June 11, 2026 – Putnam Valley, NY
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: Approximately 2.3 miles
Max elevation: 986 ft.– total elevation gain approximately 550 ft.
Route type: Circuit
Buy Maps (Paper & Avenza): East Hudson Trails Map #103
Free Web Map: Fahnestock State Park Trail Map 2025
Free Avenza App Map: Fahnestock State Park Trail Map
Trailhead parking: 217 Bell Hollow Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579
Roadside parking for approximately 4 cars at the north end of Bell Hollow Road where the pavement ends and it enters the park.– No bathrooms on site
Details on a loop hike to Candlewood Hill via a different starting point: Candlewood Hill Loop
Overview:
Candlewood Hill is a prominent north-south ridge within the southeastern section of Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park, with its summit reaching an elevation of approximately 986 feet above sea level. As one of the park’s more notable high points, the ridge offers a rugged landscape of forested slopes, rocky terrain, and scenic overlooks.
The northern end of Candlewood Hill lies just west of the Durland Scout Reservation (formerly Clear Lake Scout Reservation), with Sunken Mine Road separating the two areas. To the south, the ridge extends toward Oscawana Lake, where the terrain rises above the lake’s western shoreline.
Access to the Candlewood Hill Trail is available from roadside parking along the northern end of Bell Hollow Road where the pavement ends. Recent land acquisitions have expanded Fahnestock State Park farther south, extending opportunities for exploration along the ridge. Several marked and unmarked trails branch from the Candlewood Hill Trail and continue southward, although there is currently no designated trailhead or formal parking area providing access from the roads to the south.
This scenic area offers sweeping views from the summit of Candlewood Hill across the hills and ridgelines of Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park and much of the Eastern Hudson Highlands.
The panorama takes in surrounding hemlock stands, rolling forested hills, and deep, folded valleys that stretch into the distance. On clear days, the view extends even farther, revealing a narrow slice of the Hudson River to the southwest, along with the former Indian Point area beyond the wooded horizon.
History:
The history of Candlewood Hill in Putnam Valley is closely tied to the broader story of land use, settlement, and conservation in the eastern Hudson Highlands. Long before it became part of modern parkland, the ridge was shaped by glacial activity into a rugged landscape of steep slopes, rocky soils, and narrow valleys—conditions that limited large-scale farming but supported small homesteads, hunting areas, and seasonal use.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, nearby areas such as Canopus Creek and Oscawana Lake saw scattered mills, homesteads, and early road networks that followed the natural contours of the hills. Candlewood Hill itself remained largely undeveloped due to its steep, rocky terrain, serving more as woodland and boundary land than cultivated property.
In the early 2000’s, a significant portion of Candlewood Hill was acquired and added to Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park, helping to protect its forested ridgeline and prevent residential development.
Today, Candlewood Hill stands as part of this preserved landscape—an example of the eastern Hudson Highlands’ transition from scattered rural use to protected public land. Its trails, ridges, and viewpoints now reflect a landscape reclaimed by forest and managed for hiking, wildlife habitat, and quiet recreation rather than industry or settlement.
Trails Overview:
The Candlewood Hill Trail is marked with New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation “Taconic Region” red plastic disc blazes. The trail climbs steadily—sometimes steeply—to the 986-foot summit of Candlewood Hill, where it rewards hikers with expansive views in all directions. From the summit, it follows a short stretch of the ridge before descending to its terminus on Sunken Mine Road. Overall, the trail is well marked and easy to follow throughout its route.
This hike includes a short section of unmaintained, unpaved Sunken Mine Road, which is closed to vehicular traffic from December through April. The road serves as a boundary corridor within Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park, separating the park from the former Durland Scout Reservation. As it continues downhill, Sunken Mine Road leads toward the abandoned section of Bell Hollow Road, where the landscape becomes more rugged and historic, with the maintained roadbed giving way to a more eroded and overgrown corridor.
The abandoned section of Bell Hollow Road serves as a connecting route between Sunken Mine Road and the Candlewood Hill Trailhead where the hike begins. It descends along the western flank of Candlewood Hill, following a broad, old roadbed that remains clearly defined despite being unmarked and no longer maintained. Although increasingly rugged in places, the route is easy to follow, with its wide alignment cutting steadily through dense forest as it links the surrounding trail network.
Parking & Amenities:
Roadside parking is available along Bell Hollow Road for approximately 4–6 vehicles, just beyond the last mailbox/driveway (#217), where the paved section transitions into the unpaved, abandoned road. The trail begins at this point. Please be sure not to block any driveways or obstruct the roadway.
There are no restroom facilities available at the trailhead, so plan accordingly.
Hike Overview:
The reason I chose this hike was because the forecast called for temperatures in the high 90’s along with poor air quality. I wanted a manageable route with the flexibility to extend the hike if conditions allowed. This loop was a great choice, offering mostly shaded trails throughout, with the only open exposure being at the summit viewpoints. The forest cover provided welcome relief from the heat while still allowing for rewarding scenic overlooks along the way.
I’ve hiked this area numerous times, and it’s always a pleasant experience. I’ve only encountered a handful of people in total across all my visits to Candlewood Hill, which adds to its quiet, secluded feel.
I’ve previously done this loop several times starting from Sunken Mine Road in a clockwise direction. On this hike, I decided to switch things up and begin at Bell Hollow Road, completing the loop counterclockwise instead. The ascent from Bell Hollow Road is noticeably steeper, but the overall elevation gain remains moderate, and the route is roughly a mile shorter compared to starting from the Sunken Mine Road trailhead.
What I like about this variation is that once you descend back to Sunken Mine Road from the Candlewood Hill Trail, the remainder of the hike is all downhill. The main drawback is the shorter overall distance. Still, due to limited parking and its relatively remote access points, this section of Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park sees very little foot traffic—and that quiet, low-use character is exactly what makes it appealing.
This counterclockwise loop begins and ends at the parking area on Bell Hollow Road.
As shown in the elevation graph below, the climb to the summit is steep, with most of the elevation gain occurring on the ascent to the top of Candlewood Hill.
The Hike:
From the Bell Hollow Road trailhead, look for three red blazes on a tree to the right of a set of wooden steps—this marks the start of the Candlewood Hill Trail. From here, you’ll follow the red blazes for approximately 1.1 miles. The trail begins with a gentle ascent before gradually becoming steeper as it climbs deeper into the forest.
After about 0.35 mile, the Candlewood Hill Trail makes a sharp left. The yellow-blazed Oscawana Ridge Trail begins just ahead, but you’ll want to TURN LEFT to stay on the red-blazed Candlewood Hill Trail. If you start seeing yellow blazes, you’ve gone too far and missed the turn.
The Candlewood Hill Trail now becomes significantly steeper, climbing over sections of large, jumbled rock and scattered boulders. The footing is rugged and uneven, requiring careful attention as you ascend. In some areas, the treadway is faint or indistinct, so it’s important to stay alert and keep an eye on the red blazes to stay on route.
At the top of the rise, the trail briefly levels off, marking the end of the majority of the elevation gain for this hike. The Candlewood Hill Trail transitions onto a wider, more defined footpath that follows just below the ridgeline. As the route continues through the forest, hikers pass by a variety of interesting rock formations scattered along both sides of the trail, adding to the rugged character and natural beauty of this section.
The trail steepens once again as it approaches the summit of Candlewood Hill, climbing over exposed rock before reaching a scenic rock outcrop. From this vantage point, hikers are rewarded with sweeping southwest views across the forested hills and ridgelines of Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park and the surrounding Hudson Highlands beyond.
When you are ready to continue, follow the red blazes north for a short distance before briefly stepping off the trail to the left. Just a few feet away is another rock outcrop offering scenic views to the north and northwest across the surrounding forested hills and ridgelines, and over Bell Hollow.
After taking in the views, return to the marked trail and continue northeast as the Candlewood Hill Trail begins a steep descent. The route drops over exposed bedrock and rugged terrain, requiring careful footing as it winds down from the summit area.
Once off the summit, the grade moderates and the trail settles into a more gradual descent. The route alternates between wider woods road, narrow footpath, and sections of rugged, rocky terrain. Along the way, hikers pass through dense stands of Mountain Laurel, which line both sides of the trail and add a beautiful seasonal display when in bloom.
Soon, the Candlewood Hill Trail widens again. After about one mile from the start of the hike, it ends at Sunken Mine Road.
Turn left and follow this unpaved road west for approximately 0.2 mile (about 350 yards). Look for an unmarked woods road on the left, which climbs a short distance uphill to a small, informal viewpoint south over Candlewood Hill. A nearby rock offers a convenient spot to sit and take a break while enjoying the scenery.
When you are ready to continue, retrace your steps back to Sunken Mine Road and turn LEFT. Follow the road downhill as it heads northwest for approximately 0.3 mile (about 530 yards). Then turn left onto the abandoned section of Bell Hollow Road, which continues south and descends steadily through the forest.
The abandoned section of Bell Hollow Road is used to connect Sunken Mine Road to the Candlewood Hill Trailhead. This road descends along the western flank of Candlewood Hill and although unmarked, is well defined and easy to follow. While the southern portion of Bell Hollow Road is residential, the northern section transitions into a completely unpaved, abandoned roadbed inside the state park boundaries.
Heavy runoff has carved deeply into the old roadbed in places, exposing rock ledges and uneven surfaces that make footing irregular and rugged. With the forest pressing in from both sides, stretches of exposed stone and loose gravel speak to years of washout, erosion, and neglect.
Bell Hollow Road gradually narrows into a footpath before widening again as it descends. After approximately 0.6 mile (about 1,000 yards), the abandoned roadbed returns to the Candlewood Hill Trailhead, where the hike began.
Review:
Candlewood Hill is a rewarding hike that offers a great combination of rugged terrain, peaceful forest, and scenic viewpoints. The majority of the route follows shaded woodland trails, providing a comfortable escape even on warmer days. The trail is well marked with clear blazes and easy to follow throughout, making navigation straightforward despite its remote character.
The climb to the summit is challenging in places, but the effort is rewarded with beautiful views across the hills and ridgelines of Fahnestock State Park and the surrounding Hudson Highlands. With limited parking and its secluded location, this area sees very little foot traffic, allowing hikers to enjoy a quieter, more solitary experience. For those looking to explore a less crowded section of Fahnestock, Candlewood Hill is a hidden gem that delivers both natural beauty and a true backcountry feel.
Pros:
Shaded forest trails, well marked route, scenic summit views, peaceful and secluded, little foot traffic, rugged terrain, quiet hiking experience, beautiful Mountain Laurel in season, historic old roads, good trail variety.
Cons:
Limited roadside parking, no restroom facilities, no formal trailhead amenities.
Take a hike!
Sources:
Scenes From The Trail 