Walk Back in Time

Bob Larsen’s audio tour for the Trapps Mountain Hamlet Path to the Van Leuven Cabin. Explore the traces of a 19th century mountaintop community by visiting the Mohonk Preserve.

Once home to the huckleberry-pickers and stone-cutters of the past century, the Trapps Mountain Hamlet housed as many as 40-50 families by the time of the Civil War. This vanished hamlet now consists of the restored Van Leuven Cabin; 60 cellar holes and foundations of dwellings, mills, barns, a school, a tavern, a chapel, and other structures; over 40 charcoal pits; and four family burying grounds. This historic district is a subsistence hamlet listed on both the New York State and National Register of Historic Places.

To access this trail, park at the West Trapps Trailhead. Follow the blue markers for this 1½-mile, moderate walk along 12 stops of cultural history interest – uphill in places, not wheelchair accessible. Return by the same trail. Do not follow the highway.

Special thanks to the many people, including former residents of the Trapps Mountain Hamlet and descendants of Trapps families, who contributed their knowledge of life in the hamlet and family materials for this project and also to Christopher Boulton for his assistance in developing the audio portion of this tour.

The Trapps Mountain Hamlet Path was constructed by Ed Reppert, Coordinator of Volunteer Trailkeepers, with the assistance of Steve Sandberg, trail volunteer.

The text was adapted from the original “Trapps Mountain Hamlet Guide” written by Bob Larsen and edited by Robi Josephson.