Stump Pond and the Overlook LbNA #33427 (ARCHIVED)

High Rock Park – Greenbelt Summer Day Camp –
Group 5 – The Swimming Mirandas


The Stump Pond Letterbox and The Overlook Letterbox

Moderately Difficult 45 minute hike from the High Rock Park entrance past the Stump Pond Letterbox to the Overlook Letterbox


 Walk / Drive / or Take Public Transportation to High Rock Park
 High Rock Park is located at 200 Nevada Ave, Staten Island, NY 10306. Travel up Nevada Ave to the very end of the block and there will be a parking lot at the top of the hill. Park there and continue the rest of the way on foot.
 Walk through the park gates and up the paved road into the park. Stop at the kiosk by the picnic tables to pick up a copy of the Greenbelt Trail Map (just in case you get lost!).
 Find the Yellow blazed Trail 30 steps to the right of the kiosk and follow the blazes. If you are new to hiking markers you should be following trails based on the following rules. One rectangular painted mark on the tree lets you know what trail you are on. Two markers painted diagonally tell you that the trail will be turning or splitting and which direction you will want to head to stay on the trail. Use the top markers to determine which direction to go. If the top mark is on the right, turn right… if it’s on the left, turn left.
 Within a few feet you will come to a chainlink fence. Turn left there to follow the Yellow Trail along the side of the fence (this fence separates High Rock Park from Moravian Cemetery).
 On the Yellow Trail you will pass Lake Ohrback (on your left), and approach PumpHouse Pond (directly in front of you). PumpHouse Pond has a wooden platform to look out from and you can clearly see Moravian Cemetery on your right.
 Continue on the trail as it curves around PumpHouse Pond, crossing a small bridge. There will be two large rocks in the middle of the trail with blazes on them. Follow the yellow trail by bearing right towards Hourglass Pond. When Hourglass Pond appears on your left side, stop to look around. This is a great place to spot Great Blue Herons.
 Continue on the Yellow Trail with the Cemetery on your right side.
 You will come to a tall tree that has fallen parallel to the trail. Its trunk has splintered and it looks like a sharp, pointed hand making a peace sign. Start counting your steps at the base of this tree.
 Take about 115 steps further on the Yellow Trail until you get to an unmarked trail at 335 (on your left side).
 Take this downhill, unmarked trail for about 55 steps and look for the huge fallen tree on your left. The Stump Pond Letterbox is hidden at the base of this fallen tree.
 Climb back up the unmarked trail to turn left to rejoin the Yellow Trail.
 Continue on the Yellow Trail where you will pass another unnamed pond on your left. You will also see a steep, downhill trail on your right where the blue trail veers off. Do not take this downhill trail. Stay straight to continue on the Yellow Trail.
 Eventually you’ll see a house coming up in front of you. Go towards it and stop at the rocky road in front of it.
 Although the Yellow Trail bears left at this point, we will not be continuing on it. Bear right and follow the rocky road for about 100 steps.
 Turn left onto the wooden platform overlooking the Richmond County Country Club golf course. You’ve made it to The Overlook! Check out the amazing view!
 The Overlook Letterbox is hidden inside the tree stump directly behind the left side of the platform entrance to The Overlook.
 Thanks so much for checking out our letterboxes! Make sure to leave your mark in our notebooks so we can find out a little bit about you.
 To return to High Rock Park go back to the rocky road and follow it to your right for about 100 steps to the Yellow Trail entrance on your left. Turn left onto the Yellow Trail and take it back past Stump Pond, Hourglass Pond, PumpHouse Pond, and Lake Ohrback until you end up back on the paved park road by the High Rock Park entrance.