Bear Mountain Short Hike

Bear Mountain State Park,
Rockland / Orange Counties,
New York

Trails:
Appalachian Trail (AT): White Blaze

Total Time: 0:50 hr
Estimated Distance: 1.5 Miles

I had made a trip to the Bear Mountain zoo with my wife and kids. After we had finished, my wife agreed to drive up to the top of the mountain on Perkins Drive while I would run up and meet her. So I started at the zoo, and hiked up fast along the new AT Trail. Near the end of the first round I took bushwack shortcut and cut across to the tower at the summit. My wife and kids beat me to the top.

The photos below were taken with my cell phone since that is all I had with me for this hike.

Map of the route.

View from the first viewpoint.
Facing southeast towards the Hudson River,
Iona Island, and Peekskill.

Seasonal Waterfall on the way up.

At the top. A couple admiring the view.

Rockhouse Mountain

Harriman State Park,
Rockland County,
(and a touch of Orange County),
New York

Trails:
Beech Trail: Blue Blaze
Long Path: Green Blaze
Rockhouse Mountain Trail: Unblazed
Bushwacks and unmarked trails

Total Time: 1:40 hr
Estimated Distance: 2.5 Miles

Rockhouse Mountain is the highest point in Rockland County, at 1283 feet above sea level. I looked at the maps to see if there was a higher point in Rockland but couldn't find any, although there are several points that make it very close. Surprisingly, there is no trail that ascends this mountain. However, there is an easy climb to the Rockhouse viewpoint which is short and right off the road, and it offers an excellent view. I drive by this mountain almost on a weekly basis, and this was the first time I decided to get out and climb it despite there being no trail up.

I parked on Gate Hill Road/Lake Kanawauke Dr near the end of of its snaking route along Rockhouse Mountain. I parked near the end of Rockhouse where it dips down, right after the "Rock House" located on the Trail Conference Map. I ascended the steep rocky portion of this mountain to the very good view, which faces south and east. There is somewhat of a eroded trail along the top ridge, though it eventually fades in the shrubs. The view is not at the true summit; to reach the true summit you have to bushwack a bit to the east past the viewpoint.

I continued bushwacking past the summit, then bushwacked down the mountain towards the Beech Trail. Continued for a short distance on the Beech Trail to the Rockhouse Mountain Trail. This trail is unmblazed and cuts accross from the Beech until the unmarked road that starts at Lake Askoti. It is a well-known unblazed trail and is unofficially marked throughout its length by rock pile cairns. I took this trail until the unmarked road beyond Lake Askoti, and then headed along that trail to the shore of Lake Askoti near where it intersects 7 Lakes Drive. From there I took the Long Path south back towards where I parked my car.

Map of the Route
Harriman State Park, Rockland Co, NY

Rockhouse Mountain from the Road.
Climbed this steep rocky area to get to the View.

Ascending Rockhouse Mountain, with the road in view.

View atop Rockhouse Mountain, facing West.

View atop Rockhouse Mountain, facing south,
with Jackie Jones Tower in view in the center-left.

Cairn at the Northern end of the Rockhouse Mountain Trail.

A Very Gray Lake Askoti.

Lake Askoti With part of Pine Swamp Mnt Behind.

Kakiat Mountain

Kakiat Mountain,
Kakiat County Park
Rockland County,
New York

Trails:
Mountain Trail: Orange Blaze
Kakiat Trail: White Blaze

Total Time: 1.0 Hours
Total Distance: 2.4 Miles


I had to do a really quick hike early in the morning since my brother-in-law was getting married later in the day, and I was warned that I had to be on time. So I had to do a short, quick hike close to home. I go to Kakiat on a regular basis, usually once a week, so I usually don't take any pictures. However, this time was different since I just got my new digital SLR Camera (Nikon D5000). So I had to take the camera on its inagural hike and post the pictures on the blog.

It was an extremely hot and muggy day, so it was good I started early in the morning. Parked at the Kakiat parking area, crossed the new bridge accross the Mahwah River, and took the mountain trail up to the summit. Continued on the newly extended mountain trail to the end where it hits the Kakiat Trail, and took this all the way down to the end.

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Map of the Route

The new bridge at the beginning of the hike

crossing the Mahwah River.

This bridge was built in Summer 2009.

Trout Fisherman in the Mahwah River.

Taken from the above bridge.

The Mountain Trail at the foot of the mountain,

where it is very wide.

View near the top. Looking southeast.

In the distant center is the RCC fieldhouse.

At the top of the escarpment. Facing south.

Note what a hazy day it was.

From the top looking north-northeast

toward the edge of Cobus Mountain.

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