Looking Glass Pond Loop - 2.0 miles

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Mountainbiking
Schoharie County

The trail around Looking Glass Pond is part of the Long Path hiking trail that runs from the George Washington Bridge to Thatcher Park south of Albany.  Please be considerate of hikers, though you probably won't see anyone.

The trail is an excellent introduction to more technical singletrack.  It is entirely rideable by better riders, but should provide a good challenge.  Climbing is minimal.

You can ride the loop in either direction.  The loop is described in counter-clockwise direction, but can be ridden either way.

Counter-clockwise - Bear left out of the parking area on the road you came in on and climb a small hill.  Approximately 1/2 mile from the parking lot look for a path through a gate on the left.  The gate is some yards off the road.   Go around the gate and wind your way through a lovely hemlock grove.  As you leave the hemlock grove the path passes through a wet, rutted, grassy section and the trail heads slightly uphill to the right.  You will appear at the edge of an open clearing that was logged off a few years ago.  The path passes through this "meadow" grown over with high grass.  The path should be obvious and is rideable.  But, BEWARE.  There are some holes and obstacles as you cross the meadow, remnants from the logging that cleared it.  When you've picked your way across the meadow you re-enter the woods by way of a 20 ft. bridge.

Past the bridge the trail crosses over a stonewall (you can ride it) and heads down a short descent, after which you will turn right.  An easy climb follows and is immediately followed by a drop.  The rock gardens begin here.  On humid, summer days the rocks will be damp and slippery.  Pick your way along the path.  There are some trail markers now as you enter another pine forest and approach the pond bank.

The path briefly wanders around a small point on the pond - really nice spot, BTW - and then heads up a short climb.  Don't miss the LEFT turn a hundred yards, or so, from the pond.  The trail will continue to bear left, over a small bridge and some rooty sections, until it emerges from the woods at the dam creating the pond.

Proceed across the dam and back to the parking area.

The loop is almost exactly 2 miles.