NJ Palisades - Englewood Boat Basin to Huylers Landing

Palisades Interstate Park
Bergen Co.
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Shore Trail: White blaze
Huyler's Landing Trail: Red blaze
Long Path: Green blaze
Dyckman Hill Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 3:20 hour
Estimated Distance: 8.6 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Pros: Peaceful walk along river and good views
Cons: Urban views and noise from highway

This is the longest stretch for a loop hike in the Jersey Palisades. The terrain and views are similar to some of the others that I have done in the past, and I wanted to cover some more of the trails along the Long Path and Shore Trail that I had not yet done. This hike, like the other hikes in this area, features dramatic diabase cliffs along the side of the Hudson River, with a pleasant walk alongside the river on the bottom, and nice views above the cliffs on top.

It was a seasonally brisk late November day, and there was surprisingly some foliage and color remaining despite the lateness in the season. I parked at the Englewood Boat Basin and Picnic Area down at the bottom of the Palisades, and went on the Shore Path northward along the side of the river towards Huylers Landing. Along the way I passed several points of interest, including Bloomers Beach,  Undercliff Dock, Canoe Beach, Powder Dock, and Lambier's Brook. All these areas are on the map but they have all since reverted to a wilderness state. Across the river was an urban view first of Inwood Hill Park in Manhattan, the Henry Hudson Bridge, the Riverdale section of the Bronx, and then the urban waterfront and downtown of Yonkers.

A short distance before Huyler's Landing is Greenbrook falls, an attractive and beautiful waterfalls with a significant amount of water despite the recent dry conditions. It is a surprisingly significant falls given its close proximity to New York City. I then continued to the Huylers Landing Trail snaking up the cliffs. At the top of the Huylers Landing Trail, I took the Long Path north parallel to the Palisades Parkway going southward. This part of the hike is very loud from the constant cars in proximity on the highway. The trail goes to the Rockefeller Lookout, which affords excellent views from the top of the cliff across the Hudson River. I continued until the Dyckman Hill Trail, which descends the cliffs by Englewood Ave while passing a different set of waterfalls along the route. The Dyckman Hill Trail ends at the Englewood Picnic Area where I had parked my car.

Map of the Route

Looking up at the Palidades Cliffs from Englewood Boat Basin

Looking Across the River to Inwood Hill Park in Manhattan

Looking North

George Washington Bridge

Boats Covered for Winter at the Boat Basin

Bloomers Beach

Shore Trail Informational Trail

Hudson River Along the Shore Path

Abandoned Run on the Shore Trail

Shore Trail Looking South

Downtown Yonkers Across the Hudson River

Late Season Foliage along the Shore Trail

View near Greenbrook Falls, Facing North

Greenbrook Falls

Greenbrook Falls, Wide Perspective

Greenwood Falls, Zoomed In

Downtown Yonkers

Huyler's Landing Trail

View from Above Cliffs

Facing South from Rockefeller Lookout

View Across the Hudson River

View Across Hudson to Henry Hudson Bridge

From Rockefeller Lookout, Facing South

Cascade along the Dyckman Hill Trail

Hasenclever Mountain and Mine Thanksgiving Hike

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Red Cross Trail: Red blaze
Hasenclever Mountain Trail: Unblazed

Total Time: 1:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.2 Miles

Pros: Very quiet area in Harriman
Cons: Hasenclever Trail is overgrown, lack of good views

Being off for Thanksgiving on a cold but bright late fall day, I took this opportunity to do a nice hike in Harriman. I haven meant to take the unblazed Hasenclever Mountain Trail for some time, but never made it in the past. I was disappointed as the trail is quite overgrown and lacks and significant views. It was very difficult to keep track of the trail going up the mountain, and contained much brush along its path.

I parked on Tiorati Brook Road, where it meets the Red Cross Trail. I took the Red Cross Trail for a short distance and then headed east on the unmarked Hasenclever Mountain path, having much difficulty finding the trail until the top of the mountain. I continued along the trail until its end by the Red Cross Trail, and headed west, passing the telephone line, and then to the view that overlooks Hogencamp Mountain. At this point I turned around and went back on the Red Cross Trail, all the way to the Hasenclever Mine. The Hasenclever Mine is one of the oldest mines in the area, and the trail goes right through the mine area and by the dumps. I continued on the trail back to the road and back to my car.

Map of the Route

Ridgetop of Hasemclever Mountain

Trail Plaque at Power Lines

Power Lines on Red Cross Trail

View Towards Hogencamp Mountain

View Looking North

View Looking West

Bridge and Deeply Engraved Tree on the Red Cross Trail

Bridge in Rhododendron Forest

Hasenclever Mine Pit

Piermont Pier and Marsh

Piermont,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Long Path: Green blaze

Total Time: 1:25 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.7 Miles

Pros: Scenic area along the Hudson River
Cons: Built up Area

The weather was extremely raw, and there was a high wind advisory. The wind gusts were extremely strong, and I was afraid to go into the forest on a regular hike. I instead elected to go on this scenic walk which has very sparse tree cover. It was high tide with choppy water going up all the way to the road. At one point the winds were so strong that I could hardly walk.

I parked on Paradise Ave, walking down along the side of the marsh, down to the pier. Cars can travel on the road down the pier, but it's mostly pedestrian traffic. I walked down to the end of the pier, to the dock, bearing the brunt of the strong winds along the way. I then turned around and walked back off the pier, walking along the north side of the pier once I reached the apartments at the pier. I then walked through downtown on Piermont Ave, and then went to the Long Path by Tallman Mountain State Park. Instead of climbing up the hill, I took the path along the bottom by the marsh to the parking circle, and then turned along the same way back, towards my car on Paradise Ave.

Map of the Route

Piermont Marsh Sign

Tallman Mountain

Sign of the Pier

Kiosk of Fish in the Hudson

Hudson River at the End of the Marsh

High Tide and High Wind Spilling Over the Pier Road

Choppy Waters on the Hudson

Tappan Zee Bridge: New and Old

Hook Mountain and the Hudson

View Towards Piermont

The Hudson River, Piermont, and Palisades

Hudson River Looking South with Palisades Cliffs on Right

From Pier Looking to Tallman Mountain

Tappan Zee Bridge

Water Spilling Over the Dock, with Irvington in the Background

Palisades and Grandview on Hudson

Piermont Marsh

Foliage Along the Side of Tallman Mountain

Burning Bush Among the Reeds

Historic Drawbridge over Sparkill Creek