Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park
Putnam Co.,
New York
Hiking Trails:
School Mountain Road Trail: White blaze
Fahnestock Trail: Blue blaze
Round Hill Bypass Trail: Green blaze
Total Time: 2:20 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.8 Miles
Pros: Very scenic area with great views
Cons: None
Continuing my exploration of Fahnestock State Park, I decided to visit Round Hill, which looked impressive from the map. The area was generally quiet, especially for a very nice Sunday with warm weather (the temperature climbed up to 80 degrees by mid-day.)
I parked at the Hubbard Lodge parking area, near the Intersection of Route 9 and Route 301. I took the School Mountain Road Trail, crossing the new bridges, to the Fahnestock Trail at it's beginning, crossing the temporary bridge. I took the trail as it went around the south part of the mountain and then snaked up to the first view at Round Top.
I continued along the ridge and then climbed to the top of the mountain, which is a rocky area with sweeping views to the east, overlooking Bull Hill and Storm King Mountain. I encountered a baby Common Quail at this point who must have lost it's mother as it was following me along the trail for some time.
I then continued along the trail, descending into a notch and then meeting the Round Hill Bypass Trail. On my maps, the Round Hill Bypass Trail has it's terminus at this point. However, I noticed that it extended further north, and figured that that it would meet with the School Mountain Road Trail and the bottom in the valley, as it was headed in that direction. My thought was correct, and it did meet the School Mountain Road Trail, passing along a very nice waterfall near the extended trail end. I then took the School Mountain Road Trail south, all the way to the trailhead and back to my car.
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| Map of the Route |
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| Beginning of the Hike at the Trailhead |
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| Round Hill as Seen from the Beginning of the Hike |
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| School Mountain Road Trail with Newly Sprouted Greenery |
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| Another View of Round Hill in the Distance from Beyond the Marsh |
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| Newly Constructed Bridges over the Stream Crossing |
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| Marshy Area and Brook from the New Bridge |
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| Plaque Along the New Bridge, Built be West Point Cadets in 2018 |
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| Temporary Bridge Across the Brook |
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| First View Along Round Top |
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| View from Round Top, Facing Storm King Mountain |
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| View of Bull Hill from Round Top |
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| Tent with a Group of Hiking Campers on the Fahnestock Trail |
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| Close-up of a Juvenile Common Quail |
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| The Common Quail that Followed me along part of the Route |
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| Me at the Main View at Round Hill |
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| View Facing North from Round Hill from the View |
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| Sweeping View Facing West from the Top of Round Hill |
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| Zoomed Out at the Above Route |
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| View Facing North from Round Hill |
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| View at Round Hill Facing East, Above the Main Ridge |
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| Waterfall at the Round Hill Bypass Trail |
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| Me at the Above Waterfall |
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| Another Cascade Right Above the Previous One |
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| Intersection of Several Trails at the Terminus of the Round Hill Bypass Trail |
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| New Bridge Across the Brook at the Terminus of the Round Hill Bypass Trail |
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| Workers Actively Building a New Bridge at the School Mountain Road Trail |
