Gillespie Road, Elka Park, NY

[Jay H]

Does anybody know where does Gillespie Road actually end. When I dropped off Snicker's car, it was obvious that the road did continue past where the boulders are. Just how far does this road go and where does it end up? Just curious... Is this road a snowmobile access point for the loop up towards RT/KHP?

Jay

[Peakbagr]

Jay,

Good question, I was wondering the same thing.

[Mark Schaefer]

Does anybody know where does Gillespie Road actually end. Huckleberry Point, if you play your path finding cards correctly and the hiking muses smile upon you. You could never drive the whole way, and frankly not very far. The old road was at one time the "Friends Nature Trail" to Huckleberry Point. It was marked with soup can lids painted white with a red dot in the center. I have been across the route in total and in sections several times. That was back in the days when the property owners were very laid back, easy going, and cooperative in granting permission. I do not know how may property owners there are now. Permission would need to be obtained before venturing out. The Bruderhof is the largest property on the route.

The old road passes the upper end of Josh Road where there are several homes. That intersection was the start of the old "Fern Trail" up Kaaterskill High Peak (via Hurricane Ledge). The Fern Trail was for a very short time the Long Path -- that is why there are still occasional light blue and aqua blazes on that path.

From the junction with Josh Road the extension of Gillespie Road continues to head straight ahead in a southeast direction onto the former NYC Police Camp (currently Bruderhof) property. The Police Camp also maintained the old road as a trail. The old path went across the summer homestead of a long time NY/NJ TC member. I am having trouble remembering his name at present (Herman or Myers). You needed to take a right fork through his meadows and then back into the woods. I do not know the status of this property. I believe he died in the late 1990s.

Beyond that there are a number of old crossing roads and paths. It was always tricky to follow, but several times I was able to arrive at the snowmobile trail directly at the start of the old trail to Huckleberry Point (before it became a DEC trail). I believe the current start of the Huckleberry Point trail has been relocated a bit so the trail may not line with the old "Friends Nature Trail".

[Jay H]

Cool, thanks Mark, Alan mentioned the old NYNJTC member at the end of Josh Road who used to rent the cottage out to other TC members when we went there. At Hermit's finish, we descended off of Hurricane ledge to the trail to Josh Road (in a downpour!) following blue blazes through the nettles all the way to a collapsed wooden shack and then followed Josh road to CR16.

On Gillespie, about 1/2 mileish past Cortina Road, gillespie now terminates at a small clearing (part of the ski slope???) that leads almost due north. Then there are boulders placed on the road but you could see the road heading quite straight on into the woods towards the direction of the Bruderhof. Didn't see or notice any private property signs other than on the sides of the road (some of it DEP signs) on the way to the parking spot.

Jay