NJ Palisades - Englewood Boat Basin to Huylers Landing

Palisades Interstate Park
Bergen Co.
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Shore Trail: White blaze
Huyler's Landing Trail: Red blaze
Long Path: Green blaze
Dyckman Hill Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 3:20 hour
Estimated Distance: 8.6 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Pros: Peaceful walk along river and good views
Cons: Urban views and noise from highway

This is the longest stretch for a loop hike in the Jersey Palisades. The terrain and views are similar to some of the others that I have done in the past, and I wanted to cover some more of the trails along the Long Path and Shore Trail that I had not yet done. This hike, like the other hikes in this area, features dramatic diabase cliffs along the side of the Hudson River, with a pleasant walk alongside the river on the bottom, and nice views above the cliffs on top.

It was a seasonally brisk late November day, and there was surprisingly some foliage and color remaining despite the lateness in the season. I parked at the Englewood Boat Basin and Picnic Area down at the bottom of the Palisades, and went on the Shore Path northward along the side of the river towards Huylers Landing. Along the way I passed several points of interest, including Bloomers Beach,  Undercliff Dock, Canoe Beach, Powder Dock, and Lambier's Brook. All these areas are on the map but they have all since reverted to a wilderness state. Across the river was an urban view first of Inwood Hill Park in Manhattan, the Henry Hudson Bridge, the Riverdale section of the Bronx, and then the urban waterfront and downtown of Yonkers.

A short distance before Huyler's Landing is Greenbrook falls, an attractive and beautiful waterfalls with a significant amount of water despite the recent dry conditions. It is a surprisingly significant falls given its close proximity to New York City. I then continued to the Huylers Landing Trail snaking up the cliffs. At the top of the Huylers Landing Trail, I took the Long Path north parallel to the Palisades Parkway going southward. This part of the hike is very loud from the constant cars in proximity on the highway. The trail goes to the Rockefeller Lookout, which affords excellent views from the top of the cliff across the Hudson River. I continued until the Dyckman Hill Trail, which descends the cliffs by Englewood Ave while passing a different set of waterfalls along the route. The Dyckman Hill Trail ends at the Englewood Picnic Area where I had parked my car.

Map of the Route

Looking up at the Palidades Cliffs from Englewood Boat Basin

Looking Across the River to Inwood Hill Park in Manhattan

Looking North

George Washington Bridge

Boats Covered for Winter at the Boat Basin

Bloomers Beach

Shore Trail Informational Trail

Hudson River Along the Shore Path

Abandoned Run on the Shore Trail

Shore Trail Looking South

Downtown Yonkers Across the Hudson River

Late Season Foliage along the Shore Trail

View near Greenbrook Falls, Facing North

Greenbrook Falls

Greenbrook Falls, Wide Perspective

Greenwood Falls, Zoomed In

Downtown Yonkers

Huyler's Landing Trail

View from Above Cliffs

Facing South from Rockefeller Lookout

View Across the Hudson River

View Across Hudson to Henry Hudson Bridge

From Rockefeller Lookout, Facing South

Cascade along the Dyckman Hill Trail

Palisades State Border Hike

Palisades Interstate Park
Bergen and Rockland Counties,
New York and New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Long Path: Green blaze
Shore Trail: White blaze
Trail E: Unblazed

Total Time: 1:30 hours
Estimated Distance: 3.3 miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Recommended for a tough hike with good views close to NYC
Points Of Interest: Amazing views above cliffs, hike to riverfront

Google Maps of Parking:

View 2012 Hiking in a larger map

This hike has many interesting parts to it that make it unique:

• The hike starts at the top with the main view above, and then one hikes down.
• The hike straddles two states: New York and New Jersey.
• Though the hike is a very close proximity to New York City, it is a very rugged and serene terrain.

This hike features sweeping views of the Hudson River atop tall vertical cliffs ascending straight above the western shore of the Hudson River. These cliffs are a volcanic rock formation known as the Palisades (after which both the Parkway and the Mall are named after.)

The hike starts at the State Line Lookout on the Palisades Parkway. (If driving southbound on the Palisades, turn around at exit 3 to get here.) After parking I took the Long Path north, which eventually crosses the state border, at which point there is a large monument marking the state line. Immediately after crossing into New York, the trail is literally immediately above the cliff above the river and offers sweeping views including that of the Tappan Zee Bridge directly north crossing the Hudson River. After descending the steep stairs into the valley, the Long Path goes slightly inland and crosses a small stream. Here is the intersection with the Shore Trail.

The Shore Trail further descends along the side of the stream and winds up steeply at the shoreline of the river. At this point where it hits the water stands a small waterfall, known as Peanut Leap Falls (which was mostly dry), and an old ruin known as The Pergola, which supposedly was an old estate. I would have liked to continue at this point ahead to the Giant's Stairs, which is an amazing hiking experience, but the trail had been closed. On May 12, 2012 there was a giant rock slide (no pun intended) below the State Line Lookout, and entirely covered the Shore Path at the Giant's Stairs. (View this article for additional information on this massive rock slide.) The rock slide caused the closure of the trail, and it is uncertain when the trail will be rebuilt and reopened. Anyone who has any additional information on this should please share this in the comments section.

At this point I turned around, climbed back up the path above the falls, and then did a small bushwack cutting across back to the Long Path before the stairs. Retraced my path to the Long Path, and then veered off a parallel Cross Country Ski Path with a sign calling it Trail E, which took me to the old abandoned part of Route 9W which I took back to the parking area.

Map of the Route.
I just installed a new Topo KMZ file for Google Earth,
so my maps should be better quality now when they overlap a USGS zone.

View at the beginning. Looking south towards Yonkers and The Bronx.

View at the beginning looking North.

Junction at the Long Path.
Sign says that the Giant's Staircase is currently out.

Interesting Balanced Rock.
I think this is called "Station Rock".

NY/NJ State Border Monument.

View Immediately North of the Border in NY.
Facing north towards the Tappan Zee Bridge.

Interesting Diabase Column Formation

Looking north before descent viewing the Tappan Zee Bridge.

The same view zoomed out.

A trickling Peanut Leap Falls on the left,
with the Pergola ruin on the right.

Shorline on the Hudson River at the end of the hike.

 

Step ascent back up on the Long Path.

At the end of the hike facing south.
Note the facial formation on the rock. Looks like an Indian.

Zoomed In to the Indian.

Shore Trail and Giant Stairs

Palisades Interstate Park,
Rockland and Bergen Counties,
New York and New Jersey

Hiking Partners:
Yehuda Koblick

This was actually the 3rd Sunday in a row I did a hike in the Palisades. Was on my way back from an event from Brooklyn so this hike made the most sense in terms of location. Parked on the State Line Lookout off the Palisades Parkway, and headed north on the Long Path (LP). Passed the NY/NJ State Line (crossing over into NY), and took a picture of the monument there. Continued on the LP and Spurred off on the Shore Trail to descend down the cliffs to the shore, following the stream to Peanut Leap Falls. The falls are right above where the Stream enters the Hudson River. The falls are on the site of an ancient destroyed mansion called the Pergola.

Continued along the Shore Path south along the Hudson River edge. Scrambled along the crazy Giant's Stairs, which are massive columns of diabase which tumbled from the sheer cliffs above. This part of the hike is very intense with the entire portion rocky and uneven. Took the Forest View trail back up (this is a very steep and winding ascent thru a small notch in the vertical cliffs), and then headed north on the Long Path back to the car.

I just have to comment at this point on how awful and innacurate the 1991 edition of the Trail Conference Maps on the Hudson Palisades Trails are. I don't know if the newer editions are better but I suppose I should make the investment.

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Looking north from the Overlook

Sheer cliff walls facing north from the Overlook

Me at the Overlook

Facing south from the Overlook, viewing the
city of Yonkers across the Hudson

Me and Yehuda at the Overlook

The monument at the NY/NJ Border

View north from the Long Path before the
descent with the Tappan Zee Bridge in view

Shore Trail Warning Sign

Descending the trail near the falls

At Peanut Leap Falls.
I am sitting on the ruins of the Pergola.

Me and Yehuda at Peanut Leap Falls
Yehuda on the Hudson River shore at the Pergola

Yehuda scrambling along a small portion
of the Giant Stairs

Giant Stairs with the Overlook on top,
more then 500 feet straight up