Flat Rock Brook Nature Center, Palisades

Englewood,
Bergen Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
White Loop Trail
Purple Trail
Blue Loop Trail
Red Loop Trail
Yellow Trail/Yellow Loop Trail
Green Loop Trail
Orange Trail/Orange Loop Trail

Total Time: 1:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.2 Miles

Pros: Quiet and tranquil in winter
Cons: No views, surrounding urban region

The weather has continued to be incredibly cold. The previous week featured a warm up with heavy rains and 60, which melted all the snow and frozen lakes. But then it quickly froze again and the tempatures plummeted, with this hike at about 12 degrees. I was fully dressed and covered with my ski mask and goggles.

I figured this was a good hike because at anytime if I felt too cold I could bail out as everything is close together here. I parked by the Nature center Building, which was closed (presumably for the season.) I took the boardwalk into the the old quarry right at the parking lot, then took the White Trail south by Quarry Pond, to the Purple Trail, to the Blue Loop Trail. I then took the Red Loop Trail to the Yellow Trail and then crossing Flat Rock Brook. I then took the Green Loop Trail back to the Yellow Trail, to the Red Loop Trail, going down alongside the cascades. I then took the Orange Trail, crossing the brook to the Orange Loop, then cutting across the brook back to the Red Loop Trail to the White Loop Trail to the parking area.

Map of the Route

Quarry Boardwalk

Great Horned Owl in one of the Animal Cages in the Quarry Area

Frozen Quarry Lake

Quarry Lake with Interpretive Sign

Boardwalk Along the Trails

Red Loop Trail

Flat Rock Brook

Green Trail and the Brook

Looking Down at the Cascades

Frozen Lake Kanawauke

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

Total Time: 1:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.5 Miles

Pros: Scenic quiet lake in winter
Cons: Cold weather

The weather has been unbelievably cold. This is already the second full week of single digit temperature. The day started out at -1, and had warmed up to a balmy 7 degrees by the time we started the hike. We dressed in many layers with very little exposure, and with a strong bright sun and low wind, we were better off than the previous week, despite it being colder.

In my recent memory, I don't recall Lake Kanawauke being fully frozen so that you can walk on it. Even during very severe cold snaps in the past when all other park lakes were frozen, Kanawauke seems to never fully freeze, especially by the tunnels crossing under the road. Well, this cold snap finally did it, and Kanawauke was frozen. This was my first time being able to walk along this lake.

Because of the severe weather, we couldn't venture out too long, so we kept the hike short. We parked in the Lake Kanawauke parking area, and went on the small rock island, and then headed north towards the northern section of the lake, crossing over the road. We walked towards the Pine Forest peninsula, walked through the first, then back across the lake, crossing it, and then heading back towards the road. We entered the lake again at the boat launch, walked south towards the swimming area at one of the camps, and then headed back to the parking area.

Map of the Route

Temperature During the Morning (Top Right) Showing -1 Degrees

Shimmy Heading Out on Lake Kanawauke

Tunnels Under the Road on the Frozen Lake

Frozen Lake Kanawauke

Me on the Rock Island at Lake Kanawauke

Tunnel with a Warning Sign about Thin Ice in the Area

Northern Flank of Lake Kanawauke

Zoomed in Looking at Pine Swamp Mountain

Me Atop Lake Kanawauke

Looking Across the Lake

Shimmy Strolling Atop Lake Kanawauke

Pine Grove Peninsula at Lake Kanawauke

Me in my Heavy Winter Gear

Zoomed In

Shimmy Sliding Down a Hill in the Pine Grove Peninsula

Looking Towards Black Rock and Tom Jones Mountains

Across the Lake

Shimmy Relaxing on the Rock

Evergreen Mountain Laurels at the Side of the Lake

Approaching Land

Lake Kanawauke Boat Launch

Family Walking Across Frozen Lake Kanawauke, the Only Other People we Saw

Walking South on Lake Kanawauke

Shimmy and I at the Swimming Dock at Lake Kanwauke

Shimmy and I Atop Frozen Lake Kanawauke

Townsend Trail View at Sterling Forest

Sterling Forest State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Long Meadow Extension Trail: Green blaze
Townsend Trail: Orange blaze

Total Time: 1:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.9 Miles

Pros: Nice view, few people here
Cons: Trails more like roads, houses in area

Hiking Partner: Shimmy Rosenberg

This was the coldest day of the season, and perhaps even the year. The temperature was about 10 degrees when we left for the hike, and to make matters worse the winds were very strong, especially when we got to the top of the mountain. We were both well dressed with many layers, and no exposure. The sky was gray and dreary, and it has just snowed a few inches the day before, so there was a layer of fresh snow.

We parked off Route 17A by Clinton Road, and had a difficult time finding the Long Meadow Extension Trail as we expected to see blazes at the parking trailhead. In the end we walked back along the dead end road off Clinton Road and then found the trail off Clinton Road. We took the Long Meadow Extension Trail a short distance to the Townsend Trail, which climbs up slowly via a woods road. Near the top, the trail veers off the woods road and ascends towards a view of Indian Kill Reservoir, and the Sterling Forest Ski area. We took some photos at the view, then turned around and went back along the same route.

Map of the Route

Outdoor Temperature Prior to Leaving on the Hike

Me at the Hikers Trailhead Parking Sign

Me on the Townsend Trail

Approaching Near the Vista

Me Heading Over to the Vista

Selfie with Me and Shimmy

Snow Covered Summit

View of Sterling Forest

Same View, Zoomed In

Overlooking Indian Kill Reservoir

Snow Covered Rock

Shimmy at the View

Shimmy Overlooking the Scenery

Me in front of Indian Kill Reservoir

Me in Full Arctic Weather Gear

From the View Looking Behind