Ramapo Mountain State Forest

Oakland,
Bergen County,
New Jersey

Trails:
MacEvoy Trail: Blue blaze
Hoeferlin Trail: Yellow blaze
Lookout Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 1:15 hr
Estimated Distance: 2.4 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended, though too many people
Points Of Interest: Scenic Lake, Nice views of the Wyanokies

Google Maps of Parking:

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Ramapo Mountain State Forest contains a dense network of trails in a small area in the Ramapo Highlands of New Jersey. There are some scenic views with a picturesque lake, though the trails here are very busy, especially on weekends. I parked in the lower parking area on Skyline Drive near Oakland, right off Interstate 287. Took the MacEvoy Trail up to Ramapo Lake, and then took the Hoeferlin Trail (combined with the Lookout Trail) up the mountain to the viewpoint, and then continued along and picked up the Lookout Trail. There is a spur that goes to a view off the Lookout Trail, though I didn't find it, probably partly due to my being in a big rush to get back home. After the descent of the Lookout Trail, took a short bushwack across the brook back to the MacEvoy Trail and back to my car.

Map of the Route

Ramapo Lake from the easternmost point

Ramapo Lake from the Dam

Lookout Trail Marker

View From the Summit Lookout,
Looking north towards Ramapo Lake and the Wyanokies

The same view, zoomed in,
with Wyanokie High Point in the Distance.

View from the Summit Lookout, Facing West.

View from the Summit Lookout, Facing South

View From the Lookout Trail before descending.
Facing northeast directly towards Interstate 287.

Cheescoate Pond

Cheesecoate Mountain Town Park,
Rockland County,
New York

Trails:
Long Path: Green blaze
Unmarked path around Cheescoate Pond

Total Time: 0:15 hr
Estimated Distance: 0.7 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Very Easy
Level of Recommendation: Recommended for a very short walk
Points Of Interest: Scenic and tranquil pond

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This is another very short hike. It is more of a walk then a hike, as much of the path is a wide, double-lane path. Cheescoate Pond is a very serene and scenic pond with a path around the lake. The fall foliage was already starting so I made sure to get some good pictures. I parked on Cheescoate Lane, a short cul-de-sac in the new expensive housing development, where a path at the Cul de sac leads to the pond. The Long Path skirts along the south part of the pond. I took the path around the lake and then headed back to the car.

Map of the Route

Cheescoate Pond from the South Shore, near the inlet

Cheescoate Pond from the North Shore, at the outlet

Same view as above zoomed in.
Note the foliage colors beginning to display.

Rockhouse Mountainand Lake Welch

Harriman State Park,
Rockland County,
New York

Trails:
Took unmarked trails and bushwacks

Total Time: 0:20 hr
Estimated Distance: 0.6 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult but very short
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Points Of Interest: Highest Point in Rockland County, Nice View

Google Maps of Parking:

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My time has been very short this time of the year and I lacked the time to take lengthy hikes. So I will post several shorter hikes for the next several weeks. Before hiking up Rockhouse Mountain I stopped at Lake Welch right after the Causeway on Route 106 for views of the Lake. The trees have just slightly started changing color and this could officially count as the first fall foliage hike.

Rockhouse Mountain is officially the highest point in Rockland County at 1,283 feet tall. There is no trail going up this mountain. There is somewhat of an overgrown path, but the hike is pretty much a bushwack. I had hiked this area for the first time in early April of this year. I decided to explore a bit more with the green on the trees, and also needed a very short hike, which this afforded. Although I didn't hit the actual summit, which is further east/northeast, I came close and made the view.

I parked on Lake Kanawauke Rd (County Route 106) after it winds along the side of Rockhouse Mountain on a side pull-off near the Long Path trail, and climbed the mountain on its western flank, which is full of rocky boulders. Climbed to the view and summit, went a little more along the ridge, and then bushwacked down the steep slope back to the road slightly before the bend and then hiked back along the side of the road.

Map of the Route

Lake Welch from the Causeway. Facing Southwest.

Lake Welch from the Causeway. Facing Northeast.

Lake Welch from the Causeway. Facing Southwest.

Talus, Rocks. and Boulders Ascending Rockhouse Mountain

View From Atop Rockhouse. Facing Southwest.

View From Atop Rockhouse. Facing Southwest towards the Swamp.

Lake Kanawauke Rd (Route 106) with early fall foliage.
Facing Lake Welch Parkway overpass in the Green Swamp.

Red Cross Trail

Harriman State Park,
Orange County
(and a small bit of Rockland County)
New York

Trails:
Arden Surebridge (ASB) Trail: Red Triange Blaze
Red Cross Trail: Red Blaze
Long Path: Green Blaze

Total Time: 2:00 hr
Estimated Distance: 2.5 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Tranquil forest and lake scenery with good views

Google Maps of Parking:

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This was a stunning September day. The parking lot by the lakes often fills up rather quickly on nice weekends, so its important to get here early. I had to scramble around to find a parking spot. I started at the parking area at Lake Skanatati off of Seven Lakes Drive. I went up the ASB Trail to the view atop Pine Swamp Mountain to the famous view, and from there took the Red Cross Trail down, across Seven Lakes Drive, and onto the shore of Lake Askoti.

This part of the Lake is very serene with boulder jagging into the crystal clear water. From there continued up the trail as it climbs the eastern part of Hasenclever Mountain. There is a nice view here not shown on the Trail Conference Map overlooking Hogencamp Mountain. Continued along to intersection with the unmarked trail that passes along from Lake Askoti. From there I went back towards the shore of Lake Askoti.

Map of the Route.
I pulled this from an older post in 2009.

View from the Pine Swamp Mnt View.
Facing south facing Lake Skanatati and Lake Kanawauke

Same view, but a bit more west and zoomed.

Rock Jutting into Lake Askoti.

View of Hogencamp Mnt.

Indian Rock

Sam's Point Preserve
Shawangunk Mountains,
Ulster County,
New York

Trails:
Loop Road
High Point Carriageway
Indian Rock Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 2:30 hr
Estimated Distance: 5 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Points Of Interest: Excellent Views and Interesting Rock formations

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 Indian Rock is an interesting rock formation within the Sam's Point Preserve. The entire area of the northern Shawangunk mountains is full of interesting rock formations and crevices, with a very unique geology. The hike to Indian Rock is fairly easy, and for the most park goes on former old roads so the paths are easy. I parked at the Sam's Point Preserve Parking area (parking here costs $10), and took the western side of the Loop Road up towards Lake Martanza. This old road is no longer accessible to vehicles, and has many dilapidated berry-picker huts on the side of the road. At Lake Martanza there are many large communications towers, which give this hike an eerie feeling, especially on a cloudy day. Continued at the High Point Carriageway for about half a mile until the Indian Rock Trail. The entire first part of the Indian Rock Trail is along boardwalk planks as it traverses above a wetlands bog. The Indian Rock Trail is about half a mile, and once I got the Indian Rock climbed through it and scrambled around. The trail ends here at the rock, so I turned around and followed my steps back to the Loop Road, and then took the eastern part of the Loop Road along Lake Martanza. I veered off on a small bushwack along the shore of Lake Martanza at a sandy area, which I suspect was once a beach where swimming once took place. From there continued along to Sam's Point. Continued from there on the road back to the parking area.

Map of the Route

Boardwalk Planks Along the Marshy Part of the Indian Rock Trail

View on the Approach Towards Indian Rock

Indian Rock

Crevice Underneath Indian Rock

Inside the Crevice in Indian Rock

Continuing Inside the Crevice in Indian Rock

Another View of Indian Rock

Lake Martanza

Signpost Along the Loop Road by the Long Path

View from Sam's Point.
Looking east at some onlookers at the cliff wall.

West Mountain

Harriman/Bear Mountain State Parks
Rockland and Orange Counties,
New York

Trails:
Anthony Wayne Trail: White Blaze
Fawn Trail: Red Blaze
Timp-Torne Trail: Blue Blaze
Ramapo Dunderberg Trail: Red Blaze
Appalachian Trail: White Blaze
Beechy Bottom Road

Total Time: 2:40 hr
Estimated Distance: 4.4 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly recommended
Points Of Interest: Good rock scrambles and excellent views

Google Maps of Parking:

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West Mountain is one of my favorites in Harriman. It affords a good climb with some scrambling, with amazing views. This was a hazy, hot and humid September day. We parked in the northernmost section of the Anthony Wayne Rec Area, and took the Anthony Wayne Trail for a short distance, to the Fawn Trail up the hill for a short distance, and then went south on the Timp-Torne Trail. This trail climbs to the top of the mountain with rocky ridges and slopes. The Timp-Torne Trail joins up with the Applachian Trail for some short time, and then splits off near the main summit. After that started the descent on the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail past the Fire Escape and the Cat's Elbow, and then down all the way to Beechy Bottom Road. Took the Beechy Bottom Road down back to Anthony Wayne.

Map of the Route

Atop West Mountain.
Looking West Towards Black Mountain.

View from the Top. Facing Northwest Towards
the Route 6 Traffic Circle.

Me at the same view.

Facing Northeast Towards Bear Mountain,
Anthony's Nose, and the Hudson River.

View From the Cat's Elbow. Facing South.
It's too Hazy to See Down to Haverstraw and Hi-Tor.

View from Cat's Elbow Facing South Towards Pyngyp Mountain

Timber Rattlesnake We Encountered on the Beechy Bottom Road.

Pine Meadow / Stony Brook After Hurricane Irene

Harriman State Park
Rockland County,
New York

Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail: Red Blaze
Stony Brook Trail: Orange Blaze
Kakiat Trail: White Blaze
Hillburn Torne Sebago (HTS) Trail: Orange Blaze

Total Time: 1:15 hr
Estimated Distance: 2.5 Miles

Level of Difficulty: Moderate to Slightly Difficult
Level of Interest: Beautiful hike along a roaring brook
Points Of Interest: Deep Scenic Valley after Power Lines, Cascade of Slid Waterfall

Google Maps of Parking:

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Hurricane Irene left a tremedous amount of rain in Harriman as well as significant damage. I took this hike three days after the hurricane to see the water level in the brook and observe the damage caused by the storm. Seven Lakes Drive was closed and apparently the bridge crossing the Ramapo River had been severely damaged by the rivers sheer force. I had to take an alternate route using Washington Ave, where I encountered serveral National Guard Troops helping with the rebuilding efforts. There was a bridge in Sloatsburg that was entirely washed away leaving several homes stranded, and the National Guardsmen were assisting with the reconstruction. Once I got to the hike, I found the Stony brook was roaring, and it was at the highest level I have ever seen it. The first bridge across the Stony Brook (Kakiat Trail) was entirely washed away. The second bridge across the Pine Meadow Brook (Kakiat and Stony Brook Trail) was very damaged and pretty much unusable (this bridge was very recently rebuilt so it was brand new at the time of its destruction). The third bridge across the Pine Meadow Brook (HTS Trail) was entirely washed away.

I parked at the Reeves Meadow Visitor Center off 7 Lakes Drive near Sloatsburg. Hiked the Pine Meadow Trail along the brook to the Stony Brook Trail. I crossed the brook at the broken bridge which was barely usable, but I was able to balance across. Then I went along the the Kakiat Trail past the Cascade of Slid waterfall. The HTS Trail bridge was washed away, so I went just a bit further upstream to cross the brook over the rocks, which turned out to be incredibly challenging due to the high water volume. Once I crossed I took the Pine Meadow Trail back towards the return and back to my car.

Map of the Route.

Kakiat Trail Bridge Washed Away

The Only "Standing" Bridge:
The Bridge of the Kakiat and Stony Brook Trail.
This bridge was new - I think it was built in 2009.

Close up on the only standing bridge.

Cascase of Slid Waterfall. Overflowing.

Location of where the HTS Bridge Once Stood.
There is one pole of the bridge remaining.

National Guardsman in Sloatsburg at Work.