Near Rockland Lake
Rockland Co.
New York
Hiking Trails:
Long Path: Green blaze
Yellow Trail: Yellow blaze
Total Time: 2:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.8 Miles
Pros: Excellent views and scenic area
Cons: Not as rural as other hikes
Hiking Partners:
Shimmy Rosenberg
Sruly Rosenberg
Hook Mountain is a narrow ridge alongside between the Hudson River and Rockland Lake. It shoots up sharply with very steep cliffs just a short distance from the Hudson River, with the Long Path traversing the ridgeline.
We started at Rockland Lake landing where we parked the first car. We took the Long Path south, climbing the ridge from the notch, and took the unblazed spur path that traverses the view rather than the Long Path. There is an excellent view of the Hudson River and across it to Ossining. We then met back up with the Long Path and continued along the trail, where it remains unremarkable without any additional views for some time.
However, right where the mountain bend, there is an excellent view facing south towards Nyack and the Tappan Zee Bridge, and the trail then climbs to the summit of Hook Mountain once again affording an amazing view. We then took the yellow trail on the descent to Route 9W and back to our other car.
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| Map of the Route |
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| Information Plaque about the Knickerbocker Ice Company at Rockland Lake |
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| Hudson River from the First View |
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| Croton Point Reservoir Across the River |
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| Hi Point Facing North |
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| View Facing South from the First View |
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| View of Ossining and Boats in the Hudson River |
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| Our Crew Looking down the Cliffs |
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| Another View |
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| Smoking Embers from a Camper Fire that Wasn't Put Out |
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| Walking along the Long Path |
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| Middle View along the Ridge |
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| View Facing Nyack and the Tappan Zee Bridge |
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| View of the Palisades Cliffs and Hudson River |
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| Looking Down to Nyack Beach State Park |
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| Our Motley Crue of Hikers |
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| Posing at the Hook Mountain Summit Approach |
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| Another View of Nyack and the Tappan Zee Bridge |
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| Cactus Grove on the top of Hook Mountain |
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| View on top of Hook Mountain facing North with Rockland Lake |
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| View into Rockland County Facing West from the Summit |
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| Me on Hook Mountain |
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| Our Group on the Summit |
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| Tappan Zee Bridge Span |
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| The Rosenbergs |
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| Me at Hook Mountain Summit |
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| Descending the Mountain |
