Green Cay Spring Hike

Boynton Beach,
Palm Beach Co.,
Florida

Hiking Trails:
Green Cay Boardwalk Trail

Total Time: 0:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.5 Mile

Pros: Scenic boardwalk, interesting birds
Cons: Can be hot in sunny areas
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Very easy

Map of Route:
https://goo.gl/maps/dkomVE1GMhaXT3Hy8

I was in Florida for this weekend in the spring, and took advantage of this nice area with lots of nature on a boardwalk trail through a nature area. We saw plenty of birds as well as a resting alligator. We parked at the main parking area and took the boardwalk loop and then the connector trails, taking all the trails in the park. 

Anhinga at the Beginning of the Hike

Marsh Scenery

Red Winged Blackbird

Alligator Hiding in the Swamp Bushes

Swamp Scenery

Common Moorhen

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck on Boardwalk Rail

Another Anhinga

Large Bird Nest on Dead Tree (I think its Osprey)

More Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

Green Cay Scenery

Great Blue Heron in the Marsh

Large Softshell Turtles in the Water

Baby Anhinga Perched on a Tree

LimeKiln Mountain Early Spring Hike

Harriman State Park
Rockland Co, NY

Hiking Trails:
Tuxedo-Mount Ivy Trail: Red blaze
Limekiln Mountain Trail: Unblazed

Total Time: 1:10
Estimated Distance: 1.5 miles

Pros: Very quiet area, scenic view
Cons: Powerlines
Hike Type: Out and back
Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/JYTPw3DK56f5QL7Z9

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick

LimeKiln Mountain is a short and sweet trail with a great view. It's not so well know because the trail is up is not an official trail, so the view is always going to be quiet with nobody else there. 

We parked at the Tuxedo-Mount Ivy Trailhead off Diltz Road in Ladentown, and took the trail past the powerlines, and when it entered the mountain area we took the LimeKiln Mountain steeply up to the view. After reached the top view we turned around and returned along the same route.

Map of the Route

Limekiln Mountain Viewpoint, Overlooking Ramaquois Camp

Large Glacial Rock on Limekiln Mountain

Big Hill and Breakneck Pond

Harriman State Park
Rockland Co, NY

Hiking Trails:
Long Path: Green blaze
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze
Breakneck Mountain Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 2:00
Estimated Distance: 4.3 miles

Pros: Quiet area, nice view, scenic lake
Cons: None
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/QsjW5cduviqD5bMA8

I parked on St. Johns Road at the Long Path trailhead parking, and took the connector trail from the road to the Long Path. I then took the Long Path  southbound through the Mountain Laurel forest, and then crossed Beaver Pond Brook on the wood trail bridge and into the Pine forest. I then passed the plane crash site (see the plaque below) along the trail and then climbed up the mountain to Big Hill.

I enjoyed the view at Big Hill and took a short break at the shelter, and continued south on the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail to the Breakneck Mountain Trail, which I took for a short distance to the unmarked trail that goes down to Breakneck Pond. After enjoying the views at Breakneck Pond and walking through the AMC Center, I walked along the road back to the Long Path which I took back to my car.

Map of the Route

Trailhead Parking at St. Johns

Connector Path to the Long Path with Mountain Laurel

Long Path Intersection

Mountain Laurel Forest

Beaver Pond Brook Bridge

Flight 6231 Crash Site Memorial

Fire Still Ignited in the Shelter Fireplace

Inside the Big Hill Shelter

Glacial Stone at the Big Hill Shelter

Big Hill Shelter

Me at Big Hill

Third Reservoir

Suffern-Bear Mountain-Big Hill Intersection

Breakneck Pond