National Trails Day is Saturday, June 7, and we’ve got several great hikes for you to explore. Help CAP-21 support National Trails Day by hiking the trails at Maple Ridge to McCauley Mountain.
There’s the Old Ski Jump Loop (.45 mile, easy), the Maple Ridge Loop (.6 mile, moderate), the Abenaki Loop (1.5 miles, moderate) and the McCauley Trail (1.5 miles to the base of McCauley, moderate; and 2.15 miles to the top of McCauley, hard).
Maple Ridge was the site of the first ski center in Old Forge before the facilities were constructed at McCauley.
In 1937, Maple Ridge was home to the second tow rope ski lift in the state, and hosted skiers arriving by train from Utica. Those slopes are still visible and accessible from the hiking trails.
These trails are a great way to explore more of the beauty of Old Forge. There are great views, historical points and thanks to a grant from Herkimer County HealthNet and the Town of Webb School District, there are chairs and a picnic area at the site of the historic Slalom Ski Run on the Abenaki Loop.
Hiking is consistently listed as our region’s number one recreational activity.
So come join us to celebrate our great trail system—and don’t forget to pick up a copy of the Herkimer County Trails Guide from the Town of Webb Informa-tion Office.
Also on June 7, CAP-21 will be coordinating a Maple Ridge trail maintenance work day. We will be meeting at 9 a.m. at the Maple Ridge Trail Head on Park Ave. behind Town of Webb School. Park in the Maple Ridge lot.
Anyone interested in helping with trail maintenance should contact CAP-21 at (315) 369-3353 or at info@cap-21.org. CAP-21 will provide refreshments for all registered trail volunteers.