Route: Ashokan Reservoir Circumnavigation (NY)

Ashokan Reservoir is one of the largest reservoirs in the state of New York. Construction of its dams and dikes started in 1907. When completed it supplied New York City with 40% of its water. The lake displaced 2350 people from 12 villages. The song Ashokan Farewell (made famous by the Ken Burns Civil War documentary) is a tribute to the people who lived here. The lake has the Slide Mountain Wilderness area as a stunning backdrop to the west.

This route simply involves running around the reservoir, which is roughly 31 miles with 1000 feet of elevation gain. The route is a combination of the Ashokan Rail Trail, some bike paths on the southern side of the lake, and the shoulders of lightly traffic paved roads. The rail trail section is compacted fine gravel and open during daylight hours. There are several trailheads to park at, especially on the north side of the loop. There are a few convenient small streams along this loop where you can fill up with water.

https://ashokanstreams.org/exploring-the-watershed/

http://public-water.com/story-of-nyc-water/ashokan-reservoir/

https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/09/ashokan-farewell-how-a-20th-century-melody-became-an-anthem-for-the-19th/407263/