Sunday, April 26, 2015

Buttermilk Falls and Blauvelt State Park

Buttermilk Falls County Park/
Stephen Rowe Bradley Town Park/
Sean Hunter Ryan Memorial County Park/
Blauvelt State Park/
Schuyler Town Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Blue Trail: Blue blaze
White Trail: White blaze
Long Path: Green blaze
Red Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:15 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.5 miles
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Level of Recommendation: Only beginning part Recommended
Points of Interest: Waterfalls and View
Pros: Scenic area, nice waterfall and good view
Cons: Area is too built up, close to roads and highways

This hike takes the record for traversing the most parks within a single hike. It includes a state park, two county parks, and two town parks all within the same hike. I parked at the Buttermilk Falls parking area on Greenbush Road in West Nyack, and climbed up the hill to the falls. The falls are pretty but they are not large. In fact in the dry season it is merely a trickle. However, with the recent rains there was a good amount of water present. After the falls I continued along the Blue Trail up to the top view. This view affords a very scenic vista facing west and south.

After the view I took the White Trail due east, crossing the street and passing a residential area. I took this trail to its terminus at the Long Path. I took the Long Path a slight distance north just to see where it comes out by the road, and then turned around and took the Long Path all the Red Trail in Blauvelt State Park. I took a slight veer-off at the view.

I then took the Red Path, and continued along to where it meets the other White Path right after Schuyler Road. I continued along the White Path back to the parking area.

Map of the Route. Hudson Palisades Trails.

Buttermilk Falls

Small Cascade Above Buttermilk Falls

Beautiful White Flowers (Don't Know What these are Called)

A Raven. Raven's are Uncommon in this Area.
I was Able to Distinguish this Bird from a Crow by its Larger Size and Distinctive Calling.

View At the top of Buttermilk Falls Park.
Facing Southwest. Route 303 is Below.

Blue Hill Plaza, Rockland's Tallest Building,
Viewed from the Buttermilk Falls Park View. Facing Southwest.

Large Solar Field Above the Landfill, as Viewed from the Buttermilk Falls Park View.Facing Northwest. 

Forsythia. These are Common Hedge Plants, but this is the First Time
I ever saw one wild in the Wood.

Empty Basin to Catch Water Along the White Trail

White Daffodils I Encountered While on the Long Path

View of Downtown Nyack and the Hudson River Behind the Trees.
Picture Taken from the Long Path.

View of the Manhattan Skyline to the South near the Red Path Intersection.

The Picture Above, Zoomed Out. Facing South.

From the Above View Facing Slightly More the Easy, Facing Newark

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