Kakiat Autumn Snow

Kakiat County Park
Rockland County, New York

Hiking Trails:
Mountain Trail: Orange blaze

Total Time: 0:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.4 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Points Of Interest: Short hike to nice view

Google Map of Parking:

View 2012 Hiking in a larger map

A week after Hurricane Sandy, we had a early season Nor'Easter snowstorm. It is extremely unusual to get snow in early November, and some of the late foliage trees still had some leaves on them. It only snowed about 4 inches of wet, fluffy snow, and by the end of the day it was all gone. I figured I had to take advantage of the rare snowstorm and take a short hike in the snow before it was all melted away. It was very odd to see snow with some trees that had leaves on them, and if it weren't for the rare October snowstorm last year, I would have said this is a one-in-a-lifetime experience. Well, I had this once-in-a-lifetime experience two years in a row.

I started at the Kakiat trailhead off Route 202, and took the Mountain Trail up to the lower viewpoint. I was amazed at the amount of downed trees throughout the hike, especially closer to the beginning. The cutting crews had been very busy clearing the trail due to the massive trail damage throughout the park. After the lower viewpoint I turned around and went the same way back.

Map of the Route

Bridge over the Mahwah River at the beginning of the hike

Mahwah River

Red Oak in the snow, at the beginning of the hike

Nice contrast of tree with foliage and snow.

A bunch of downed trees along the side of the trail,
freshly downed from Hurricane Sandy.

Trees chainsawed a few days ago that was blocking the trail.
The entire bottom part of Kakiat Park looked like this, due to
the large amount of downed trees.

Mountain Trail

Beautiful Elm Tree while Ascending

Lower Kakiat Viewpoint. Facing South.
Note the tree foliage and the snow.

Lower View, Facing Southeast.

Cascade of Slid and Halfway Mountain,Harriman State Park

Rockland County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail Trail: Red blaze
Stony Brook Trail: Yellow blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze
Hillburn-Torne-Sebago Trail: Orange blaze

Total Time:  1:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.7 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Points Of Interest: Scenic brook, waterfall, and view

Google Map of Parking:

View 2012 Hiking in a larger map

This was my first hike after Hurricane Sandy. Sandy brought major destruction to the New York area. Although the coastal regions were pounded by a terrible storm surge, further inland including Harriman only received strong wind damage in the form of downed trees. Though there were downed trees everywhere, the part of the park was spared, and was open and available to hiking. There was still minor fall foliage left, but for the most part the trees were already bare.

I parked at the Reeves Meadow area, took the Pine Meadow Trail to the Stony Brook Trail, to the Kakiat Trail, and then to the Cascade of Slid waterfall. The waterfall had a healthy amount of water, which made for nice photographs. I climbed up the short climb on the Hillburn-Torne-Sebago Trail to the Halfway Mountain lookout, and then climbed back down, crossed the brook on the washed-out bridge, and then too the Pine Meadow Trail all the way back.

Map of the Route

Remainder Foliage Along the Trail

More Foliage

Approaching the Cascade of Slid on the Rocky Part of the  Kakiat Trail

Cascade of Slid Waterfall

Cascade of Slid Waterfall

Cascade of Slid Waterfall - Main Waterfall

Spring with Water Coming Out of Rock

Halfway Mountain View

Foliage While Descending Halfway Mountain

Tom Jones Mountain Foliage

Harriman State Park
Orange County, New York

Hiking Trails:
Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze
Victory Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 1:15 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.5 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended for short but good climb
Points Of Interest: Good climb, excellent view

Google Map of Parking:

View 2012 Hiking in a larger map

This was the last good week of fall foliage. Although this Sunday was past peak, there were still some nice colors, although much of the remaining leaves on the trees were brown. This storm was the day before Hurricane Sandy struck and devastated the area. The storm warnings were all in effect, but the rain and wind was not supposed to be pick up until Monday, so I was safe doing this hike. However, I had to take care of storm preparations such as stock up and items and move all my outdoor furniture, so I needed to do a hike that was shorted than usual.

I parked the car on Lake Kanawauke Road (Orange County Route 106), right after the Little Long Pond. There is a small parking area here that often fills up on weekends. The parking area is a mountain notch in-between Tom Jones Mountain and Black Rock Mountain. I took the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail south from the trailhead up Tom Jones Mountain. This part of the hike is a good and rocky climb up the mountain, but it is only for about 400 feet up. At the top there are some great views, and the mountain seems to stand out. I then continued along the trail, climbing down into the valley, and took the Victory Trail north back to the road. I then walked along the side of the road as it passed along the marsh back to my car.

Map of the Route

Late Autumn Brush Foliage Ascending Tom Jones Mountain

Beautiful, bright red blueberry foliage on the top of Tom Jones.

Another view, with Black Rock Mountain behind over the notch.
Facing North.

View at the top of Tom Jones Mnt.
Facing northeast.

Another view from the top, facing southeast.
Lake Kanawauke in the distance.

View from the top facing east.
Jackie Jones Tower is in the distance.

View off the summit facing north.
In the distance the Shawangunk and Catskill Mountains are clearly visible.
They are in the distance, though hard to capture on camera.

Near the Descent of Tom Jones on its southern flank.

View south of Parker Cabin Mountain on the descent of Tom Jones.

Hook Mountain Fall Foliage

Hook Mountain State Park
Rockland County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Yellow Trail
Long Path: Blue blaze

Total Time: 0:40 hours
Estimated Distance: 1.0 mile
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended for a short hike with great views
Points Of Interest: Amazing views

Google Maps of Parking:

View 2012 Hiking in a larger map

Hook Mountain is a tall promenade on the Palisades, directly north of Nyack. It offers sweeping views of the villages of Upper Nyack and Nyack, as well as the Tappan Zee Bridge, Hudson River, and Rockland Lake. This was a weekday but because of the beautiful foliage I took a quick break from work to do this short and relatively easy hike. Although the weather was gloomy, with a gray sky, the colors on the trees really brightened things up. I parked on the side of the road on 9W as it peaks climbing the mountain, and took the yellow trail which starts here. I don't know the name of this trail as its not on my map. This trail takes you to the top of Hook Mountain, where it meets the Long Path, and there is very large cactus grove here. The views on top of Hook Mountain are really incredible, especially with the foliage. I took the Long Path down the small scramble, and then cut back to the yellow trail and back to my car.

Map of the Route

Looking West on Route 9W

Beginning of the Yellow Trail.

Tappan Zee Bridge and Hudson River from Summit of Hook Mnt.
Looking south.

Rockland Lake and the Northern Portion of Hook Mnt.
Facing North.

Facing northeast. Hudson River Behind Hook Mnt

Cactus Grove on Hook Mountain

Looking Straight Down from Hook Mountain. Facing South.
This picture is naturally colored,
and was not enhanced with Photoshop!

Upper Nyack and Nyack. Facing South.

Nyack and Southern Palisades.
Facing south-southwest.

Nice Picture of Fallen Leaves

Golden Orange Maple Tree near end of Hike

Bald Mountain and Doodletown Foliage

Bear Mountain / Harriman State Parks
Rockland County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Cornell Mine: Blue blaze
Ramapo Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze
1777 Trail: Red blaze
1777E Trail: Red blaze

Hiking Partner:
Debbie Koegel

Total Time: 2:30 hours
Estimated Distance: 5.5 miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficults
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Very good climb with amazing views, historical ghost town

Google Maps of Parking:

View 2012 Hiking in a larger map

Bald Mountain is really the western peak of Dunderberg Mountain. It has sweeping views north and east, and requires a scenic and challenging hike to get to it. we parked at the Cornell Mountain Trailhead on Route 9W, right near the road to Iona Island. The first part of the trail starts by a small cascading waterfall, and this part of the hike is very scenic. After a few minutes, to the right, is another very scenic waterfall. The trail continues on a relatively mild ascent until it hits the foot of the mountain, where it then zigzags steeply up. Near the top is the intersection with the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail, which we took west towards the view. There are some small mining pits in this area, remnants of the larger Cornell Mine which is a several hundred feet below the view.

At the view, one can see points north from the Hudson at the Bear Mountain Bridge, Anthony's Nose, Bear Mountain, West Mountain the west, and The Timp to the south/southwest. From the view we continued along the trail, slightly descending until the 1777 Trail. The 1777 is a wide trail that follows the path of an old woods road. As it continues descending, it eventually enters Doodletown, which is an old ghost town that the state purchased in the 1960's and forced everyone to evacuate. Markers label the historic sites in the old ghost town, and its an interesting walk. Continued at the split on the 1777E Trail (the 1777 trail splits into the 1777E and 1777W Trails), and eventually back down to Route 9W at the trailhead.

Map of the Route

Cascade at the very beginning of the hike.

Waterfall known as the "Ten Footer"

View Atop Bald Mountain, facing north
towards the Bear Mnt Bridge spanning the Hudson River.

Beautiful Fall Foliage surrounding and atop Bear Mountain. Facing North.

Facing west towards West Mountain from the Bald Mnt View.

Me at the view.

More Foliage

Fall Foliage. Facing east/northeast.

Timp Brook

Bright Foliage Colors

 

Beautifully colored tree in Doodletown

View of Bald Mountain from below in Doodletown

Debbie Reading the Doodletown Legend

Doodletown Legend

Tree at the Reservoir in Doodletown

End of the Trail at Iona Island and its swampgrass