Spring Farm Bonticou and The Trapps

The Spring Farm area has some interesting ski trails that go by the dramatic cliff of Bonticou Crag and also to the Mohonk golf course and gatehouse.  You have to start by going uphill ways on skis -- but your work is rewarded with a downhill at the end. 

  • Go to the view of Bonticou Crag. One way to get there is to ski up Spring Farms Road, pass by Cedar Drive, and then make a Left turn onto Bonticou Road. Round-trip distance about 3 miles (5 km) with 300 vertical feet (100 meters) of uphill

  • Do a loop through the open expanse of the Mohonk golf course. Round-trip distance from Spring Farm about 5 miles (8 km) with 650 vertical feet (200 meters) of uphill.

  • Adventurous skiers can also connect to the Mohonk Mountain House trails to make bigger tours.  Another adventurous possibility is to explore to the north toward the Table Rocks

Address to Trailhead: 50 Upper 27 Knolls Rd, High Falls, NY 12440

The Trapps Bridge entrance has gentler, fewer, and straighter trails than Spring Farm.  Start by hiking up onto the old iron bridge, which will require carrying skis.  From the bridge, most skiers head north.  The Undercliff road goes in front of the big cliffs, while the Overcliff road goes in back of them, and the two meet at the Rhododendron Bridge.  We remember Overcliff as the easiest start for beginners. We have usually found better snow (and fewer hiker tracks) on the Overcliff road, but the Undercliff road has interesting cliffs and rocks.  Coming back on Overcliff allows you to finish your tour with a long gentle downhill. 

  • Overcliff Road -- Maximum of 4.8 miles (8 km) total if you turn around before you get to the Bridge.   One-way distance 2.4 miles (4 km) to Rhododendron Bridge. 

  • Undercliff Road -- Maximum of 4.8 miles (8 km) total if you turn around before you get to the Bridge.   One-way distance 2.4 miles (4 km) to Rhododendron Bridge.  Total of about 3.4 miles (5.5 km) if you turn around when you reach the S-curve.

Note: As of February 2010, Undercliff is often not groomed for skiing, and gets many non-skiers walking on it.

Athletic skiers can make a loop of these by taking the Undercliff road to the Rhododendron Bridge and returning on Overcliff.  Or even continue on past the Rhododendron Bridge a ways on the Laurel Ledges road.  It was marked with a "Black diamond" rating (advanced) when we were on it in January 2006, but actually it goes gentle for a ways past some interesting rocks and cliffs, and then we turned around. 

  • Undercliff - Overcliff Loop -- 4.8 miles (8 km). 

  • As of January 2006, Undercliff is often not groomed for skiing, and gets many non-skiers walking on it -- so to attempt this loop, it's often best to try to get there immediately after a snowstorm, and break trail going out on Undercliff.

  • Adventurous skiers can also connect from the Rhododendron Bridge to the Mohonk Mountain House trails to make bigger tours. 

  • The road going southeast from crossing Trapps Bridge eventually goes to Minnewaska State Park -- only for the very athletic and adventurous. 

Address to Trailhead: 3700 Rte 44 55, Gardiner, NY 12525