Sustainable Warwick’s Hiking Club

Sustainable Warwick has embarked upon a hiking adventure! Guided nature walks of moderate difficulty are planned.

Last year we launched our hiking program which proved to be very popular. We were fortunate have local expert Sona Mason lead three hikes, one to see the spring flowers near Bucky Lane, one to Wawayanda Park for the rhododendrons, and one to see the pink lady’s slippers on part of the Appalachian trail. Another hike was led by Sam Walter on the new town trail from Hickory Hill to Cascade Road. Photos from our 2025 treks are below.

We are planning four hikes again for this year and will share these plans soon. If you’d like to be on the Hiking Club mailing list please let us know, click the I Like to Hike button and we will keep you informed of upcoming plans for hikes through the year.

 
I like to hike!

2026 Upcoming SW Hikes

We’ve got a few more hikes in the planning stages. To stay in the loop about dates and locations, click the I Like To Hike! button above. We will send you an email with all the details once we have them set, so you can let us know if you want to participate.

  • October - Fuller Mountain Preserve: Saturday, October 24th at 9 am, join Sona Mason for a botanical exploration of Fuller Mountain Preserve, Warwick, managed and preserved by Orange County Land Trust. Discover forested habitat en route to an outstanding view of the Warwick Valley. Note: This is a strenuous uphill hike to the summit and downhill all the way back. It is more challenging than the Mountain Lake Park hike and requires good balance. Wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes or sneakers, and bring PLENTY of water. We recommend bringing a hiking stick or two, if you have them. Binoculars recommended but not required.

    Please let us know if you plan on joining this hike by sending a note to the Hiking Club so we can send you the final details and a map with directions to our meetup place.

Other Area Hikes of Interest

Mountain Lake Park - Hidden Hollow Trail

On September 12th the Hiking Club enjoyed perfect weather for our visit to MLP. Sam Walter, Recreation Director, led us through the woods for a fun, short hike before the change in seasons. The new Hidden Hollow Trail offers a path of under 1 mile that loops around Seymour's Pond. Sam also pointed out the enchanting little critter houses along the path, made by students at Sandfordville Elementary School.

Note, a connecting trail that leads up the ridge and overlooks the area can be taken by more ambitious hikers, marked with yellow blazes. This loops back into Hidden Hollow Trail for a 2-mile hike.

Sam shared a few helpful tips for all hikers:

  • Carry your phone. Hike with a buddy or a group or be sure someone knows your destination.

  • Wear bright colors during hunting season.

  • Good idea to wear bells or other small noisemakers to warn bears that you're present.

  • Chatting or singing is also helpful to alert bears to your presence.

  • If encountered, never look them in the eye. Slowly walk away. Do not run or they may feel compelled to chase you.

  • Stay clear of cubs; the mamma bear is never far away and very protective.

Wawayanda State Park - Early Summer Blooms and Greenery

On June 27th we did a hike with our leader, Gary, an experienced guide from Wawayanda State Park. We saw rhododendrons in bloom and enjoyed beautiful views ranging from lush wetlands to towering trees, we even met a cute little orange elfin newt. It was a 4 mile hike, utilizing a few trails, which took about 3 hours, and was enjoyed by all of our happy hikers. This will likely be the easiest hike to be offered by us this season. 

Sterling Lake - Hike Around the Lake

On May 16th we did a hike round Sterling Lake. If you'd like to take a look at the trail, you can find it at AllTrails.com.

We had a choice here, with a 4.2 mile hike around the whole lake or a 2 mile hike ( one mile out and one mile back) around part of the lake. This was a moderate hike with rocky sections, especially on the back of the lake on the longer hike, and hiking boots were recommended.

It was a perfect day with a happy group of hikers, as you can see by the pictures below. We learned a great deal from our hike leader, a retired arborist, who shared fascinating information about trees and nature.

Photo Gallery of 2025 Hikes