McKeags Meadow Loop at Sterling Forest

Sterling Forest State Park
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
McKeags Meadow Connector Trail: Green Stripe on Yellow blaze
McKeags Meadow Trail: Yellow Triangle blaze

Total Time: 1:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 4 Miles

Pros: Scenic lakes, remote trail with no other people
Cons: No views

As the Coronavirus situation deteriorates, I am trying to avoid trails with people. With the rainy weather and remote trail, I lucked out and didn't meet any other hikers except for one lone hiker who just as surprised to see me as me him. The rain had slowed down in the beginning, and I also had proper rain gear to keep me dry.

I parked at Laurel Meadow Ponds parking area (P13 on the map) and accidentally took the McKeags Meadow Connector Trail towards Long Meadow Road. I didn't realize the correct direction of the trail to the west from the parking area, and instead took the connector trail alongside the western side of Laurel Meadow Pond. I noticed my mistake upon reaching Long Meadow Road. I promptly turned around back along the trail, and then took the McKeags Meadow Trail, which is a full loop, starting along the northern part first. I looped around the trail, and then finally back to my car.

Map of the Route

Boat Launch at the northern Laurel Pond

View of the northern Laurel Pond, with Rain in the Pond

Sprouting Greenery Along the McKeags Meadow Loop Trail

Boardwalk Along the McKeags Meadow Connector Trail

Another View of the McKeags Pond, with a Broken Bridge Crossing

Rock Crossing the Stream Along the McKeags Meadow Connector Trail

Another View of the Northern Laurel Pond

View of the Laurel Pond from the Bridge Between
the northern and southern Laurel Ponds

Intersection of the McKeags Meadow and McKeags Meadow Connector Trail

More Sprouting Brush Along the McKeags Meadow Trail

Intersection of the McKeags Meadow Trail and the Red Back Trail

View of the southern Laurel Pond from the Boat Launch

Another view of the southern Laurel Pond from the Boat Launch

Rockhouse Mountain Bushwack

Harriman State Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Beech Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 1:08 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.8 Miles

Pros: Remote area and good view
Cons: Bushwack is a bit difficult, walk along the road at the end

It's been a full week since I left the office during the Coronavirus pandemic, and had been working from home all week and avoiding people outside my immediate family. After a full work day working at home, I took the opportunity to get out for a short hike in Harriman State Park as the weather was beautiful and around 70 degrees.

My goal was to pick a short hike that is isolated from other hikers. Harriman State Park has been very busy on the popular trails during the Coronavirus outbreak because people are feeling the need to get out, but they are staying too close in the popular hiking area. I've seen this driving through the park and seeing the main trailhead areas. This hike is very quiet and off the beaten path.

I parked on Kanawauke Road at the intersection of the Beech Trail, and took the Beech Trail east. I then bushwacked up the hill to the top of ridge and then along the top of the ridge to the peak of the mountain. This is the highest point in Rockland county, but it is hard to get to this point as there is no official trail and it is overgrown with brush. I continued west along the ridge to the view along Rockhouse Mountain, and then went down the steep part of the mountain to Kanawauke Road, and then walked along the Road back to the car.

Map of the Route

Beech Trail at the Foot of Rockhouse Mountain

Ridge Along Rockhouse Mountain

Large Rock at the True Summit of Rockhouse Mountain

View Atop the True Summit of Rockhouse Mountain

Me at the Rock at the True Summit of Rockhouse Mountain

Another View on the Rock at the True Summit of Rockhouse Mountain

Walking Along the Ridge at Rockhouse Mountain

Kanawauke Road at the Foot of Rockhouse Mountain

View from Rockhouse Mountain, Facing South

View of Rockhouse Mountain, Facing West

Another View, Facing West

View Towards Lake Kanawauke From Rockhouse Mountain

Kakiat Last Season Snow Walk

Kakiat County Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Old Mill Trail: Blue blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 23 minutes
Estimated Distance: 1.0 miles

Pros: Scenic with melting layer of snow
Cons: None

The winter season of 2019-2020 featured hardly any snow at all. This spring snow event was not much of a snow, but the ground was covered and left just enough for me to appreciate it. I took a quick stroll in Kakiat in the morning before the snow all melted shortly afterwards. I parked in the parking area, crossed the bridge over the Mahwah River, and then took the Old Mill Trail loop around back to the Kakiat Trail. I then walked along the meadow past the gazebo and along the path on the side of the Mahwah River, back to the bridge and back to my car.

Map of the Route

Mahwah River from the Bridge, Looking South

Bridge over the Mahwah River

Mahwah River from the Bridge, Looking North

Sign Indicating Start of the Mountain Trail

Snow Covered Sprouting Leaves

Old Mill Trail with Wet Melting Snow

Mahwah River Along the Old Mill Trail

Appalachian Trail: South Highland Rd to Canopus Hill Rd

Appalachian National Scenic Trail Area,
Putnam Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Appalachian Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 1:10 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.1 Miles

Pros: Remote trail with no other people
Cons: No views

As the Coronavirus Pandemic spreads, the recommendation is to avoid being with other people. So I decided to a more remote trail far out and off the beaten path. In fact, I didn't meet a single person on the entire trail the entire hike. I also wanted to accomplish furthering my completion of all segments of the Appalachian Trail in the drivable area around my location. This segment is not a popular portion and is outside of any state parks, and doesn't have any memorable views.

This was the first hike of spring, and the trees and brush was just beginning to sprout, with the first hints of green. However, the unlike previous weekends, the weather was very cold despite bright sunny skies. I had to wear my heavy winter coat and winter hat.

I parked on South Highland Road in Putnam County, in a small pullout on the side of the road at the intersection of the Appalachian Trail. I took the trail south, past many old stone walls, seasonal ponds, and sprouting brush. I walked until Canopus Hill Road. At Canopus Hill Road there is the remains of an old inoculation station, which was used during a smallpox epidemic by George Washington's army in 1776. I provided a photo of the plaque of this on a rock, as well as the historical marker nearby which describes the nearby ruin as well of a small farm site. It was quite strange to be hiking at a historical inoculation site during the time of a pandemic. At this point I turned around and went back the same route back to my car.

Map of the Route

Steps at the Start of the Hike

Appalachian Trail going Through an Old Stone Wall

Stone Wall with Trail along the Hike

Me at a Stone Wall Along the Route

Small Seasonal Pond along the Trail

Trail Working through Newly Sprouted Brush

More Sprouting Greenery

Sprouting Green Thornbush

Remnants of the Old Inoculation Station

Another View of the Inoculation Station

Plaque on a Rock Describing the History of the Inoculation Station

Remnants of the Old Farmhouse

View of the Inoculation Station and AT Federal Park Boundary from the Road

Appalachian Trail from Canopus Hill Road

Plaque Describing the Hempstead Huts from the Canopus Hill Road

Trail at the End of the Hike Approaching South Highland Road.