Panther Mountain View

Harriman State Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail: Red blaze
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 1:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.8 Miles

Pros: Good climb and nice view
Cons: None

Hiking Partners:
Shimmy Rosenberg
Josef Friedman

We were short on time, so we chose a close trail that was relatively short in distance but still very scenic. We parked at the Ramapo Equestrian Center, which is the trailhead terminus of the Pine Meadow Trail, and took this trail as it climbs up the Ramapo Mountain Escarpment to the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail. We the continued up along the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail northbound, through the rocky area and ridge top. There are several good views here and we were afforded with some delicious blueberries and huckleberries along the trail. At the descent of Panther Mountain where the trail turns and goes down, we turned around and headed back, due to worsening weather conditions and time constraints. The weather was extremely humid and uncomfortable, and some ominous thunderstorm clouds appeared in the distance, prompting us to finish the hike sooner than anticipated.

Map of the Route

View at the Beginning of the Rocky Part on the S-BM Trail

Ascending Panther Mountain

Mountain Laurels on the Trail

Approaching the Main View

View Facing East

View Facing Southeast

Me at the Panther Mountain View

Shimmy at the Panther Mountain View

Me and Shimmy at the Panther Mountain View

View Facing Northeast, Towards south Mountain and Hi-Tor

View Beyond the Blueberry Meadow

View Below the Escarpment of Rockland County

Blueberry Fields along the Ridge Line

Me and Joseph Walking through the Blueberry Grove

More Blueberry Groves

Newly Ripened Blueberries

View Before the Trail Descent

Black Rock Mountain in Black Rock Forest

Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Black Rock Hollow Trail: White blaze
Stillman Trail: Yellow blaze
Highlands Trail: Teal blaze
White Oak Trail: White blaze
Continental Road: Unblazed
Hulse Road: Unblazed

Total Time: 2:25 Hours
Estimated Distance: 5.1 Miles

Pros: Good climb, excellent view, quiet area
Cons: None

It had been some time since I had been in Black Rock Forest, and I wanted to visit Black Rock Mountain which afforded a good view. It was probably the warmest day of the year, with temperatures in the low 90's. However, the area is mostly shaded, and the humidity was low, which made the heat less noticeable. I parked on Route 9W at the Black Rock Hollow parking area. I took the Black Rock Hollow Trail up the steady ascent to the combined Stillman Trail and Highlands Trail, which I took to the top of Black Rock Mountain. This mountain is rather unremarkable and the climb forested without rocky areas until you reach the summit, which is rocky and has a prominent peak with excellent views.

I then descended the peak, and headed to the White Oak Trail, which I took across the Sphagnum Pond dam. I then took the short spur to the bird-watching boardwalk in the swamp known as the Phil Faurot Boardwalk, a short dead-end trail. I then went back to the White Oak Trail, passed the big White Oak Tree, and took the Continental Road, a wide, unblazed path, to Hulse Road, another wide path, descending down the mountain back to the trailhead.

Map of the Route

Information Kiosk at the Start of the Hike

Black Rock Mountain. Facing East.

Black Rock Mountain. Facing Southeast Towards Schunnemunk.

Black Rock Mountain. Facing North.

Black Rock Mountain. Facing Northeast.

Black Rock Mountain. Facing Northwest.

Black Rock Mountain. View Towards the Hudson Highlands Nature Center.

Me at the Black Rock Summit with the Hudson RiverBehind

Zoomed in More

Black Rock Mountain, Facing North Towards Newburgh and the Hudson River

A Fellow Hiker at Black Rock Summit

Black Rock Mountain, Facing South

Me at Black Rock Summit

Tree with a Sign Growing Through it at Sphagnum Pond

Approaching the Sphagnum Pond Dam

Walking Across the Sphagnum Pond Dam

A Tranquil Sphagnum Pond from the Dam

Sign Before the Birding Area Boardwalk Honoring Phil Faurot

Phil Faurot Birding Boardwalk

Swamp in the Birding Area

Another View of the Birding Area

Stony Brook Loop

Harriman State Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail: Red blaze
Stony Brook Trail: Yellow blaze
Connector Trail: Unblazed

Total Time: 0:50 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.1 Miles

Pros: Very scenic area along the brook
Cons: No views

Mao of the Route

Intresting Rock Alongside the Steream

Bridge Across the Small Brook near the Piple

Stony Brook

Wooden Suppplise to build the new bridge

Along the Pine Meadow Trail

Bear Mountain Appalachian Trail/Major Welch Loop

Bear Mountain State Park,
Rockland/Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Major Welch Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.7 Miles

Pros: Good scramble with great views
Cons: Extremely busy on weekends

Hiking Partner:
Rayzi and Joseph Friedman

I had not been here in some time, and the Major Welch Trail up Bear Mountain is one of my favorite trails in the region. We parked at the dead end circle on Perkins Memorial Drive after the scenic area past the tower. We took the Appalachian Trail down the steps portion, past the waterfall (which was dry), the view, and down to Hessian Lake. We then took the Major Welch Trail along the busy path on the western side of the lake, and the then ascending up the Major Welch Trail along the steep rocky portion. We took the trail to the summit, climbed the tower, and then took the Appalachian Trail down to our car.

Map of the Route

Me on a Log on the Appalachian Trail

Flowering Mountain Laurels

Mountain Laurels at the First View

Me at the View on the Appalachian Trail
Facing Southeast towards the Hudson River

Iona Island, the Hudson River, and Peekskill from the View

Hessian Lake, Facing North

Anthony's Nose and Hessian Lake from Bear Mountain Foot

Flowers along the Trail

Ascending the Large Rock on the Major Welch Trail

View Ascending the Major Welch Trail. Facing North.

Mountain Laurels on the Appalachian Trail

View along the Major Welch Trail, Facing North

At the View, Facing North Towards Brooks Lake

Me on the Major Welch Trail

On the Major Welch Trail near the Summit

View of the Hudson from the view where the Trail hits the Road