Friday, July 11, 2025

Pine Swamp Mountain Short Hike

Harriman State Park
Orange Co.
New York

Hiking Trails:
Arden-Surebridge Trail: Red blaze
Total Time: 0:33 hour
Estimated Distance: 0.7 Miles

Pros: Good views, short and sweet
Cons: None
Hike Type: Out and Back
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/zxQjmGr1dMe6ErABA

Map of the Route

Lake Skanatati




Trailhead Information Kiosk

Arden-Surebridge Trail

Rocks Ascending Pine Swamp Mountain

Pine Swamp Mountain View




Friday, July 4, 2025

West Mountain Short Loop

Harriman State Park
Orange Co.
New York

Hiking Trails:
Anthony Wayne Trail: White blaze
Fawn Trail: Red blaze
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Timp-Torne Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 1:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.8 Miles

Pros: Good views, good climb
Cons: None
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3ZNTHSj2qDHViea67

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick

Map of the Route

Fawn Trail (Now Temporarily Concurrent with the Appalachian Trail)

Closed Timp Torne Trail at the Northern End of West Mountain

Large Rock Ascending West Mountain on the AT


Bear Mountain from West Mountain

View of the Hudson River




Trail Rerouting Map

Views Along the West Mountain Ridge











Optional Easy Bypass Through a Crevice on the Timp Torne Trail

Crevice on West Mountain


View from the Northern Part of West Mountain




Sunday, June 29, 2025

Hook Mountain Ridge Hike

Hook Mountain State Park
Rockland Co.
New York

Hiking Trails:
Yellow Trail: Yellow blaze
Long Path: Green blaze

Total Time: 1:15 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.1 Miles

Pros: Good climb and excellent views
Cons: None
Hike Type: Out and back
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/bzNzAZNxLmFG8oLA8

I wanted a short but sweet hike with good views and a good climb, and this hike fit the bill. I parked on Route 9W by the Yellow Trail, and took the Yellow Trail up the mountain to the intersection of the Long Path, which is the summit of the mountain and affords a beautiful view. I continued along the ridge northward on the Long Path to several more beautiful views of the Hudson River and the Tappan Zee Bridge. At the point where the trail veers away from the edge of the ridge I turned around and went back the same route I came, but took the Long Path down at the last view and then took the Yellow Trail back.

Map of the Route

Hook Mountain Summit 




Tappan Zee Bridge

Flowering Beavertail Cactus

Hook Mountain Summit











View Above Nyack Beach








My Turn Around Point


Chevra I Met at the Return Route