Hook Mountain Upper Nyack Trail Revisited

Nyack Beach State Park /
Hook Mountain State Park
Rockland Co, NY

Hiking Trails:
Upper Nyack Trail: White blaze
Long Path: Green blaze

Total Time: 1:40 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.7 Miles

Pros: Nice river views, good climb, great views
Cons: Urban area below mountain
Hike Type: Figure 8 Loop
Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/tGkNkdJNjcWxkjAW9

I hike up this new trail a few years ago, and it was a really enjoyable trail from the riverfront of the Hudson River up to the top of Hook Mountain. This was a nice late fall day and I decided to return. I parked at the main parking area at Nyack Beach State Park, and took the Upper Nyack Trail as it snaked up to the Plateau Road and then on the new trail area. This area had the trail cut into talus from the above cliffs, and the trail mostly skirts the bottom of the talus.

I continued along the trail and then bushwhacked up the area to the Long Path as a shortcut route. I then took the Long Path to the first view which faces south, and then continued up to the top summit view of Hook Mountain, with a 360 degree view from the top. I then went down on the Yellow Trail that goes down to Route 9W and then cut back to the Long Path, which I took all the way to the intersection of the Upper Nyack Trail. I then took the road to Nyack Beach back to my car.

Map of the Route

Hudson River at Nyack Beach

Beginning of the Upper Nyack Trail

View Looking Up the Cliff at Hook Mountain

Late Fall Foliage on the Upper Nyack Trail

Bushwhack Route to the Long Path

Hudson River from the Long Path

First View on Hook Mountain

Tappan Zee Bridge

View of Rockland County Ascending to the Top of Hook Mountain

View on top of Hook Mountain

Start of the Upper Nyack Trail

Hook Mountain Ridge Hike

Hook Mountain State Park
Rockland Co.
New York

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

Total Time: 1:15 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.1 Miles

Pros: Good climb and excellent views
Cons: None
Hike Type: Out and back
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/bzNzAZNxLmFG8oLA8

I wanted a short but sweet hike with good views and a good climb, and this hike fit the bill. I parked on Route 9W by the Yellow Trail, and took the Yellow Trail up the mountain to the intersection of the Long Path, which is the summit of the mountain and affords a beautiful view. I continued along the ridge northward on the Long Path to several more beautiful views of the Hudson River and the Tappan Zee Bridge. At the point where the trail veers away from the edge of the ridge I turned around and went back the same route I came, but took the Long Path down at the last view and then took the Yellow Trail back.

Map of the Route

Hook Mountain Summit 

Tappan Zee Bridge

Flowering Beavertail Cactus

Hook Mountain Summit

View Above Nyack Beach

My Turn Around Point

Chevra I Met at the Return Route