Long Path-Sawyer Hollow Road to Looking Glass Pond(Schoharie County, NY)

Following some early day storms, skies cleared out allowing for a very nice late morning hike on the Long Path in West Fulton, Schoharie County.  I got started from a Burnt-Rossman Hills State Forest parking area along Sawyer Hollow Road, with the long ridge of Rossman Hill rising above to the south.

I decided to just head right down through the open meadow towards where the Long Path comes in, with changeable skies above.

 Once on the Long Path, the trail enters the woods, dropping down to Panther Creek.

The trail follows the creek for a short distance before crossing on a nice footbridge.  Water levels are quite low due to all the dry weather lately.

 Just uphill from the Panther Creek crossing is another, smaller footbridge over a tiny drainage.

Once across the small footbridge, the trail heads very steeply up between two drainages, closely following the stream on the right.  This is the outlet from Looking Glass Pond and has many pretty cascades on its way down to Panther Creek.

 Even with low water levels, the falls are quite pretty.

 The ascent is very rugged and steep, and much more typical of a nearby Catskill peak.

 The biggest drop of all is a narrow, steep drop where an old gristmill used to be located.

 One of the last cascades by the top, dropping off a shelf.

 Nearing 2000 feet, the trail begins to level off a bit, passing by classic old stone walls.

A typical stretch of the Long Path, following the classic Aqua blazes.

After crossing Rossman Hill Road, I continued a very short distance on to 20 acre Looking Glass Pond, which was created by the West Fulton Rod and Gun Club.

 Looking west across the pond towards the fishing dock.

After enjoying the pond, I circled around the east shore on the trail to another road crossing, soon arriving at the beautiful Rossman Hill cemetery.  Most of the stones I saw dated back to the 19th century.

 A short road walk on the peaceful state forest roads brought me back to the Long Path in just a couple minutes.

 The descent was straightforward and steep, stopping only to enjoy the many picturesque cascades.

A nice and easy 2.5 mile jaunt, with over 700 feet of climbing.