Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States New York State New York City Dover Plains Dover Plains Stone Church

Dover Plains Stone Church

This natural rock "church" might not be a proper chapel but that doesn't mean it's not beautiful.

Dover Plains, New York

Added By
Daniel Thurber
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The Stone Church   Daniel Thurber, user Deltatango95
The Stone Church   Daniel Thurber, user Deltatango95
The second part of the trail along Stone Church Brook   Daniel Thurber, user Deltatango95
The first part of the trail   Daniel Thurber, user Deltatango95
Sign on Rt. 22 in Dover Plains at the start of the trail   Daniel Thurber, user Deltatango95
The visible waterfall   Daniel Thurber, user Deltatango95
Postcard from a tourist, dated 1921   Daniel Thurber, user Deltatango95
08.17.2015   MandrewPatinkin / Atlas Obscura User
Full Spectrum photo taken 9/17/2017   MandrewPatinkin / Atlas Obscura User
  travelsyte / Atlas Obscura User
View from inside the Stone Church   Daniel Thurber, user Deltatango95
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The Dover Plains Stone Church is a small geological feature about three quarters of a mile west of town. The trail to it starts just off Route 22 and is a fairly mild hike (although good hiking shoes are definitely a plus, as the trail can get slippery). The walk to the Church starts with a straight path, lined with young maple trees, and continues west along Stone Church Brook. The Church itself is nestled in a small, steep canyon carved out by the creek.

As you approach the entrance the reason for the Stone Church's name becomes very clear. The Brook has carved out the stone into a triangular entryway resembling the shape of a steeple. Sunlight streams in through the fissure in the cave ceiling and dances on the water, filling the Church with a sublime, sparkling glow. A large monolith at the back is perfectly placed to earn its nickname “the pulpit.” The waterfall at the back of the cave is about 30 feet high, although only a small portion of it is visible from the cave front.

Local legend tells of the Church serving briefly as a hiding place for Pequot sachem Sassacus. The Pequot were a Native American tribe who inhabited much of present day Connecticut who came into armed conflict with a coalition of British and Mohegan in 1636. Following the Mystic Massacre and Pequot War, the few surviving Pequot fled with Sassacus, seeking safe haven in New York. While there's no evidence that Sassacus actually took refuge in the Church, it's not beyond the realm of possibility and the story is popular in the Dover community. Sassacus himself would make it further into New York but would ultimately be killed by Mohawk, his scalp sent back to Connecticut as a show of good faith to the British.

In the late 1800s to early 1900s, the Stone Church would become a popular tourist destination, especially after the construction of the New York Central Railroad's Harlem Line came through Dover Plains. Recently the Dover Stone Church Preserve added 50 acres to their holdings around the Church, bringing the total to around 170 acres, developing hiking trails and overlook points. 

Related Tags

Geology Rocks Rock Formations

Know Before You Go

The trail begins just off NYS Rt. 22 in Dover Plains, NY. Heading west, it last about 3/4 of a mile, half of which is a straight path lined with maple trees, half of which follows along Stone Church Brook.

Community Contributors

Added By

BookwormHistory

Edited By

Mike Portanova, MandrewPatinkin, travelsyte

  • Mike Portanova
  • MandrewPatinkin
  • travelsyte

Published

August 14, 2015

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.oblongland.org/pdf/stone_church_dover.pdf
Dover Plains Stone Church
Cart Road
Dover Plains, New York, 12522
United States
41.743223, -73.594459
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Oniontown

Dover Plains, New York

miles away

Madava Farms at Crown Maple

Dover Plains, New York

miles away

Wassaic Beehive Charcoal Kilns

Wassaic, New York

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Dover Plains

Dover Plains

New York

Places 3

Nearby Places

Oniontown

Dover Plains, New York

miles away

Madava Farms at Crown Maple

Dover Plains, New York

miles away

Wassaic Beehive Charcoal Kilns

Wassaic, New York

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Dover Plains

Dover Plains

New York

Places 3

Related Places

  • Window arch in the City of Rocks.

    Almo, Idaho

    City of Rocks

    This U.S. natural reserve is an ancient spiritual place and rock climber’s paradise.

  • Colorful sandstone cliff just west of the Colorock Quarry.

    Moapa Valley, Nevada

    Buffington Pockets

    The rocks exposed at Valley of Fire State Park also occur in a much less known but equally spectacular area a few miles to the southwest.

  • Grampian, Pennsylvania

    Bilger's Rocks

    Rocky outcrops containing overhangs, caves, fissures, clefts, and alcoves that invite exploration and scrambling.

  • Glen Rock

    Glen Rock, New Jersey

    Glen Rock

    The 570-ton boulder that gave a New Jersey town its name.

  • Mexican Hat

    Mexican Hat, Utah

    Mexican Hat

    This balancing rock is one of Utah's most unusual geological formations.

  • Mortana, Australia

    Murphy’s Haystacks

    These oddly shaped pink granite formations got their name after being mistaken for massive piles of hay.

  • Prominent “fang.”

    Nye County, Nevada

    Fang Ridge

    Red rock "fangs" jut out of the desert near the Extraterrestrial Highway.

  • Edmaier’s Secret

    Big Water, Utah

    Edmaier's Secret

    This hidden gem in Arizona is truly worth the rugged journey.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.