Revised December 19, 2004

Millstone Trail at Camp Glen Gray Length: 2.0 miles Blaze: white

The Millstone Trail is a two-mile loop trail which passes various features of interest, including several millstones once quarried in the area. The trail is described here in a counterclockwise direction.

The trail begins just west of the Camp Glen Gray office, on the main camp road. Look for three white 2” x 3” blazes (one blaze above two blazes), which mark the start of the trail. Older camp literature may describe blazes as “red dot on silver disk” but new, plain white blazes were installed in 2003. The trail bears left on a woods road that climbs above the camp parking area and continues past the Rotary Cabin and the dam, descending to the south shore of Lake Vreeland. At 0.2 mile, at the boat launch area just before reaching Mothers Pavilion, the Millstone Trail turns left onto a woods road (when you see two blazes of the same color, one above the other, the trail leans in the direction of the top blaze.) Here it joins with the Schuber Trail (orange blazes) which comes in from the west. Both trails pass the Explorer Cabin and then split at a fork in the road. Follow the Millstone Trail, which takes the right fork, while the Schuber Trail leaves to the left. After climbing rather steeply, the Millstone Trail bears left, leaving the woods road, and continues on a rocky footpath through dense thickets, passing the Azalea Swamp to the right.

Ascending to the east, the Millstone Trail crosses the same Schuber Trail (orange blazes) at 0.6 mile and approaches Rocky Slide Gulch, with a small pile of iron-ore tailings visible to the right just before the trail descends into the shallow gulch. After turning right and briefly following the gulch, the Millstone Trail turns left and ascends Millstone Hill on a rocky footpath. Reaching the crest of the ridge, it descends slightly and then makes a short, steep climb, passing to the right of a large glacial erratic Boulder called “Sitting Hen Rock.” The trail bears right and continues its climb. At 0.9 mile, just beyond the crest of the hill, it reaches the Southwest Lookout, off to the right. After descending gradually, the trail climbs to pass another glacial erratic boulder, labeled “Balancing Rock and Rattlesnake Cave,” in an open area at 1.2 miles. A patch of prickly pear cactus, which usually blooms in early July, may be seen in the vicinity.

The Millstone Trail now bears left and begins a gradual descent. Just after the Yellow Trail (yellow blazes) joins from the right at 1.3 miles, several abandoned millstones in various stages of completion may be seen to the left of the trail. The Millstone Trail and the Yellow Trail will both follow the same path for a while. Continuing to descend along an old woods road, the trails pass a millstone in nearly perfect condition, about 25 feet to the right. At a T intersection, reached at 1.5 miles, the trails turn left at an old stone wall, which marks the approximate camp boundary.

Continuing to descend, the trails reach paved Midvale Mountain Road at 1.6 miles. Cross the road, and enter the woods, turning left to follow the path down toward Fox Brook, which you’ll cross on two wooden bridges, constructed by scouts in 2004. Once across the brook, ascend to where the trails reach a level woods road and then split up. Here, turn sharply left to follow the white blazes of the Millstone Trail, as the Yellow Trail goes off to the right.

Now following a rocky footpath, the Millstone Trail climbs to a limited seasonal viewpoint before descending steeply. After crossing a stream, the trail descends to turn sharply right at Gray Cabin, then left. Recrossing Fox Brook on a plank bridge, The Millstone Trail ascends to complete its loop at 2 miles (three blazes, two over one means the end of the trail.) Turn right at the end of the road and you’ll be back at the Camp Glen Gray office.