Pyramid Mountain Natural Historical Park

Passaic and Morris Counties,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Mennen Trail: Blue blaze
Lucy's Overlook Trail
Yellow Trail: Yellow blaze
Kinnelon Boonton Trail: White blaze
Green Trail: Green blaze

Total Time: 2:15 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.5 Miles

Pros: Interesting Rock Formations
Cons: Views and climbs are not so dramatic

Hiking Partner:
Menachem Touretski

This hike was on a beautiful spring day, with a strong sun, but a bit on the cooler side. I have never been to this area before, so it was nice exploring the region. We parked two cars; one we left at the park at Kinnelon Recreational Field at the north end of the Taylortown Reservoir, and the other at the Pyramid Mountain Visitor Center, where we started the hike.

We started on the Mennen Trail, which was being refurbished with a shoulder of white marble rocks by a large volunteer crew. We continued along the path, crossing the stream, the power lines, and then ascending the mountain the view. We continued along the trail, until the short spur to Lucy's Overlook, and then went back went down the yellow trail to the large Bear Rock. We then went Kinnelon-Boonton Trail with its concurrency with the Mennen Trail up the mountain, and then branched off at the Green Trail, going back to our second car.

Kakiat Mountain Spring Hike

Kakiat County Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Mountain Trail: Orange blaze

Total Time: 1:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.6 Miles

Pros: Good climb with good views
Cons: Busy on Weekends

I go to Kakiat many times without taking pictures or documenting it here on the blog. However, the very warm weather and the blooming trees made this hike particularly memorable, and I decided to take my camera to share the photos.

I parked at the Kakiat parking area, and took the Mountain Trail up, cutting across a bushwack to the lower view. I then continued on the trail to the upper view at the top of the Mountain. I went down on the Mountain Trail back to my car.

Fort Montgomery to Bear Mountain 3 Bridge Hike

Harriman State Park,
Orange and Rockland Counties,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Twin Forts Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 0:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.0 Miles

Pros: Scenic area with nice bridges
Cons: Parking area and Bear Mountain Park close early, walking on side of road

This hike involved three bridges. It took place on a  Friday afternoon on a beautiful spring day, and I had taken my children to walk in this very scenic area. We parked at the Fort Montgomery visitors center, and took the Fort Montgomery Trail across the Popolopen Brook on the pedestrian suspension bridge. We continued on the train, going under the Bear Mountain Bridge, to the Bear Mountain zoo. However, the gate to the zoo was locked - it closes at 4:00 and it was already after 4:00. I was disappointed how early it closed, but we turned around and took the bypass trail up to Route 6/202 at the bridge level. We walked along the sidewalk, past the traffic circle, and then alongside Route 9W. We went over the high bridge above Popolopen Creek, and then back to Fort Montgomery and the car. We got back the parking lot a little bit after 5:00, and I realized that this parking area closes at 5:00. Thankfully they did not lock my car in the parking lot.

Long Path and First Reservoir

Harriman State Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Long Path: Green blaze
Old Turnpike: Unblazed

Total Time: 0:55 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.0 Miles

Pros: Scenic area
Cons: Trail back along a paved path, no mountaintop views

It was the hottest day of the year so far, with unseasonably warm temperatures in the upper 80's. I took advantage of this weather for a short hike. I parked on Call Hollow Road where it intersects the Long Path, and took the Long Path up too the Old Turnpike. I took the Old Turnpike back down to the First Reservoir, and then down the paved driveway back to my car.

Cheesecote Mountain Long Path Spring Hike

Burgess Meredith Park/Cheesecote Mountain Town Park
Rockland County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Long Path: Green blaze

Total Time: 1:20 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.8 Miles

Pros: Quiet area with few people encountered
Cons: No views, beginning part adjacent to Palisades Parkway has lots of noise

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick

The spring weather was finally kicking in, and it got up to the upper 50's and sunny during the hike. While I have done Cheesecote Mountain many times, I had never done it in its entirety on the Long Path, and decided to take this opportunity. Cheesecote Mountain is an extension of the Ramapo Mountains that is adjacent to Harriman State Park on the other side of the Call Hollow Road Valley. It is independent mountain without merging directly into any other mountains. Much of this mountain is developed, with large homes offering spectacular views of the mountains, the Hudson Valley, and even New York City in the distance. However, the northern part of this mountain is protected as a town park, and contains a small pond, some unmarked trails, and the Long Path traversing it from east to west.

We parked one car at Burgess Meredith Park, a small park in the village of Pomona, and another car on Call Hollow Road where it intersects with the Long Path. We started the hike at Burgess Meredith Park, walking along the trail alongside the river, and then cutting through the brush a short distance to the Long Path. For some reason this park doesn't connect to the Long Path which is only about 100 away, so you have to do a short bushwack to get towards the Long Path. We headed on the Long Path, along the south Branch of the Minisceongo Creek, and crossing the creek on a bridge that is also used by the Palisades Parkway.

After crossing the bridge, the trail ascends up the eastern flank of Cheesecote Mountain, and eventually ends up by the Cheesecote Pond. There is now a paved road around the pond which is driveable. Along the road we observed what was perhaps the last of the snow of the season, in a shady pocket alongside a steep embankment. We continued along the Long Path and then started descending along the western flank of the mountain, and then went through the veteran's cemetery. After that, the trail meets Call Hollow Road, where we had left the other car.