Bare Rock at Greenwood Lake

Sterling Forest State Park
Orange Co, NY

Hiking Trails:
West Valley Trail: Green blaze
Bare Rock Trail: Orange Blaze

Total Time: 2:40 hour
Estimated Distance: 5.4 Miles

Pros: Quiet area, excellent lake view
Cons: Hunting area
Hike Type: Out and back
Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/SrXNcVvw6g86TUgx9

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick

I have hiked at the Greenwood Lake many times, including the Bearfort Mountain ridge on the western side of Greenwood Lake. However, this was the first time I hike on the eastern ridge with the only official known view on the east side of Greenwood Lake. This is an exceptional view, but it is a long hike to get here.

I parked at the West Valley Trail trailhead in Sterling Forest. Note of caution: this is an active hunting area so its important to stay on the trail and wear bright clothing during hunting season. We hiked along the West Valley Trail, which is a wide trail that also functions as woods road for hunting access. We continued on the trail until the Bare Rock Trail, which we took to the short spur trail at the rock above the lake.

This view is exceptional, and on this peak foliage day with bright colors, a blue sky, and bright blue lake, the scenery was amazing. We turned around at this point and took the same route back to our car.

Map of the Route

Trailhead Signs

West Trail

Bar Rock Trail Sign

Greenwood Lake from the Bare Rock View

Nice Foliage Scenes Along the Trail

South Mountain Sunset

South Mountain County Park
Mt. Ivy,
Rockland Co.
New York

Hiking Trails:
Long Path: Green blaze

Total Time: 1:10
Estimated Distance: 2.2 Miles

Pros: Scenic area
Cons: None
Hike Type: Out and back
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/rnrbUBdHyeMJH3Ck6

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick

This was another really nice fall day. At the end of the day after work, I left the office and joined Yehudah Koblick at South Mountain County Park for a short hike along the ridge to catch some foliage and the sunset. We took the Long Path up from the parking trailhead and took the Long Path a little past a mile, passing the quarry view and then reaching the south-facing view with the Manhattan skyline at about 1.1 miles in. We then turned around and took the same way back.

Map of the Route

Map at the Trailhead

Long Path Climbing Up

Quarry View at Sunset

View of the Manhattan Skyline

Sunset Colors

Back at the First View at Dusk

Lake Skanatati and Pine Swamp Mountain Sunset

Harriman State Park
Orange Co, NY

Hiking Trails:
Arden-Surebridge Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 0:40
Estimated Distance: 1.1 Miles

Pros: Lake view, nice views
Cons: None
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/17mi3urTqinzbNZy6

The fall weather has been beautiful. I took this hike right after work to catch the sunset and catch a quick Harriman Hike. I parked at Lake Skanatati and took the former Arden-Surebridge Trail up to the Pine Swamp Mountain view on the former trail. (This trail was rerouted and is no longer blazed). I continued along the former trail past the view until it met with the actual Arden-Surebridge Trail, which I took back down to the trailhead where my car was parked.

Map of the Route

Sunset on Lake Skanatati

Rocks Ascending the Mountain

Ascending Pine Swamp Mountain View

Pine Swamp Mountain Sunset View

Red Cross Trail Trailhead

Steps at the Arden-Surebridge Trailhead

Dusk at Lake Skanatati