Kennedy Dells Waterfalls

Kennedy Dells County Park
New City,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Fitness Trail: Yellow blaze
White Trail: White blaze
Blue Trail: Blue blaze
Service Path: Unblazed

Total Time: 0:55 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.2 Miles

Pros: Many relaxed trails and pretty waterfalls
Cons: Busy area

Hike Type: Loop
Level of  Difficulty: Very easy

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/747SFkw681nTEzz79

I had been to Kennedy Dells four years prior, and walked the perimeter of the park on all the trails. However, I did not visit the waterfalls, and took the opportunity to visit the falls on this trip. I was surprised that the water was strongly flowing despite the lack of recent rain. 

I parked at the main parking area in the south of the park, and took the Fitness Trail along the south portion of the park to the east portion of the park, to the White Trail. I then took the short path to the waterfalls, which is really a breached dam but looks like a natural waterfalls. I then took the Blue Trail to the Service Path which I took back to the parking area.

Map of the Route

Start of the Fitness Trail

Fitness Trail

Open Field

White Trail

Brook

Waterfalls at the Dam

Old Ruins at the Waterfalls/Dam

Path on the Return Route

Pine Meadow Brook Loop and Falls

Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail: Red blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze
Stony Brook Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 1:45 hours
Estimated Distance: 3.1 miles

Pros: Scenic area along creek
Cons: Busy area, bridge out
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Slightly Difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/81bVKvTKRakW7peq7

There was a lot of rain the past week, so figured this scenic area along the Stony Brook and Pine Meadow Brook would be very pretty, and I was correct. It was rainy in the morning but not actively raining, keeping away the often-busy crowds that are usually here. I parked at Reeves Meadow, and took the Pine Meadow Trail up all the way to the intersection of the 7 Hills Trail, and then took the bridge crossing Pine Meadow Brook to the Kakiat Trail and headed back down. I then continued past the Cascade of Slid Waterfalls, which was flowing very strongly, and then had do cross the brook where the trail was out by the Kakiat and Stony Brook Trail, hopping along the rocks on the overflowing brook. I then took the Stony Brook Trail to the Pine Meadow Trail back to my car.

Map of the Route

Information Station at the Beginning of the Hike

New Trail Map Posted at the Beginning of the Hike

Beautiful Cardinal Flower on the Pine Meadow Trail

Stony Brook

Pine Meadow Trail

Quartz Brook

Trail Intersection

Crossing Pine Meadow Brook

Large Rock with Small Cave Formation Underneath

Pine Meadow Brook Above the Falls

Cascade of Slid Waterfalls

Crossing the Brook Where the Bridge is Out

Ramapo Reservation Waterfalls

Ramapo County Reservation
Bergen Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Vista Loop Trail: Yellow blaze
Ridge Loop Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 0:55
Estimated Distance: 1.8 miles

Pros: Scenic lakes, nice foliage, and waterfall
Cons: Area is very busy
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Map of Route:
https://goo.gl/maps/4JGpfPtoAxb7DW2a6

My office is very close to Ramapo Reservation, and this was a beautiful fall day with a large volume of rain earlier in the week. There was an early season Nor'easter that dumped 4 inches of rain in the area, and figured it would be worthwhile to check out the waterfalls.

I parked in the main parking area, and took the Vista Loop Trail, crossing the bridge over the swelled Ramapo River, and then over to Scarlet Oak Pond. I then continued along the trail to the waterfalls, crossing the brook and ascending the short climb to the bottom of the falls. The falls were very impressive, and flowing very strongly. I continued on the Vista Loop Trail, to the Ridge Loop Trail, going back down the back to the Vista Loop Trail which I took back to the beginning of the hike.

Map of the Route

Ramapo River Overflowing at the Bridge

Overflowing Scarlet Oak Reservoir

Scarlet Oak Reservoir

Vista Loop Trail Fall Foliage

Ascent to the Waterfalls