Greenwich Point Park

Posted on February 1, 2023

January 21 & 29, 2023 – Old Greenwich, Connecticut

Difficulty: Easy

Length: Approximately 6 trail miles

Max elevation: 34 ft.

Map: Greenwich Point Park Map

Parking: 11 Tods Driftway, Old Greenwich, CT 06870

Paved parking lots – Restrooms on site

Hours: Open year round, daily from 6am to sunset

Fees: You’ll need a non-resident Greenwich beach pass, or Single Entry beach pass. You can purchase these online. Be sure to purchase a pass for each person in your party and a separate pass for your vehicle. Passes are $10 per day per person and a parking pass is $45.

November 1st through April 30th, no fees will be charged to enter Greenwich Point Park

Park Overview:

Greenwich Point Park is a 147-acre Town beach and recreation facility in Old Greenwich, CT. Also known by locals as “Tod’s Point,” it was the former estate of J. Kennedy Tod and many historic buildings still exist in the park. Among them are the Innis Arden Cottage, Seaside Garden and Cowbarn Building, and the Chimes Building. Concessions, restrooms, picnic areas, and walking trails are also found at Greenwich Point. Home to Old Greenwich Yacht Club, there is also a boatyard and a launch for boats and kayaks. Greenwich Point Park is owned by the Town of Greenwich and operated by Greenwich’s Parks and Recreation Department in coordination with the Conservation Commission.

Greenwich Point Park

Greenwich Point Park is situated on the southerly side of Greenwich Cove. Greenwich Cove is located between Cos Cob Harbor and Stamford Harbor in the “Old Greenwich” section of town. The park is essentially an island, connected to the mainland by a causeway which supports the park access road known as Tod’s Driftway.

Aerial view of Greenwich Point Park

There are seven parking lots in the park, five of which are paved. The topography ranges from sea level to a maximum elevation of +40 feet Above Sea Level (ASL). The majority of the park lies within 10-20 foot ASL, with three pronounced knolls rising above the surrounding landscape, in the western, central and eastern portions of the park.

Greenwich Point Park is a Recognized Important Bird Area (IBA) and due to the park’s peninsular geography and the variety of habitats available, it is an important migrant stopover habitat for many species of birds. Good numbers of waterfowl winter offshore and in Eagle Pond, many raptors pass the park in fall migration and the park acts as stopover habitat for some of them.

Bald Eagle

In the winter, the Point is a popular place for dog walkers to walk their dogs. Leashed dogs are allowed at the Point from December 1 to March 31.

History:

The Point was known by the Siwanoy Indians as “Monekewaygo” (shining sands). Beginnning in 1640 with the purchase by Elizabeth Feake, the Point was known as “Elizabeth’s Neck.” Following its purchase by the Tods in the 1880’s, the Point was known as “Innis Arden. Tod and his wife, Marie Howard Potter Tod, owned the land and its estate from 1884 to 1939, the year she died. He willed the property to New York’s Presbyterian Hospital.

On January 10, 1945, the Town of Greenwich purchased Tod’s Point and the Innis Arden estate for $550,000. Upon acquisition, the Town changed the name of the peninsula from Innis Arden (or Tod’s Point) to Greenwich Point, a designation it retains, although many continue to call it Tod’s Point. The Town made immediate changes to its new property, including the renovation of the Tods’ formal walled garden, known today as the Seaside Garden, by the Garden Club of Old Greenwich. In addition, the Old Greenwich Boating Association, which later became the Old Greenwich Yacht Club, transferred its headquarters to Greenwich Point.

For a more detailed history, scroll to the bottom of the page for external links.

Trails Overview:

Paved Loop – Greenwich Point has a 2.25 mile paved loop that offers a scenic opportunity for walking and jogging, as well as, roller blading, biking, and in-line skating.

Beach Loop – Greenwich Point also offers a wonderful 2.35 mile beach loop. After cutting off from Tod’s Driftway you will be on a packed sand and small stone path that allows enjoyment of the ever changing marsh.

Beach Loop – Greenwich Point Park

There are trails that wander off from both the Paved Loop and the Beach Loop towards the interior of the park that are worth exploring as well. You will encounter less people along these trails.

Interior Trails – Greenwich Point Park

On Sundays 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM from mid November to mid April the Friends of Greenwich Point in cooperation with the Greenwich Department of Parks and Recreation, sponsors Safe Roads. Visitors can enjoy the open roads as all roads past the main parking lots are closed to vehicular traffic. However, an occasional car is permitted to pass under certain circumstances, so please be aware.

Safe Roads Sundays – Greenwich Point

Hike Overview:

I had this park on my list for many years, but was hesitant to go there because of the “residents-only policy.” Very little information was available online and the park’s website was unclear about non-residents visiting the park. Fast forward a few years and I found that: “In 1968, a Greenwich residents-only policy was instituted on the Point, but that restriction was lifted when the Supreme Court of Connecticut overturned it in 2001.” They do charge a hefty fee for non-residents in season, but November 1st through April 30th, no fees are charged to enter Greenwich Point Park.

We visited this park on two consecutive weekends. On our first visit, it was quite cold and we stuck to the westernmost section of the park, visiting the stone ruins, Seaside Garden, etc. We only walked about 1.5 miles, although we drove a loop through the park at the beginning and picked out a spot to park. The red line on the map below indicates our walking route on that day. The following week, we began at the first parking lot, just past the original entrance gate and walked clockwise. The purple track indicates the route we walked on that day, which totaled about 3.4 miles. The terrain is mostly flat with about 30-40 feet of elevation gain.

Greenwich Point Park

Although we covered most of the park on our two visits, there is more to see that is not listed here. This is the type of park that is worth visiting more than once.

Points of Interest:

Sue H. Baker Pavilion at the Old Barn ~ Originally built by the Tods in 1887, the old livestock and storage barn is the oldest surviving structure at Greenwich Point. Once the town purchased the estate in 1945, the barn underwent many renovations until, at last, it housed a concession stand, a first aid station, and lifeguard lockers.

Sue H. Baker Pavilion at the Old Barn

In 2012, Superstorm Sandy pummeled the coastline with 80 miles per hour winds and tidal floods. While the barn had already been slated for renovation by the Greenwich Point Conservancy, completion of the $650,000 project became urgent. In 2015, the renovated structure was renamed the Sue H. Baker Pavilion at the Old Barn in honor of the co-founder of the Conservancy.

Sue H. Baker Pavilion at the Old Barn

Innis Arden Cottage ~ In 1903, the Tods added a guest cottage just south of the access road to their property. Innis Arden Cottage was built to provide a temporary home for Maria Tod’s widowed sister-in-law, Mrs. Cranston Potter, and her three young daughters. The girls attended the all-girl school, Rosemary Hall, in Rock Ridge for a short time before the family returned to their home in the state of Washington.

Innis Arden Cottage

From 1906 through 1913, the Tods made the Cottage available as a summer retreat for Anna C. Maxwell and her nursing students from the New York Presbyterian Hospital. Maxwell, often referred to as the “American Florence Nightingale,” performed pioneering work in the development of the nursing profession. The Tods’ support of the hospital, and Maxwell in particular, most probably derives from J. S. Kennedy’s tenure as president of the hospital’s board of directors. Besides donating one million dollars to establish a nursing school at the hospital (now known as the Columbia University School of Nursing), Kennedy also recommended Maxwell to be its first director. Maxwell was one of the first women to be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Innis Arden Cottage

From the back of Innis Arden Cottage, looking slightly northeast, about 1.5 miles away, the Stamford Harbor Ledge Lighthouse is visible on a clear day. The sparkplug lighthouse was built in 1882 and was manufactured in Boston. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

Stamford Harbor Ledge Lighthouse

Original Entrance Gate ~ The original entrance gate to Innis Arden, the 147-acre estate of Mr. and Mrs. J.Kennedy Tod. It is located between Innis Arden Cottage and The Old Barn. The Gate Lodge which was built in 1887, was destroyed by fire in 1904.

Original Entrance Gate

A plaque mounted on one of the stone columns, details some of the history of the structures located within the park.

Original Entrance Gate

375th Anniversary Plaque ~ On Founders’ Day, July 18, 2016, the town attached a commemorative bronze plaque to a small boulder on the bluff at the southeastern tip of the Point. The plaque features a replica of the original deed to the land they now call Old Greenwich.

375th Anniversary Plaque

The plaque also contains the town’s coat-of-arms designed in 1940. The design features a windmill representing the town’s early Dutch influence, a horse’s head for Horseneck (an early name for the land between the Mianus and Byram Rivers), a plow for the agricultural history of the founders, a ship from the coat-of-arms of Greenwich, England, and a clamshell representing the early maritime trade in the town.

375th Anniversary Plaque

Eagle Pond ~ As you head farther out on the Point, you come to the northern land bridge at Eagle Pond; across the Pond is the southern land bridge. Tod created both to connect the two islands. Tod considered himself a naturalist and built the Pond as a bird sanctuary, populated by swans, pelicans, and ducks.

Eagle Pond

View over Eagle Pond towards the Long Island Sound from the Innis Arden House Site. The thin strip of land between the Pond and the Long Island Sound, is the southern land bridge.

Eagle Pond

View of Eagle Pond from Mansion Road.

Eagle Pond

The Pond takes its name from the eagle sculpture that Tod installed in 1905 on the small island on the southern side of the Pond. Local Stamford sculptor and New York hotelier James Knowles created a new bronze eagle for the island in 1979 through the generosity of Helen Binney Kitchel.

Eagle Pond

Ospreys build a stick nest on top of the 14-foot wingspan of the eagle each year from which they can easily see their enemies approaching. The sculpture and nest are best viewed from the eastern side of the pond.

Eagle statue

The Holly Grove ~ Mr. and Mrs. Allan Farrand Kitchel donated twenty-one different species of holly to the town in 1959 in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary. In 2016, the Friends of Greenwich Point, in celebration of their 60th anniversary, began working with the town to restore the Holly Grove. In addition to clearing brush, trimming trees, and planting new hollies, they rebuilt the entrance post with a new sign.

The Holly Grove

Innis Arden House Site ~ J. Kennedy Tod was among the wealthy elite of New York who made the Connecticut coast their playground. Soon after he married Maria Howard Potter, while residing in NYC, they began acquiring acreage on the Point on which they planned to build their summer cottage. By 1887, they had secured title to most of the peninsula. By 1889, the house was complete.

Innis Arden House – Courtesy of Greenwich Historical Society

The style of the manor house was eclectic and uniquely suited to the site. It was designed in the High Victorian Gothic and American Romanesque styles. Thirty European stonemasons, having been brought to America specifically for this work, built the 37-room mansion and its surroundings.

Innis Arden House – Courtesy of Greenwich Historical Society

This magnificent house had to be torn down in 1962 as it needed extensive repairs and required more money, time, and attention than the public coffers could provide.

Courtesy of Greenwich Historical Society

The stone mansion and estate built by railroad tycoon J. Kennedy Tod was the height of seaside luxury. Tod, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, named it Innis Arden, Gaelic for the high meadows.

Innis Arden House Site

Mr. and Mrs. Tod had no children. They passed away in this house in 1925 and 1939, respectively. After Mrs. Tod passed, the estate was ultimately given to the NY Presbyterian Hospital to site a convalescent hospital.

Innis Arden House Site

The Town of Greenwich purchased the property in 1945 and, subsequently, converted the mansion into 13 apartments for returning WWII veterans. Rent was nominal. Approximately 30 veterans’ families lived in the former mansion over the next 15 years. Only the “tower” and part of the foundation remain.

Innis Arden House Site

The view over Eagle Pond and beyond.

Innis Arden House Site

The paved road leading from the Innis Arden House.

Innis Arden House Site

Stone steps on Mansion Road, by the west side of Eagle Pond.

Innis Arden House Site

Mansion Road.

Innis Arden House Site

Mansion Road.

Innis Arden House Site

The Seaside Garden ~ As mentioned earlier, J. Kennedy Tod joined two islands together. The island to the west has twin peaks. The Seaside Garden occupies the northern peak and Innis Arden House, the southern peak. The Tods commissioned Marian Cruger Coffin to design and build the walled garden in 1918.

The Seaside Garden

In 1945, the Garden Club of Old Greenwich restored Mrs. Tod’s walled garden. In 1964, the Knollwood Garden Club assumed responsibility for the care and preservation of the garden.

The Seaside Garden

Shell Beach ~ is a strip of shoreline that is covered in sea shells along the westernmost section of the park.

Shell Beach

Views ~ Surrounded by water on three sides, Greenwich Point Park, on a clear day, affords magnificent views of the Long Island Sound, with the New York City skyline to the southwest. To the north there are views over Greenwich Cove.

New York City skyline

Long Island Sound

Views are pretty much everywhere you walk. Below is a view of Eagle Pond from the southern end of Mansion Road.

Eagle Pond

Wildlife ~ Officially designated an Important Bird Area, Greenwich Point Park, is a great place to watch birds year round. Migrating songbirds, shorebirds, flycatchers, hawks and more stop by in spring and fall, a variety of waterfowl feed in the waters of Long Island Sound in the winter, and summer brings breeding birds and waders.

On our visit we saw a variety of waterfowl and plenty of seagulls, but the prize was watching a Bald Eagle soar overhead and land in a tree by the parking lot near the original entrance gate, shortly after we arrived.

Bald Eagle

Review:

This park is absolutely gorgeous and the amount of people that flock here, even in winter, confirms it. On our first visit, it was in the low to mid 30’s and I was quite surprised at how many people were walking around. Although there were many people out walking, quite a few with their leashed dogs, it never felt crowded. Foot traffic is mostly concentrated along the paved paths/roads. There is a lot to see and photograph here, so bring your camera and check it out for yourself.

Pros:

Scenic landscape, historical features, gorgeous views, serene environment.

Cons:

Hefty fees in season for non-residents, attracts crowds year-round.

Sources:

Snake Hill from San Giacomo Park

Posted on November 16, 2022

November 12, 2022 – New Windsor, NY

Difficulty: Easy – Moderate

Length: Approximately 2 miles

Max elevation: 705 ft.– total elevation gain approximately 450 ft.

Route type: Lollipop Loop

Free map: Snake Hill Trail Map 2022 – Scenic Hudson

Trailhead parking: San Giacomo Park, 402 Union Ave, New Windsor, NY 12553

Large paved parking lot – Restrooms on site

Park Closes At Dusk

San Giacomo Park and Snake Hill are Carry-in/Carry-out areas

Details on a hike to Snake Hill via different a route:

Snake Hill Loop from Crystal Lake

Overview:

Snake Hill rises 700 feet above the Hudson River and is the highest elevation along Newburgh’s boundary with the Town of New Windsor. Snake Hill is the dominant feature of the landscape surrounding Newburgh and New Windsor.

Snake Hill as viewed from Denning’s Point – 2022

Snake Hill as viewed from Mount Beacon – 2016

Snake Hill is a local landmark that offers sweeping views of the Hudson River and surrounding landscape from its summit. The Hill straddles the City of Newburgh/Town of New Windsor. It drops off precipitously to the east, giving unobstructed views of the Hudson River, the East Hudson Highlands, the cities of Newburgh and New Windsor, Pollepel Island to the southeast, and Storm King Mountain to the south.

View from Snake Hill

San Giacomo Park is a 9-acre Town Park that has the following amenities: Dog Park (Membership Required For Dog Park), Basketball Courts, Tennis Courts, Playground, and Restrooms. Park Closes At Dusk.

San Giacomo Park

History:

Once named Muchattoes Hill (Much-Hattoos, Much-Hattoes), which loosely translated means bad or evil small hill. In local nomenclature the hill has long been known as Snake Hill from the abundance of rattlesnakes that inhabited it, though few have been seen there in recent years.

At the summit of Snake Hill there is a rock outcrop referred to as “Spy Rock.” According to the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands, “Legends say local Indians and then colonial militia used the high point to watch activity on the Hudson.”

Blue Trail benches – Snake Hill

During the American Revolution, patriots kept a signal fire in readiness atop Snake Hill to warn surrounding communities of a British invasion upriver.

Although the land didn’t face any threat of development, Scenic Hudson felt it was worth permanently protecting and the opportunity to do so arose. Scenic Hudson paid $1.06 million for 95 acres, comprising the bulk of Snake Hill, in 2004.

The trails were built from 2017-2018 (finished in spring of 2018) by Scenic Hudson and volunteers. Scenic Hudson maintains the trails, again with volunteer help.

Thanks to Reed Sparling, Writer and Scenic Hudson Historian for providing the information on its history.

Trails Overview:

There are three marked trails on the map and a paved road that cuts through the center of the property. There are also some unmarked “social” trails as well. The official trails are well marked and relatively easy to follow, although they can use an extra blaze or two at a couple of turns.

Snake Hill Trail Map – 2022

The trails are marked with Scenic Hudson round plastic discs in various colors.

Snake Hill – Scenic Hudson

The Yellow Trail, travels through the City of Newburgh property and is marked with painted rectangular blazes. The Scenic Hudson trail map only shows the spur that leads to the view which doesn’t have many blazes.

Yellow Trail – Snake Hill

Hike Overview:

I first hiked Snake Hill in early September, 2022. I enjoyed the view so much that I came back two more times since then. Snake Hill has some of the best views anywhere up and down the Hudson River. Normally I am an early morning hiker to secure a parking spot and avoid the crowds. But this hike is better done after midday. Midday you ask? Yes, because as fabulous as the views are, on a sunny day, the sun is right in your face as you try to photograph and/or enjoy the views. Since it was raining all through the night and into the morning of this hike, I decided it was a good time to return. When the rain ended it became a little hazy, but still these views have to be experienced to truly appreciate them.

This is a short Lollipop Loop with the stick being at the far end. It can be combined with some of the other trails for a slightly longer hike. We utilized the paved road for our return route after stopping at the bench view for a second time.

Snake Hill from San Giacomo Park

elevation profile – Snake Hill from San Giacomo Park

The Hike:

This hike begins near the northeast area of the parking lot. Follow an unmarked footpath past the gate and turn left on the paved road. In about 180 feet, turn right on the White Trail, which is marked with three white blazes and a sign. You will be following the White Trail for the next 1/2 mile or so.

San Giacomo Park trailhead

Turn left after the gate

Asphalt Road – San Giacomo Park

White Trail – Snake Hill

The White Trail climbs gradually through the woods passing some interesting looking boulders that are scattered about. In about 0.4 mile, the White Trail reaches a slanted rock outcrop with wide ranging views over the Hudson River.

White Trail – Snake Hill

Storm King Mountain and Butter Hill is visible to the right. Across the Hudson River, a good stretch of the East Hudson Highlands can be seen with Pollepel Island and Bannerman’s Castle near its shore.

White Trail – Snake Hill

White Trail – Snake Hill

There were plenty of vultures and several hawks circling high above on this day. The communications towers visible to the left are on North Beacon Mountain.

Turkey Vulture – Snake Hill

North Beacon Mountain just right of center and the Mount Beacon Fire Tower can be seen on the high point on the far right.

White Trail – Snake Hill

The White Trail climbs rather steeply, and soon ends at a junction with the Blue Trail, which comes in from the left. Proceed ahead on the Blue Trail, passing a rock outcrop just off the trail with similar views as those on the White Trail.

White Trail – Snake Hill

Blue Trail – Snake Hill

In a short distance, the Blue Trail ends at a large rock outcrop fitted with two benches. This makes for a great spot to relax and enjoy the glorious views.

Blue Trail – Snake Hill

Known as “Spy Rock,” Legend has it that local Indians and then colonial militia used this high point to watch for activity on the Hudson. During the American Revolution, patriots kept a signal fire in readiness at this spot to warn surrounding communities of British troops’ movements.

Blue Trail – Snake Hill

A good chunk of the Hudson River Highlands can be viewed from this very spot.

View from Snake Hill

Blue Trail – Snake Hill

When you are ready to continue, follow the unmarked footpath directly behind the benches out to the paved access road and turn right. Follow the asphalt road as it heads northeast along the summit ridge, soon passing a communications tower on the left.

Unmarked footpath – Snake Hill summit

Turn right on the paved road

Paved access road – Snake Hill

Communication tower – Snake Hill

Once you pass the tower, the road is no longer paved until you get to the next tower.

Unpaved road – Snake Hill

I have no idea what the purpose of this contraption is. It’s a small locker strung up on this pole using insulated electrical wires. By the way it is rigged up, it appears that it could be raised and lowered. If anyone knows what this is used for, please comment below. It was here the last two times that I hiked this area.

Unpaved road – Snake Hill

Soon, the road comes to a gate with another communications tower just beyond on the left. You are now leaving Scenic Hudson property and entering property owned by the City of Newburgh. Proceed downhill on the paved road past the gate for about 400 feet. After passing telephone pole #38, turn right on a woods road that heads uphill briefly then turns left. This is the route of the Yellow Trail even though you may not see any blazes. The trail dead ends in about 360 feet at another lovely viewpoint.

Unpaved road – Snake Hill

Communications tower – Snake Hill

Paved access road – Snake Hill

Telephone pole 38 – paved access road – Snake Hill

Yellow Trail – Snake Hill

Here the panorama is more extensive, with views north as well as south. The Beacon waterfront and the East Hudson Highlands can be seen across the river. The historic architecture of Newburgh is visible down below to the north with the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge just beyond.

Yellow Trail – Snake Hill

When you are done enjoying the view, retrace your steps on the Yellow Trail back to the paved road and turn left. Continue retracing your steps past the two communications towers and continue downhill on the paved road. We stopped at the viewpoint with the benches one more time then returned to the paved road, following it downhill all the way to San Giacomo Park, where the hike began.

Yellow Trail – Snake Hill

Turn left on paved access road

Unmarked footpath – Snake Hill summit

Blue Trail benches – Snake Hill

Blue Trail benches view – Snake Hill

Paved access road – Snake Hill

Angry boulder – Snake Hill

Review:

This is one of my favorite views, so much so that I have hiked it three times in two months. We saw two people at the first viewpoint on the White Trail and no one thereafter. I am surprised that each time that I have hiked Snake Hill, I haven’t seen more than a couple of people. This is a great spot for a relatively easy hike and those benches are great. I highly recommend this hike to those that enjoy Hudson Valley views.

Pros:

Outstanding views, well marked trails, no litter (let’s keep it that way!), not much foot traffic, large paved parking lot that feels safe to leave your vehicle.

Cons:

None.

Take a hike!

Snake Hill from San Giacomo Park

Sources:

Snake Hill – Scenic Hudson

River Trail – Haverstraw Beach State Park

Posted on November 6, 2022

November 5, 2022 – Haverstraw, NY

Difficulty: Easy

Length: Approximately 4.5 miles

Max elevation: 131 ft.– total elevation gain approximately 373 ft.

Route type: Out and back

Buy Map (Paper & Avenza): Hudson Palisades Trails Map #111 (2018)

Trailhead parking: Hudson River Greenway trailhead & parking
Riverside Ave, Haverstraw, NY 10927

Paved parking area for about 8 cars – No restrooms on site

The park is open year-round, from dawn to dusk.

Overview:

The 73-acre Haverstraw Beach State Park is nestled between the high cliffs of Hook Mountain and the Hudson River. It is a component of the larger Rockland Lake State Park complex. The park complex is located on the Hudson River in central Rockland County in the lower Hudson Valley. Haverstraw Beach State Park is minimally developed, and is NOT a swimming beach, but primarily offers trails for biking, hiking and dog-walking. Scenic vistas overlooking the Hudson River, can be found within the park. The Hook Mountain/Nyack Beach Bikeway/River Trail runs through the park.

Haverstraw Beach, Rockland Lake, Hook Mountain and Nyack Beach state parks are together nearly 2,000 acres of public land. The four adjacent state parks are linked together by hiking and biking trails and function as one park system.

The park complex is located in the Palisades Region that is jointly administered by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC) and NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP).

River Trail – Haverstraw Beach State Park

History:

In Dutch, “Haverstroo” means “oat straw,” possibly suggested by the wild oats that grew at the waterfront beds of natural clay in the area. This clay helped the Haverstraw area play a significant role in the brick industry, due to the clay content in the soil and the large quantity of wood available nearby, including wood from Hook Mountain that was needed to fire the furnaces. Some evidence from this time period remains in the area in the form of ruins and discarded bricks.

On the night of September 21st, 1780, British spy Major John André traveled north on a British sloop, the H.M.S. Vulture. At the same time, American General Benedict Arnold traveled south from West Point to Haverstraw. Arnold met Andre along the Hudson River shoreline near Haverstraw’s Dutchtown in the early morning hours of September 22, 1780. A stone marker identifies the place where Andre landed (Andre’s Dock).

Treason Rock Map

The H.M.S. Vulture was anchored in Haverstraw Bay just off Teller’s Point (Croton Point Park), while a rowboat brought André ashore for the meeting with Arnold. A historical marker along the River Trail designates the area where American General Benedict Arnold met secretly with British Major John André in the pre-dawn darkness on September 22, 1780 in order to finalize plans for Arnold’s betrayal of West Point to the British.

River Trail – Haverstraw Beach State Park

The park’s location was formerly known as Snedeker’s Landing then later on Waldberg Landing. Early in the 19th Century the Snedeker family’s landing on the Hudson shore below, came into use for local shipping. In 1845 the Snedekers established a shipyard with marine railway for repairing brickyard vessels and a dock for scheduled steamboats. The entire yard was demolished by fire in 1854 and abandoned. Later during the Conger family ownership it became known as Waldberg Landing.

The Palisades Interstate Park Commission purchased what was to become the park in 1911 to protect the land from the effects of quarrying that were impacting the Hudson River Palisades during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Many of the historic structures and sites found on Hook Mountain, Nyack Beach and Haverstraw Beach State Parks are remnants of a former park complex developed by PIPC after the purchase of the land in 1911.

River Trail – Haverstraw Beach State Park

Trails Overview:

The Long Path runs along the escarpment above, while a bike path follows the river’s edge from Haverstraw Beach State Park in “Dutchtown,” a quaint section of Haverstraw, to Nyack Beach State Park in Upper Nyack. Visitors can bike, hike, walk, or run for almost 5 uninterrupted miles along the Hudson River. The River Trail is the only trail along the lower Hudson River in New York, that does not share its waterfront with a train line or highway. The Long Path parallels this trail high above atop the cliffs.

River Trail – Haverstraw Beach State Park

Three connecting trails to the Long Path, one each at the north, south, and middle points of the magnificent facade of Hook Mountain, allow for circular hikes of varying lengths. The full loop of the Long Path and bike path is 12 miles.

The section of the River Trail chronicled here, runs near the base of Hook Mountain and is part of Hudson River Valley Greenway. The approximately 10-foot wide path is paved at the northern end, but transitions to crumbling asphalt then gravel as it heads south.

River Trail – Haverstraw Beach State Park

Hike Overview:

Looking to get outside on a warm November day, I was looking for more of an easy stroll than an actual hike. Originally, I was going to walk the River Trail from Nyack Beach State Park, but having walked that section numerous times, decided to start at the northern end in Haverstraw. I also wanted to check out “Treason Rock” also known as “Traitor’s Rock.” An engraved boulder on the shore of the Hudson River, marking the spot where Major John André landed in Haverstraw to plot the surrender of West Point with General Benedict Arnold. The problem is, the engraved boulder can only be viewed during low tide. I will have to go back another time to actually see it. The NY-NJ Trail Conference map shows Treason Rock on land, but it is actually on the shore of the river.

Treason Rock – Photo by Joe Harness – August 14, 2010

This section of the River Trail is less popular and thus less traveled than the area around Nyack Beach State Park. There being only 8 parking spaces may be one of the reasons that this section sees less foot traffic. We saw about a 1/2 dozen people walking and about the same amount of bikers. Unlike the section at Nyack Beach State Park which runs mostly at river level, the River Trail in Haverstraw Beach State Park runs higher above the river with a few spur trails that descend to river level.

This is an easy out and back which can be easily turned into a longer and more challenging hike by utilizing the Long Path, or continuing along the River Trail 4.9 miles to Nyack Beach State Park.

Haverstraw Beach State Park

As you can see below, the River Trail is mostly moderate rolling terrain, with little elevation gain.

elevation profile – Haverstraw Beach State Park

The Hike:

This hike begins at the Hudson River Greenway trailhead parking area, at the end of Riverside Avenue, where there are lined parking spaces for 8 vehicles.

Hudson River Greenway trailhead & parking

Proceed past the gate on the paved River Trail. This is a multi-use path so be vigilant of passing two-wheelers and runners.

River Trail – Haverstraw Beach State Park

As you walk south on the River Trail, the Hudson River is visible through the trees on the left. In about 250 yards, there is a historical marker alongside the pathway detailing American General Benedict Arnold’s meeting with British spy John André.

River Trail – Haverstraw Beach State Park

In about 0.3 mile from the parking area, there is a footpath on the left that leads down to old Redstone Beach, which was abandoned sometime after World War II. We continued past and explored this area on the way back.

Trail to Redstone Beach – Haverstraw Beach State Park

Just ahead are the remains of the caretaker’s home, barely visible through the vegetation.

Abandoned caretaker’s home – Redstone Beach

A short distance ahead, there is a deteriorated old park building on the left.

River Trail – Haverstraw Beach State Park

Soon, the River Trail passes stone quarries that were abandoned in the early 1900’s. A few hundred yards south, one can see the foundation and massive concrete footings of the Foss stone crusher (Wilson Perkins Foss), down below on the left.

River Trail – Haverstraw Beach State Park

The River Trail climbs gradually and passes a concrete and brick shelter built into the hillside. Possibly a crude blast shelter to protect workers from blasts, explosions and rock slides during quarry operations.

River Trail – Haverstraw Beach State Park

Fencing has been placed at points of erosion to warn visitors of steep slopes and reduce the risk of accidents.

River Trail – Haverstraw Beach State Park

About 1.5 miles from the start, the River Trail comes to a viewpoint over the Hudson River and Croton Point Park. There are a couple of large stone blocks placed here to sit upon. This makes for a good spot to take a break and enjoy the view.

River Trail – Haverstraw Beach State Park

I spotted something floating in the river, possibly a personal flotation device that fell out of a boat.

Something floating in the river

Boat on the Hudson

The viewpoint makes for a good turnaround spot, but we continued south for a short distance and were glad that we did.

River Trail – Haverstraw Beach State Park

A large hollowed out fallen tree which would make a nice shelter for some critters.

River Trail – Haverstraw Beach State Park

I happened to spot a Bald Eagle perched on a tree overlooking the river. He stayed there posing for us for quite some time, then flew off looking for something to eat I presume.

Bald Eagle – Haverstraw Beach State Park

We then retraced our steps on the River Trail and when we got to the footpath to Redstone Beach, we turned right and descended towards the river’s edge.

River Trail – Haverstraw Beach State Park

Redstone Beach Trail – Haverstraw Beach State Park

The area is now in ruins and a little overgrown, but in its heyday was quite active. There are remnants of park benches and walkways designed to accommodate visitors who used the Hudson River for swimming and other recreational activities.

Redstone Beach – Haverstraw Beach State Park

What remains of an old park building, possibly a changing room for beach-goers, is situated close to the edge of the river.

Redstone Beach – Haverstraw Beach State Park

Shoreline view of the Hudson River east to Croton-on-Hudson in Westchester County.

Redstone Beach – Haverstraw Beach State Park

Looking south, that strip of land jutting out into the river behind the buoy, is Teller’s Point in Croton Point Park

Redstone Beach – Haverstraw Beach State Park

Looking directly across the Hudson River to Croton-On-Hudson.

Redstone Beach – Haverstraw Beach State Park

Looking north towards Haverstraw and beyond.

Redstone Beach – Haverstraw Beach State Park

This location throughout history has had a number of names. originally it was called Snedekers Landing, then Waldberg Landing, and finally Redstone Beach.

Redstone Beach – Haverstraw Beach State Park

The concrete table tops are pretty much intact, but have been separated from the legs.

Redstone Beach – Haverstraw Beach State Park

A small park building, a concession stand perhaps?

Redstone Beach – Haverstraw Beach State Park

After exploring Redstone Beach for a bit, we returned to the River Trail, turned right and walked back to the parking area, where the hike began.

River Trail – Haverstraw Beach State Park

Review:

A really nice walk with little foot traffic. The trail is mostly shaded and with minimal elevation gain, makes it ideal for a hot summer day. In winter, probably a good spot to view Bald Eagles and other birds of prey. In Autumn, the scenery is quite nice.

Pros:

Easy walking trail, historical features, Hudson River views. wildlife.

Cons:

None.

Take a hike!

Haverstraw Beach State Park

Sources:

High View Tunnel – Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest

Posted on October 23, 2022

October 22, 2022 – Wurtsboro, NY

Difficulty: Easy

Length: Approximately 2 miles

Max elevation: 810 ft.– total elevation gain approximately 150 ft.

Route type: Out and back

Free map: Shawangunk Ridge Trail Map – 2016

Buy Map (Paper & Avenza): Shawangunk Trails Map 106B – 2019

Trailhead parking: 26 VFW Road, Wurtsboro, NY 12790

Dirt parking area for about 10 cars – No restrooms on site

Please Note: It is not safe to enter this tunnel because it has not been maintained since the 1950’s, it is flooded and there is the danger of falling debris along with other hazards when exploring abandoned places. It is also rumored that people have drowned in the tunnel.

Overview:

The High View Tunnel, also known as the Shawangunk Tunnel or the Bloomingburg Tunnel, was completed in 1871 through the Shawangunk Mountains by the New York and Oswego Midland Railroad (NY&OM), predecessor of the New York, Ontario & Western Railway (NYO&W or O&W). At 3,855-foot in length, High View is the longest among the four tunnels on the O&W.

High View Tunnel

Although the tunnel is located on property owned by the Open Space Institute (OSI), the High View Tunnel is adjacent to Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest where there is trailhead parking for the Long Path/SRT on VFW Road. Since the the hike begins and ends in Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest, I named it as part of the state forest in order to make it easier to identify its location.

History:

The New York, Ontario & Western Railway (O&W, NYO&W) was a regional railroad that connected Oswego, New York to Weehawken Terminal in New Jersey. At the end of the 19th century, the O&W Railway was the best way for New York City passengers to make their way to the Catskill Mountains. It is the first notable railroad in America to have its mainline entirely abandoned.

New York, Ontario and Western Railroad

In 1868, the New York and Oswego Midland Railroad (Midland), predecessor to the O&W, began building its mainline from Weehawken, New Jersey to Oswego, New York. The route selected would pass through the Shawangunk Ridge via a tunnel between Wurtsboro on the west and Bloomingburg on the east. Construction began in 1868 at both ends of the tunnel. Three years later, Midland completed the High View Tunnel after excavating through 3855 feet of Shawangunk Grit. When the workers finally met in the middle, to everyone’s delight they were only a few feet apart.

The High View Tunnel operated from 1871 until 1957 but not without its problems, mainly water and falling rock. While Shawangunk Grit is impervious to water, the open seams running through the grit are perfect waterways. Once abandoned, the tunnel continued to take on water with no one taking steps to dewater the tunnel. Meanwhile, NYS Route 17 was built over the High View Tunnel and, at one point, future plans called for a ramp directly over the North Portal. Those plans have since been scrapped.

In 1980, possibly in response to rumors of a drowning in the High View Tunnel, an attempt was made to seal the North Portal. Despite efforts, the portal wasn’t completely sealed and the resulting large debris pile in the front of the North Portal allowed even more water to collect in the tunnel (the crest of the tunnel is near the South Portal which is private property). An early 1970’s view of the masonry North Portal shows already some deterioration had taken place. This gives a good indication that perhaps as much as twenty feet was collapsed and excavated in the attempt to shut off access.

High View Tunnel – 1970’s

The New York Department of Transportation grew concerned that the higher water levels (estimated at 13 feet in some places) could weaken the tunnel, posing a threat to Route 17 (I-86). The DOT cleared the debris from the North Portal in 2006, thereby reducing the water level to about 3 feet nearest the North Portal.

Hike Overview:

I visited the High View Tunnel in 2016 and decided to pay it a return visit. Not much has changed since then, but the abandoned railbed seems to have taken on more water or at least it appeared that way. On this visit, we couldn’t get as close to the tunnel as last time due to the amount of water near the entrance of the north portal of the tunnel. So much water that Gaia GPS has it listed as “High View Tunnel Outflow Stream” on its online maps. Although I had on waterproof boots, the water was much deeper than the top of my boots. Also the ground was muddy enough in places to suck the boots right off your feet if you stepped in the wrong spot.

High View Tunnel

The hike begins at VFW Post 4947 which is the former Mamakating Depot for O&W Main Line and is on the same grade as the High View Tunnel. Long before O&W trains stopped running in 1957, the company had closed the Mamakating Depot. The building was in disrepair when VFW Post 4947 purchased it for their base of operations.

Mamakating Depot

VFW Post 4947

There is parking along the left side of the building as you drive in. DO NOT block the gate or the entrance road. There is a scrap yard near the entrance to VFW Road that has several barking dogs of various sizes. We heard them barking as we began the hike, and as we were returning to the parking area, two medium sized dogs approached us barking, but retreated once I yelled at them. Just a heads up to be vigilant if you decide to visit.

This is a relatively easy and straightforward out and back hike. If you so choose, you can walk back down VFW Road, bypassing the trail and cross the road to reach the abandoned railbed. I chose to use the SRT/Long Path south to reach the road and a short section of the railbed between the VFW and the road to return to the parking area, to eliminate the road walk.

High View Tunnel

As you can see from the elevation graph, it’s a relatively level hike.

elevation profile – High View Tunnel

The Hike:

Walk to the back of the parking area towards the gate. beyond the gate is the continuation of the abandoned railbed heading north. To the right of that concrete block are three white blazes on a tree. That is the start of the Connector Trail that leads to the co-aligned Long Path/SRT. The White Trail climbs for about 400 feet until its terminus at a T-intersection with the Shawangunk Ridge Trail (SRT). Turn right at the junction and follow the SRT south as it weaves its way through the woods.

VFW Road trailhead parking

White Connector Trail – Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest

Long Path/SRT – Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest

In about 350 yards, the SRT reaches Sullivan County Route 171 (Mamakating Road). Here the Long Path/SRT turns right and begins a road walk, but you should carefully cross the road. This is a hairpin curve where cars speed by with a limited sight distance so be alert when crossing here.

Long Path/SRT – Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest

Directly across the road is a bridge abutment that supported the railroad bridge. To the left of the abutment is an access road that leads to the abandoned railbed. Follow the road up the hill and turn left, heading south.

Sullivan County Route 171 – Mamakating Road

Access Road to abandoned railbed

Abandoned railbed – High View Tunnel

Once on the railbed, it’s about a 0.7-mile, mostly flat walk to the north portal of the High View Tunnel.

Abandoned railbed – High View Tunnel

In another 350 yards or so, on the left, there is a concrete telephone booth. The C.F. Massey Company, based in Chicago, manufactured these enclosures for any number of purposes, such as telephone booths, outhouses, watch shanties, and oil storage sheds.

Abandoned railbed – concrete telephone booth

Abandoned railbed – High View Tunnel

Not far from the concrete telephone booth, there are still some concrete footings that supported the signal towers.

Abandoned railbed – concrete footing

A short distance later, as the railbed approaches a rock cut, there are some leaning trees and caution is advised when walking underneath them.

Abandoned railbed – High View Tunnel

After passing through the rock cut, you will arrive at the High View Tunnel Outflow Stream. This stream flows out of the north portal and courses downhill to your right. Do your best to keep your feet dry in this area.

High View Tunnel Outflow Stream

On the right side of the railbed is an old explosives magazine, used for the “day storage” of explosives. The robust stone walls, inward opening steel door, and flimsy wood roof were designed to contain any accidental blast and direct it skyward. It was used during the tunnel’s construction, and possibly in later years to help clear the frequent cave-ins that occurred.

Abandoned railbed – explosives magazine

The water gets deeper and the grip of the mud gets stronger as you near the tunnel.

Abandoned railbed – High View Tunnel

This is about as far as we got on this day. I didn’t want to risk losing a boot or getting water over the top of my boots.

Abandoned railbed – High View Tunnel

The image below is from 2016. It was taken from about the same spot as the image above. Notice the row of rocks in the foreground lined across the railbed. These same rocks are now underwater in the image above in 2022.

Abandoned railbed – High View Tunnel

High View Tunnel

Since we didn’t get as close as I would have liked, I included an image from 2016 of the interior of the tunnel.

High View Tunnel – 2016

From here it’s just a matter of retracing your steps back to CR 171 (Mamakating Road) and carefully crossing the road. Instead of taking the Long Path/SRT, we found the abandoned railbed on the north side of the road and followed that back past the VFW, to the parking area, where the hike began.

Access Road to abandoned railbed

Abandoned railbed on north side of CR 171 (Mamakating Road)

VFW Post 4947

Review:

A short hike, but it could be made longer by taking the abandoned railbed north from the VFW or for a more challenging hike, you can take the SRT/Long Path north in Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest. The tunnel itself makes for a good point of interest as well as the remnants of the railroad that once passed through here.

Pros:

High View Tunnel, railroad ruins, secluded area.

Cons:

A lot of water near the north portal of the tunnel.

Take a hike!

High View Tunnel – Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest

Sources:

Shawangunk Ridge State Forest Loop from Cox Road Trailhead

Posted on October 19, 2022

October 15, 2022 – Pine Bush, NY

Difficulty: Moderate

Length: Approximately 3.5 miles

Max elevation: 1,791 ft.– total elevation gain approximately 550 ft.

Route type: Circuit

Free map: Shawangunk Ridge State Forest Trail Map – 2021

Free map: Shawangunk Ridge Trail Map – 2016

Buy Map (Paper & Avenza): Shawangunk Trails Map 106B – 2019

Trailhead parking: Cox Road Parking Area – 336 Cox Rd, Pine Bush, NY 12566

Gravel parking lot for about 15 cars – No restrooms on site

Shawangunk Ridge State Forest is a Carry-in/Carry-out area

Overview:

The 1,411-acre Shawangunk Ridge State Forest is part of an interconnected and preserved corridor of land that stretches south from Ulster County, through Sullivan County and into Orange County, NY. It is part of the northern section of the Shawangunk Mountain range known as the Shawangunk Ridge.

Shawangunk Ridge State Forest as viewed from Bear Hill Nature Preserve – October 2016

Pronounced shuh-WAN-gunk, or SHON-gum by locals, “The Gunks” are known widely for their dramatic cliffs and landscapes, dwarf pine barren forests, “ice caves”, and classic rock climbing.

Bear Hill Nature Preserve as viewed from Shawangunk Ridge State Forest

Long Path/Shawangunk Ridge Trail – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest

Red Trail – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest

History:

In the year 2000, the Shawangunk Ridge State Forest was created through a partnership between New York State, Open Space Institute (OSI), Trust for Public Land (TPL) and others.

The Open Space Institute purchased several major parcels along the Shawangunk Ridge and transferred them to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to be held and managed as state forests.

Subsequent acquisitions over the years have significantly expanded the chain of state forests, including the Shawangunk Ridge, Roosa Gap, Wurtsboro, and Huckleberry Ridge State Forests.

Trails Overview:

A 1.8-mile section of the co-aligned Shawangunk Ridge Trail and the Long Path passes through Shawangunk Ridge State Forest. To the south the trail continues on into Roosa Gap State Forest. To the north the trail continues onto private land and eventually onto Minnewaska State Park to the north of Route 52.

The 1.2-mile section of the co-aligned SRT and Long Path traversed on this hike, provide spectacular views of the surrounding valley, extending all the way to the Catskills.

Long Path/Shawangunk Ridge Trail – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest

Starting in 2015, the NY-NJ Trail Conference created 4 miles of new trails in Shawangunk Ridge State Forest, connecting the Long Path (and SRT) to parking areas, making loop hikes possible.

Hike Overview:

October is leaf peeping season and The Gunks are nothing short of spectacular during that time. That is probably the busiest time of the year in that area. The more well known spots like Minnewaska State Park, including the Sam’s Point Area and the Mohonk Preserve, can get extremely crowded during that time, especially on weekends. I decided to try a less popular section of the ridge, or so I thought. We arrived at the parking area on Cox Road at 10am on a Saturday morning and the 15-car gravel lot was nearly full. By the time that we finished the hike, the lot was jammed and there was a long line of vehicles parked along the side of Cox Road. My advice is to get there early or visit on a weekday. You should also back your vehicle into one of the parking spots, making it a lot easier to exit. You’ll be glad you did.

Cox Road Parking Area – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest

While researching this hike, I couldn’t find much information online and figured that this was a lesser trafficked area and possibly a hidden gem. Even though the small lot was nearly full when we arrived (10am), I was shocked at the end of our hike when I saw how jammed the parking lot was, making it difficult to back out and leave.

I would suggest doing this hike clockwise as most of the people we encountered were going in the opposite direction. By going clockwise, it’s a shorter distance to the ridge and after reaching the highpoint, you will have almost continuous views in front of you as you descend.

This moderate loop is one of the better hikes that I have done when it comes to the all-around hiking experience. It has views and extremely scenic landscape along the ridge and just below it. It has to be experienced to be truly appreciated.

Shawangunk Ridge State Forest Loop from Cox Road Trailhead

elevation profile – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest Loop

The Hike:

From the kiosk at the parking area, head uphill on the Red Trail, which follows a woods road. Almost immediately, a wooden post marks a branch of the trail that goes to the right. This will be your return route, but for now, continue ahead on the woods road, following the red blazes.

Cox Road Parking Area – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest

Red Trail – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest

In 0.4 mile, you’ll cross a stream on large stepping stones. Soon, the Red Trail begins to climb more steeply and narrows to a footpath.

Red Trail – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest

After passing cliffs on the right and going through an interesting passage between rocks, you’ll reach a junction with the Long Path/Shawangunk Ridge Trail at the crest of the ridge. Turn right onto the Long Path/Shawangunk Ridge Trail, which you’ll be following for the next 1.2 miles.

Red Trail – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest

Long Path/Shawangunk Ridge Trail – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest

The ridge that you’re following was burned in a forest fire in May 2015. Low vegetation was destroyed in the fire, and many small trees were burned, but the trunks of larger trees remained unscathed. The vegetation has begun to regenerate, but many small dead trees scarred by the fire can still be seen.

Long Path/Shawangunk Ridge Trail – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest

Soon, you’ll come to a broad west-facing viewpoint from open slabs of Shawangunk conglomerate rock. The trail moves to the east side of the ridge, shifts back to the west side, then returns to the east side. You’ll notice some fascinating rock formations on the east side of the ridge, with the trail in places running near the edge of steep 30-foot-high cliffs.

Long Path/Shawangunk Ridge Trail – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest

The trail begins a gradual climb to the high point on the ridge (1,791 feet). Just beyond, there is a panoramic north-facing view over Bear Hill. The trail now begins to descend over slabs of conglomerate rock dotted with pitch pines, with views of the Catskill Mountains to the northwest. As you approach the base of the descent, there are panoramic west-facing views.

Long Path/Shawangunk Ridge Trail – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest

After pausing to admire the spectacular views, follow the trail as it bears right and heads into the woods. In a short distance, you’ll come to a junction with the northern leg of the Red Trail. Turn right, leaving the Long Path/Shawangunk Ridge Trail, and begin once again to follow the red blazes.

Turn right on Red Trail

You’ll soon emerge into an area with dramatic cliffs and overhanging rocks on the right. You’re now directly paralleling the route you followed along the open slabs of conglomerate rock, but you’re following the cliffs that support these open rock slabs. Towards the end of this section, the trail has been routed through a narrow passage, with cliffs on one side and huge boulders on the other.

Red Trail – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest

At the end of this spectacular section, the trail turns left and begins to descend. It soon joins a woods road, which it follows all the way back to a junction with the other branch of the Red Trail. Turn left at this junction and continue for a short distance to the parking area where the hike began.

Red Trail – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest

Review:

I would highly recommend this hike to all. It covers an extremely scenic area with fantastic views and massive rock formations. The trails are well marked and easy to follow. The lower areas on the Red Trail have good tree cover, but the ridge is mostly exposed. This hike is best done during the Fall foliage season for the array of colors on display, but I’m sure that it is beautiful in any season. I recommend doing the loop clockwise so the views are in front of you as you descend the ridge as opposed to them being at your back as you ascend. This appears to be a popular hiking spot so either get there early or try visiting on a weekday.

Pros:

Fantastic views along the ridge, interesting rock formations, well marked trails, scenic landscape.

Cons:

Attracts crowds, Red Trail can be a little swampy after rainfall.

Take a hike!

Shawangunk Ridge State Forest Loop from Cox Road Trailhead

Sources:

Horseshoe Mine Falls – Shawangunk Ridge State Forest

Posted on October 16, 2022

October 15, 2022 – Spring Glen, NY

Difficulty: easy

Length: Approximately 1/4 mile

Route type: out and back

Overview:

Horseshoe Mine Falls, also known as Buttermilk Falls, is a A 60 ft. tall sliding cascade that ends with a plunge over an entrance to an old mining exploratory tunnel. The tunnel is quite deep. Parking is roadside just a few hundred feet away on Lewis Road.

Worked in 1853, Horseshoe Mine was opened by a tunnel driven southwest into the mountain. The location of its entrance was decidedly at the foot of the waterfall. During its operation, the course of water was diverted away from the adit to allow a dry route for its narrow gauge railroad to enter.

Although the mine was located within close proximity to a major railroad, it was not a producer. It is likely that lead and possibly zinc were the chief metals as other lead-zinc mines exist in the general area. Very little waste rock remains on site and little else is known about the operation.

Horseshoe Mine Falls is situated just within the northwestern boundary of Shawangunk Ridge State Forest and is fed by an unnamed mountain stream that flows through the forest east to west from New York State Route 52. See orange arrow below.

Shawangunk Ridge State Forest Trail Map

How to get there:

The parking area is located about 0.4-mile past the Spring Glen Campgrounds on Lewis Road in Spring Glen, NY in Ulster County. As you drive in a northerly direction on Lewis Road, look to your right for two old stone bridge abutments with a stream flowing between them. There is pull-off parking for several cars along the road. If the flow is substantial, you should be able to hear the waterfall from the road.

Old stone bridge abutments – Lewis Road

A wide path leads up to the old O&W Railway. This old railroad right of way may one day be part of the O&W Rail Trail.

Wide path to the left of the bridge abutments – Spring Glen

Old O&W Railway – Spring Glen

Do not turn onto the abandoned railbed, instead continue straight ahead on the unmarked path that follows the unnamed tributary upstream.

Horseshoe Mine Falls Trail

From there it is a short walk to the waterfall.

Horseshoe Mine Falls

I have visited this waterfall on numerous occasions and it never gets old. Below are some images from previous visits during different seasons.

June 26, 2016

Horseshoe Mine Falls

March 5, 2017

Horseshoe Mine Falls

October 6, 2020

Horseshoe Mine Falls

This easily accessible picturesque waterfall is best viewed after a rainfall or during the Spring thaw. Since it is a short and easy walk to and from, you may want to combine this with a hike in the area, such as the Bear Hill Nature Preserve, Minnewaska State Park, Sam’s Point, or any nearby hike on the Shawangunk Ridge.

Sources:

Buttermilk Falls Mine

Bear Mountain Summit Loop

Posted on September 19, 2022

September 17, 2022 – Stony Point, NY

Difficulty: Easy – Moderate

Length: Approximately 2.7 miles

Max elevation: 1,289 ft. – total elevation gain approximately 494 ft.

Route type: Circuit

Buy Maps (Paper & Avenza): Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails Map #119

Free Bear Mountain Summit Trail Map: Bear Mountain Hikes, NY

Free Bear Mountain Summit Avenza Map: Bear Mountain Hikes, NY

Free Web Map: Bear Mountain State Park Trail Map 2019

Free Avenza App Map: Bear Mountain State Park Trail Map 2019

Trailhead parking: Perkins Memorial Drive, Stony Point, NY 10980

Paved parking lot – bathrooms on site

Park Overview:

The 5,205-acre Bear Mountain State Park is situated in rugged mountains rising from the west bank of the Hudson River. The Perkins Memorial Tower at the summit of Bear Mountain gives visitors spectacular views of the park, the Hudson Highlands and the rolling hills of Harriman State Park. A scenic drive to the top of the mountain, along Perkins Memorial Drive, is a very popular destination in the park for tourists and sightseers. Perkins Memorial Drive and Tower are open from April through late November, weather permitting.

The park includes Bear Mountain as well as Dunderberg Mountain and West Mountain. Fort Montgomery is adjacent to the north edge of the park while Iona Island Bird Sanctuary is on the eastern edge on the Hudson River. Bear Mountain State Park is a separate entity from the adjacent Harriman State Park which runs along the western edge of the park, but are managed as a single unit.

Bear Mountain State Park is 45 miles north of New York City in the Hudson Highlands. One of the most visited parks in the Northeast, Bear Mountain hosts more than 3 million annual visitors. Bear Mountain is accessible by car and bus and is a popular day use park. It’s sometimes too popular; the state occasionally shuts the park down to control crowds during the warmer months.

History:

During the American Revolution, when control of the Hudson River was viewed by the British as essential to dominating the American territories, the area that was to become the park saw several significant military engagements. In 1777 British troops routed Patriots at Fort Montgomery. Anthony Wayne’s attack of the British fort at Stony Point moved colonial troops to the west of Bear Mountain.

In 1908, the State of New York announced plans to relocate Sing Sing Prison to Bear Mountain. Work was begun in the area near Highland Lake (renamed Hessian Lake) and in January 1909, the state purchased the 740-acre Bear Mountain tract. Conservationists inspired by the work of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission lobbied successfully for the creation of the Highlands of the Hudson Forest Preserve, stopping the prison from being built.

Mary Averell Harriman, whose husband, Union Pacific Railroad president E. H. Harriman died in September of that year, offered the state another 10,000 acres and one million dollars toward the creation of a state park. George W. Perkins, with whom she had been working, raised another $1.5 million from a dozen wealthy contributors including John D. Rockefeller and J.P. Morgan.

Bear Mountain-Harriman State Park became a reality the following year when the prison was demolished and a dock built for steamboat excursion traffic. The park opened in June 1913. Steamboats alone brought more than 22,000 passengers to the park that year. Camping at Hessian Lake (and later at Lake Stahahe) was immensely popular; the average stay was eight days and was a favorite for Boy Scouts. By 1914 it was estimated that more than a million people a year were coming to the park.

In the 1930’s the federal government under Franklin D. Roosevelt was developing plans to preserve the environment as part of the Depression-era public works programs; the Civil Works Administration and the Works Progress Administration spent five years on projects at the park. Pump houses, reservoirs, sewer systems, vacation lodges, bathrooms, homes for park staff, storage buildings and an administration building were all created through these programs. Both the Perkins Memorial Drive and Perkins Memorial Tower were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) between 1932 and 1934. The winding, steep drive was dynamited out of Bear Mountain by 1,500 NYS Temporary Relief Workers. Work began on November 21, 1932 and the drive and tower opened on October 31, 1934. President and Mrs. Roosevelt were among the first visitors.

Perkins Memorial Drive 1933 – Palisades Parks Conservancy

Perkins Memorial Tower was built with funds provided by the Perkins family. The tower is 65 feet high and 30’x30′ at the base. It was constructed of native stone from a quarry at the base of Bear Mountain.

Perkins Memorial Tower – Bear Mountain

Appalachian Trail~

It was in Bear Mountain State Park back in 1923 when the very first section of the Appalachian Trail was built and blazed. It officially opened on October 7, 1923 and served as a pattern for the other sections of the trail developed independently by local and regional organizations and later by the federal government. The Appalachian Trail has been re-routed numerous times on Bear Mountain since its founding in 1923 due to erosion caused from 100,000+ hikers a year.

In the fall of 2018, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference completed the Bear Mountain Trails Project, the most ambitious rehabilitation of the Appalachian Trail (AT) ever conducted. Of the entire 2,200 miles of the AT, the section that runs through Bear Mountain State Park is the oldest and most heavily used. Over 90 years ago, it was Trail Conference volunteers who blazed this original portion of the AT and opened it to the public. By 2004, the Bear Mountain trail had become an eroded, 10-foot-wide scar.

Work on the trail included hardening the tread with 1,300 granite steps, each of which weighed between 500 and 800 pounds and needed to be moved from the bottom of Bear Mountain to the summit. The project also included constructing the first ADA-compliant section of the AT.

The first section of the Appalachian Trail relocation was opened on June 5th, 2010 (National Trails Day) and consisted of roughly 700 steps. A second section including an A.T. loop and nearly 1/2 mile of fully accessible trail on the top of Bear Mountain was officially opened on June 6th, 2011 (National Trails Day).

Trails Overview:

There are over 50 official trails covering over 235 miles, featuring a wide range of difficulties and elevation changes.

The Appalachian Trail passes through old-growth forest on its way to Perkins Memorial Tower atop Bear Mountain, with scenic overlooks and spectacular views of the Hudson River and Dunderberg, Bald, and West mountains along the way. The tower can also be reached by car, and a portion of the path at the summit is wheelchair accessible.

Bear Mountain Summit Trails

Hike Overview:

I have been at the summit of Bear Mountain more times than I can count. I have always driven to the top to enjoy the views from Perkins Tower and the viewpoint just off the parking lot where the crowds seem to gather. I had never bothered to explore the trails around the summit until last year. Dealing with some health issues, I wanted to get outdoors and enjoy some Hudson Valley views without the physical exertion required on a hike. Walking around on the summit led me to the western side of the mountain where the AT passes through as well as a couple of blue connector trails. I have since returned several times to explore a little more and decided to do a short loop hike utilizing the AT and the abandoned section of Perkins Memorial Drive to link it together.

This hike descends stone steps down to an abandoned section of Perkins Memorial Drive then climbs more stone steps as it regains the elevation lost on the way down. Along the way there are numerous views and little foot traffic. This hike is perfect for the casual hiker or those not seeking a deep woods experience. Depending on the time of day or season, you will encounter hordes of people around the vicinity of Perkins Tower. The farther you move away from that area, the less people you will encounter. We arrived at the summit around 8:30am on a Saturday Morning in late September and there were a few cars already there. By the time we returned to the parking area, around 11:15am, there were many cars, motorcycles, bikes and people milling around enjoying the scenery. My advice is to get there early before the crowds.

Bear Mountain Summit Loop

elevation profile – Bear Mountain Summit Loop

The Hike:

Across the paved loop road, with Perkins Memorial Tower on your left, there is a kiosk with a map and information on the northwest side of the summit. Just to the right of the kiosk is a fork. The right fork, blazed with the 2″x6″ white blazes of the Appalachian Trail (AT) and the red-ring-on-white blazes of the Major Welch Trail, will be your return route, but for now, continue ahead through the parking lot and if the tower is open, you may want to go inside to check it out.

kiosk – Bear Mountain summit

A.T. Trailhead – Bear Mountain summit

Bear Mountain summit

Situated 1,305 feet above the Hudson River, the 360 degree panoramic views from Perkins Tower are spectacular. On a clear day, four states and the Manhattan skyline can be seen from the tower. The observation floor has interpretive displays that describe the distant scenery. Perkins Memorial Tower was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) between 1932 and 1934. The tower was closed when we arrived at approximately 8:30am on a Saturday in September.

Perkins Memorial Tower – Bear Mountain State Park

The tower was built to honor the memory of George W. Perkins (1862-1920), the first President of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. The tower served as a fire lookout station until the 1950’s. It is now open to the public.

Perkins Memorial Tower – Bear Mountain State Park

Continue past the tower and proceed ahead to a broad south-facing viewpoint, with Dunderberg Mountain jutting into the Hudson River to the left. Rustic benches have been placed in this area for visitors to rest and enjoy the views. Note the Manhattan skyline visible in the distance.

rustic bench – Bear Mountain summit

NYC skyline – Bear Mountain summit

Looking south over the Hudson River from Bear Mountain at 8:30am.

Hudson River view – Bear Mountain summit

rustic bench – Bear Mountain summit

After enjoying the view, head back towards the tower, but bear right at a fork in the path. Directly ahead, on a rock, you’ll notice a plaque placed to commemorate the service of Joseph Bartha as Trails Chairman of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference from 1940 to 1955.

Joseph Bartha Plaque – Bear Mountain Summit

Bear right at the plaque and descend along the white-blazed Appalachian Trail. You now are following a spectacular trail section, opened in stages between 2010 and 2018, that was built over a 13-year period by professional trail builders and AmeriCorps trail crews, along with Trail Conference volunteers.

Appalachian Trail – Bear Mountain Summit

In about half a mile, after having descended nearly 400 stone steps, you’ll reach a viewpoint on the right over Dunderberg Mountain to the southeast. Here, the trail bears left and levels off. It then climbs a little and crosses a stream channeled between two rock slabs.

Appalachian Trail – Bear Mountain Summit

The peak on the left, rising just above the leaves is Bald Mountain. The peak just left of the notch (left of center) is The Timp and West Mountain is the long ridge on the right.

view south – Appalachian Trail

Appalachian Trail – Bear Mountain

A short distance beyond, the trail descends several long flights of stone steps and crosses an abandoned section of the Perkins Memorial Drive. Here you should turn right, leaving the Appalachian Trail and head in a westerly direction along the asphalt road. You may notice some blue blazes along the way. This section of paved road connects two different sections of the AT.

Appalachian Trail – Bear Mountain

Turn right at the junction

abandoned Perkins Drive – Bear Mountain

The road passes below the tall cliffs that you were just on moments earlier, then runs alongside a stone retaining wall. In about 0.3-mile, the paved road reaches a junction with the other side of the Appalachian Trail. Turn right at the junction as the AT climbs steeply up the mountain on stone steps.

abandoned Perkins Drive – Bear Mountain

Appalachian Trail – Bear Mountain

Follow the white blazes as they climb the stone steps along the southwest slope of Bear Mountain. This section of trail is quite impressive. The way the stone steps snake their way up the mountain is nothing short of spectacular. The workers that built this section were craftsmen and artists.

Appalachian Trail – Bear Mountain

As the trail climbs the southwestern slope of Bear Mountain, it passes several rock ledges with open views to the southwest over the rolling hills of Harriman State Park.

Appalachian Trail – Bear Mountain

The AT climbs more stone steps and passes massive boulders that form a rock wall.

Appalachian Trail – Bear Mountain

The AT descends stone steps, passes through an open area and soon reaches the western summit of Bear Mountain with wide-ranging views. A short distance later the A.T. emerges on a flat pockmarked rock surface with a rustic bench right in the center.

Appalachian Trail – Bear Mountain

This makes for an excellent place to take a break and enjoy the view. The bulk of the elevation gain for this hike is done once you reach this spot.

Appalachian Trail – Bear Mountain

When you are ready to continue, just a few feet from the bench is the start of another blue-blazed trail at a south-facing viewpoint over West Mountain. Follow the blue blazes along this short, but picturesque spur trail. You will return back to the bench when you are done.

Appalachian Trail – Bear Mountain

Blue Spur Trail – Bear Mountain

Turn right and follow the blue-blazed side trail, which soon emerges on another rock outcrop, with excellent views to the west (Queensboro Lake may be seen below). This side trail follows a former route of the Major Welch Trail and was blazed by volunteers as a side trail to the A.T. to preserve the magnificent views.

Blue Spur Trail – Bear Mountain

In 500 feet, the side trail ends at a triple blaze. It looks like you could go a little farther, but we did not go much farther past the end of the trail.

Blue Spur Trail – Bear Mountain

Retrace your steps to the A.T., then turn left and proceed along the A.T. as it heads northeast on a relatively level grade. When the AT reaches a junction with yet another blue-blazed trail, continue ahead following the white blazes. The Blue Trail can be used as a bailout option if one chooses. It ends at the parking area where the hike began. It is also a beautiful section of trail.

Blue Spur Trail – Bear Mountain

Appalachian Trail – Bear Mountain

This section of the A.T. features more stone steps, most of which were shaped on-site from native rock. Soon, you’ll pass two huge boulders to the right, with stone steps curving down from the end of the first boulder.

Appalachian Trail – Bear Mountain

Scenes From The Trail

Detailed hike reports, complete with images.

Author Archives: Outlaw_Hiker

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Bear Mountain Summit Loop

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