Season Visited: Fall, Winter
Trail Length: 7.4 miles there-and-back
Time to Hike: 4 hours
Difficulty Level: 4
The Stairway to Heaven is a popular and diverse section of the Appalachian Trail. With a ridiculously easy beginning on a boardwalk and a moderately difficult climb up Wawayanda Mountain in Wawayanda State Park, the trail gives you a wide range of difficulty and plenty of time to warm up your legs for your mountain ascent. So put on your hiking shoes and get ready for a fun four-hour adventure.
Begin your hike on the side of the road at this location on Rt. 517: N41 14.084 W74 28.852. You will see a sign for a hiker crossing, which is when you know to pull over. You start your hike on a mile of beautiful boardwalk.
This section includes the very nifty Pochuck suspension bridge.
AT blaze on the bridge.
The bridge gives a nice view of the marshy land below.
After the open area you spend some time in the woods, continuing on a moderately easy path. Pass through a wooden fence and turn right, cross a bridge, and look for the AT blaze on another section of fence to your left. The trail thins out for a while here.
Wooden planks await you further on down the trail.
Wawayanda Mountain is right in front of you.
Cross a stile onto some railroad tracks, and then cross some boards on a cow pasture before climbing another stile and ending up smack dab on Rt. 94. Another parking lot closer to the mountain is located here, and is popular with hikers looking to do a shorter route just up the mountain. Be careful when you cross this busy road!
After that, begin your adventure on Wawayanda Mountain! Amazing boulder formations give way to a steep climb. If, like me, you make your journey in the fall, enjoy the amazing fall colors on and around the mountain.
Cleopatra enjoying the leaves.
The rocks can be difficult to navigate. Keep an eye on the blazes.
Steep stairs.
Make a left and take a quick detour onto a blue-blazed trail with an overlook sign. This will take you to a superb spot to admire the land surrounding the mountain. If you're lucky on a clear day, you'll be able to see High Point Monument, 25 miles away.
Can't miss the turn-off with a big pile of rocks in the way!
High Point Monument in the distance.
When you've had your fill of the view, simply head back the way you came. Maybe the cows will be out in the pasture, which is a fun photo op!
Aww, wooly bear.
Cute and fuzzy!
Cleo makes some new friends.
Mooooo.
After a little more pleasant hiking you'll be back to the suspension bridge and boardwalk.
All in all, the Stairway to Heaven is a beautiful and fun hike. The varied sections all have their own charm, and the boardwalk is an iconic section of the AT. Keep on wandering, and enjoy your hike.
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UPDATE - 1/26/14
I revisited the Stairway to Heaven two weeks ago. The boardwalk was filled with casual walkers but the mountain was almost entirely empty. It seemed more arduous climbing up the switchbacks in the winter, but the sense of solitude and quiet was magnificent. Here are some shots from my trip.
Pochuck Suspension Bridge in winter.
Base of Wawayanda Mountain.
Ice on the trail near the overlook. Had to make a slight detour around it.
Views.
Trail below.
Crossing the cow pasture. No cows out today.
Stile just past the railroad tracks on the way back.
Sun starting to peek out.
Winter brings new shades of color.
Wander on, friends.
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