Tag: Hiking in Westchester County NY
Teatown Lake Reservation - Three Lakes Loop, Overlook Loop, Lakeside Loop
May 1, 2022
7.4 Mi • 846 Ft Gain • 191 Photos • 5 Videos
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.
Read MoreThe Irvington Woods - Ice Pond, Irvington Reservoir, Memorial Loop, Hermit Wetlands
March 6, 2022
4.7 Mi • 646 Ft Gain • 117 Photos • 3 Videos
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.
Read MoreWard Pound Ridge Reservation - Cross River, Kimberly Bridge, Deer Hollow
February 6, 2022
5 Mi • 577 Ft Gain • 104 Photos • 5 Videos
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.
Read MoreEugene and Agnes Meyer Preserve - Byram Lake Reservoir, Aqueduct, Upper Meadows
September 12, 2021
6.7 Mi • 820 Ft Gain • 245 Photos • 9 Videos
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.
Read MoreWard Pound Ridge Reservation - White Trail, Red Green Trail, Lean-To Shelters
March 20, 2021
5.6 Mi • 554 Ft Gain • 26 Photos • 1 Video
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.
Read MoreWestmoreland Sanctuary - Lost Pond, Cole Kettle Pond, Terrace Garden
February 20, 2021
6.1 Mi • 863 Ft Gain • 80 Photos • 2 Videos
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.
Read MoreWard Pound Ridge Reservation - Deer Hollow, Cross River, Kimberly Bridge
January 30, 2021
4 Mi • 453 Ft Gain • 36 Photos • 1 Video
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!
Read MoreThe Irvington Woods - Ice Pond, Memorial Loop, Hermit's Grave, Hermit Wetlands
January 24, 2021
3.2 Mi • 477 Ft Gain • 39 Photos
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.
Read MoreThe Irvington Woods - Hermit's Grave, Sunset Rock, Split Rock, Barney Brook, Ice Pond
November 21, 2020
5.6 Mi • 843 Ft Gain • 97 Photos
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.
Read MoreWard Pound Ridge Reservation - Leatherman's Cave, Wildflower Garden, Nature Museum
October 24, 2020
9.7 Mi • 1,250 Ft Gain • 207 Photos • 1 Video
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.
Read MoreWard Pound Ridge Reservation - Raven Rocks, CCC Camp, Castle Rock, Spy Rock, Dancing Rock
September 26, 2020
8.9 Mi • 1,147 Ft Gain • 218 Photos • 2 Videos
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.
Read MoreHudson Highlands State Park Preserve - Anthony's Nose, Camp Smith Trail, Bear Mtn Toll House
August 15, 2020
9.1 Mi • 2,498 Ft Gain • 155 Photos
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.
Read MoreRockefeller State Park Preserve - Swan Lake, Buttermilk Hill, Rock Wall Loop, Spring Trail
August 1, 2020
7.8 Mi • 626 Ft Gain • 93 Photos
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!
Read MoreThe Irvington Woods - Split Rock, Sunset Rock, Marshall Pond, Ice Pond, Hermit Wetlands
July 19, 2020
6.0 Mi • 579 Ft Gain • 122 Photos • 2 Videos
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.
Read MoreThe Irvington Woods - Sunset Rock, Split Rock, Irvington Reservoir, Ice Pond, Marshall Pond
July 12, 2020
5.1 Mi • 515 Ft Gain • 136 Photos • 6 Videos
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.
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