West Mountain Spring Hike

Harriman State Park /
Bear Mountain State Park
Orange Co, NY

Hiking Trails:
Anthony Wayne Trail: White blaze
Fawn Trail: Red blaze
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Timp-Torne Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 1:05
Estimated Distance: 1.9 miles

Pros: Great hike and scenic view
Cons: None
Hike Type: Out and back
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/FBvord7sG8j9HVSH7

This was a beautiful spring day and all the trees were beginning to sprout. I went on this short hike up and down West Mountain after work on Friday afternoon at the start of the weekend. I parked at the Anthony Wayne Recreation Area, and took the Anthony Wayne Trail up to the Fawn Trail, which I took to the Timp-Torne Trail up the mountain. (The trail is temporarily concurrent with the Appalachian Trail as they are worked on a new reroute.) I then turned around at the view from above the ridge after the Appalachian Trail and Timp-Torne Trail originally joined. I turned around and took the same route back, with a short spur at the end to the parking lot.

Map of the Route

Information Map at the Trailhead with the Appalachian Trail Reroute

Climbing Up West Mountain

View of Anthony Wayne Near the Top

Views Along the West Mountain Ridge

Little Tor Night Hike

Hi Tor State Park
Rockland Co, NY

Hiking Trails:
Long Path: Green blaze
Little Tor Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 1:15 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.5 Miles

Pros: Good view, great for night hike
Cons: Urban area below mountain
Hike Type: Out and back
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

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

Hiking Partners:
Marvin Baum
& Other Synagogue Members

We went on a group night hike to Little Tor on Saturday Night, with a crew of 10 people. We parked at the top of Central Highway at the Long Path Trailhead, and took the Long Path on the easy, straight route along the ridge to the Little Tor Trail. We took the Little Tor Trail up to the top of Little Tor, affording a great view with urban lights and the Hudson River in view. This trail is an excellent choice for a night hike for the urban view below and easy path to get there.

Map of the Route

Little Tor Trail Start

Little Tor Night View

Group on the Top of the Mountain

High Mountain Spring Hike

High Mountain Park Preserve,
Preakness Range
North Haledon
Passaic Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Woodland Trail: Red blaze
Summit Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 2:05 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.3 Mile

Pros: Interesting geology, nice view
Cons: None
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Map of Route:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/KQs2p2Aqgf5jKcVB6

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick

This was the first week all the trees and greenery started blooming. I had been to High Mountain many years ago from the southern parking area at William Paterson University, and now decided to hike from the northern end at the county line. We climbed up on the Woodland Trail, passing the interesting waterfalls along the jagged basalt rock formation, and then climbed up to the top of High Mountain on the Summit Trail.

High Mountain is the highest point in the Watchung Mountains, and is just shy of 900 feet. The view of the Manhattan Skyline from the viewpoint of High Mountain is spectacular. We continued past the summit and then cut across the valley back to the Woodland Trail, which we took bar our car.

Map of the Route

Sign at the Trailhead 

Small Waterfall Over the Basalt Rock Near the Beginning of the Hike

Early Spring Skunk Cabbage

Trail Intersection

More Blooming Skunk Cabbage

Interesting Tree Route

Rock Pile Along the Trail

Grassy Meadow at the Hight Mountain Summit

Lit Up Star at the High Mountain Summit

View at the High Mountain Summit

Manhattan Skyline from the High Mountain Summit

Air India Flight Clearly Visible from the Summit