Lime Kiln Mountain Harriman State Park

Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Tuxedo-Mount Ivy (T-MI) Trail: Red blaze
Lime Kiln Mountain Trail: Unblazed

Total time: 1:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.5 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points of Interest: Lime Kiln Mountain View
Pros: Excellent view that is little-known
Cons: Bottom part by power lines is boring

This is a great little hike, and its been several years since I was last here. It was a relatively warm day, with the snow almost entirely gone, save for a few patches in shady spots. I parked at the Tuxedo-Mount Ivy Trail on Diltz Road, and took the trail as it goes along the Power Line on the foot of the mountain ridge. As the trail goes into the woods, that is where the Lime Kiln Mountain Trail spurs off. The Lime Kiln Mountain Trail is unblazed but nevertheless easy to follow.

At the top of this mountain, where the trail just ends, there is an excellent view facing mostly east. From the top I turned around and about halfway down the mountain, and cut across due south towards the valley and the Tuxedo-Mount Ivy Trail. I walked along the side of the stream on the Tuxedo-Mount Ivy Trail, and then took the service road to the north of the power lines and then cut across to the trailhead after that.

Map of the Route
Harriman/Bear Mountain Maps Southern Map

The First Sign of Spring Green!
These thornbushes had a green stem.

Haphazard Marking Along the Unblazed Limekiln Mountain Trail

View of Haverstraw and the Hudson River at Haverstraw Bay from the Top

Large "R" Spraypainted at the Top View.
Probably Stands for "Ramaquoise", the Name of the Camp at the Mountain Foot.

Manhattan Skyline in the Distance from the View

Another View Shot

And Another

View Facing Camp Ramaquoise

At View Facing Palisades Drive in Pomona

A Soaring Turkey Vulture

From the View Facing South Towards Dunderberg

Natural Spring in the Valley Along the T-MI Trail

Icicles Holding on For Dear Life

Halfway Mountain Snow

Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail: Red blaze
Stony Brook Trail: Yellow blaze
Hillburn-Torne-Sebago (HTS) Trail: Orange blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze

Total time: 1:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.6 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Points of Interest: Walk along river and view
Pros: Pretty view of river and good view
Cons: This area is very busy

This was the last hike with snow on the ground. Again I was short on time so I opted for something quick. It remained unseasonably cold for late March so I had to bundle up, and the snow on the trail was quite icy. This felt more like a January hike than a late March hike.

I parked in the Reeves Meadow parking area, and took the Pine Meadow Trail along the side of the Stony Brook, to the Stony Brook Trail and then to the Kakiat Trail. I then took the HTS Trail up Halfway Mountain the view. I then climbed back down, crossed the new bridge of the HTS trail over the brook, and then took the Pine Meadow Trail back.

Map of the Route
Harriman/Bear Mountain Trails Southern Map

Pine Meadow Trail Crossing the Reeves Brook

Along the Stony Brook Trail. Note the Steep Angle of Wall
and the Angled Trees Coming Out ofIt

Pine Meadow Brook near the Stony Brook Confluence

Bridge Crossing Pine Meadow Brook

Pine Meadow Brook

Water Flowing At the Pine Meadow Brook at Cascade of Slid

Cascade of Slid Waterfall, with new Bridge Above

Cascade of Slid Main Waterfall

The New Bridge on the HTS Trail

View Atop Halfway Mountain

Halfway Mountain View

Halfway Mountain View. Note the Blue Sky.

Kakiat Last Season Snow

Kakiat County Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Old Mill Trail: Blue blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze

Total time: 24 minutes
Estimated Distance: 0.9 miles
Level of Difficulty: Very easy
Level of Recommendation: Recommended for a short hike

This seems to be the last snow of the season. The previous week had seen temperatures up to 50 most of the week, and much of the massive snowcover had melted. This new snowstorm was a wet, fluffy snow of about 5 inches, and I took advantage of going on a short and easy walk during the snowstorm.

I parked in the Kakiat parking area, crossed the bridge over the Mahwah River, took the Old Mill Trail around the loop to the Kakiat Trail, and then took the Kakiat trail back. I do this walk quite frequently, but due to the nature of this being the last snowstorm of the season, I felt the need to document and share my walk this particular time.

Map of the Route. Harriman/Bear Mountain Trails Southern Map

Mahwah River During Snowfall

White Fluffy Snow On Tree Covering Small Stream

Large Pine Trees in the Pine Grove

The Old Mill near the end of the Old Mill Trail

Pack of Robins in the Snow, Wondering if they Arrived to Early

The Bridge at Kakiat Over the Mahwah River

Another View of the Bridge at Kakiat

Ditto.

The Mahwah River from the Other Side of the Bridge

Daters Mountain Snow Hike

Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails: Blue Disc Trail

Total time: 1:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.6 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points of Interest: Daters Mountain View
Pros: Good climb to a great view
Cons: None

Hiking Partners:
David Cynamon

I only had about an hour for a hike this morning, and this was a great hike that is relatively short. I had not been to this area in a while. Although spring was only a week away, it was cold and very windy, with very strong and uncomfortable winds at the top of the mountain. Much of the snow had melted the previous week, but there was still plenty left and almost full coverage.

We parked at the dead end by Johnsontown Road, and took the Blue Disc from its terminus past the gas pipeline and climbed up the mountain. The top has an excellent view of the surrounding area, with a vertical cliff face going straight down about 200 feet. On the trail map, this cliff face is called "Almost Perpendicular" due to its sheer wall. We turned around at the top, taking one of the original trail paths down towards the gap, and then back down the Blue Disc Trail the same way that we went up.

Map of the Route. Harriman State Park Southern Map.

David at the Beginning of the Hike on the Blue Disc Trail

David Ascending Daters Mountain on the Blue Disc Trail

David on the Last Ascent Before the View

View from the Top, Looking Southwest

At the View Looking Northwest

At the View Looking West

Me at the View

Me at the View

David at the View

Me and David

Frozen Greenwood Lake

Orange Co.,
New York

Total time: 1:20 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.1 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points of Interest: Frozen scenic lake
Pros: Very pretty scenery and frozen lake
Cons: Not a quiet tranquil area

Greenwood Lake is the largest lake in the area. It spans both New York and New Jersey, and is in a scenic, mountainous area. I had heard that its quite busy and exciting on the lake in the winter once the lake freezes, but had never before gone to check out the situation. I noticed the most activity was on the north end of the lake by Greenwood Lake Village, where all the people were. All other parts of the lake I saw were empty, and I don't feel comfortable walking on a frozen lake with no people around.

I parked at the northern arm of the lake, in the village, and walked south, under the bridge, the wide part of the lake. The lake opening up wide with snowy mountains on both sides was particularly scenic. Indeed there were many people present, from lake hikers to ice fisherman, from snowmobilers to ATV riders. I had also seen ice fisherman that picked up some pickerel. I walked south for some time until there were no more people, and I headed west and then headed north along the western side of the lake. There were some more ATV'ers here in the area and then I noticed a snowbiker on the lake! Apparently they made a snowbiker trail and there was a snowbiker enjoying this trail. I then continued north the northern end of the lake where the park is, and then went along the local roads back to my car.

Map of the Route

Greenwood Lake Village, at my Entrance to the Lake

Looking Further Out at Greenwood Lake Village

Approaching the Bridge, which I Hiked Underneath

Boat Docks and ATVers

Heavy Lake Usage is Apparent

Approaching the Wide Part of the Lake

Looking West

Lots of Activity Along the Lake

Looking South

Ice Fisherman Drilling a Hole

Greenwood Lake Looking South

Greenwood Lake Looking West

Snowbiker on Greenwood Lake. Looking North.

Snowbiker

Large Group of Ice Fisherman Near the Park Area

Greenwood Lake from the Park Gazebo