High Tor Mountain Summit

High Tor State Park
Rockland Co.
New York

Hiking Trails:
Long Path: Green blaze
Hi Tor Scramble Spur: Blue blaze
Spur Path: White blaze

Total Time: 2:15 hours
Estimated Distance: 3.1 Mile

Pros: Great scramble and fantastic views
Cons: Urban views
Hike Type: Out and back with spur and loop
Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/vRSDUzRJBSARDu3w8

Hiking Partner:
Joseph Friedman

High Tor is a great hike, with a nice scramble and great views. We parked on Ridge Road at Old Route 304 and took the Long Path up the mountain. The climb is gradual until reaching the first scramble. The original Long Path route went up the scramble, but was rerouted. However, there is now a blue blaze on the original scramble route. We took this trail, up to the top summit. The view at the summit really captures views on all sides, from Lake DeForest and New City one side to Haverstraw on one side to the Hudson River on the other. We took the Long Path down, and took the Spur Path to the historic Youmans-Van Order House. The trail fizzled out once we reached the ruin of the home, so we turned around at that point and went back to the Long Path which we took back to our car.

Map of the Route

Plaque for the Spur Path to the Ruin

Start of the Path Up the Scramble

First View of Haverstraw

Vulture Soaring Above the Hudson River

View at Haverstraw

View South with Lake DeForest

View South Towards Hook Mountain

Condos at Haverstraw Bay

Split Rock at the Summit

Quad Tree on the Long Path

Pond at the Youmans-Van Order House

Frog at the Pond

Youmans-Van Order House Ruins

High Tor Late Summer Hike

High Tor State Park,
Near Haverstraw
Rockland Co.
New York

Hiking Trails:
Long Path: Green blaze
Blue Connector Path: Blue blaze

Total Time: 2:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.5 Miles

Pros: Good climb with great views
Cons: Urban area in view, graffiti

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

High Tor is the tallest peak of the Palisades, towering over the village of Haverstraw and the Hudson River. The peak offers 360 degree views from all sides, with a challenging hike that requires some scrambling. I had not been here in some time, and this was a hot, late summer day with a bright blue sky and low humidity.

We parked the first car at Old Route 304 and Ridge Road, and took the Long Path from there into the woods where it climbs the south side of High Tor. The trail then steeply ascends to the summit. Several years ago the Long Path was rerouted away from the steep climb that it used to take up directly on the scramble, to a more gentle ascent to the side. However, we did notice a new trail marker following the old steep scramble along the former route, which we took. After the summit, we descended further along the trail, where the trail turns into a wide path all the way back to the parking area along Central Highway, where we had our second car parked.

Map of the Route

Sign at the Beginning of the Hike About Keeping the Trail Clean

Shimmy on he First Ascent

New Marking on the Scramble Trail

NYC Skyline Facing South

Couple Overlooking Haverstraw at the First View

High Tor Cliffs and Haverstraw

New Apartments and Hudson River at the Foot of the Mountain

View South Towards New City

Lake DeForest and High Tor Summit

Zoomed into Lake DeForest

Facing North from the Summit

Haverstraw and the Hudson River

View Facing South

Shimmy at the Summit

Haverstraw and Surrounding Area, with a Conrail Freight Train

Me at the Summit Facing Haverstraw

Me Atop High Tor