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Sterling Forest State Park – Greenwood Lake, Fire Tower, Jennings Creek, Bare Rock

  • 12 mi
  • 1,942 ft gain
  • 06:57:59

The Bare Rock lookout offered amazing views of Greenwood Lake and I'm so glad I took this detour. Climbing the Fire Tower was the highlight of the day; I only wish I took better photos. The area around Jennings Creek and the rest of the park did not disappoint. As usual, I could spend days here taking in all the various areas of the park. I especially want to visit the old mine areas the next time around. Trails were blazed well, with signs at the major intersections giving trail names, trail lengths, and POIs.

Ward Pound Ridge Reservation – Leatherman’s Cave, Wildflower Garden, Nature Museum

  • 9.7 mi
  • 1,250 ft gain
  • 04:41:42

So many wonderful new finds on my second visit, including Leatherman's Cave, Wildflower Garden, Trailside Nature Museum, phenology trail, Lenape indian wigwam shelter, and more. I really want to come back and explore that Orange phenology trail again and checkout the wildflower garden in the spring or summer. I'm pleased with the intersection markings in this park. They make it so much easier to navigate with a paper make and figure out exactly where you are.

Harriman State Park – Pine Meadow Trail, Third Reservoir, Breakneck Pond, Lake Wanoksink

  • 12.1 mi
  • 2,044 ft gain
  • 05:58:15

Wow, what a gorgeous day for a hike! The weather was a little warmer than normal, peaking in the high 70's in the afternoon. Harriman State Park is huge and it would take weeks to explore it all, so I chose an eastern part of the park that looked promising on the maps and would take me past three bodies of water. Every time I hike in Harriman State Park, I appreciate it more! There's so much to see and do here that I can't wait until the season opens next year so I can take advantage of some of the camping and swimming options.

Harriman State Park – Elk Pen, Island Pond, Lemon Squeezer, Bald Rocks, Appalachian Trail

  • 11.1 mi
  • 1,909 ft gain
  • 05:45:41

I'm falling in love with fall hikes! The changing of the leaves and the cooler weather make for a great hiking environment. From logging a few more miles Appalachian Trail, visiting Island Pond, the Lemon Squeezer, the mine areas, the Bald Rocks, and more, this was a fantastic hike! Aside from a few moderate ascends and descents, but most of my path was pretty easy and flat. It was also my longest hike so far, at 11 miles. I really enjoyed Harriman State Park, and with over 200 miles of trails to explore, I can see myself coming back.

Ward Pound Ridge Reservation – Raven Rocks, CCC Camp, Castle Rock, Spy Rock, Dancing Rock

  • 8.9 mi
  • 1,147 ft gain
  • 04:48:33

The diverse scenery and designated points of interest, including the former fire tower, Raven Rocks, Indian Rock Shelter, the former CCC Camp, Castle Rock, Spy Rock, Dancing Rock, Bear Rock Petroglyph, and Matey’s Gulch, make for a very enjoyable hike for all skill levels. The ascents and descents were manageable and not grueling. The views on the Rock Trail to the south are magnificent. I found the trails to be very clearly marked, blazed at short intervals, and most of the intersections are numbered, which made it very easy to follow along on the trail map.

Fahnestock State Park – Round Hill, East Mountain, Spooky House, Hubbard Lodge

  • 7.5 mi
  • 1,328 ft gain
  • 03:31:13

On a quiet Friday afternoon, I was alone on about 80% of the trail, only encountering people at the very beginning and very end of my hike. I enjoyed exploring the views that Round Hill and East Mountain offer. The terrain was interesting and varied, and the ascent is manageable. It's steep enough to give a good workout, but not so steep you feel like you're climbing stairs. The "spooky house" in the middle of the hike was a unique find. I would like to come back to explore more of this trail and some of its offshoots, including the hidden waterfall that I didn't find this time.

Bear Mountain State Park – Hessian Lake, Major Welch Trail, Perkins Tower, 1777W Trail, 1777E Trail

  • 7.5 mi
  • 1,484 ft gain
  • 04:32:03

Overall, I really enjoyed the hike and the company of my friend! The first part of the day was challenging getting up the mountain, but the rewarding views and panoramas make it well worth the climb. Most the rest of the hike was moderate to easy, with many sections on paved or packed gravel pathways. If the mountain is too much, there are plenty of other trails to the south that don't require as much work. I plan to come back and explore the Doodletown area of the park more, as there's some really rich history here.

Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve – Anthony’s Nose, Camp Smith Trail, Bear Mtn Toll House

  • 9.1 mi
  • 2,498 ft gain
  • 07:51:00

Wow, this was definitely the most intense hike I've done yet, taking almost 8 hours and navigating almost 2,500 ft of elevation gain. From either direction, there's a lot of uphill and downhill work involved, with several rocky stair-like climbs and descents along the way. The views of the Hudson River, Bear Mountain, and the surrounding areas are magnificent! It was definitely rewarding after the journey up to relax and take it all in. This is probably not the right hike for a first-timer, but can be managed with enough water and supplies.

Fahnestock State Park – Pelton Pond, Three Lakes Trail, Canopus Lake, Candlewood Hill Trail

  • 9 mi
  • 894 ft gain
  • 05:04:37

Overall, this was my best and longest hike yet! I'm really impressed with this park and the variety of terrain it offers, including the elevation changes; navigation of rocks, streams, and trees; and beautiful scenery. Being able to hike a section of the Appalachian Trail was super exciting too! I've explored less than 10% of this park, so I will definitely be back to see more. There are several summits to the west that look interesting and several trails to the south that I'd like to see. Fahnestock, we will meet again!

Rockefeller State Park Preserve – Swan Lake, Buttermilk Hill, Rock Wall Loop, Spring Trail

  • 7.8 mi
  • 626 ft gain
  • 02:57:13

Overall, I considered this more of a walk through and near wooded areas than a hike. All of the paths I ended up on were dirt or gravel carriage paths with little canopy and it sometimes felt like walking down a quiet street. It was still great exercise and it was outdoors, but I'd much prefer being more enclosed by woods than this. Now that I have a better lay of the land, I'm going to do more research about Rockefeller State Park Preserve to see if there are more traditional hiking trails. There are over 45 miles of paths here, so there is plenty to explore on future visits!

The Irvington Woods – Split Rock, Sunset Rock, Marshall Pond, Ice Pond, Hermit Wetlands

  • 6.0 mi
  • 579 ft gain
  • 03:00:43

I really enjoy the variety of this park. The eastern part of the park near the Saw Mill River Parkway drops off quite a bit and has a certain feel to it, with its rock benches, carriage paths, steps, and monuments. Coming back up into the interior is a little shadier and less vegetative, with awesome rock formations at Split Rock and Sunset Rock. The reservoir to the west is breathtaking. Then the northern Marshall Pond and Ice Pond are quaint and lush. I can still hear the ducks and other wildlife living in the Hermit Wetlands to the east.

The Irvington Woods – Sunset Rock, Split Rock, Irvington Reservoir, Ice Pond, Marshall Pond

  • 5.1 mi
  • 515 ft gain
  • 02:57:25

Having learned from my first hike in this park, I came prepared this time with 1.5L of water and the printed full trail map with the numbered posts. I left the park thirsty, sore, and with blistered ankles, but I'm glad I got to see some new spots, including Sunset Rock, Split Rock, Barney Brook, the Irvington Reservoir, Ice Pond, and Marshall Pond. I am gaining confidence in the layout and my navigation of the park. At this point I've hit every POI on the map, but I can't wait to explore even more as I still haven't hit all the different paths.

The Irvington Woods – Hermit’s Grave, Harriman Road, Macy Monument, Terrace, Steps

  • 4.1 mi
  • 416 ft gain
  • 01:57:32

My first visit to The Peter Oley Trailways System at The Irvington Woods was a bit disorienting. I printed out the full perimeter route beforehand, but I didn't realize this map doesn't have the trail marker numbers on it like the full map does. I could easily pull up the full map on my phone, but I was trying to rely on paper and instinct. Even though I didn't end up taking the route I originally intended or seeing all I wanted to see, it was a fun first trip exploring on and off the marked trails.

Winding Hills Park – Diamond Lake

  • 4 mi
  • 385 ft gain
  • 01:27:24

With its beautiful pond views and elevation, Winding Hills Park is a great place for beginners and experienced hikers alike. As a Boy Scout, I think I've camped in this park at least once and probably hiked it several times, but I don't recall any of those details. It was fun returning with a childhood friend and I enjoyed the conversation that followed. I also got to take a break from being the solitary leader to just following and taking in the scenery. Winding Hills has a lot to offer and there is a section the trail we missed that I'd enjoy returning to in the future.

Taxter Ridge Park Preserve – Woody Crest, Danny Gold Blue Trail, Orange Trail

  • 2.8 mi
  • 369 ft gain
  • 01:28:27

I went partially off trail on my third visit, following the eastern border along I-287, then to the west eventually coming across a cool stream that abuts a private property. I followed the park's exterior as it passed a murky iron-shaped pond on more private land, complete with a rowboat sitting idly on the shore. Overall it was a fun hike and I enjoyed going off script to see parts of the park that aren't normally seen. I will come back at some point and spend more time in that northwest corner that has a lot of goodies!