Long Path Beginning at Ft Lee and Carpenter Trail

Palisades Interstate Park
Ft. Lee / Edgewater
Bergen Co, NJ

Hiking Trails:
Carpenter Trail: Blue blaze
Long Path: Green blaze
Shore Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 1:50 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.9 Miles

Pros: Good views, historical area
Cons: Urban region
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/F8ACd22crVqYou1o7

This was a warm autumn day with late season foliage. This area is where the rural and urban meet. It's right across from Manhattan, but it's quiet and peaceful and in the woods. I parked on Hudson Terrace, right near the Carpenter Trail trailhead, and crossed over the Palisades Parkway on the pedestrian bridge.

I then reached the Long Path, and stopped for the nice view north of the bridge on top of the Palisades cliffs, and then took the Carpenter Trail down the steep trail and under the tunnels to the end of the trail at the Shore Path. I walked to Ross Dock and took some more pictures there, and then took the Shore Path south under the George Washington Bridge, and then continued along the trail back to Route 9W.

I then cut across up the hill to the end of Fort Lee Park, at the view over Edgewater, and then walked along Fort Lee Park to the beginning of the Long Path. I then took the Long Path down to Route 9W and headed north under Route 95 and took the new pedestrian/bike bridge. I then continued along the Long Path back to the Carpenter Trail and back to my car.

Map of the Route

Carpenter's Trailhead Information Plaque

Pedestrian Bridge Over the Palisades Parkway

Palisades Parkway from the Pedestrian Bridge 

View of the George Washington Bridge & Washington Heights

Descending the Carpenter Trail

Tunnels on the Carpenter Trail

Near Ross Dock

View of Manhattan Skyline from Ross Dock

Hazard Beach Near the Bridge

View from the Shore Path

Edgewater from Ft. Lee Park

Ft. Lee Park View

Old Cabin at Ft. Lee

Cannons at Ft. Lee

Start of the Long Path and Shore Trail

New Ramp Bridge Over Palisades Parkway Ramp

Little Tor and New South Mountain Trail

Hi Tor State Park /
South Mountain County Park
Rockland Co, NY

Hiking Trails:
Long Path: Green blaze
New South Mountain Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:20 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.1 Miles

Pros: Good views
Cons: Urban area below mountain
Hike Type: Reverse Lollipop Loop
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/RPgL5etjx829XSj69

Hiking Partners:
Marvin Baum
Yonah Blum

I was at Little Tor a few weeks prior, but went along with my hiking partners again, and then found the end to the new trail along South Mountain that I discovered recently but didn't find the end to. We parked on Central Highway at the top of the ridge at the trailhead parking area, and took the Long Path along the ridge to the Little Tor Trail, which we took up the mountain for the great view.

We then descended down Little Tor and headed back the same way, and at the road, my hiking partners departed and I continued along the woods road at South Mountain to the communications tower. I then bushwhacked a short distance to the New South Mountain Trail, blazed red, and continued along the part that I left at a few weeks before. I realized how close I was before to the end of the trail, which ends at the Long Path about half a mile from the road. I then took the Long Path back down to the trailhead and back to my car.

Map of the Route

Long Path

Little Tor View

View from the Power Lines near the Trailhead

Communications Tower

New Red Trail on South Mountain

Interesting Rock on the New Trail

End of the New Trail

Scenery Along the Long Path at the End of South Mountain