Hudson Valley Hikers

Total Mileage: approx 15 miles
Total Elevation Gain: approx 4,500 ft
Est Hike Time: approx 9-10 hrs

We will start the hike from St. Huberts parking area at the Ausable Club, along a gravel road through the Ausable Club Golf Course. From the golf course, there is a nice view of Giant Mt. to the right..turn and look back. At 0.5 miles we will turn left onto Lake Rd (look for the hiker's sign), passing between the tennis courts, which brings you to the famous Wooden AMR Gate & trail register at the gatehouse, at 0.6 mi. from the parking area. Once you sign the register & pass through the gate, we will continue along Lake Rd for approximately 2.5 miles before taking a left as you head southwest onto the Gill Brook foot trail marked Gill Brook, Colvin, & Indian Head. This is just past the trailhead for Beaver Meadow Falls and Gothics, on the right side of the road. Not far up along the foot trail (blue trail), you will pass by a nice waterfall. The trail is very scenic as it follows along the left side of the bank of Gill Brook, with many waterfalls & flumes along the way.
The Gill Brook foot trail starts off as a moderate climb & continues to get steeper as you hike along the brook, through the scenic trail section (this section of the trail stays left & right alongside the brook, passing by many waterfalls). At 1.2 miles you will reach the junction meeting up with the shorter trail from Lake Rd. Continue along (blue trail) for 0.6 miles until you reach the jct. for Indian Head trail. Continue to follow the trail to Colvin crossing over the brook & passing by a couple of designated campsites. Once you pass the campsites, the climb begins to get steeper as it separates from the Gill Brook, and comes to the jct. for Colvin, Nippletop, & Fish Hawk Cliffs (left), & Indian Head (right) at 1.1 miles. Here we'll take a detour to stop by the cliffs, the will continue towards Colvin, as you pass by views of Nippletop on the left & more steep climbing as you reach the jct for Elk Pass and Nippletop (left) & Colvin (right). Stay right to continue on the Colvin trail (blue blaze). There is a lot of steep climbing once you pass this last jct. before reaching Colvin’s summit.
At 2.9 miles, the summit of Colvin is on the right and offers amazing views of Lower Ausable Lake, & close up views of the Great Range, Sawteeth and Nippletop Mountain and it slides. Just past the summit to the left, there is another ledge (on the right) with fantastic views of Blake Peak, Upper Ausable Lake, Allen Mountain, and the Great Range. After taking in the views from Colvin we will continue along the ridge (red blaze) as you descend into the col. of Colvin and Blake. Blake Peak is in sight straight ahead as you hike down into the col. There are a couple of long ladders on some of the steep sections of the trail. The 1.4 mile hike to Blake Peak is very steep & rugged. At 0.9 miles from the summit of Colvin, you will reach the trail jct. for Blake Peak (0.5 miles) and the Pinnacle & Elk Lake-Marcy Trail. Stay left as you make the final ascent to Blake Peak. The summit of Blake is wooded offering no views. Continue back down into the col. of Blake & Colvin on the foot trail as you climb back up to summit Colvin, following the red foot trail. The return route offers some nice views of neighboring peaks in the distance & Colvin straight ahead. Once you have reached the summit of Colvin again, you will continue back down the steep descent (blue trail) to the jct of Elk Pass and Nippletop. Stay left to continue back to the jct for Colvin, Nippletop, & Fish Hawk Cliffs, & Indian Head. From here, we will take the trail straight back to the Lake Rd to the parking lot.