trail
    After you get done enjoying the views from View Point #1, the trail will then move back up on the ridge line. The trail will wind up-and-down the ridge for another 1/2 mile.
    dangerous ledge just before View Point #2 on the Dry Brook Ridge ledge just before View Point #2 on the Dry Brook Ridge
    As you come back down off the ridge after about a 1/2 mile, it will come down to the very edge of the ledge. The ledge drops 40-50 feet. So, walk carefully here. If you fall here, you die.
    view Point #2 on the Dry Brook Ridge
    Here is another panoramic image of View Point #2 on the Dry Brook Ridge. It has a slightly different view of the Huckleberry Valley along with the Mill Brook Ridge in the distance.
    Trail to View Point #3 on the Dry Brook Ridge Trail
    After you done enjoying View Point #2 on the Dry Brook Ridge, the trail climbs back up towards the ridge. You will hike another almost another 1,000 feet, you will see a trail on your left. This short trail will take you to View Point #3. You need to be careful hiking out to View Point #3. There is some exposure and danger. Many consider View Point #3 the best view on the Dry Brook Ridge.
    Dry Brook Ridge Trail Trail
    This is the 3rd View Point of Huckleberry Valley (Cold Spring Hollow) with the Mill Brook Ridge in the background. Once done, head back to the Dry Brook Ridge Trail.

    Once you get done, reverse your course and head back to your car on Ploutz Road. Hope you enjoyed the three view points that overlook the Huckleberry Valley.
    Links and References:

    USGS Topo Map of the Seager Quad

    NY DEC map of the Dry Brook Wild Forest (free)

    DEC Information on the Dry Brook Ridge Trail Wild Forest


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