Bald Mountain & Doodletown LinkedIn Hike

Harriman/Bear Mountain State Parks,
Rockland and Orange Counties,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Cornell Mine Trail: Blue blaze
Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze
1777 Trail: Red blaze
1777E Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 3:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.8 Miles

Pros: Good climb, great view, historic ghost town
Cons: None

Hiking Partners:
Tuli Krause
Abe Pressberger

I had been traveling alot over the month of October, thereby limited my hiking activities. The previous weekend at the peak of the foliage was stormy, with heavy rain and wind. In fact, it had been raining all week, and finally dried out over the following weekend. The sky was blue and bright, but alas much of the foliage was already gone.

I had meant to do a fall foliage hike with some LinkedIn members the prior week, but due to the inclment weather I postponed it, but it was late notice and we had a much smaller crowd than previous showings. However, my two fellow hikers were great company to have, and excellent networkers.

We parked the car on Route 9W at Iona Island at the trailhead parking, and took the Cornell Mine Trail. There is a small waterfall cascading at the very beginning of the hike, with another one nearby further up the creek. We climbed up to the intersection of the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail, and took that trail west towards the Bald Mountain summit. This area affords one of the most scenic in Harriman/Bear Mount state parks.

We then continued down the mountain and looping on the side of it on the 1777 Trail through Doodletown. Doodletown is a ghost time, with nothing left of its original town but foundations. The trail goes through old road that went through town. We then took the 1777E Trail at the intersection, and from there went back to our car.

Map of the Route

First Waterfall at the Beginning of the Hike

Main Waterfall near Doodletown

View of Bear Mountain While Ascending Bald Mountain

View of the Bear Mountain Bridge While Ascending Bald Mountain

Trail Intersection near the Summit of Bald Mountain

Summit View of Bald Mountain, Facing North Towards Bear Mountain

Bear Mountain Bridge and the Hudson River

West Mountain Across the Valley

View from Bald Mountain Facing South

Selfie View with Tuli and Abe

Bear Mountain Bridge and Anthony's Nose

Me at the Summit

Home Plaques at Doodletown

More Plaques and an Impressive Tree

Me, Tuli, and Abe at the Main Doodletown Intersection

Doodletown Reservoir

Lake Skanatati Pine Swamp Mnt Fall Hike

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Arden-Surebridge Trail: Red blaze
Long Path: Green blaze

Total Time: 0:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 0.9 Miles

Pros: Short, sweet loop hike with good views and scenic lake
Cons: None

Hiking Partners:
Joseph Friedman
Elisha Friedman

I was short on time, but wanted to get out and enjoy the fall foliage. We parked at the Lake Skanatati trailhead, and took the A-SB Trail up and veered off to the old route up to the top of the mountain and the view. We then bushwacked down to the Long Path, and went alongside Lake Skanatati and then back to our car.

Map of the Route

Lake Skanatati from the Parking Area

Waterfowl at Lake Skanatati

Lake Skanatati Fall Foliage

Lake Skanatati and Lake Kanawauke from Pine Swamp Mountain

Pine Swamp Mountain View

Scenic Fall Foliage Scene

Lake Skanatati Dam

Me at the Pine Swamp Mountain View

Above View, Zoomed Out

Me at Lake Skanatati

Tranquil Lake Skanatati Scene

Fall Colors at Lake Skanatati

Me at Lake Skanatati

And One More View of Lake Skanatai

Kakiat Lower Loop Fall Hike

Kakiat County Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

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

Total Time: 0:50 hours
Estimated Distance: 1.5 miles

Pros: Short scenic climb with rewarding views
Cons: None

I was going out of town for several days, and prior to leaving went on a very short fall foliage hike at Kakiat prior to leaving later in the morning. I parked at the main parking area, crossed the bridge at the Mahwah River, and took the Mountain Trail up the mountain, and veered off at the shortcut up the rocky crag to the lower Kakiat view. I then proceeded north off the trail, along a very well-traversed bushwack route that I frequently take, to the Kakiat Trail where it crosses the brook after the Pipeline. I took the Kakiat Trail down the mountain, then continued on it along the foot. I then took the short connector to the Old Mill Trail, which I took for a very short distance to the trails end and then back to my car.

Map of the Route

Mahwah River at the Entrance of Kakiat

Beginning of the Mountain Trail

Rocky Promenade at the Kakiat Lower Lookout

View Facing Southeast from the Kakiat Lower Lookout with NYC Skyline

View Facing East from the Kakiat Lower Lookout

Early Morning Sun

View from Kakiat Lower Viewpoint Facing South

Me at the Kakiat Lower Summit

Kakiat Trail at the Foot of the Mountain

Bear Mountain Appalachian Trail New Section Completed

Bear Mountain State Park,
Rockland/Orange Cos.
New York

Hiking Trails:
Appalachian Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 1:15 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.2 Miles

Pros: Excellent views and scenic trail
Cons: Very busy area on weekends

I was short on time, as rain was predicted later today. I wanted to do a short but scenic hike to enjoy the scenery, and wanted to check if the new portion of the Appalachian Trail connecting the end of Perkins Drive to the summit area.

I parked at the summit area near the tower on Perkins Memorial Drive, and took the Appalachian Trail north on the accessible trail, to the view on the north-facing area of Bear Mountain. The normally excellent view has poor visibility due to the fog.

I continued on the Appalachian Trail back south to the south-facing view of the mountain, and then continued down the trail to where it hits the old connector road. I took the old connector road to the Perkins Dead End, where the Appalachian Trail is reached again. At this point I noticed the new part of the Appalachian Trail that they were building for the past several years was finally completed and open. This part of the trail was very busy and full of people. But it was great seeing this new trail open for the first time. I took the new trail back to the top of the mountain and back to my car.

Map of the Route

Appalachian Trail at the Top of the Mountain

View at the Northern Lookout at Bear Mountain

Another View, with the Hudson River in View

Me at the Northern View

Southern View at Bear Mountain

Southern View, Facing Towards West Mountain

Southern View, Overlooking Queensboro Lake

Me at the Top View

Large Rock Exposure at the View

Walking along the Appalachian Trail

View Descending the Plateau

Overlooking West Mountain

Me Overlooking West Mountain

New Part of the Appalachian Trail

Stone Steps at the New Section of the AT

More Scenery at the New AT Trail

View South along the new AT Trail Section

View of the Hudson River Towards Peekskill

View of Bald Mountain and the Timp

View South of the Hudson River

Scenic New Section of Trail