Dry Brook Ridge Wild Forest
Nature preserve
6,286 acres16.2 mi of trail
Huckleberry LoopDry Brook Ridge TrailGerman Hollow (Yellow)
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0A−Outdoors
Outdoors in Middletown
Middletown has 6,907 acres of parks, 2,098 for every 1,000 residents
20% of Middletown’s land is conserved, about 12,469 acres. The biggest trail networks: Dry Brook Ridge Wild Forest (16.2 mi), Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest (0.8 mi). 43% of residents live within a half mile of a park.
Ahead of 81% of U.S. towns · #212 of 758 in New York. What drives it
Conserved land
20%
12,469 acres · of 96.7 sq mi of land
Trails
35 mi
0.4 per sq mi of land
Park land
6,907 ac
2,098 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
43%
of residents within ½ mile
Highest peak
3,471 ft
Dry Brook Ridge
Lakes & rivers
2
What kind of outdoors town is Middletown?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Middletown have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Middletown is ahead of 81% of U.S. towns, #212 of 758 in New York. Park acres per resident hold the grade up; the share of residents near a park pulls it down.
A−
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Middletown’s overall grade.
Conserved land20% of the land · typical NY town 5% · U.S. 4%ATrails0.4 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (35 mi) · NY 0.4 · U.S. 0.4BPark land2,098 acres of park per 1,000 residents (6,907 acres) · NY 31 · U.S. 13A+Parks close to home43% of residents within a half mile of a park · NY 70% · U.S. 72%C+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 81%
LessMore
New York towns of 2,500+ (758)Ahead of 72%
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from B+ to A. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Dry Brook Ridge Wild Forest, with 16.2 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest
Nature preserve
393 acres0.8 mi of trail
Kelly Hollow Cross-Country Ski Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Cole Hill Unit
Managed by New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
490 acres0.3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Denver Unit
Managed by New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
482 acres0.3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
All 30 parks & preserves
Dry Brook Ridge Wild Forest6,286 acres · 16.2 mi of trail
DirectionsBalsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest393 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsCole Hill Unit490 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Denver Unit482 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Alpaca Ridge Unit709 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Arena Unit382 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Kettle Hill Unit483 acres · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
New Kingston Mountain Unit427 acres · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Dunraven North Unit423 acres · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Morris Hill Unit364 acres · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Weaver Hollow Unit359 acres · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Miller Road Unit335 acres · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Brush Ridge Unit219 acres · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Hubbell Hill Unit136 acres · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
South Dunraven Unit104 acres · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Red Kill Unit100 acres · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Huckleberry Brook Unit92 acres · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
DirectionsBrook Road Unit67 acres · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Floyd Finch Road Unit63 acres · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Middletown Forest Preserve Detached Parcel62 acres · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Covesville Unit53 acres · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Twin Pond Unit41 acres · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Hubbell Hill Hollow Unit36 acres · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Little Red Kill Unit35 acres · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Sprague Road Unit34 acres · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Bragg Hollow Unit31 acres · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Johnny Cake Lane Unit27 acres · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Halcott Center Unit11 acres · New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply
Fleischmann Athletic Park5 acres
Halcott Mountain Wild Forest4 acres
Who protects it
12,469 conserved acres
20% of Middletown’s land. Who manages Middletown’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State conservation10,934 ac
Town or city1,696 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits940 ac
Regional Water Districts16 ac
State Conservation Area · 6,818 acOther Easement · 2,292 acRecreation or Education Easement · 1,494 acLocal Other or Unknown · 1,177 acAgricultural Easement · 883 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 3,940 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 12 of 37 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Brook Ridge Wild Forest State Conservation Area | State conservation | 6,359 | Open |
| Pepacton Fishing Access Area Local Other or Unknown | Town or city | 738 | Unknown |
| New York City Watershed Watershed Protection Area | Town or city | 469 | Closed |
| Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest State Conservation Area | State conservation | 393 | Open |
| Cole Hill Local Other or Unknown | Town or city | 238 | Unknown |
| Dunraven North Local Other or Unknown | Town or city | 201 | Unknown |
| Middletown Fp Detached Parcel State Conservation Area | State conservation | 62 | Open |
| New York City Dept. of Environmental Protection 1 Watershed Protection Area | Town or city | 39 | Closed |
| Margaretville Water Co Lands Local Resource Management Area | Regional Water Districts | 15 | Open |
| Village of Margaretville Land Local Park | Town or city | 7 | Unknown |
3 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
19 places to go in Middletown
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Playgrounds in Middletown
1 playground without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Scenic views in Middletown
3 scenic views without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Peaks in Middletown
Dry Brook Ridge3,471 ft elevation · In Dry Brook Ridge Wild Forest
DirectionsHubbell Hill3,009 ft elevation
DirectionsFleischmann Mountain2,910 ft elevation
DirectionsHuckleberry Ridge2,831 ft elevation · In Dry Brook Ridge Wild Forest
DirectionsWest Huckleberry Ridge2,769 ft elevation · In Dry Brook Ridge Wild Forest
DirectionsHog Mountain2,608 ft elevation
DirectionsMonka Hill2,484 ft elevation
DirectionsPakatakan Mountain2,438 ft elevation · In Dry Brook Ridge Wild Forest
Directions6 more peaks
Cole Hill2,365 ft elevation
DirectionsCross Mountain2,343 ft elevation · In Dry Brook Ridge Wild Forest
DirectionsBrush Ridge2,320 ft elevation
DirectionsMorris Hill2,310 ft elevation · In Morris Hill Unit
DirectionsMeade Hill2,270 ft elevation
DirectionsKettle Hill2,195 ft elevation
DirectionsPicnic areas in Middletown
1 picnic area without a name on the map.
Trails & water
4 named trails and 2 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Huckleberry Loop8.9 mi
Dry Brook Ridge Trail5.8 mi
German Hollow (Yellow)1.3 mi
Kelly Hollow Cross-Country Ski Trail0.5 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
0.0 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
Courts & fields
9Tennis
3Baseball
3Basketball
1Soccer
1Skate park
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →15 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service).
Kelly Round BarnBuilding · listed 1984
About itPakatakan Artists Colony Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1989
About itDistrict 10 SchoolBuilding · listed 1998
About itOld School Baptist Church of HalcottsvilleBuilding · listed 1999
About itSkene Memorial LibraryBuilding · listed 2001
About itHubbell Family Farm and Kelly's Corners CemeteryDistrict · listed 2001
About itVan Benschoten House and Guest HouseBuilding · listed 2002
About itNew Kingston Presbyterian ChurchBuilding · listed 2002
About itCongregation Bnai Israel SynagogueBuilding · listed 2002
About itFirst Presbyterian Church of MargaretvilleBuilding · listed 2004
About itGalli-Curci TheatreBuilding · listed 2006
About itNew Kingston Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 2008
About it3 more on the History page.
When to get out
May is the best month for walking in Middletown
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.4 | 10.5 | 11.8 | 13.3 | 14.6 | 15.2 | 15.0 | 13.9 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 9.7 | 9.1 |
| High (°F) | 31 | 34 | 42 | 55 | 67 | 75 | 79 | 77 | 71 | 59 | 46 | 36 |
| Rain (in) | 2.8 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.9 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 3.3 | 3.4 |
February is the driest month (2.3 in) and July the warmest (highs of 79 °F). 4.9 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Middletown →
Next door
Middletown and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middletown | 20% | 0.4 | 2,098 | 43% | A− |
| Andes | 29% | 0.3 | 9,650 | 17% | A− |
| Roxbury | 19% | 0.4 | 1,078 | 9% | B+ |
| Shandaken | 70% | 1.0 | 3,550 | 78% | A+ |
| Bovina | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Hardenburgh | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Halcott | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Middletown
Where can I hike in Middletown?
The longest trail networks: Dry Brook Ridge Wild Forest, 16.2 miles; Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest, 0.8 miles; Cole Hill Unit, 0.3 miles; Denver Unit, 0.3 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Middletown is conserved land?
20% of its land, against a typical 5% for a New York town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Middletown’s trails?
Dry Brook Ridge Wild Forest and Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Middletown?
150,855 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Middletown or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 6,925 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Middletown have?
Ahead of 81% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #212 of 758 in New York. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Middletown neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →