Black Rock - Scenic Trail Loop

The trailhead for this loop begins on route 9W south and has room for about 6-7 cars.  Pass through the gate on the forest road.  The Black Rock Hollow trail(white markers) follows this forest road for about a half mile.  Just before reach a water filtration plant, the trail leaves the forest road on the right.  Markers are set up the trail off the road so watch fro them as you approach the plant.  The Black Hollow Trail now ascends steeply for one mile and ends on the Stillman Trail (yellow markers).  Turn left on the Stillman Trail and follow for a quarter mile, past the Aleck Meadow Reservior.  Just as you round the reservior, watch for the trail on the left as it enters the forest.  Again, markers are set a little further into the forest so it is easy to walk past this.

Follow the Stillman Trail for a half mile.  Again, the route to turn off onto the Scenic Trail is not marked.  If you reach a boulder field on the side of a hill, you went too far.  Look for an unmarked trail leading down a hill.  At the bottom of the hill you will find the markers (white) for the Scenci Trail.  It is about a half mile until you reach a good view point on top on Hill of Pines. In another .85 miles you reach the top on Rattlesnake Hill for more good views.

Descend for about a half mile.  The trail will reach another forest road.  Turn left and follow for a half mile.  The Scenic Trail leaves the forest road after that half mile.  In 1.3 miles, the trail splits with a yellow trail to the right and the Scenic trail on the left.  Turn left and follow until you reach another forest road.  Turn right and follow until you reach a junction with the Highland Trail (torquoise markers) and the Stillman Trail.  There is a forest road befor reachng a gate.  This is the Sutherland Road.  Turn right on the unmarked Southerland Road and follow for 1.2 miles until you reach another junction with the Stillman Trail and the Sackett Trail.

After crossing a stream, stay on another forest road.  This is Hulse Road and is a steep descent back to Black Rock Hollow forest road.  Hulse Road in 1.4 miles long.  Turn left at the end and the trailhead is a few 100 feet away.