Sylvan Glen Nature Preserve Short Loop

Sylvan Glen Nature Preserve is the site of a granite quarry that opened in 1895 and was abandoned with the advent of World War II in 1941. In its heyday, it employed hundreds of workers, and its high-quality stone was used to construct such landmarks as the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan and the approaches to the George Washington Bridge. Operations at the quarry were terminated rather abruptly, with the result that much of the machinery was left behind and still may be seen today. This loop hike takes in all the trails in this 180-acre park, which are blazed with colored plastic markers of the Town of Yorktown and older rectangular paint blazes.

From the kiosk at the end of the parking area, proceed ahead on the white-blazed Turtle Pond Trail, which follows a woods road, passing a pond to the right. After passing a small clearing with benches (an outdoor classroom) to the left, the trail bears right, then switches back to the left and heads uphill.

At the top of the climb, three yellow blazes on a tree to the left mark the start of the Sylvan Brook Trail. This will be your return route, but for now, continue ahead on the white trail. Almost immediately, you'll reach a fork, where the other end of the yellow trail is to the left. You should bear right to continue on the white trail, which descends to cross a gas pipeline and reenters the woods on a footpath.

The trail goes through a gap in a stone wall and enters a pine grove, where it rejoins a woods road that bears right and descends to cross Sylvan Brook on a wooden bridge. A short distance beyond, a stone foundation is visible to the left. Here, the white trail bears left, leaving the road, then turns sharply right and parallels the road. After passing some more foundations to the right, the trail bears left and heads uphill, then turns right and levels off.

Soon, you'll notice ruins of abandoned buildings to the right, with numerous fragments of carved granite blocks on both sides of the trail. Interpretive signs relate the history of the Mohegan Granite Company, which installed modernized machinery in this area in 1925. You'll want to take a few minutes to explore this interesting area.

Just ahead, around a bend, you'll notice a driving range down to the right. Here, blue blazes on the tree to the left mark the start of the High Quarry Trail. Turn left onto an intersecting woods road, but almost immediately turn right onto a footpath, continuing to follow the white blazes. The trail soon widens to a woods road, turns left at a T-intersection with another woods road, and climbs gradually, curving sharply to the left.

After passing a huge heap of discarded blocks of granite (note the drill marks in many of the rocks), the white trail ends at a T-intersection with the blue trail. Turn right and follow the blue trail uphill, soon reaching the edge of a deep quarry pit. Having been abandoned for over 65 years, the once-barren pit is now filled with trees and other vegetation. Remnants of the quarry operation are abundant here, including several cables bolted into the rock. Take some time to explore these interesting artifacts, but be careful, as there is a steep drop from the edge of the quarry pit!

The trail passes under a rock bridge and bears left, leaving the rim of the quarry and descending slightly. Soon, it turns sharply right and passes another quarry pit (filled with water) and a small stone shed (once used to store explosives) on the left. The trail goes through a gap in a stone wall and turns right to parallel it.

A short distance beyond, an unmarked path to the right leads to a viewpoint from an open rock ledge. From here, you can look down into the quarry, and you can also see the hills to the west. Again, use extreme caution here, as there is a very steep drop!

Continue along the blue trail, which climbs very slightly, then continues along a relatively level woods road, crossing several old stone walls. Be alert for a sharp left turn, and follow the blue trail as it leaves the road and begins to descend, passing through a gap in a high stone wall, and soon reaching a wide clearing for a gas pipeline.

Although the trail map shows the blue trail as turning left and continuing along the pipeline, the blue blazes actually end here. But you should turn left and follow the pipeline clearing downhill. At the base of the descent, you'll cross a small stream, with "posted" signs now appearing on both sides of the clearing. Continue ahead a short distance to a junction with the white trail at an orange-and-white pylon, and turn right on the white trail.

Almost immediately, you'll reach a junction with the yellow-blazed Sylvan Brook Trail, which begins to the right. Turn right and follow the yellow trail, which descends on a woods road, parallel to the pipeline. It soon begins a gradual climb, curving to the left and passing more cut granite blocks.

After a bend to the right, you'll reach a T-intersection with a woods road. Here, you should turn right onto the red-blazed Grant Lookout Trail, which continues to climb. Follow the red trail when it turns left onto a footpath and soon begins to descend, with some views through the trees to the right when there are no leaves on the trees (despite its name, there is no "lookout" on this trail).

In a short distance, you'll come to another quarry pit on the left, with many abandoned cut stone blocks. The red trail continues along a road (obviously built to access the quarry) and soon ends at a T-intersection with the yellow trail. Turn right and follow the yellow trail downhill to its end at the white trail, then turn right onto the white trail and follow it back to the parking area where the hike began.