The Long Path

The Long Path. . , History of the Long Path , During the 1930s, a plan was developed by Vincent J. Schaefer of the Mohawk Valley Hiking Club and others to connect the southern New York hiking trails with the Adirondack hiking trail system. This proposed trail was to be named "The Long Path," and for more than 60 years it was a dream of many hikers. Volunteers worked for many years to bring the Path from the George Washington Bridge north to the Catskill Park to "hook up” on DEC's trail system., In 1991, through the efforts and guidance of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, a "Long Path North” committee was formed consisting of local volunteers who have dedicated themselves to develop and maintain the Path. There was much interest and support created in the area with the committee's activities. On February 5, 1994, the Long Path North Hiking Club was organized. The Club was to take over the construction and maintenance with plans to complete the trail to the Mohawk River., The Club now has over 200 members, and their goal to complete the Path to the Saratoga County line is complete. The Club sponsors many organized hikes during all seasons of the year and takes part in many outdoor shows and activities., Mine Kill would like to specially thank the Long Path North Hiking Club, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, AmeriCorps, and the Student Conservation Association for their help with trail maintenance and construction. , Facts About the Long Path , The Long Path is 357 miles from 175th Street Subway Station in New York City to John Boyd Thacher State Park in New York. Wow! , The Long Path is indicated by a 2-by-4-inch aqua blaze. , Vincent J. Schaefer named the path after Walt Whitman's line "the long brown path that leads wherever I choose” from his poem "Song of the Open Road." , It connects many of New York's parks, preserves, and state forest lands. , It is maintained by 250 Trail Conference volunteers and member groups. , Mary Ann Nissley of Chalfont, Pennsylvania completed the first Long Path thru-hike in 25 days. , The Long Path is broken down into sections. Each section is designed to be a reasonable day walk for fit hikers. The shortest one is 4.8 miles while the longest is 18.3 , Although the Long Path is a linear hiking trail, there are many other hiking trails that cross it. , As of 2015, there were 139 known people who have walked all sections of the Long Path. They are known as "End to Enders,” and receive a certificate of completion, a listing in The Long Path Guide, and sew-on patch to place on their backpack. , , The Long Path at Mine Kill , The Long Path through Mine Kill State Park and the New York Power Authority Blenheim-Gilboa Visitor Center offers hikers an amazingly diverse blend of scenery and terrain ranging from spectacular viewpoints overlooking the Schoharie Creek and Blenheim-Gilboa Reservoir, to incredibly picturesque ravines shrouded in hemlock and white pine. Hikers also pass the famous, 80-foot tall Mine Kill Falls while heading north through the park toward historic Lansing Manor and beyond. In 2015, a footbridge was constructed here at Mine Kill to connect the trail from the park to the Mine Kill Waterfalls.