Sunday, September 8, 2019

Hook Mountain Ridge

Hook Mountain State Park,
Near Rockland Lake
Rockland Co.
New York

Hiking Trails:
Long Path: Green blaze
Yellow Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 2:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.8 Miles

Pros: Excellent views and scenic area
Cons: Not as rural as other hikes

Hiking Partners:
Shimmy Rosenberg
Sruly Rosenberg

Hook Mountain is a narrow ridge alongside between the Hudson River and Rockland Lake. It shoots up sharply with very steep cliffs just a short distance from the Hudson River, with the Long Path traversing the ridgeline.

We started at Rockland Lake landing where we parked the first car. We took the Long Path south, climbing the ridge from the notch, and took the unblazed spur path that traverses the view rather than the Long Path. There is an excellent view of the Hudson River and across it to Ossining. We then met back up with the Long Path and continued along the trail, where it remains unremarkable without any additional views for some time.

However, right where the mountain bend, there is an excellent view facing south towards Nyack and the Tappan Zee Bridge, and the trail then climbs to the summit of Hook Mountain once again affording an amazing view. We then took the yellow trail on the descent to Route 9W and back to our other car.

Map of the Route

Information Plaque about the Knickerbocker Ice Company at Rockland Lake

Hudson River from the First View

Croton Point Reservoir Across the River

Hi Point Facing North

View Facing South from the First View

View of Ossining and Boats in the Hudson River

Our Crew Looking down the Cliffs 

Another View

Smoking Embers from a Camper Fire that Wasn't Put Out

Walking along the Long Path

Middle View along the Ridge

View Facing Nyack and the Tappan Zee Bridge

View of the Palisades Cliffs and Hudson River

Looking Down to Nyack Beach State Park

Our Motley Crue of Hikers

Posing at the Hook Mountain Summit Approach

Another View of Nyack and the Tappan Zee Bridge

Cactus Grove on the top of Hook Mountain

View on top of Hook Mountain facing North with Rockland Lake

View into Rockland County Facing West from the Summit

Me on Hook Mountain

Our Group on the Summit

Tappan Zee Bridge Span

The Rosenbergs

Me at Hook Mountain Summit

Descending the Mountain

No comments:

Post a Comment