West Hook Mountain Loop

West Hook Mountain Open Space,
Town of Clarkstown,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
West Hook Mountain Trail: White Blaze

Total Time: 0:40 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.1 Miles

Pros: Quiet area and nice views
Cons: Parking area is very rough
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Google Map of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/73z93a2NciggNXb87

This is an area that is little-known and rarely traversed. In fact, the parking area is on a private road, which scares people away from parking there, but since it's public land usage of the private road is open to all that are accessing the public land where this hike is contained.

West Hook Mountain is the mountain on the opposite side of Hook Mountain across Route 9W. The land is owned by the Town of Clarkstown, purchased in 2003 as public open space. There is a trail loop in the area that visits the view, above Route 9W with great views of Hook Mountain, the Hudson River, and Tappan Zee Bridge. 

I noticed this trail on the Palisades Trail maps and was glad to notice this trail and visit it for the first time. It's a short and easy trail with good views, but the parking is difficult with a rocky small parking area that can scrape the bottom of your car unless you drive very slow. 

I parked on Old Stone Road at the parking area. Old Stone Road has a private sign at at the beginning with a very steep hill. I took the white trail, and and at the loop I took the eastern side of the loop right above the ridge, and then to the view. I then descended around the loop to the straight path which I took back to the car.

Map of the Route

Trailhead from Parking

Beginning of the Hike

Starting the Ascent

Large Rock Near the Ridge Line

Tappan Zee Bridge in the Distance

Hudson River 

Ascending to the Top of West Hook Mountain

Main View at West Hook Mountain

Kakiat Foothills Fall Hike

Kakiat County Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Mountain Trail: Orange Blaze
Gas Line Trail: Unblazed
Kakiat Trail: White Blaze
Old Mill Trail: Blue Blaze

Total Time: 0:35 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.5 Miles

Pros: Scenic area
Cons: No climbs or views
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Very easy

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/NkxXbLfHSQyV3yc3A

I go to Kakiat fairly frequently, walking around the bottom trails. I generally don't include this in the blog, however, now with the fall foliage and bright blue sky, the colors and scenery were incredible and worthwhile of a blog post. I parked in the Kakiat parking lot, crossed the Mahwah River on the bridge, and took the Mountain Trail to the Gas Line Trail. I then took the Gas Line Trail northward to the Kakiat Trail, which I took to the Old Mill Trail. I inspected the recently demolished concrete at the Old Mill, and then headed back along the Mahwah River back to the trailhead.

Map of the Route

Bridge Crossing the Mahwah River

Mountain Trail at the Kakiat Ascent

Gas Line Trail

End of the Old Mill Trail at the Kakiat Trail

Water Flowing Once Again at the Brook at the Old Mill Trail

Demolished Old Mill

Mahwah River at the Old Mill

Large Rock in the Mahwah River

At the End of the Hike

Vista Loop Ramapo Reservation

Ramapo Valley County Reservation
Mahwah,
Bergen Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Vista Loop Trail: Yellow Blaze
River Trail: Orange/Green Blaze

Total Time: 1:55 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.7 Miles

Pros: Scenic Lakes, good climb, and good views
Cons: Many people at start of hike
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/oQt1cjySrgGkufzV9

Map of the Route

New Sign with Messaging about Coyotes at the Start of the Hike

Mahwah River at the Beginning of the Hike

Scarlet Oak Reservoir

Hawk Rock View

Ramapo College from Hawk Rock

Me at Hawk Rock

View from Cactus Ledge

Cacti at Cactus Ledge

Spur to the View with new Marking

Descending to MacMillan Reservoir

MacMillan Reservoir Dam, All Dry

Dried Up Waterfalls