Piermont Pier Fall Walk

Piermont,
Rockland Co.
New York

Hiking Trails:
Piermont Pier

Total Time: 0:50
Estimated Distance: 2.2 Miles

Pros: Scenic River Walk
Cons: Busy area
Hike Type: Reverse Lollipop Loop
Level of Difficulty: Very easy

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/asazjgUZGcQshTwA9

This was more of a walk than a hike. I included it here because of its beautiful scenery and walking path along the Hudson River. It was a really nice fall day, being warm and sunny. I left my office for the weekend on Friday afternoon, and took a detour on my way home to the Piermont Pier to enjoy good walking with pretty river views. I parked in the parking area at the beginning of the pier, and walked up the pier road to the end of pier. I detoured back along the path on the north side of the apartments.

Map of the Route

Piermont Pier Sign

Tallman Mountain and the Piermont Marsh

Marsh Phragmites and the Hudson River

Low Tide Looking Across the Hudson River to Westchester

Strange Statue on the Pier

Tappan Zee Bridge

Tappan Zee Bridge with Hook Mountain in the Background

Piermont Pier

Looking Towards the Palisades and Piermont

Pier Dock Ruins

Hudson River and Irvington

Small Boat in the Hudson River

Hudson River Looking South

Piermont

Fitzgerald Falls

Appalachian National Scenic Trail Area
Orange Co.
New York

Hiking Trails:
Appalachian Trail (AT): White blaze

Total Time: 0:30
Estimated Distance: 0.7 Miles

Pros: Scenic Waterfalls
Cons: None
Hike Type: Out and back
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/KyyrWo8C8g3F3ebGA

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick

We had hiked at the Cat Rocks and Eastern Pinnacles and were in the area, and decided to do another quick hike to Fitzgerald Falls, which is a short walk from the trailhead. We parked at the Lakes Road pullout at by the Appalachian Trail. We took the Appalachian Trail east for a short distance to the falls, and I climbed the steps above the falls. I then turned around and took the same route back.

Map of the Route

Appalachian Trail at the Power Lines

Trout Brook Crossing

Appalachian Trail 

Waterfalls Before Fitzgerald Falls

Fitzgerald Falls

Trail Steps Next to the Falls

Brook Above the Falls

Fitzgerald Falls

Prior to the Bridge

Eastern Pinnacles Cat Rocks at Bellvale Mountain

Appalachian National Scenic Trail Area
Orange Co.
New York

Hiking Trails:
Appalachian Trail (AT): White blaze
Appalachian Trail Spur: Blue blaze

Total Time: 2:00
Estimated Distance: 3.5 Miles

Pros: Rocks formations, great views
Cons: None
Hike Type: Out and back
Level of Difficulty: Slightly Difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/kmWyRsCoiZ5KSmDs9

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick

This was a nice hike on a beautiful fall day. It had just rained for almost 3 days straight with an early season Noreaster, and the rain had finally cleared and the clouds were dissipating. We parked on Route 17A atop Bellvale Mountain, at the Appalachian Trail, and took the Appalachian Trail. The trail is unremarkable until reaching the Eastern Pinnacles, which affords a phenomenal view facing east and north a top a steep rock face.  We continued along the AT, as slopes downwards, until reaching Cat Rocks, which is another interesting formation where the rock juts above the surroundings with a steep drop-off and some interesting crevices. We took the blue-blazed Appalachian Trail Spur around the Cat Rocks for the return route, and then by the Eastern Pinnacles we once again too the blue-blazed Appalachian Trail Spur. We then continued back along the Appalachian Trail back to our car.

Map of the Route

Eastern Pinnacles View

Facing Towards Schunnemunk Mountain

Yehudah Koblick on Eastern Pinnacles

Me at Eastern Pinnacles

Ascending Cat Rocks

Me Atop Cat Rocks

Cat Rocks Crevice

Cat Rocks Bypass