Skip to content
Hiking Photos

Great Saw Mill River Cleanup 2021 – Chauncey Park, Dobbs Ferry

  • 3.3 mi
  • 141 ft gain
  • 02:47:44
  • 55 photos
  • 2 videos
Great Saw Mill River Cleanup 2021 – Chauncey Park, Dobbs Ferry

In lieu of a traditional hike, I volunteered at this year’s Great Saw Mill River Cleanup, organized by Groundwork Hudson Valley. I previously participated in 2016, clearing invasive vines in around Farragut Avenue in Hastings, and in 2019, clearing trash from the riverbanks in Elmsford.

Each year’s cleanup event takes place at 8-10 different locations along the Saw Mill River. This year I chose Chauncey Park in Dobbs Ferry.

In about 3 hours, I personally collected a half-rusted barrel, a car bumper, a gas pipeline pole, and 5 bags of assorted plastic bottles, plastic bags, plastic straws, 3 Mylar balloons, 2 lighters, 3 baseballs, 1 soccer ball, 1 golf ball, plastic planters, milk crates, and other assorted trash.

It’s a shame we treat our planet this way, but I’m glad to help put a small dent in this very big problem.

Photos

GPS Route & Elevation

Loads an interactive map; map tiles are served by the U.S. Geological Survey, which receives your IP address. Learn more about maps and your privacy

162 ft142 ft121 ft

More hikes

The Irvington Woods – Hermit’s Grave, Macy’s Monument, Irvington Reservoir

  • 5.75 mi
  • 846 ft gain
  • 02:29:41

After a long break, I returned to one of my favorite hikes: The Irvington Woods. The park packs in reservoirs, ponds, wetlands, Hermit’s Grave, rock outcrops, overlooks, monuments, carriage trails, and plenty of elevation change. My route linked the blue, red, yellow, and purple loops, passing Hermit’s Wetland, Macy’s Monument and Terrace, Sunset Rock, Irvington Reservoir, Marshall’s Pond, and Ice Pond. It was a beautiful, varied 5.8-mile hike through grasses, pines, open trails, water views, steady climbs, and sunny mid-70s spring weather overall.

Harriman State Park – Breakneck Mountain, Lake Wanosink, Pine Meadow Lake

  • 8.89 mi
  • 955 ft gain
  • 04:02:03

My third visit to the Stephen & Betsy Corman AMC Harriman Outdoor Center was just as wonderful as the first two. The AMC-run center has tent sites, cabins, a dining hall, shared bathrooms and showers, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and easy access to Harriman State Park trails. Four of us spent the afternoon hiking past Breakneck Mountain and Tuxedo Rock, with beautiful stops overlooking Lake Wanosink and Pine Meadow Lake before following carriage paths back to our cabin. It was a perfect mix of camp, trail, water, good company, and mountain views.

Caleb’s Peak – Appalachian Trail, Kent CT, Club Getaway

  • 1.73 mi
  • 427 ft gain
  • 01:14:07

I led a group of guests from Club Getaway on an off-site excursion up a small portion of the Appalachian Trail to Caleb's Peak, overlooking the Kent, CT mountains and valleys. I'd consider this slightly above a beginner hike because the majority of the trail is uphill/downhill. I used my trekking poles to reduce the strain on my knees. It's well worth the view once reaching the summit.