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Goosepond Mountain State Park

4.2 ★★★★☆ 186 Google reviews · Running trail in Chester, New York · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Goosepond Mountain State Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

MixedScenicHillyTrailhead parkingMile markers

State park featuring over 1,500 acres of dense woods, with established trails for hiking & biking.

What runners say about Goosepond Mountain State Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (186 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 7 mentions

“Took a romantic walk with scenic views of the river from cliffside, many families taking easy hikes, simple menu, bikers relaxing too”

👟 good for all levels 2 mentions

“Took a romantic walk with scenic views of the river from cliffside, many families taking easy hikes, simple menu, bikers relaxing too”

Had first hike here over the weekend, by 51 and rt17m. Beautiful views. Not sure if the all downed trees on the main (mostly paved) trail were always there or fell this winter, but they are easily passed.

★★★★★ — D'Ani , Mar 2021

Lazy hill rd trail partially paved / gravel 3 miles each way with some up and down. Great side trails for exploring, is great on foot or bike. Parking lot is at the northeastern corner

★★★★★ — Asher , May 2019

Goosepond Mountain trail was awesome. I have lived within 5 minutes of this trail for 25 years and have never tried it. Great hike with nice vistas of the park.

★★★★★ — Brian , Jan 2022

This is a hidden trail that reminds me of Jax, Florida with its board walk. Bring your family to enjoy the view and hear the birds sing. I didn’t see where the trail is! The park is full of tall grass and thorns, so don’t wear shorts! However it is an unpolished diamond.

★★★★☆ — C. , Jun 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 186 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 15 mentions

“Took a romantic walk with scenic views of the river from cliffside, many families taking easy hikes, simple menu, bikers relaxing too”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 6 mentions

“Parking lot is at the northeastern corner”

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🛣️ Paved surface 4 mentions

“Not sure if the all downed trees on the main (mostly paved) trail were always there or fell this winter, but they are easily passed.”

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🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone 3 mentions

“Lazy hill rd trail partially paved / gravel 3 miles each way with some up and down.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 3 mentions

“Lazy hill rd trail partially paved / gravel 3 miles each way with some up and down.”

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📏 Mile markers 2 mentions

“Well marked trail but “scenic” view was not really scenic even with leaves down”

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🪵 Boardwalk

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Plan your run at Goosepond Mountain State Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Websiteparks.ny.gov
  • Phone+1 845-786-2701

Hours

Monday 6 am–6 pm
Tuesday 6 am–6 pm
Wednesday 6 am–6 pm
Thursday 6 am–6 pm
Friday 6 am–6 pm
Saturday 6 am–6 pm
Sunday 6 am–6 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Goosepond Mountain State Park

1198 NY-17M, Chester, NY 10918

Get directions

Running trails near Chester

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Goosepond Mountain State Park Wetland Trail

3.6 ★★★★☆ 26 reviews

Chester, NY

BoardwalkScenic

1.1 miles away

Heritage Trail - Chester

4.9 ★★★★★ 97 reviews

Chester, NY

Paved

Park featuring a paved trail that's popular for walking, running, and biking.

2.3 miles away

Town of Monroe O&R Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 35 reviews

Monroe, NY

Scenic

2.9 miles away

Orange Heritage Rail Trail in Monroe

4.8 ★★★★★ 5 reviews

Monroe, NY

3.1 miles away

Mombasha Park

4.9 ★★★★★ 16 reviews

Monroe, NY

3.1 miles away

Smith's Clove Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 233 reviews

Monroe, NY

LitScenic

Park featuring playgrounds, a baseball diamond and picnic areas, plus a roller rink.

3.3 miles away

All running trails in Chester, NY →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.