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

Ramapo Reservation Rain Hike

Ramapo Valley County Reservation
Mahwah,
Bergen Co.
New York

Hiking Trails:
Vista Spur: Yellow/Black blaze
Vista Loop Trail: Yellow blaze
River Connector Trail: Orange/Black blaze
River Loop: Orange blaze

Total Time: 0:55
Estimated Distance: 1.8 Miles

Pros: Scenic lake, waterfalls
Cons: Slippery in rain
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Very easy

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/SGNbXv6gowAaYiGA7

It was a rainy fall day. The rain was supposed to start later in the day, but it came early and it came strong. It was the leftovers of Hurricane Isaias that had affected the Gulf Coast earlier in the weekend. I can prepared with rain gear and an umbrella and stayed mostly dry until the end where the trail was flooded.

I parked in the main parking area for Ramapo Reservation, and took the Vista Spur trail for a short distance across the Ramapo River to the Vista Loop around Scarlet Oak Pond. I looped around the lake on the trail, and continued along the trail to waterfalls. I then turned around and took the River Connector Trail to the River Trail Loop back to the Vista Loop Trail and then back to my car.

Map of the Route

Ramapo River from the Trail Bridge

Scarlet Oak Pond in the Fall

Mountain View on a Rainy Day

Vista Loop Around Scarlet Oak Pond

Bridge Near the Waterfalls

Ramapo Reservation Waterfalls

Flooded River Trail

Ramapo River