June 11, 2026 – Putnam Valley, NY
Problem: Reasonable
Size: Roughly 2.3 miles
Max elevation: 986 ft.– complete elevation acquire roughly 550 ft.
Route sort: Circuit
Purchase Maps (Paper & Avenza): East Hudson Trails Map #103
Free Net Map: Fahnestock State Park Path Map 2025
Free Avenza App Map: Fahnestock State Park Path Map
Trailhead parking: 217 Bell Hole Highway, Putnam Valley, NY 10579
Roadside parking for roughly 4 vehicles on the north finish of Bell Hole Highway the place the pavement ends and it enters the park.– No loos on website
Particulars on a loop hike to Candlewood Hill through a unique place to begin: Candlewood Hill Loop
Overview:
Candlewood Hill is a distinguished north-south ridge throughout the southeastern part of Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park, with its summit reaching an elevation of roughly 986 toes above sea degree. As one of many park’s extra notable excessive factors, the ridge provides a rugged panorama of forested slopes, rocky terrain, and scenic overlooks.
The northern finish of Candlewood Hill lies simply west of the Durland Scout Reservation (previously Clear Lake Scout Reservation), with Sunken Mine Highway separating the 2 areas. To the south, the ridge extends towards Oscawana Lake, the place the terrain rises above the lake’s western shoreline.
Entry to the Candlewood Hill Path is out there from roadside parking alongside the northern finish of Bell Hole Highway the place the pavement ends. Latest land acquisitions have expanded Fahnestock State Park farther south, extending alternatives for exploration alongside the ridge. A number of marked and unmarked trails department from the Candlewood Hill Path and proceed southward, though there may be at present no designated trailhead or formal parking space offering entry from the roads to the south.
This scenic space provides sweeping views from the summit of Candlewood Hill throughout the hills and ridgelines of Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park and far of the Jap Hudson Highlands.
The panorama takes in surrounding hemlock stands, rolling forested hills, and deep, folded valleys that stretch into the space. On clear days, the view extends even farther, revealing a slender slice of the Hudson River to the southwest, together with the previous Indian Level space past the wooded horizon.
Historical past:
The historical past of Candlewood Hill in Putnam Valley is intently tied to the broader story of land use, settlement, and conservation within the jap Hudson Highlands. Lengthy earlier than it turned a part of fashionable parkland, the ridge was formed by glacial exercise right into a rugged panorama of steep slopes, rocky soils, and slender valleys—situations that restricted large-scale farming however supported small homesteads, looking areas, and seasonal use.
Through the 18th and nineteenth centuries, close by areas comparable to Canopus Creek and Oscawana Lake noticed scattered mills, homesteads, and early highway networks that adopted the pure contours of the hills. Candlewood Hill itself remained largely undeveloped on account of its steep, rocky terrain, serving extra as woodland and boundary land than cultivated property.
Within the early 2000’s, a good portion of Candlewood Hill was acquired and added to Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park, serving to to guard its forested ridgeline and stop residential improvement.
Right now, Candlewood Hill stands as a part of this preserved panorama—an instance of the jap Hudson Highlands’ transition from scattered rural use to protected public land. Its trails, ridges, and viewpoints now mirror a panorama reclaimed by forest and managed for mountaineering, wildlife habitat, and quiet recreation somewhat than trade or settlement.
Trails Overview:
The Candlewood Hill Path is marked with New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation “Taconic Area” purple plastic disc blazes. The path climbs steadily—generally steeply—to the 986-foot summit of Candlewood Hill, the place it rewards hikers with expansive views in all instructions. From the summit, it follows a brief stretch of the ridge earlier than descending to its terminus on Sunken Mine Highway. Total, the path is nicely marked and straightforward to comply with all through its route.
This hike features a brief part of unmaintained, unpaved Sunken Mine Highway, which is closed to vehicular visitors from December by April. The highway serves as a boundary hall inside Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park, separating the park from the Durland Scout Reservation. Because it continues downhill, Sunken Mine Highway leads towards the deserted part of Bell Hole Highway, the place the panorama turns into extra rugged and historic, with the maintained roadbed giving technique to a extra eroded and overgrown hall.
The deserted part of Bell Hole Highway serves as a connecting route between Sunken Mine Highway and the Candlewood Hill Trailhead the place the hike begins. It descends alongside the western flank of Candlewood Hill, following a broad, previous roadbed that is still clearly outlined regardless of being unmarked and not maintained. Though more and more rugged in locations, the route is straightforward to comply with, with its large alignment reducing steadily by dense forest because it hyperlinks the encompassing path community.
Parking & Facilities:
Roadside parking is out there alongside Bell Hole Highway for roughly 4–6 automobiles, simply past the final mailbox/driveway (#217), the place the paved part transitions into the unpaved, deserted highway. The path begins at this level. Please make certain to not block any driveways or hinder the roadway.
There are not any restroom services accessible on the trailhead, so plan accordingly.
Hike Overview:
The rationale I selected this hike was as a result of the forecast referred to as for temperatures within the excessive 90’s together with poor air high quality. I wished a manageable route with the flexibleness to increase the hike if situations allowed. This loop was a fantastic selection, providing largely shaded trails all through, with the one open publicity being on the summit viewpoints. The forest cowl supplied welcome aid from the warmth whereas nonetheless permitting for rewarding scenic overlooks alongside the best way.
I’ve hiked this space quite a few occasions, and it’s at all times a pleasing expertise. I’ve solely encountered a handful of individuals in complete throughout all my visits to Candlewood Hill, which provides to its quiet, secluded really feel.
I’ve beforehand performed this loop a number of occasions ranging from Sunken Mine Highway in a clockwise course. On this hike, I made a decision to change issues up and start at Bell Hole Highway, finishing the loop counterclockwise as an alternative. The ascent from Bell Hole Highway is noticeably steeper, however the general elevation acquire stays reasonable, and the route is roughly a mile shorter in comparison with ranging from the Sunken Mine Highway trailhead.
What I like about this variation is that when you descend again to Sunken Mine Highway from the Candlewood Hill Path, the rest of the hike is all downhill. The principle disadvantage is the shorter general distance. Nonetheless, on account of restricted parking and its comparatively distant entry factors, this part of Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park sees little or no foot visitors—and that quiet, low-use character is strictly what makes it interesting.
This counterclockwise loop begins and ends on the parking space on Bell Hole Highway.
As proven within the elevation graph beneath, the climb to the summit is steep, with a lot of the elevation acquire occurring on the ascent to the highest of Candlewood Hill.
The Hike:
From the Bell Hole Highway trailhead, search for three purple blazes on a tree to the precise of a set of picket steps—this marks the beginning of the Candlewood Hill Path. From right here, you’ll comply with the purple blazes for roughly 1.1 miles. The path begins with a delicate ascent earlier than progressively changing into steeper because it climbs deeper into the forest.
After about 0.35 mile, the Candlewood Hill Path makes a pointy left. The yellow-blazed Oscawana Ridge Path begins simply forward, however you’ll wish to TURN LEFT to remain on the red-blazed Candlewood Hill Path. In case you begin seeing yellow blazes, you’ve gone too far and missed the flip.
The Candlewood Hill Path now turns into considerably steeper, climbing over sections of huge, jumbled rock and scattered boulders. The footing is rugged and uneven, requiring cautious consideration as you ascend. In some areas, the treadway is faint or vague, so it’s vital to remain alert and regulate the purple blazes to remain on route.
On the high of the rise, the path briefly ranges off, marking the tip of the vast majority of the elevation acquire for this hike. The Candlewood Hill Path transitions onto a wider, extra outlined footpath that follows slightly below the ridgeline. Because the route continues by the forest, hikers go by quite a lot of attention-grabbing rock formations scattered alongside each side of the path, including to the rugged character and pure great thing about this part.
The path steepens as soon as once more because it approaches the summit of Candlewood Hill, climbing over uncovered rock earlier than reaching a scenic rock outcrop. From this vantage level, hikers are rewarded with sweeping southwest views throughout the forested hills and ridgelines of Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park and the encompassing Hudson Highlands past.
When you’re able to proceed, comply with the purple blazes north for a brief distance earlier than briefly stepping off the path to the left. Only a few toes away is one other rock outcrop providing scenic views to the north and northwest throughout the encompassing forested hills and ridgelines, and over Bell Hole.
After taking within the views, return to the marked path and proceed northeast because the Candlewood Hill Path begins a steep descent. The route drops over uncovered bedrock and rugged terrain, requiring cautious footing because it winds down from the summit space.
As soon as off the summit, the grade moderates and the path settles right into a extra gradual descent. The route alternates between wider woods highway, slender footpath, and sections of rugged, rocky terrain. Alongside the best way, hikers go by dense stands of Mountain Laurel, which line each side of the path and add an exquisite seasonal show when in bloom.
Quickly, the Candlewood Hill Path widens once more. After about one mile from the beginning of the hike, it ends at Sunken Mine Highway.
Flip left and comply with this unpaved highway west for roughly 0.2 mile (about 350 yards). Search for an unmarked woods highway on the left, which climbs a brief distance uphill to a small, casual viewpoint south over Candlewood Hill. A close-by rock provides a handy spot to take a seat and take a break whereas having fun with the surroundings.
When you’re able to proceed, retrace your steps again to Sunken Mine Highway and switch LEFT. Observe the highway downhill because it heads northwest for roughly 0.3 mile (about 530 yards). Then flip left onto the deserted part of Bell Hole Highway, which continues south and descends steadily by the forest.
The deserted part of Bell Hole Highway is used to attach Sunken Mine Highway to the Candlewood Hill Trailhead. This highway descends alongside the western flank of Candlewood Hill and though unmarked, is nicely outlined and straightforward to comply with. Whereas the southern portion of Bell Hole Highway is residential, the northern part transitions into a very unpaved, deserted roadbed contained in the state park boundaries.
Heavy runoff has carved deeply into the previous roadbed in locations, exposing rock ledges and uneven surfaces that make footing irregular and rugged. With the forest urgent in from each side, stretches of uncovered stone and free gravel converse to years of washout, erosion, and neglect.
Bell Hole Highway progressively narrows right into a footpath earlier than widening once more because it descends. After roughly 0.6 mile (about 1,000 yards), the deserted roadbed returns to the Candlewood Hill Trailhead, the place the hike started.
Evaluate:
Candlewood Hill is a rewarding hike that gives a fantastic mixture of rugged terrain, peaceable forest, and scenic viewpoints. Nearly all of the route follows shaded woodland trails, offering a snug escape even on hotter days. The path is nicely marked with clear blazes and straightforward to comply with all through, making navigation easy regardless of its distant character.
The climb to the summit is difficult in locations, however the effort is rewarded with stunning views throughout the hills and ridgelines of Fahnestock State Park and the encompassing Hudson Highlands. With restricted parking and its secluded location, this space sees little or no foot visitors, permitting hikers to take pleasure in a quieter, extra solitary expertise. For these trying to discover a much less crowded part of Fahnestock, Candlewood Hill is a hidden gem that delivers each pure magnificence and a real backcountry really feel.
Professionals:
Shaded forest trails, nicely marked route, scenic summit views, peaceable and secluded, little foot visitors, rugged terrain, quiet mountaineering expertise, stunning Mountain Laurel in season, historic previous roads, good path selection.
Cons:
Restricted roadside parking, no restroom services, no formal trailhead facilities.
Take a hike!
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