Wonder Lake State Park
Park Overview:
A recently developed, beautiful, rugged and rustic park with a lake and pond
Park Description:
The park has wooded portions to the northwest and southeast, rugged topography and scattered ravines. Most of the site is covered with mixed hardwood, ledges, seasonal streams, and rivulets. Located in the southeastern portion of the property is a series of meadows surrounded by stone walls.
Acquired by New York State in 1998, this park remained almost unknown, or at least unused, because its location was landlocked by private property. The expansion in 2006 to 973 acres (from the original 794, and now even larger) provided critical public access to the property. The main parking area and entrance is on Ludingtonville Road with additional limited on-street parking on Mooney Hill Rd, near Manor Road, and near where the Highlands Trail enters the park. Click for additional information about the park's history and acquisition.
The site has a colorful history. The home of Sybil Ludington was in the vicinity. In 1777, at the age of 16, she rode a nighttime 40-mile loop to muster her father’s troops during the Revolutionary War. More recently, the land was a country estate and the summer home of actress Elizabeth Montgomery.
The park is administered by the Taconic Region office of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. Trail building is being conducted by the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. Please check the East Hudson Trail Crew schedule for volunteer trail building opportunities.
Trails Overview:
There are four newly blazed trails in the park plus the Highlands Trail (teal blaze) making several loop hikes possible, including those to Wonder Lake and Laurel Pond. The lake is surrounded by mountain laurel and eastern hemlock. The lake area is also home to otter, barred owls, and coyote.
Click the Web Map link on this site for a trail map (versions in b/w and color).
Click for detailed descriptions of hikes in the park.
Park Acreage:
1133.00 acresMunicipality:
Kent and PattersonA recently developed, beautiful, rugged and rustic park with a lake and pond
The park has wooded portions to the northwest and southeast, rugged topography and scattered ravines. Most of the site is covered with mixed hardwood, ledges, seasonal streams, and rivulets. Located in the southeastern portion of the property is a series of meadows surrounded by stone walls.
Acquired by New York State in 1998, this park remained almost unknown, or at least unused,...
Park Acreage:
1133.00 acresMunicipality:
Kent and PattersonContact Information
Web Link:
Wonder Lake State ParkPhone:
(845) 225-7207Fees:
NoneDogs in park:
Dogs on leashTrip Reports
rate experienceToday I took a long winding route to the top of Bare Hill then pressed on to Wonder Lake and Laurel Pond. I was using an old map that comes up if you google image Wonder Lake map so I was a little surprised to find a blue trail where there was no trail listed, but besides that it was a nice place to explore.
The main feature of the park, Wonder Lake, was covered in ice and snow and had lots of animal tracks on and near it. Tracks included: Deer, Turkey, Coyote, Squirrel, and some other little footprints I couldn't identify (aliens).
The second half of my walk, following the Highland Trail along the far shore of the lake to Laurel Pond, was my favorite part. Since I had found little information about the park I was surprised to see an old chimney along the shore of Laurel Pond. It looks like it would be an excellent place to camp. There were also a number of boats in the area covered in snow. I'm not sure who they belong to as they look like they have been sitting there for a while.
I finished off my hike by crossing the stream and following the yellow trail back to the parking lot.
The trails at Wonder Lake are really nice, and I was surprised I only came across a few people on them. The first mile you are pretty close to 84, so you do hear a bit of the traffic, but once over the hill and near the lake the noise fades away. The lake is beautiful as is the pond, though there are no real overlooks of the surrounding area. I'm sure this would be an awesome place to go come Summer time.