Israel Wittman Sanctuary Trail System

View of Access Trail to the Israel Wittman Sanctuary

OVERVIEW

Name: Israel Wittman Sanctuary

Trail Name: Loop A

Trail Name: Loop B

Trail Name: Loop C

Forest: Near Bluestone Wild Forest

Parking Area : 10 spaces (Woodstock Conservancy) At very end of Old Sawmill Road

Lean-to sites: None

Campsites : None

Loop A : 1.11 miles

Loop B : 0.73 miles

Loop C : 0.95 miles

Length : 4.16 miles (Loops & Access Trails)

Access : Foot & Mountain Bike

Views : None

Quarry : 2

Woodstock Conservancy Map: Israel Wittman Sanctuary Map (free)

USGS Map: USGS Woodstock Quad Maps

Digital Mapper: Topo Terrain Satellite

Maps of Israel Wittman Sanctuary

Map of the Israel Wittman Sanctuary near the Bluestone Wild Forest

Notes about the Israel Wittman Sanctuary

TRAIL

This Israel Wittman Sanctuary Trail System is owned by the Woodstock Conservancy. The total hike or ride through the trail system is 4.16 miles. Most of the trails are fairly wide, but sometimes overgrown with grass and weeds. The trail system is not harden, so you need to expect to have rocks (sometimes hidden in grass) in the middle of the trail. There are no views on any part of the trail system.

There are three loop trails in the Israel Wittman Sanctuary Trail System. The three loops range from 3/4 of a mile to 1.1 miles. Most are fairly easy. Loop A can be difficult on the eastern side for mountain bikes if rode in counter-clockwise direction. The other two loops are fairly easy to hike or ride.

All the trails are marked with Yellow Trail Markers. We did not have a difficult time following the trails. There is no registration box at the Israel Wittman Sanctuary Trailhead. But, they did have maps there. If they are out of maps, you can use your cell phone to take a picture of the map in the Kiosk. You can also download a pdf on this page of the map. There is NO water on this hike, so bring water with you.
PARKING

In the busy summer months, the Israel Wittman Sanctuary Trail System can get busy. You cannot park on the side of Old Sawmill Road. So, if the parking area is full, you will need to go elsewhere.
OTHER INFORMATION

There is some cell phone service in the Israel Wittman Sanctuary.

DIRECTIONS to the Israel Wittman Sanctuary Parking from Exit 19 (Kingston)

Old Sawmill Road (WC) - WGS84 (DEC): 42.0273, -74.040533 - Elevation is approximately 464'

Old Sawmill Road (WC) - Deg/Min/Sec: N42 01 38, W74 02 25 - Elevation is approximately 464'

Old Sawmill Road (WC) - GPS: N 42 01.638, W 74 02.432 - Elevation is approximately 464'

Old Sawmill Road (WC) - UTM: 18N 579427 4653253 - Elevation is approximately 464'

Get off New York State Thruway at Exit 19 (Kingston).

Take a RIGHT out of the NYS Thruway onto Route 28 West.

Go approximately 5.0 miles on Rt 28 West

Take a RIGHT onto Zena Road (at traffic light)

Go approximately 1.9miles on Zena Road

Take a RIGHT onto Rt 30 (Sawkill Road)

Go approximately 0.4 on Sawkill Road (Rt 30)

Take a LEFT onto Church Road

Go approximately 2.4 miles on Church Road (Zean-Highwoods Road)

Take a RIGHT onto Old SawMill Road (dirt)

Go approximately 0.3 on Old Sawmill Road

Take a LEFT into Israel Wittman Sanctuary Parking Area

Note: You CANNOT park on the side of Old Sawmill Road

Hiking at Israel Wittman Sanctuary

ISRAEL WITTMAN SANCTUARY

This is the Israel Willman Sanctuary Parking Area. It is directly off the end of Sawmill Road. It holds about 10 cars. In the summer months it does fill up. You cannot park on the side of Old Sawmill Road.

This is the Israel Wittman Sanctuary Kiosk at the trailhead to the Israel Wittman Sanctuary Trail System.

These are the rules for this particular public hiking trail system. It is different from the New York DEC rules.

This is the access trail from the Israel Wittman Sanctuary Parking Area to the 3 loops.

LOOP "C"

After hiking about 450 feet on the main access trail from the Israel Wittman Sanctuary Trailhead, you will to the first Loop. This is Loop "C".

Most people like to hike (or Mtn Bike) Loop "C" in a clockwise direction. To hike it is clockwise direction, take a LEFT at the sign you see on the left side of this image.

If you want to hike it in counter-clockwise direction, continue STRAIGHT. If you look at the sign on the right side of the image, the trail continues straight from the sign.

This is the trail on the east side of Loop "C" in the Israel Wittman Sanctuary. The east side is hilly and rocky. It runs near an old quarry.

This is the west side of Loop "C" in the Israel Wittman Sanctuary. It is easy hiking or mountain biking.

When you come to the end of Loop "C", you will come back to the trail junction from the Main Access path from the Israel Wittman Sanctuary Parking Area and Trailhead. If you want to continue to Loop "A" and Loop "B", continue STRAIGHT.

MAIN ACCESS TRAIL

If you want to access Loop "A" or Loop "B", you want to continue down the section section of the Main Access Trail. If you are coming from the Parking Area, take a RIGHT. If you finishing Loop "C", then take a LEFT or STRAIGHT (depending which direction you take). It is a little less then a 1/2 mile before you reach Loop "A" or Loop "B".

After a short distance you will have to cross this small wooden bridge.

After about 1/3 of a mile, the Main Access Trail will branch off to the left to Loop "A" or right to Loop "B". Both loops are about 650 feet away from this trail junction.

The Access Trail to Loop "A" has a small swamp directly off the trail. It often floods the trail. So, there is a small bridge just off the side of the trail. The trail after the wooden bridge is quite rocky and rooty. In the dry months, the trail is dry.

LOOP "A"

Most hikers and mtn bikers hike Loop "A" in clockwise direction. The trail starts off easy to hike and follow.

As you get further along Loop "A", the trail climbs in elevation and becomes grassy. Once you get around the loop, the trail becomes easy again.

Once you have completed Loop "A", go back down the Main Access Road. When you reach the trail junction for Loop "A" and Loop "B", take a LEFT if you want to take Loop "B". If you don't want to take Loop "B", then continue down the Main Access Trail.

LOOP "B"

RIGHT will take you to Loop "B" in the Israel Wittman Sanctuary. If you are coming from Loop "A", then take a LEFT to get to Loop "B".

The beginning of Loop "B" is about 650 feet away.

650 feet down the Access Trail, will bring you to the beginning and end of Loop "B"

Most people like to hike Loop "B" in counter-clockwise direction. Just beware that the loop makes a 90 degree sharp turn at the end of the loop. Some people have walked off the loop.

This is the typical view of Loop "B". It is a nice trail. When you get to the end of loop, the trail drops in elevation on the eastern side. When you are close to completing the complete loop, the trail climbs in elevation back to the beginning of Loop "B".

Once you get done with the loop, get back on the Main Access Trail for the next 1/2 mile.

RETURN to the ISRAEL WITTMAN SANCTUARY

You will come back to the trail Junction to Loop "C". Take a LEFT to get back to Israel Wittman Sanctuary Parking Area. The parking area, about 450 feet away from this trail junction.

S E C T I O N S

W E A T H E R

O T H E R