Tag: Hiking in Westchester County NY

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

5.6 mi
840 ft gain
02:01:13

Taxter Ridge Park Preserve was the site of my first COVID-era hike, and returning six years later reminded me why I fell in love with it. Despite heat and humidity in the low 80s, the trail delivered — open meadows, dense woods, old carriage trails, a marsh, a water tower, the ruins of a 19th-century sanctuary, and glimpses of stunning multi-million dollar homes along the way. I had the entire 200-acre park almost entirely to myself. Not a single person, not a single car in any of the three parking lots. Just the trail, a lingering deer, and a 2.5L hydration pack I was glad I brought.

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.

Ward Pound Ridge Reservation – Leatherman’s Cave, Joe’s Hill, Green/Red Trail

3.77 mi
515 ft gain
02:02:26

I took a friend from New York City out to explore Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, starting from the Michigan Road parking lot. We followed the green/red trail south and west to Leatherman’s Loop, passed the outlook, then spent time at Leatherman’s Cave, where we found a geocache with a few goodies inside. From there we continued west, picked up the unmarked Blue Moon trail, skirted partway up Joe’s Hill, and looped back to the green/red trail for the walk north to the car. A good hike, even if hiking with friends meant I barely took photos along the way.

Teatown Lake Reservation – Three Lakes Loop, Overlook Loop, Lakeside Loop

7.4 mi
846 ft gain
04:38:12

This privately held nature preserve spans 1,000 acres and contains over 15 miles of hiking trails. This was an easy and enjoyable hike on a beautiful afternoon with only minimal elevation inclines throughout the day. The scenery was ever-changing, from small streams to marsh lands to lush green areas to pine trees to clearings to lakes to waterfalls. I was pleased with the diversity and would love to explore some of the other trails on a future visit, including Wildflower Island and the rest of the Visitor Center.

The Irvington Woods – Ice Pond, Irvington Reservoir, Memorial Loop, Hermit Wetlands

4.7 mi
646 ft gain
02:34:40

On a beautiful spring-like afternoon, I returned to a familiar park to continue exploring new nooks and crannies. Ice Pond and Marshall Pond were almost done with their winter thaw. It was awesome to view Irvington Reservoir from the west and south angles. I then hit all the POIs in the southern and eastern sections of the park: Macy Monument, the Terrace, the Steps, and Hermit's Grave. On my way north, I made an obligatory stop at Hermit Wetlands. This park holds a special place in my memory as it was where I first gained my initial hiking experience and confidence.

Ward Pound Ridge Reservation – Cross River, Kimberly Bridge, Deer Hollow

5 mi
577 ft gain
02:40:10

There's something special about the Cross River in the warmer months, but nothing compares to seeing it weave through patches of snow and ice. I was super impressed with how well my crampons performed on the ice-covered trails. Throughout the day, I encountered icy inclines, icy declines, and ice so smooth it looked like panes of glass. Never once did I feel any sort of slippage or instability in my walking. Temperatures were in the low 20s with very little wind, so as long as I was moving along, I barely noticed the cold.

Eugene and Agnes Meyer Preserve – Byram Lake Reservoir, Aqueduct, Upper Meadows

6.7 mi
820 ft gain
04:22:36

This was a fun preserve to explore! The western area of the preserve features several large meadows containing wild flowers being visited by bumble bees, honey bees, butterflies, and dragonflies. The eastern section leads to Byram Lake Reservoir, including two aqueducts and a man-made waterfall. Throughout the hike there are various wetlands, including a red maple swamp and several vernal pools where reptiles, amphibians, frogs, salamanders, and fairy shrimp live. The elevation changes are minimal and these were all easy trails to follow for even a novice hiker.

Ward Pound Ridge Reservation – White Trail, Red Green Trail, Lean-To Shelters

5.6 mi
554 ft gain
02:41:41

An easy stroll through the woods with two friends and their dog was a great way to spend a beautiful spring afternoon! I chose Ward Pound Ridge Reservation due to its variety of trails. There's something for the beginning hiker through the advanced hiker. It was the first day of spring and the temperature peaked in the low 60s in the afternoon. We stopped to explore one of the lean-to shelters available for rental. I'm interested in adding camping to my hiking experience, so will look into investing in camping gear for the summer or fall season this year.

Westmoreland Sanctuary – Lost Pond, Cole Kettle Pond, Terrace Garden

6.1 mi
863 ft gain
04:06:56

Of all the hikes I've been on so far, Westmoreland has the best blazed trails and marked intersections. Not only are there trail arrows at each intersection, there's a full trail map of the entire park. Even though I had both printed and electronic versions of the map, it was super convenient not to have to dig in my pockets. In the winter, there's not a lot to see, but there were plenty of rock formations, rock walls, and streams to keep me satisfied throughout the journey. I can't wait to explore in the summer once things start turning green again.

Ward Pound Ridge Reservation – Deer Hollow, Cross River, Kimberly Bridge

4 mi
453 ft gain
01:42:45

The views of the partially-frozen Cross River and the snow-covered scenery gave a new perspective of the park. After some initial frustrations at the start of the hike, I made some adjustments to my gear and attire to get comfortable and the rest of the hike was enjoyable. I'm still getting used to using trekking poles. I've got a good rhythm with them now and am ready to try them on steeper terrain. Overall, I think I've become more acclimated to winter hiking and am ready to tackle some longer, more challenging winter hikes in the coming weeks!

The Irvington Woods – Ice Pond, Memorial Loop, Hermit’s Grave, Hermit Wetlands

3.2 mi
477 ft gain
01:23:27

My fifth visit and first winter hike was all about trying out new gear, including trekking poles, sunglasses, gloves, and a gaiter. Although I've lived in the Northeast my entire life, I've never been enthusiastic about outdoor winter activity. I was imagining a bone-chilling, unpleasant experience, when in reality it wasn't bad at all. With the proper layers, I stayed warm and enjoyed myself. I will make a few adjustments for next time and will try to make winter hiking a new habit! Most of the gear worked really well and I'm happy I've graduated to using trekking poles.

The Irvington Woods – Hermit’s Grave, Sunset Rock, Split Rock, Barney Brook, Ice Pond

5.6 mi
843 ft gain
03:17:35

My fourth visit to The Irvington Woods was on a beautiful 60-degree fall afternoon. My goal for the trip was to check out the unmarked trail that runs north from intersection #26 near Hermit's Grave. It was a little disappointing, but I had an exhilarating experience running into an injured deer that made it more interesting. Revisiting Hermit's Grave, the Terrace loop trail, Sunset Rock, Split Rock, and Ice Pond in the fall gave me a whole new experience of those landmarks. Even though I've graduated to more challenging hikes, this is still one of my favorite parks.

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.

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.

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.