Thompson Pond Preserve Loop

June 29, 2024 – Pine Plains, NY

Issue: Straightforward

Size: Roughly 3 miles

Max elevation: 487 ft. – complete elevation acquire roughly 41 ft.

Route sort: Circuit

Maps: Thompson Pond/Stissing Mt Path Map – Thompson Pond Path Map

Trailhead parking: 261 Lake Rd, Pine Plains, NY 12567

Transportable bathroom on website – No entrance or parking charges

Pull-off parking on shoulder for about 10 vehicles

Overview:

Thompson Pond in Pine Plains, NY is a 75-acre, 15,000-year-old glacial kettle pond on the foot of 1,403-foot Stissing Mountain. It’s the supply of Wappinger Creek, a tributary of the Hudson River that drains a lot of Dutchess County.

The pond and mountain are a part of a 530-acre nature protect managed by The Nature Conservancy.

Thompson Pond Protect has a number of mountain climbing trails, together with the Yellow Path that loops across the pond and a path that climbs to the Stissing Mountain Hearth Tower.

A brand new wheelchair-accessible path made from positive crushed stone is roughly one half mile and concludes at a viewing level overlooking Thompson Pond.

Historical past:

Thompson Pond and two different close by our bodies of water, Stissing Lake, and Twin Island Lake, have been all initially related, however separated over time.

Starting in 1958, the Nature Conservancy has acquired 530 acres of Stissing Mountain and Thompson Pond, forming Thompson Pond Protect. The primary 180 acres of this acquisition, encompassing Thompson Pond, was bought from the Briarcliff Farm holdings of George W. Brown for $20,000 and was one of many Nature Conservancy’s first tasks.

The pond is supposedly named for Amos Thompson (1702-1795) who settled within the space round 1746. Amos Thompson alongside together with his two brothers, Enos and Samuel, owned 2,800 acres round Thompson Pond.

Thompson Pond was designated a Nationwide Pure Landmark by the U.S. Division of the Inside in 1973. It’s thought of a wonderful instance of a calcareous (or limy) wetland that abounds with quite a lot of wildlife.

Trails Overview:

There are practically 5 miles of mountain climbing trails across the pond, together with one which goes to the highest of Stissing Mountain. There’s a firetower on the summit that’s open to the general public.

There’s a principal path that circles the pond, with a newly constructed lavatory bridge that makes it attainable for guests to finish the complete loop. The Yellow Path round Thompson Pond, at instances, travels near the water’s edge; guests would possibly get their ft moist. Please put on acceptable footwear.

That is the one model of the path map that reveals the brand new path (Inexperienced) that climbs to the fireplace tower, which opened in September 2023. Older maps reveals the shorter path as marked Blue (now White). This up to date map corresponds with the present path colours.

On the day of my go to, the Yellow Path was very overgrown in spots, however it might be in higher form after volunteer path maintainers pay it a go to.

The path is nicely marked and comparatively simple to observe.

Hike Overview:

It is a place that I’ve needed to go to for some time. I’ve seen pictures posted on social media and it seemed like a scenic spot. I used to be trying ahead to seeing and photographing some wildlife whereas mountain climbing across the pond. Sadly, generally issues don’t end up the way in which you intend them. I noticed a couple of small birds, however nothing to put in writing house about. The path though very tranquil, was extraordinarily overgrown within the southeastern part of the protect. I do know that Thompson Pond Protect is maintained by volunteers and it’s attainable that I might have visited in between path upkeep periods, however nonetheless, it made for an uncomfortable stroll nonetheless. By the point I exited the path at its terminus on Lake Highway, my pants have been soaked from the knees down from brushing up in opposition to the moist foliage. With that being mentioned, I’d go to once more both after the paths have been cleared or when the cooler climate sheds among the dense foliage.

This was a counterclockwise loop from the primary entrance strictly on the Yellow Path.

This hike has minimal elevation acquire.

There’s pull-off parking on the shoulder simply exterior the doorway to the protect.

The Hike:

As you enter Thompson Pond Protect, there are two handicap parking areas and one van accessible area within the small car parking zone. A brand new wheelchair-accessible path was just lately put in at Thompson Pond Protect. The positive crushed stone path is roughly a half mile and concludes at a viewing level overlooking Thompson Pond.

Proceed forward on the gravel path heading south.

A brief distance in, it is best to begin to see yellow markers on timber.

In lower than 1/2 a mile, the path reaches a kiosk with a map. Right here the White Path begins on the proper, however it is best to bear left to stay on the Yellow Path.

After passing the kiosk, the path begins to run alongside the contour of the pond. The path by no means strays too removed from Thompson Pond, and relying on the time of yr that you simply go to, will decide how clear the view of the pond is thru the timber.

Because the path nears the southern finish of the pond, there’s a commemorative stone bench with restricted views over the pond. On the far left is Stiissing Mountain, with Little Stissing Mountain seen straight forward (heart).

Because the path nears the southern finish of the pond, it turns into a slim footpath.

The southern finish of Thompson Pond follows the primary of a collection of wood boardwalks and lavatory bridges that carry the path over moist areas.

When the path turns alongside the east facet of the pond and begins heading north, it runs on one other boardwalk that was just lately repaired. The path turns into more and more overgrown on this space.

Bear scat?

The Yellow Path quickly passes a wood platform with views over the pond and the encompassing panorama.

To the west, Stissing Mountain with its hearth tower on the summit.

Because the path passes by the northeastern fringe of the protect, it travels over extra lavatory bridges and boardwalks. This part borders a cattle farm.

The path on this space was so overgrown, that from the knees down, my pants acquired soaked from strolling via the excessive grass.

The path then crosses a wood bridge the place Thompson Pond flows into Wappinger Creek. Wappinger Creek is 42 miles lengthy and runs from Thompson Pond to the Hudson River at New Hamburg.

The overgrown path continues in a northerly route, now hugging the pond, and shortly some partial views of the pond and Stissing Mountain start to seem.

Farm subject that borders the protect.

The Yellow Path ends at Lake Highway. Right here you’ll flip left and thoroughly stroll alongside Lake Highway for about 350 yards, again to the parking space, the place the hike started.

Assessment:

It is a good space, however the trails being so overgrown, didn’t make for an fulfilling expertise. Maybe I visited Thompson Pond in between path upkeep. I wouldn’t need to dissuade others from visiting and would recommend reaching out to The Nature Conservancy to verify if the path was just lately maintained.

Professionals:

Stunning space, not a lot foot visitors.

Cons:

Overgrown trails.

Take a hike!

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