This is definitely a very good hike but there are drawbacks to this hike. This hike is very far so most people will have to drive very far to get to this place and they have to pay a parking fee. The hike is very easy also so most people are done in a few hours. If I am going to drive 2-3 hours for a trail head or hike, I expect it to be amazing. This one is good but not worth it because this is very far. You can do Mohonk if you finish way too early with this hike.
Bonticou Crag And Table Rocks Important Information
Trail Map: Trail Map 1
Suggested Phone GPS Apps: Alltrails.com, Avenza Maps, Google Maps
Difficulty: Easy To Moderate
Distance: 6 Miles
Elevation Gained: 1,100 ft
Portable Toilet At Parking: No
Trail Breakdown
Crag Trail
Bonticou Road
Bonticou Rock Scramble
Bonticou Top
Yellow Trail
Cedar Trail
Table Rocks Trail
Table Rocks Trail To Gazebo
Million Dollar View
Parking
https://www.mapmyhike.com/workout/784786833
Note: The information is just an approximation.
Parking
Start Of The Hike
The scent of Fall was all over the trail with the mild morning sun shining down on my face and the cool chilly winds brushing up on my skin. There was adventure in the air and adventure inside my heart as I looked at the trail signs and markers. My boots stepped on the dried fallen leaves as I looked straight ahead towards the trail. This is what hiking is for, to take us away from the bright lit computer screen that we look at all day and allow us to experience mud, rocks, and brightly colored leaves falling on top of our heads as we embark on an exciting adventure
Crag Trail
The crag trail was covered by dry thick leaves that rolled around as the wind whispered. Underneath the leaves was a smooth flat road which made the trail rather easy and fast. I had moved and covered a lot of ground before I know it. The smooth trail was gentle on the legs and feet that walking on it was somewhat relaxing. I daydreamed my way while walking as time passes me by.
Intersection Signs
I followed the crag trail.
Intersection Signs
More signs and intersections.
Crag Trail
The mild rays of the morning sun shined down on the forest with the trees creating pillars of shadows on the ground. The cold Fall air surrounded my body, cooling it as I walked through the leafy covered footpath. The crag trail was somewhat confusing with a few intersections that could be found along the trail. At some intersections, there were no signs that I could see. It was almost like a guessing game whether I would get lost or not. Without a GPS or a map, I surely would have been lost.
Bonticou Road
The trail was another road with a few leaves scattered inside of it. Bonticou road had a few intersections as well without any signs but luckily, I was able to find my way. The road was rather quick and easy also that I reached my destination in no time. It was gentle on the legs, and I had no problems walking on it.
Bonticou Crag Trail
Hidden behind the thin trees of the forest was a trail that led towards Bonticou Crag. The trees were lacking most of their leaves due to the changing season which allowed me to be able to see through. Gigantic boulders piled on top of each other could be seen in the distance as if the mountain broke down and a landslide of rocks came crashing onto the ground. Piles of rubble were everywhere I looked as I tried to find the trail markers that would lead me safely up the mountain.
Bonticou Crag
I grabbed the edges of the cold hard rocks as I tried to climb higher and higher in order to reach the top. The scent of rocks, earth, shrubs, and the fresh wind all willed their way inside my body as I moved from one rock to another, lifting myself up higher and higher. There was a big smile on my face as I navigated through the rocks as I tried to reach the top but the smile was short lived as the mountain was rather easy to climb and required hardly any effort at all.
Bonticou Crag View
I sat on a cliff edge near the top of Bonticou Crag. The peak for leaf peeping for the Fall foliage was clearly over as the leaves wore a somber brown color, dried yellow and arid orange all across the valley. Cool and refreshing, the Fall winds came crashing in with varying degrees of force and magnitude, bringing with it the scent of the forest like a tossed salad sprinkled in front of my nose. I pulled my jacket a little closer as the cold winds took away some of the warmth away from my body. It was a beautiful viewpoint laced with a valley of trees that was changing to adapt with the season.
Bonticou Crag View
My eyes gazed downward as I could hear a few hikers going up with their laughter echoing across the once very quiet mountain. I tried to search for their exact location but I could not find them. All I saw were rubble or an assortment of big boulders that I once climbed over. It was hard to believe that I was down there just a few minutes ago and I managed to climb rather high as if timed passed me by without me knowing it. I stood up and continued on my way.
Bonticou Crag Top View
The top of the mountain was somewhat slanted with a beautiful forest of trees beyond it. The cheerful mountain path with a multitude of tall shrubs scattered all over the place and the beautiful valley across, immersed my heart in bliss just by looking at it. In every angle, down in every corner, there was something beautiful my eyes could look at, giving me a chance to slow down, rest and appreciate nature with all its beauty and everything it had to offer.
Bonticou Crag View
I sat near the edge to admire the adjacent mountain in front of me. The leaves on the trees were falling as a few of them looked lifeless and dead from where I sat. Just like the changing season, and the changing trees, change is a part of life but there was always something melancholy and mournful about it. It was as if we leave a little piece of ourselves behind, a piece we no longer need, something we have to discard in order to go forward. Change was like that in a way. We had to die in order to be reborn again just like the way the trees change when the season changes.
Trail View
The trail was descending but it was a gentle slope that I barely noticed the elevation change. Walking along the mountain top were various viewpoints to my left while at my right was a wall of trees closely knit together to block any type of view. I gazed at the valley that had a heap of trees that have lost their leaves and yet the valley still looked beautiful. It was as if the small amount of trees that remained were on fire due to their color… sparks of life in the middle of an ocean filled with death.
Table Rocks Sign
I came across a sign that pointed me towards Table Rocks.
Table Rocks Path
The leaves made crunchy sounds like bones being split apart as I walked through the table rocks footpath. Giant slabs of rocks could be seen to my left. They were enormous in size, maybe around 15 feet from what I can tell. They bulged out from the ground and blocking my view. The trail was mostly flat with a few declines and inclines but very gentle from what I remember.
Table Rocks
Deep cracks proliferated rapidly as I got deeper into this place. It was as if a giant with a big hammer hit this place and the massive force made the cracks along its surface. Fear crept into my body as I got into the middle, a drop of sweat rolled down my forehead and into the ground as anxiety and nervousness took over. If I fall down the cracks, no one would hear me scream nor be able to find me in time. Slowly but surely, I went back to the footpath and went on my way back to the parking lot.
Gazebo
A big gazebo stood proudly along the trail. Its distinct and unique features could not be ignored. It peeked my interest as I headed straight to it. I don’t see a lot of gazebos along a trail and this one stood out as it was big and wide… inviting me to come check outs its corridors.
Gazebo
The scent of old wood filled the room as I entered the gazebo. The rails were made out of wood but somewhat smooth to the touch. The design was erratic but it works well and looks great on this gazebo. My imagination took over as I saw a wedding or a celebration happening in this place with lots of people dancing along the wooden floors. There were white Christmas lights hanging all over the place, creating a beautiful and nostalgic atmosphere while music was playing on the background.
Million Dollar View
The million dollar view was blocked by numerous brightly colored trees but I could still see a valley beyond it. In the distance was a sea of dark brown trees with numerous blue mountains beyond them. The grass seemed to be cut or trimmed by some sort of machine as they looked like grass you would see in a golf course.
The view was rather uninteresting and I went back to my car as fast as I could. I wanted to go to Mohonk Mountain House as I finished the hike much earlier than I predicted. The parking fee, gas, and driving time were too much for such a short hike so I proceeded to go to Mohonk and hiked some more.
For More Hikes
For more hikes similar to this one, you can go to my Best Hikes For New York City Or Best Hikes For New Jersey.
The views were amazing and I had a great time. I would come here again.
The climb was not dog friendly. I had to carry my husky in some areas but it was very short so it was no problem. Good views and mostly flat terrain.
The hike was too easy and no way to increase it. The views are good but nothing spectacular.
This is a great hike. Was fun and my family liked it.
The rock scramble was over in 5 minutes. What a joke. I don’t know why people said that the rock scramble here was very good. I just wasted my money on the parking.
I had to pay for parking and this hike is too short. I felt like I wasted my money. The views were interesting.
Nothing too difficult and a quick way to spend time with nature. Love the scenery.