Catskills Tails on Trails
Ah, Hurleyville. About one hundred miles from the George Washington Bridge, but an entirely different world apart. And a perfect spot to feature in this edition of our CATSKILLS TAILS ON TRAILS series.
Your furry friends are going to love it!
The hamlet of Hurleyville is, of course, nestled in the mountains in the Town of Fallsburg. It contains County Road 104, which used to be the best way to get from Liberty to Monticello. (If you want to experience a truly scenic route, it still is).
The hamlet was settled by one William Hurley. The economy to begin with was driven by dairy farming. But before long, Hurleyville became an important part of the Catskill Borscht Belt. Much like Liberty and Parksville, resorts started to rapidly pop up and expand. The largest was Columbia Hotel, which graced the top of Columbia Hill, but there were certainly other boarding houses and bungalow colonies to choose from.
Hurleyville was also a stop along the O&W railroad line. For a while, the name of the hamlet was changed to Luzon Station…supposedly because the post office kept mixing up local mail with that intended for delivery in Hurley, NY (in Ulster County). The name “Luzon” allegedly came about because the postmaster had a son stationed on Luzon Island in the Philippines. (It’s amazing what you can find with one quick internet search these days.)
Today, Hurleyville is home to the Sullivan County Museum. You’ll find the Catskill Mountainkeepers there as well, a group whose mission it is to protect the area’s forests and wild lands while safeguarding the air and water. The fabulous Hurleyville Performing Arts Center is also a great place to visit. Plus, the Michael Ritchie Big Barn—part of the Center for Discovery—can be found at 54 Discovery Ridge Road.
But the main attraction—at least, for our purposes here—is the Milk Train Rail Trail. According to Hurleville’s “Small Town, Big Ideas” website, the development of the trail began back in 2012:
“The Center for Discovery partnered with the Open Space Institute (OSI), a New York-based conservation organization dedicated to preserving scenic, natural, and historic landscapes for public enjoyment, to purchase a 9.2-mile section of abandoned Ontario & Western Railway right-of-way to develop a universally accessible public rail trail. Today, the Milk Train Rail Trail is a fully accessible 9+ mile rail trail that has been revitalized and brings bikers, hikers, and nature lovers together with Hurleyville anchored in the center.”
Let me tell you, the Hurleyville part of the Sullivan Rail Trails will have your Catskill puppy wagging his tail bigtime!
To begin with, the Hurleyville trail totals about six-and-a-half miles. This includes three-and-a-half miles of paved trail, making it friendly for those with disabilities. The trails branch out in every direction from the center of Hurleyville. Going west? You have about a mile of wooded trail that heads into the Town of Liberty. East? You and Rover will be dealing with a tad less than two miles of gravel-surfaced trail that eventually takes you into South Fallsburg.
As to the other trailheads? Check them out:
· Trailhead 331 comes out at 278 Denman Road, Liberty.
· Trailhead 16 will take you to 16 Mongaup Road, Hurleyville.
· Trailhead 214? Well, that’s Main Street, Hurleyville.
· And Trailhead 144? You’ll wind up at Pleasant Valley Road South Fallsburg.
As we’ve seen, Hurleyville features venues for the arts, places to eat, and things to see. And all of these are easy to get to.
Ready to grab Pickles and tackle the Milk Train Trail? Here are a couple of other things to know:
· You’ll want to go when the sun is up. The trail is open only during daylight hours.
· Folks who are walking have the right-of-way, as do folks with disabilities.
· Passing someone on the trail? Please pass on the left, and give them a warning they can hear before you do.
· Remember to yield at all roads.
· Biking is fine, though helmets are recommended. But no motorized vehicles are allowed.
· Please, no racing, hunting, or alcoholic beverages.
· Of course, please keep Pickles on a leash…and remember to clean up after her.
As always, I recommend assessing the trail’s level of difficulty—and your comfort with it—before just showing up and bopping down the way while singing, “My knapsack on my back.” Plus, as we’ve noted, much of the trail is paved—which is generally a good thing—but if you plan to go on a steaming-hot summer day, make sure to protect your furry friend’s pads. They can be burned if the pavement is heated up by the sun, and I know you don’t want that for Pickles.
How about a few more quick reminders? Okay, I thought you might like them. I’ve gone into detail on these things in my previous two blogs, but while we’re here:
Take water and a collapsible bowl. Also pack some food and treats.
Make sure Pickles knows—and obeys—basic commands like, “Stop,” “Come,” and “Drop it.”
Take a simple first-aid kit along with you.
And always, always, _alway_s check for ticks after the fun in the sun is done.
Should anything untoward occur to Pickles out on the trail—which isn’t likely—you know that the Animal Hospital of Sullivan County is here. Make the call (845-292-6711) and we’ll take the right steps to get Pickles back in harness and on the Sullivan County Rail Trails in no time.
Oh…as I write, it’s only about 49 days until the spring! Time flies when you’re hiking with Catskills Tails on Trails!