Tag: New York State Hiking Trails

Harriman State Park – Lake Skenonto, Tom Jones Mountain, Black Rock Mountain

13.7 mi
2,536 ft gain
08:11:58

Harriman is abundant with water sources, as I encountered over a dozen streams on this hike alone. Lake Skenonto provided a great backdrop to enjoy during lunch. The small rock scramble up to Tom Jones Mountain was well worth the views of the Hudson Valley once up there. Campers were abundant, as well as at least one black snake I encountered on my way up Black Rock mountain. The view of Lake Stahahe from the top of Car Pond mountain was a bit obstructed, but allowed me to find another shelter. My longest hike to date did not disappoint.

Beacon Mountain – Casino, Fire Tower, Scofield Ridge, Lambs Hill, Rainbow Falls

7.9 mi
2,300 ft gain
05:39:25

After the initial grueling hike up the mountain, the views of the Hudson River and surrounding area makes it all worth it. On top of that, exploring the ruins of the old Incline Railway, Hotel, and Casino gave an interesting perspective and history lesson. Looking out from atop the South Beacon Mountain Fire Tower provides views as far as the eye can see, including the Manhattan skyline. When I made it to Rainbow Falls, I fell in love with the calming effect of the water cascading over the rocks and only left because there were other hikers waiting to take photos and videos.

Fahnestock State Park – Candlewood Hill, Clear Lake, Hidden Lake

9.6 mi
1,509 ft gain
06:03:40

This was an awesome hike exploring the views from Candlewood Hill on a gorgeous, mid-60 degree spring afternoon. It was great to see flowers and foliage start blooming again and the forest getting back a little bit of its green hue. The animals were out in force today, as we saw a snake, a snapping turtle, salamanders, geese, and frogs on our journey. Walking the carriage trails was a bit underwhelming, but hiking a bit of the Appalachian Trail made up for it. Although this hike may be too long for some, it's not super intense, so it could be hiked by almost any skill level.

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.

Harriman State Park – South Hill, Ramapo Torne, Russian Bear, Racoon Brook Hills

9.1 mi
1,673 ft gain
06:18:51

After a 2 week hiatus, I jumped back in with a killer hike that left me sore and also rejuvenated! I was really impressed with the variety of terrain on this hike. A good amount of climbs and descents with plenty of flat areas in between, hilltop views, rock formations, varying flora, and an abundance of streams. I stopped several times to take videos of the sound of the streams, having such a soothing and calming effect, especially hiking along Stony Brook at the end of the day. I would gladly do this hike again any day!

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.

Nyack Beach – Hook Mountain, Rockland Lake, The Hudson River

6.4 mi
1,115 ft gain
03:46:30

The views of Rockland Lake and the Hudson River from Hook Mountain are breathtaking! After seeing things from the ridge above, I then descended down to the bank of the river, where I got to experience the sound of water crashing against the rocks and shoreline, bringing back memories of summer vacations. I was a bit unprepared for how grueling snow hiking is. The extra effort involved in lifting my feet and legs higher in the deeper snow did a number on my thighs and glutes. Even so, this was an awesome hike with amazing views and I'm so happy I found it!

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.

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.