Silas Condict County Park White Trail

From the parking area, head south, passing to the right of the lake and the Casino. Continue ahead across a lawn, passing a ballfield on the right, and bear left onto a gravel road. About 400 feet beyond the end of the lake (before reaching a chain-link fence across the road), you’ll notice a kiosk and a triple-white blaze on a tree to the right. This marks the start of the White Trail, which will be your route for the entire hike.

Turn right and follow the White Trail into the woods. It climbs to the edge of an escarpment, descends a little, then resumes a steady climb. Be alert for a cairn that marks a sharp turn to the right. Just ahead, the trail switches back to the left and begins a steeper climb. At the crest of the rise, the trail comes out on a rock outcrop, with a panoramic east-facing view. A bench has been placed here to permit you to rest and enjoy the view.

The trail now begins a steady descent, passing a number of interesting rock outcrops on the way down. It then climbs again, first gradually, then more steeply through mountain laurel thickets. At the top, a rock outcrop to the right of the trail, with pitch pines and mountain laurel, offers a broad view to the west.

After taking in the view, return to the trail and head south along the rocky ridge, with several short but steep ups-and-downs, and limited views to the west through the trees. At the end of the ridge, the trail descends on several steep switchbacks, soon reaching a broad south-facing viewpoint from a rock ledge to the right of the trail.

A short distance beyond, the trail passes a balanced boulder on the right, then turns right and begins to descend. After passing an interesting rock outcrop on the right, the trail begins a short ascent. At the top of the climb, it turns right and goes through a tunnel under massive boulders. It now passes another huge rock outcrop and again starts to descend.

With a limited viewpoint to the right, the trail turns left, passes a huge overhanging boulder on the right, and soon levels off. It descends gradually, makes a short climb, passes a large rock outcrop on the left, and then descends more steeply. It goes over another rise and descends to cross a wet area and a tributary stream.

After crossing the main stream, the trail steeply climbs around a cliff, turns left onto a gravel road, and continues to climb rather steeply. It reaches an open area at the crest of the rise, where it bears left, leaving the gravel road, and continues on a footpath. Soon, you’ll pass rock outcrops on the left that offer a west-facing view overlooking the ridge that you followed at the start of the hike.

The trail now descends, twice briefly joining dead-end branches of the gravel road that it followed up the rise. It continues on a footpath to end at the second parking area of Silas Condict County Park. Turn left to return to the third parking area, where the hike began.