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

Upper Nyack Trail to Nyack Beach

Nyack Beach State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Upper Nyack Trail: White Blaze
Nyack Beach Path: Unblazed

Total Time: 0:35 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.6 Miles

Pros: Scenic area and nice river views
Cons: Many people on trail
Hike Type: Back and out
Level of Difficulty: Paths: Very Easy / Bushwhack: Very Difficult

Hike Type: Inverted Lollipop Loop

Google Map of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/tGTZZ3DESqKtEihGA

I had was off for the Friday before New Years, which was on a Saturday, and I had an errand to run at the Palisades Center Mall in West Nyack. When I finished I had about half an hour available for a short hike, so I took the opportunity to complete the Upper Nyack Trail, a new trail which connects Hook Mountain to Nyack Beach. I had hiked the new trail back in November, but didn't complete the remainder section connecting the plateau to the Hudson River waterfront. This part of the trail was already there before, but was now officially routed as the Upper Nyack Trail.

I parked at the plateau, and walked on the road down the hill to the Upper Nyack Trail, meandering down to the end at the Nyack Beach Path. I took the Nyack Beach Path for about half a mile along the river, before turning back and going back up to the Upper Nyack Trail, but then I bushwhacked an old steep route up to the plateau, where I returned to my car.

Map of the Route

Cliff at Hook Mountain from the Plateau

Upper Nyack Trail

Hudson River at Nyack Beach

Tappan Zee Bridge in the Fog

Hook Mountain New Upper Nyack Trail

Nyack Beach State Park /
Hook Mountain State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Upper Nyack Trail: White Blaze
Long Path: Green Blaze
Yellow Trail: Yellow Blaze

Total Time: 2:25 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.8 Miles

Pros: Nice scenery, new trail, good climb, great views
Cons: Many people on trail
Hike Type: Back and out
Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/K4o8qhUSwVtM2qb79

Hiking Partners:
Michael Pariser

I heard about a new trail created that connects Nyack Beach State Park with Hook Mountain State Park. I decided this was a good opportunity to check out the new trail, while still getting a good climb and some good views. I did not know where to find the new trail. We passed the Marydell Center on my way driving, and there were signs there that there was no hiking access from there. We then drove into Nyack Beach State Park and drove up to the Plateau, a flat area directly beneath the sheer cliff which has some picnic areas. We walked around the area to see if the trail started from there, but it did not. We then went back to the car, and driving down back to the entrance we noticed some hikers coming out of the new trail. It is accessed on the road to the plateau right after the beginning of the park at the toll booth. We drove back up, parked at the plateau, and then walked down the hill on the road for a short distance until reaching the trailhead.

This new trail is quite a marvel, going through a rocky area full of large boulders from talus from the cliffs above. We got to the end of the trail at the long path, and took the long path north to the mountain summit, which affords a great 360 degree view. We then took the Yellow Trail down to Route 9W, where Michael had another car and I proceeded back up the mountain from the Yellow Trail. Just prior to the summit I cut across to the short connector to the Long Path, and took the same route back, to my car.

Map of the Route

Cliffs of the Palisades at Hook Mountain at the Plateau

New Upper Nyack Trail

Steps Along the Upper Nyack Trail

View of the Tappan Zee Bridge and Hudson River on the Long Path

Upper Nyack and Nyack Amid Fall Foliage

Michael Pariser Approaching the Hook Mountain Summit

View To the West Approaching the Hook Mountain Summit

Nyack and Upper from Hook Mountain Summit

Rockland Lake and Hudson River from the Hook Mountain Summit

The New Tappan Zee Bridge

Foliage Scenes along the Upper Nyack Trail