Orange Co.,
New York
Hiking Trails:
Black Rock Hollow Trail: White blaze
Stillman Trail: Yellow blaze
Highlands Trail: Teal blaze
White Oak Trail: White blaze
Continental Road: Unblazed
Hulse Road: Unblazed
Total Time: 2:25 Hours
Estimated Distance: 5.1 Miles
Pros: Good climb, excellent view, quiet area
Cons: None
It had been some time since I had been in Black Rock Forest, and I wanted to visit Black Rock Mountain which afforded a good view. It was probably the warmest day of the year, with temperatures in the low 90's. However, the area is mostly shaded, and the humidity was low, which made the heat less noticeable. I parked on Route 9W at the Black Rock Hollow parking area. I took the Black Rock Hollow Trail up the steady ascent to the combined Stillman Trail and Highlands Trail, which I took to the top of Black Rock Mountain. This mountain is rather unremarkable and the climb forested without rocky areas until you reach the summit, which is rocky and has a prominent peak with excellent views.
I then descended the peak, and headed to the White Oak Trail, which I took across the Sphagnum Pond dam. I then took the short spur to the bird-watching boardwalk in the swamp known as the Phil Faurot Boardwalk, a short dead-end trail. I then went back to the White Oak Trail, passed the big White Oak Tree, and took the Continental Road, a wide, unblazed path, to Hulse Road, another wide path, descending down the mountain back to the trailhead.
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| Map of the Route |
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| Information Kiosk at the Start of the Hike |
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| Black Rock Mountain. Facing East. |
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| Black Rock Mountain. Facing Southeast Towards Schunnemunk. |
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| Black Rock Mountain. Facing North. |
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| Black Rock Mountain. Facing Northeast. |
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| Black Rock Mountain. Facing Northwest. |
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| Black Rock Mountain. View Towards the Hudson Highlands Nature Center. |
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| Me at the Black Rock Summit with the Hudson RiverBehind |
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| Zoomed in More |
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| Black Rock Mountain, Facing North Towards Newburgh and the Hudson River |
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| A Fellow Hiker at Black Rock Summit |
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| Black Rock Mountain, Facing South |
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| Me at Black Rock Summit |
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| Tree with a Sign Growing Through it at Sphagnum Pond |
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| Approaching the Sphagnum Pond Dam |
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| Walking Across the Sphagnum Pond Dam |
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| A Tranquil Sphagnum Pond from the Dam |
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| Sign Before the Birding Area Boardwalk Honoring Phil Faurot |
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| Phil Faurot Birding Boardwalk |
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| Swamp in the Birding Area |
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| Another View of the Birding Area |
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