Durland Scout Reservation [formerly Clear Lake Scout Reservation]

General directions from the south: Take Palisades Interstate Pkwy N to US-202 E/US-6 E in Highlands, NY.  Follow NY-9D N to NY-301 E in Putnam County.

Approximate GPS coordinates for trailhead parking in Fahnestock State Park to hike into the segment of Durland Scout Reservation open to the public:  41.454940, -73.833759

The 3 Lakes Trail from Fahnestock State Park connects to a portion of this Boy Scout reservation featuring a compact network of trails going through an old settlement and over ridge tops.

The segment of the reservation open to the public has no trailhead parking.  Begin in Fahnestock State Park at a roadside parking area along Route 301 near Canopus Lake at the 3 Lakes Trail trailhead (Approximate location: 1067-1077 Cold Spring Turnpike, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533 -- GPS 41.454940, -73.833759).  Follow the blue-blazed trail south to a green-blazed connector trail (of 0.3 mi) leading to the Boy Scout Reservation with several blazed trails. 

Foundations and stonewalls from the mining town of Oldetown can been seen near the intersection of white and blue-white trails.

The clearest map to view the trail network is the Trail Conference’s East Hudson Trails, Trail Map 103 (available for purchase from this site).  Use the Web Map link on this site to view a sketchy trail map of the entire Durland Reservation.   Only the very upper portion is open to the public – look for where the “G” trail enters on the map (from Fahnestock State Park).

The Durland Scout Reservation is owned and operated by the Westchester-Putman Council of the Boy Scouts of America.  In 1994 the Open Space Institute acquired a permanent conservation easement to preserve the 1,400-acre tract.  Under its terms the northern and western parts of the reservation are open to the public, but the area used by the Boy Scouts near Clear Lake is closed to the public.  “Stop No Public Access” signs clearly mark the restricted areas.

Pets and bicycles are not permitted in the reservation, and bushwhacking off the trails is prohibited.