Kakiat Waterfalls and Sunset

Kakiat County Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Old Mill Trail: Blue blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze
Mountain Trail: Orange blaze

Total Time: 0:50 Hours
Estimated Distance: 1.7 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended for a short scenic walk

Points of Interest: Nice seasonal waterfall, good view

It has been raining very hard all morning, thus dampening my prospects for a good hike. The rain stopped in the early afternoon, with the sun starting to peak out. I had considered going out on a hike then, but I checked the radar and saw a large but brief storm heading in at the tail end of the larger storm earlier in the day. This storm indeed came, with intense wind and heavy rain (many branches fell down in this storm.)

Once the storm ended, the sun came out, but it was less than an hour to sunset. I then decided to do a quick sunset hike close by and also visit the Kakiat waterfalls, which I figured would be impressive after all the rain. I parked at the Kakiat parking area, took the Old Mill Trail alongside the swollen Mahwah River, and then took the Kakiat Trail at the end of the Old Mill Trail to the foot of the mountain. I climbed briefly, and then veered off to the stream to view the waterfalls, which were filled with water and indeed quite impressive.

I then cut back to the Kakiat Trail, took it a bit longer, and then cut across to the south on a bushwack towards the lower Kakiat view. I experienced a beautiful sunset here at this view, with the puffy storm clouds still lingering in the distance. I then took the Old Mill Trail down the mountain, which took me back to the parking area.

Map of the Route
Harriman/Bear Mountain Southern Map

Sun Going Down over the Mahwah River

The Lower Cascasde of the Kakiat Waterfall

Upper Cascasde of the Kakiat Waterfall

Another View of the Upper Cascade

The Left Side of the Upper Cascade

Left and Right Sides of the Upper Cascade

Looking East over the Darkening Sky

The Sun Reflecting Off the Departing Storm Clouds in the Distance

Sunset Over RCC

The Sun Already Down Below the Horizon

Manhattan Skyline in the Distance

Zoomed in to the Manhattan Skyline at Dusk

The Mahwah River Just Prior to Twilight

Monhonk Undercliff Overcliff Carriageways

Mohonk Preserve
Shawangunk Mountains
Ulster Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
East Trapps Connector Trail: Yellow blaze
Undercliff Carriage Road: Unblazed
Overcliff Carriage Road: Unblazed

Total Time: 1:50 Hours
Estimated Distance: 5.1 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended for an easy but highly scenic walk

Points of Interest: Great views, interesting cliffs
Cons: Entrance Fee

Except for the steep steps up the East Trapps Connector Trail, this is a very easy hike on a wide path. Its more like walking then hiking, but the scenery is very pretty. My goal in 2016 is to do more hikes in the Shawangunk Mountains, so I figured I would purchase a seasonal hikers pass for $55 for unlimited entry. This was my first hike with the new pass, and the payment from my previous hike was used and reimbursed towards the seasonal pass.

This was a one of the few seasonally normal days, with temperatures in the 30's. The sun was bright when I left and along the drive, but it unfortunately clouded up as soon as I started the hike. I parked at the parking trailhead at the end of the visitor center, and was surprised how quiet the area was. This area is usually full of mountain climbers scaling the Trapps cliffs by rope. Despite there being only a handful of cars here, there was a Mohonk Preserve ranger waiting in his car to inspect people for passes. That was quite surprising, considering the low volume of people.

I climbed up the steep East Trapps Connector Trail, which connects the parking lot with the Undercliff Carriage Road. I took the Undercliff Carriage Road southwest, and was surprised to see only two groups of rock climbers along the way. This area is usually full of rock climbers, and is one of the most famous rock climbing areas in the northeast. I continued along the carriage road to the Overcliff Trail, which I took in its entire length back to the Undercliff Trail. I then looped around back on the Undercliff Trail, under the steep cliff, back to the East Trapps Connector and back to the trailhead.

Map of the Route
Shawangunk Maps

The Hairpin Turn of Route 44/55 Climbing Up the Mountain

Undercliff Carriage Road

V\iew from the Undercliff Carriage Road

Rock Climbers at the Trapps, from the Undercliff Carriage Road

Rock Climber in Middle of his Climb

View Towards the Hudson Valley

View on the Overcliff Carriage Road Looking Across the Coxing Kill Valley 

Snow Cover Along the Overcliff Trail

View from the Overcliff Trail Looking Towards the Catskills.
I think that Mountain in the Distance is Ashokan High Point

The Above View, Zoomed Out

View Back at the Undercliff Trail, Looking Towards Storm King/Breakneck

Rock Formation Along the Undercliff Trail

A View Looking Towards New Paltz

Rockland Lake Landing

Rockland Lake State Park /
Hook Mountain State Park
Palisades Cliffs
Rockland Co.,
New York

Total Time: 1:00 Hours
Estimated Distance: 2.2 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Level of Recommendation: Not recommended

Points of Interest: Fascinating cliffs alongside river
Cons: Path offset from river which has trees blocking view

I was off for New Years and took advantage to go on a hike. It wasn't as warm as it had been, and was cloudy and breezy, but it was still above freezing. I parked at Rockland Lake Landing, and took the path down to the bike path north towards Haverstraw. I walked along the path on the side of the river, and passed by some of the large quarries in the steep Palisades cliffs on the west side. The path is set back a bit from the river, so there weren't good river views. At the third quarry, I turned around and headed back.

Map of the Route.
Hudson Palisades Trails

Hudson River from Behind the Trees

Quarry Wall Along the Palisades

Old Ruined Structure Along the Bike Path

Hudson River

Parallel Diabase Columns in the Quarry Wall

Rockleigh Woods Sanctuary and Lamont Preserve Completion

Rockleigh and Alpine
Jersey Palisades
Bergen Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Hutcheon Trail: Blue blaze
Sneden-Haring-Lamont Trail: Yellow blaze
Lamont Rock Trail: White blaze
Brookside Trail: Orange blaze

Total Time: 1:40 Hours
Estimated Distance: 2.65 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended for a quiet area

Points of Interest: Quiet scenic area with a nice network of trails
Cons: No views and anti-climactic

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

The weather was once again very warm, with a high in the upper 50's. However it was damp and cloudy, so I figured this was a good day to complete the trails in this area since it lacks a good view. I had been here about a month earlier, and did not have a chance to complete all the trails in the area, so I decided to return to complete them all. Once again it was very quiet here; we encountered only one person the entire hike.

We parked in the small lot by the playground behind Rockleigh borough hall. We took the Hutcheon Trail a short distance to the Sneden-Haring-Lamont Trail, which gradually climbs up the mountain. At the top, we took the Lamont Rock Trail Briefly to the Brookside Trail, which descends along the side of the brook cascading down the mountain. We took this trail to the Sneden-Haring-Lamont Trail, taking the loop all the way back around and then towards Sneden Ice Pond. We took the loop around the pond, and then continued along the Sneden-Haring-Lamont Trail back to the entrance towards our car.

Map of the Route.

Beech Trees with their Sneden-Haring-Lamont Trail

Cascade Along the Brookside Trail

The Stream Cascading Down the Mountain from the Brookside Trail

Another View of the Stream Cascading Down the Mountain

Sneden Ice Pond

Senden Ice Pond

Woman Who Was Dog-Sitting About 6 Dogs Along the Trail

MacMillan Reservoir Loop

Ramapo Valley County Reservation
Bergen Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Schuber Trail: Orange blaze
Reservoir Loop Trail: Pink blaze
Silver Trail: Silver blaze

Total Time: 1:25 Hours
Estimated Distance: 2.9 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Level of Recommendation: Recommended

Points of Interest: Scenic lakes
Cons: Lots of people

Although I was off from work, I had to go in to get something from from the office, which is right nearby the Ramapo Valley County Reservation. The temperature was once again unseasonably warm, in the mid-60's. This was yet another December hike in short sleeves. I was at this same area at the beginning of December, and found the new Reservoir Loop Trail. This wasn't on any of my maps, so I was curious where it would take me. It turns out that its a nice loop around the Macmillan Reservoir. On the hiking kiosk at the parking area, it shows a newer map that has this trail labelled as the Reservoir Loop.

I parked at the main parking area, contented with the large groups of people until I reached the Schuber Trail, and then headed towards the waterfall. The waterfall was very strong due to all the recent rains. I continued along the Schuber trail to the intersection of the Silver Trail, and then continued to the Reservoir Loop trail, which I took around the reservoir. I then took the busy Silver Trail back to the MacMillan Reservoir, crossed over the bridge, and headed back to my car.

Map of the Route. North Jersey Trails

Waterfall Along the Schuber Trail

Brook Along the Schuber Trail, Draining the MacMillan Reservoir

Spillover from the MacMillan Reservoir Dam

MacMillan Reservoir from the Dam

MacMillan Reservoir from the Rocky Promenade on the North Front

MacMillan Reservoir Nearing the North End

North End of the Macmillan Reservoir

New Bridge Crossing the Inlet of the MacMillan Reservoir

At the North End of the MacMillan Reservoir

At the Southern Exposure of the MacMillan Reservoir