Putnam County High Point Trip Report
4 points on Scofield Ridge (1540+ ft)
Date: January 12, 2000
Author: Michael Schwartz
Take U.S 9 south about three miles from I-84. Turn right onto Old Albany Post Road. Park off road just
before or after bridge. Walk on road 100 feet to gravel Reservoir Road, with triple yellow trail blaze on
utility pole. Walk up Reservoir Road to end, and follow trail into the woods. Trail passes pond, with
switchbacks to ridge top. Near the crest there actually a short section with some exposure. Once the true
ridge top is gained, the trail starts to descend steadily NE to a lookout, then almost doubles back on itself,
heading SW along Scofield Ridge. The lookout can be bypassed by bushwhacking right for a few yards to
the SW-trending trail. Once heading SW on the main ridge, the first high point is passed on the right.
Bushwhack up to the crest and find a boulder with a view and with a large yellow cross painted on a
nearby rock. This is the northernmost of the four high points.
Continue SW to the next and very obvious high point, with an open rocky summit, cairns, and another
yellow cross painted nearby. From this point the next knob to the SW can be seen.
The southernmost knob has two high points. The first one reached has a rocky summit with the most
open views of the hike. The high Catskills and the Hudson River are in plain view, and the towers on
North and South Mt. Beacon are only several hundred yards distant.
There is another yellow cross nearby.
The smaller 1540+ area at the SE end of the knob is less obvious. There are several relatively high points
at that end of the and I bushwhacked each to ensure reaching the high point. I saw no markings.
Time: 3 1/2 hours round trip.