|
DISTANCE: 2.3 miles TYPE: Lollipop TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN: 620 feet MAXIMUM ELEVATION: 1,440 feet DIFFICULTY: Moderate HIKING TIME: 1.5 hours |
Conveniently located just off of Main Street in Phoenicia, the Tanbark Trail is an excellent trek for hikers on a time crunch and is a pleasant walk at any time of day. Despite its short length, the Tanbark Trail offers some interesting features for a relatively small amount of effort, including open vistas, towering rock walls, and a look at the economic history of the surrounding area. Be prepared to see a good number of other hikers, as the accessibility and proximity to downtown Phoenicia make this a fairly popular destination that attracts hikers of all skill levels.
The Tanbark Trail is a fantastic hike in summer and in fall at peak foliage, featuring scenic views of the surrounding mountains, the winding Esopus Creek, and the town of Phoenicia itself. There are a few sections of steep climbing, so traction devices (snowshoes, crampons) are recommended for those wishing to enjoy the trail during the winter months.
GETTING THERE
From the New York State Thruway, take Exit 19 (Kingston) and pick up NY-28 heading west. Follow NY-28 West for 23 miles to the town of Phoenicia. At Phoenicia, turn onto Main Street. Travel northeast on Main Street for 0.3 mile, passing Church Street, until you reach Ava Maria Drive on your left. Park on Main Street and walk up Ava Maria Drive for a tenth of a mile and turn right, proceeding to Parish Field. The trailhead is signed, across the field to the right of the playground.
GPS SHORTCUT
Direct your GPS to navigate you to the town of Phoenicia, and follow the above instructions from there.
THE TRAIL
Enter the woods at the edge of Parish Field, and follow the blue-blazed trail across a small run. The path climbs over some medium-sized boulders and ascends for about 100 feet before a hairpin switchback leads to a more moderately graded trail. Be on the lookout for the turn, as it can be easy to miss. From the turn, follow the trail along the foot of a tall, sheer cliff, enjoying the uniquely eroded rock formations and various overhangs.
At 0.3 mile from the trailhead, reach a trail junction. There is a sign that will inform you that the trail is a loop from this point on, and you have the option of going left or right. The trail maintainers suggest going left first, as the climb is slightly more gradual. Turn left and follow the trail, climbing steeply through sparse, open woods. There are several large, craggy boulders scattered along the trail amid shrubby underbrush. This area was mined for bluestone in the 1800s, and some of the quarry is still visible among the trees, although much of it is overgrown. After a short while, the trail levels off as you reach your first of two viewpoints. The Phoenicia Overlook boasts sweeping views of distant Panther Mountain and the town of Phoenicia nestled quaintly beneath Romer Mountain. A sign features a brief history of the town and its economic importance to the leather tanning industry.
From here the trail climbs slightly before dropping nearly 80 feet in elevation. Pick up an old rocky woods road and begin another steep ascent. The trail momentarily levels off at 1,340 feet before reaching a split. A woods road veers to the right and descends steeply, bypassing a moderate climb before joining the trail again near the second vista. Go left and climb to another quarry area before a rocky descent to Grand View Ledge.
After taking in the view, continue descending on steep, rocky terrain. At roughly 500 feet past Grand View Ledge, the woods road rejoins the trail from the right. Turn left here and follow the blue blazes, dropping 250 feet until you return to the trail junction. At this point, you have finished the loop portion of the trail. Follow the path back along the foot of the rock wall, and return to the trailhead in 0.3 mile.
