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DISTANCE: 3.7 miles TYPE: Loop TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN: 500 feet MAXIMUM ELEVATION: 2,250 feet DIFFICULTY: Easy HIKING TIME: 3 hours |
Located in the Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest, the Kelly Hollow loop offers hikers a scenic, relatively quiet walk through varied forest on well-graded ski trails. As a result, the route can be hiked any time of year without much difficulty and can be cross-country skied in the winter. Much of the trail edges unnamed streams that feed Mill Brook, giving hikers occasional glimpses of small nearby waterfalls. A connector trail about halfway through the circuit allows for an option to shorten the hike, making this a great outing for families or anyone looking for a more relaxed day. On the other hand, a shelter near the southern tip of the trail and a couple of nice campsites give hikers the option of turning a day hike into a short, easy overnight trip. Because of this, the Kelly Hollow loop would be a great introduction to backpacking for interested but inexperienced parties. Although this trail lacks any vistas or viewpoints, the real draw of this hike lies in the solitude and options to shorten or lengthen the hike to your liking.
GETTING THERE
Take Exit 19 (Kingston) from the New York State Thruway. Turn right onto NY-28 West, then continue west on NY-28 for about 42 miles, until you reach the hamlet of Arkville. Just after passing through Arkville, turn onto Dry Brook Road. Follow Dry Brook Road for 6.3 miles and turn right onto Mill Brook Road. Drive 5.8 miles and pass the Grants Mills covered bridge on the right. There are two DEC parking areas a mile up the road on the left. The hike starts at the second parking area.
GPS SHORTCUT
Type “Grants Mills Covered Bridge” into Google Maps. The trailhead is a mile west on Mill Brook Road.
THE TRAIL
The trailhead starts at the end of the parking area, near an old cemetery and two grassy campsites. There are eroding gravestones in the cemetery dating back to the early nineteenth century, and the site is well worth taking a stroll through if you have the time.
From the dirt road, walk south into the woods and pick up a yellow-blazed ski trail. Begin gradually climbing on old, rocky roadbed, eventually skirting the edge of a steep drop to your left. There is an unnamed run in the ravine below. As you walk, keep an eye out for glimpses of small waterfalls along this stream.
Continue climbing through hemlock groves for 0.8 mile until you reach the connector trail on your left, marked by a sign. From here you have two options. Turning left will bisect the circuit, leading you to the other side of the stream in 0.2 mile. This option will shorten the loop by 2 miles. Turning right will send you up a steeper trail for another 0.2 mile before leveling off significantly.
Turn right and continue to climb until you reach a grassy clearing, where you’ll find a picturesque view of a beaver pond. The trail circles the pond, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the area. In 0.5 mile from the connector trail split, reach a well-used lean-to near the edge of the beaver pond. This is a good place to take a break and further explore the pond, as there is easy access to the water’s edge nearby.
Continue hiking on fairly level terrain for roughly 0.7 mile, at which point the trail turns sharply to your left. Cross a small seasonal run and enter a majestic pine stand, eventually crossing another run in about 500 feet. This section of trail is fairly level, giving you the opportunity to take in your surroundings as you walk beside another unnamed stream that will eventually feed into the first. The trail descends moderately for another 0.6 mile before you reach the connector trail on your left. Follow the main trail for another 0.5 mile, descending on rocky road grade until you reach the second parking area. Just before the parking area, there is a large campsite along the stream on the left, 100 feet into the woods.
Walk to the road from this parking area and turn left. You will roadwalk the final 0.3 mile to reach your vehicle at the other parking area.
BEAVER POND NEAR THE KELLY HOLLOW SHELTER
