Cheescote Pond

Cheescote Mountain Park,
Town of Haverstraw,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Long Path: Green blaze

Total Time: 0:17 hour
Estimated Distance: 0.7 Miles

Pros: Scenic lake
Cons: Suburban area and view of houses
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Level of Difficulty: Very easy

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/whriLRPfZq49pVCu5

I still had to take it easy with my hiking, so elected for this very easy trail around a scenic lake only a few miles away from Harriman State Park. I parked on Cheescote Lane at the cul-de-sac, and walked along the trail to the lake. I then took the Long Path for a short distance and then continued along the path around the lake. I looped around the lake and then took the trail back to the parking area.

Map of the Route

Cheescote Pond Connector Path

Strange Orange Mushrooms on the Trail Path

Sign Approaching Cheescote Pond

Me at Cheescote Pond

Paved Path where the Long Path Goes

Long Path Leaving Cheescote Pond

Cheescote Pond Paved Path

Cheesecote Pond

Cheesecote Mountain Long Path Spring Hike

Burgess Meredith Park/Cheesecote Mountain Town Park
Rockland County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Long Path: Green blaze

Total Time: 1:20 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.8 Miles

Pros: Quiet area with few people encountered
Cons: No views, beginning part adjacent to Palisades Parkway has lots of noise

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick

The spring weather was finally kicking in, and it got up to the upper 50's and sunny during the hike. While I have done Cheesecote Mountain many times, I had never done it in its entirety on the Long Path, and decided to take this opportunity. Cheesecote Mountain is an extension of the Ramapo Mountains that is adjacent to Harriman State Park on the other side of the Call Hollow Road Valley. It is independent mountain without merging directly into any other mountains. Much of this mountain is developed, with large homes offering spectacular views of the mountains, the Hudson Valley, and even New York City in the distance. However, the northern part of this mountain is protected as a town park, and contains a small pond, some unmarked trails, and the Long Path traversing it from east to west.

We parked one car at Burgess Meredith Park, a small park in the village of Pomona, and another car on Call Hollow Road where it intersects with the Long Path. We started the hike at Burgess Meredith Park, walking along the trail alongside the river, and then cutting through the brush a short distance to the Long Path. For some reason this park doesn't connect to the Long Path which is only about 100 away, so you have to do a short bushwack to get towards the Long Path. We headed on the Long Path, along the south Branch of the Minisceongo Creek, and crossing the creek on a bridge that is also used by the Palisades Parkway.

After crossing the bridge, the trail ascends up the eastern flank of Cheesecote Mountain, and eventually ends up by the Cheesecote Pond. There is now a paved road around the pond which is driveable. Along the road we observed what was perhaps the last of the snow of the season, in a shady pocket alongside a steep embankment. We continued along the Long Path and then started descending along the western flank of the mountain, and then went through the veteran's cemetery. After that, the trail meets Call Hollow Road, where we had left the other car.

Cheescote Mountain Loop

Cheescote Mountain County Park
Rockland County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Long Path: Green blaze
Unmarked Trails

Total Time: 1:20 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.5 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate to Slightly Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Slightly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Pond and view
Pros: Scenic Pond and Nice view
Cons: Around a built-up area, path around pond recently paved, not enough marked trails, part of this area creepy

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

Google Map of Parking:

View 2013 Hiking Locations in a larger map

Cheesecote Mountain is an individual mountain jutting out adjacent to the Ramapo Mountain escarpment. It is not part of Harriman State Park, and  half the mountain is built up with million-dollar homes, and the other half is preserved as parkland. There are many trails and paths in this park, though the only official marked trail is the Long Path, which enters on one side and comes out the other.

We parked on Call Hollow Road by the Cemetery Access area, and headed up the Long Path from there. In less than five minutes the trail hits a cemetery, and skirts around it. The cemetery looks like some sort of veteran's cemetery. From there the Long Path crosses under the power lines, and starts climbing the mountain. On the right side of the trail there are houses in the distance. We then walked around the pond, which was recently paved all around, taking away from its natural setting. We then took a northern spur trail up to the top of the mountain and a good viewpoint, and then down a little to a bushwack. We bushwacked to a wide trail skirting the northern part of the mountain, which eventually on to Call Hollow Road.

Map of the Route

Entrance of the Cemetary

The Long Path Skirting by the Cemetery

Cheesecoate Pond, from the Long  Path

Large House Behind  the Paved Path around Cheesecoate Pond.
This path was just recently paved for some reason.

View from the Cheesecoate Mountain Summit.
Facing west towards Jackie Jones Mountain and Tower.

Another view from the Summit, Facing West.
Note Gate Hill Road Snaking Up the Mountain

 

Shimmy Descending the Steep, Rocky Path
Along the Northern Flank of Cheesecoate Mountain