Hawk Rock and Cactus Ledge

Ramapo Valley County Reservation,
Mahwah
Bergen Co.
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Vista Loop: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 1:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.1 Miles

Pros: Good climb with nice view and scenic lake
Cons: Very busy area

This is a great short hike that has lots of benefits. It's got a scenic lake, a nice climb, a really nice view, and it all can be done in about an hour. I did this hike after work prior to sunset. I parked in the main parking area of Ramapo Valley Reservation, and took the trail alongside Scarlet Oak Reservoir, which was very busy with lots of people. I then to took the Vista Loop Trail to the right side of the like and then proceeded to climb the mountain steeply to Hawk Rock.

I then continued up Hawk Rock and was surprised to see a shortcut around the switchback that now became part of the official trail. I took the short route on the trail from Hawk Rock to Cactus Ledge. Cactus Ledge is another view similar to Hawk Rock, a bit higher up, and has a wild cactus grove. I then turned around and proceeded down to the mountain, and took the trail around Scarlet Oak Reservoir, looping around the reservoir, and then crossing over the Mahwah River on the bridge and then back to my car.

Map of the Route

Sign Indicating the Bridge Out on the Vista Loop Trail

Scarlet Oak Pond

Cloud Reflections on Scarlet Oak Pond

Me on Hawk Rock

View from Hawk Rock

View of Scarlet Oak Reservoir in the Distance and Ramapo College

Another View from Scarlet Oak Reservoir Facing South

View from Cactus Ledge

View from Cactus Ledge, Zoomed into the NYC Skyline

Ramapo College from Hawk Rock

Cactus Grove at Cactus Ledge

Scarlet Oak Pond Approaching Sunset

Sun Dipping Below the Horizon at Scarlet Oak Pond

1777W Trail to Doodletown and Herbert Cemetery

Bear Mountain State Park,
Rockland Co.
New York

Hiking Trails:
1777W Trail: White blaze
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
1777 Trail: Red blaze
Ski Trail: Unblazed
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze
Fawn Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.9 Miles

Pros: Historical area through ghost town
Cons: No views of climbing

Hiking Partners:
Jacob Zuber
Josef Friedman
Elisha Friedman

I needed a hike that was not too strenuous, and this was the perfect place. This hike goes through Doodletown, an old ghost town that has plaques of the past relics that once existed here.

We parked the car at the trailhead parking on Seven Lakes Drive at the 1777W Trail, and took the 1777W Trail east towards Doodletown, passing the Appalachian Trail and going concurrent on the Appalachian Trail for a short distance.

At the 1777 Trail junction, we took the 1777 Trail through Doodletown, passing many of the landmarks and seeing some of the old foundations. We took a short detour into the Herbert Cemetery, an very old woods cemetery. There are some new plaques here as well from more modern times, but the old tombstones in the wild forest give this cemetery a real flashback in history.

After exiting the cemetery, we continued on the 1777 Trail a short distance to the Ski Trail. This trail is designated as a cross-country ski route and is not an officially marked trail. After reaching the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail, the Ski Trail turns into the Fawn Trail, which was recently extended to this point after having previously ended at the Appalachian Trail. We continued along the Fawn Trail to the Appalachian Trail, and then to the 1777W Trail and then back to our car.

Map of the Route

Appalachian Trail Plaque

Dunderberg Mountain in the Distance

Bridge Across Doodletown Brook

Plaque in front of the Lewis Home, with the 150
year old Maple and Chestnut Trees

Coming into the Herbert Cemetery

Old and New Tombstones in the Herbert Cemetery

Old, Worn-Out Tombstones in the Herbert Cemetery

Another View of the Cemetery

Tamsen Houses Plaque

The Ancient Oak, a 200+ Year Oak, is Dead

Ancient Oak Plaque

Me on the Hiking Trail

Me with David Zuber

Me at the Appalachian Trailhead 

Dickie Barre in the Gunks

Minnewaska State Park,
Ulster Co.
New York

Hiking Trails:
Red Loop Trail: Red blaze
Peters Kill Trail: Yellow blaze
High Peters Kill Trail: Blue blaze
Bull Wheel Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 2:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.7 Miles

Pros: Beatiful area with great views and interesting terrain
Cons: None

Hiking Partners:
Jacob Baldinger
Yehudah Koblick
Shimmy Rosenberg

I have not had the opportunity to hike in the Shawangunks much this season, and was glad to finally get out on this nice summer day with some of my good friends and old hiking partners. We parked at the northern area of the park and took the Red Loop Trail down to the Peters Kill, and walked along the side of the creek to the Peters Kill Trail, which we took to the High Peters Kill Trail.

We took the High Peters Kill Trail up the mountain, to the view, and then continued to the view at Dickie Barre. We then turned around and took the Bull Wheel Trail back to the beginning of the hike to the Red Loop and then back to the parking area.

Map of the Route

Information Plaque at the Beginning of the Hike

Rock Climbers at the Beginning of the Hike

Peters Kill

Me at the Peters Kill

Jacob Ascending the Trail

View Ascending the High Peters Kill Trail

Me at the High Peters Kill Trail

View from the High Peters Kill Trail

Me Further out on the High Peters Kill Trail View

Our Extended Group

View of Mohonk from Dickie Barre

View of the Gap from Dickie Barre

Me at Dickie Barre

Kakiat LinkedIn Hike

Kakiat County Park/
Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Mountain Trail: Orange blaze

Total Time: 1:30 minutes
Estimated Distance: 1.7 miles

Pros: Good climb with nice views
Cons: None

Hiking Partner:
Many of my LinkedIn business contacts, including Brian Wallace, Shimon Rosenberg, Jacob Busani, and Jacob Engel

I have a nice group of LinkedIn business contacts, and decided to try something interesting and make a LinkedIn Local on the a mountain. So I organized a short hike up Kakiat with some amazing LinkedIn contacts. We parked at the Kakiat Park parking area after work about 2 hours prior to sunset, and climbed the mountain up the Mountain Trail to the first view at Kakiat Mountain. We had a LinkedIn discussion and Q&A at the first summit, and then the more serious hikers of the group ascended to the upper Kakiat summit. We then turned around and headed back down along the same trail, and met at the bottom for some more networking and group discussion.

Map of the Route

Me at the Trailhead Parking

Our Group Starting the Hike

First View Atop the Mountain

Above the Kakiat First Summit

Atop Kakiat First Summit, Looking Southeast

LinkedIn Local atop the Mountain

Group Photo atop Kakiat, with Brian Wallace in the Center

Atop the Rock on the Upper Kakiat Summit

The Group that Climbed to the Upper Kakiat Summit

Kakiat Upper Summit Sunset

View Towards the NYC Skyline from the Upper Summit

Picnic and Refreshments after the Hike