Schoharie County

Schoharie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 32,749. The county seat is Schoharie.

A primarily rural county known for the fertile Schoharie Valley, it is also home to many state forests, including Burnt-Rossman State Forest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schoharie_County,_New_York

Show Only ...
Maps - Photos - Videos

Cotton Hill Lean-To in Late Winter

For the first day of spring it was around 65 degrees and sunny. The forecast promised only to get down into the upper 50s. The snow was gone in Albany, but in the mountains there was several feet. A top Cotton Hill, there was about two feet of snow.

Looking Down Long Path

Amazingly enough when I got up there, I was the only person who had been up to the lean-to since the last snow storm, probably two weeks ago now. It was very quiet except for the sounds of nature, from the snowy owl to the churbing robins.

Reaching the lean-to, with gear all set up for the the night.

Cotton Hill Lean To

My backpack, and flannel shirts.

Backpack and Flannel Shirts

Sitting in the lean-to, looking at the setting sun. At the front of the lean-to, snow had melted off the roof, and was piling up in the front, creating a snow berm, keeping cool drafts away. Ironically, at this point due to the warm weather, I was sitting in a t-shirt and no jacket on.

Looking Out the Lean-To

As I enjoy a nice a fire.

 Warmth from Campfire

And night rapidly approaches.

Lean To at Setting Sun

At times it was a bit smokey in the lean-to, as I played on my cellphone, jotted down some notes, read some books, and just enjoyed the first night of spring.

Smokey Lean-To

It was a nice night. When I woke up, it was a gray cloudy morning and I made up some breakfast and got cleaned up.

Lean To on Cloudy Morning

And I packed my bags…

All Packed Up in the Morning

Burned my garbage from the past night…

Camping Trash

And off I went, down to the truck, then off to Middleburgh Cliff. Here is a map of where the lean-to is.


View Cotton Hill Lean To in a larger map

Middleburgh Cliff

Directly to the East of Middleburgh there is a long narrow landform known as “The Cliff”. It’s a 500 foot high hill, with about 40 feet high cliffs, overlooking Middleburgh and Schoharie to the west. Cotton Hill sits above it to the east. While privately owned by the owners of the dairy farms in the valley below, the Long Path crosses it and you can use it to explore the cliffs.

As you climb the hill on the Long Path, looking backyards there are broken views.

Broken Views As You Climb

When your almost to the top of the Cliffs, there is a quick scramble over this ridge. This is a section that is very much hand and knees, you’ll probably toss your pack up and then climb up to retrieve it.

Cliff of Middleberg

After you get to the top, you have some views to the south, including Vromans Nose.

View South After First Ledge

Further along the trail you get some broken and then improving views of the Schoharie Valley just north of the Middleburgh. In the background is Middleburgh Roundtop Valley, and where NY 145 climbs the ridge to get over to East Cobelskill.

Middleburgh vs. Schoharie Creek

The agricultural flat lands south of Middleburgh.

Schoharie Creek Twists

The new more suburban section of Middleburgh, with the older village in the background. I never understood why people would live out in the sticks, but also live in a suburban subdivision in a classic small village.

New Portion of Middleburgh

A dairy farm along NY 30 north of Middleburgh.

All and all, this hike doesn’t provide amazing remote lands, but still has some interesting agricultural views of the fertile Schoharie Valley. Taking no longer then a total of a 45 minutes round trip, it’s a nice hike to do with Vromans Nose or take the trail farther west to Cotton Hill Lean-To.


View Cliff of Middleburgh in a larger map

Vromans Nose in Winter

On the second day of spring I went hiking up Vromans Nose. A short little hike, it’s a favorite in Schoharie County for it’s sweeping views of the agricultural lands below. Below is a picture of Vromans Nose, as seen from Middleburgh Cliff.

Vromans Nose

Sign for the trailhead.

Vromans Nose Trails

Hiking up the mountain on a very brown-grey winter day.

Untitled [Expires May 4 2026]

NY 30.

NY 30

A farm off the edge of Vromans Nose.

Ledge and Farm

West Off Vromans Nose looking towards Towpath Mountain.

Tow Path Mountain

With all of the snow melt, the Schoharie Creek was fairly swollen.

Three Colors

Looking from the Tip of Vromans Nose towards Middleburgh, with Middleburgh Cliff in the background.

North East

Here’s a map of hike.