Kakiat RBBN Hike

Kakiat County Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Mountain Trail: Orange blaze

Total Time: 1:15 minutes
Estimated Distance: 1.4 Mile

Pros: Good climb, short and sweet
Cons: View at summit is getting overgrown
Hike Type: Back and out
Level of  Difficulty: Slightly difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/EFMnGZqJnP9RTZN96

Hiking Partners:
Pinny Morozow
Charles Kaufman
Eli Wiener
Yedidya Zeilingold

Kakiat is a very close location and my go place when I need a hike and am short on time. I run a business networking group called the RBBN and took some member of our group on a hike, combining business and pleasure at the end of the work day.

We parked at the main parking area, crossed over the bridge and climbed to the first view on the Mountain Trail. We then continued ascending the upper view. After enjoying the view and taking a break, we then went down the Mountain Trail, taking the shortcut bypassing the lower view.

Map of the Route

Staging Before Starting Out

Kakiat Lower View

Approaching the Kakiat Upper View

Kakiat Upper View

Bear Mountain State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 1:40 minutes
Estimated Distance: 2.9 Mile

Pros: Very scenic area and good climb
Cons: Very busy area
Hike Type: Loop
Level of  Difficulty: Slightly difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/MeKbeRJzhp8ykYnR9

I parked at the dock area at Bear Mountain down by the Hudson River, and walked up towards the zoo, past the pool, and then up to Hessian Lake. Being a Sunday, this area around Hessian was extremely busy with people making barbecues and parties. I continued past to the steps where the Appalachian Trail climbs the mountain, and went along to the first view, the waterfalls, and then to the end of Perkins Drive by the dead end. I then took a short spur to the view facing south, and then bushwhacked along the old former Appalachian Trail route that connects to the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail. I noticed that the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail was also rerouted here further down the mountain and will explore this further on another trip. I then continued from here back the route I came back to my car.

Map of the Route

Bear Mountain Bridge and Bear with Antlers Statue

Bear Mountain Bridge and Anthony's Nose

Hessian Lake

Hessian Lake and Bear Mountain

Hessian Lake

AT Trail Information at the Foot of Bear Mountain

First View at Bear Mountain

View of the Hudson River, Iona Island, and Peekskill

Waterfalls 

View Facing South, Facing Dunderberg, Bald, the Timp, and West Mountain

View at Dunderberg

View on the Former AT Trail

Pine Meadow Brook Loop and Falls

Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail: Red blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze
Stony Brook Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 1:45 hours
Estimated Distance: 3.1 miles

Pros: Scenic area along creek
Cons: Busy area, bridge out
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Slightly Difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/81bVKvTKRakW7peq7

There was a lot of rain the past week, so figured this scenic area along the Stony Brook and Pine Meadow Brook would be very pretty, and I was correct. It was rainy in the morning but not actively raining, keeping away the often-busy crowds that are usually here. I parked at Reeves Meadow, and took the Pine Meadow Trail up all the way to the intersection of the 7 Hills Trail, and then took the bridge crossing Pine Meadow Brook to the Kakiat Trail and headed back down. I then continued past the Cascade of Slid Waterfalls, which was flowing very strongly, and then had do cross the brook where the trail was out by the Kakiat and Stony Brook Trail, hopping along the rocks on the overflowing brook. I then took the Stony Brook Trail to the Pine Meadow Trail back to my car.

Map of the Route

Information Station at the Beginning of the Hike

New Trail Map Posted at the Beginning of the Hike

Beautiful Cardinal Flower on the Pine Meadow Trail

Stony Brook

Pine Meadow Trail

Quartz Brook

Trail Intersection

Crossing Pine Meadow Brook

Large Rock with Small Cave Formation Underneath

Pine Meadow Brook Above the Falls

Cascade of Slid Waterfalls

Crossing the Brook Where the Bridge is Out