Sterling Forest Bare Rock Trail

Fun hike at Sterling Forest. See Lakeville Ironworks ruins, overlook of Greenwood Lake, and climb firetower with endless view of rolling hills. Also has a great Visitor Center! Trail head starts at Highlands Environmental Research Center. Walk through woods to Visitor Center to pick up Blue trail (Sterling Lake trail) After short while intersects with Yellow Lakeville Ironworks trail - follow this through historic site back to Blue trail (road). Follow Blue to intersection with Orange trail (Bare Rock trail). Take Orange trail into woods and uphill. Cross Sterling Ridge and West Valley trails. After almost 3 miles you will see a side trail to vista overlooking Greenwood lake. Return to Orange trail and follow it to intersection with FireTower trail (Red with white). Take Fire Tower trail to left (north). Along this trail you will come to a large beaver pond. Cross below the dam and follow lake edge to pick up trail. Fire Tower trail will join Sterling Ridge (Blue) and Highlands (Turquoise) trails. At this point the trail climbs up the rocky hillside (twice). Eventually you will come to the Firetower itself. This rocky section requires a scamble and is the only hard part of the trail. From the Firetower head downhill on the Firetower trail until you meet the Firetower Connector trail (Red Triangle). Take the this to the road and the Blue trail. Follow Blue trail back to the Visitor Center