Island Pond Mountain Lemon Squeezer Loop

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Crooked Road: Unblazed
Appalachian Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 1:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.6 Miles 

Pros: Scenic Lake, rock formation, and pretty view
Cons: Bushwack down is a bit complicated
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Hiking Partner:
Elisha Friedman

Map of Route:
https://goo.gl/maps/tByTafrmks1qETKG8

I had just returned from a trip from Florida in the late morning, and it was good to be back home where I was nearby the mountains with more seasonable temperatures than I was feeling down south. We parked on Arden Valley Road near Island Pond adjacent to Crooked Road. We took Crooked Road, which is a bit overgrown, down to the Appalachian Trail, which we then took for a short detour to the north shore of Island Pond.

We then turned back and took the Appalachian Trail to the east, to the Lemon Squeezer. We squeezed through the Lemon Squeezer and climbed up the mountain, and took a short bushwack a the top to the Island Pond Mountain view. We then bushwacked down the steep side of Island Pond Mountain going back to Crooked Road, which we took back to our car.

Map of the Route

Island Pond

Island Pond

Small Island at Island Pond

Me at Island Pond

Island Pond through the Trees

Lemon Squeezer Entrance

Me at the Lemon Squeezer Entrance

Going through the Entrance at the Lemon Squeezer Entrance

Squeeze at the Lemon Squeezer

Me Through the Lemon Squeezer

Overhang at the Lemon Squeezer

Large Rocks at the at the Lemon Squeezer

Another View of the Lemon Squeezer

Me at the Lemon Squeezer

Island Pond Mountain

Island Pond from Island Pond Mountain

Island Pond from Island Pond Mountain

Me at Island Pond Mountain

View from Island Pond Mountain

Island Pond Mountain

Island Pond Mountain

Green Cay Nature Center & Wetlands

Boynton Beach,
Palm Beach Co.,
Florida

Hiking Trails:
Green Cay Boardwalk Trail

Total Time: 0:35 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.0 Mile

Pros: Scenic boardwalk with plenty of wildlife and alligators
Cons: Sunny parts of trail
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Very easy

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

My last hike in Florida for the summer, which was near where I was staying, was at Green Cay Nature Center & Wetlands, an area of swampland with nesting birds and even an alligator which we saw. We started at the nature center, and then did the walk along the boardwalks plan, starting off on the east side of the trail and doing the loop over the water and shaded forested area.

Wakodahatchee Wetlands

Delray Beach,
Palm Beach Co.,
Florida

Hiking Trails:
Wakodahatchee Wetlands Boardwalk Trail

Total Time: 0:20 hour
Estimated Distance: 0.8 Miles

Pros: Scenic boardwalk with many nesting birds
Cons: Sunny parts of trail
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Very easy

Map of Route:
https://goo.gl/maps/Wq8GAikQ916uiLqd8

Cypress Swamp at Loxahatchee

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge,
Palm Beach Co.,
Florida

Hiking Trails:
Cypress Swamp Boardwalk Trail

Total Time: 0:15 hour
Estimated Distance: 0.3 Miles

Pros: Scenic boardwalk
Cons: Trail very short

Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Very easy

Map of Route:
https://goo.gl/maps/b1A3XbH21AuiQep78

I was in Florida for a month in the summer with my family. Florida is very hot in the summer, and with no mountains and oppressive humidity, so it's not my ideal choice for a summer vacation. Nevertheless, I found some trails nearby where I was staying.

Loxahatchee is a federal nature preserve in everglades. There is a visitor center at the entrance to the preserve, with a short trail with a boardwalk over a cypress swamp. The trail is a short loop entirely on a boardwalk, with interesting flora and fauna along the route.

Breakneck Pond AMC Evening Loop

Harriman State Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Breakneck Pond Loop Trail: Green blaze

Total Time: 1:40 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.1 Miles

Pros: Scenic lake
Cons: Many people at campsite area of the lake
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Map of Route:
https://goo.gl/maps/Eka8yqhFLR4W5mBq7

The Timp is one of my favorite mountains in the Harriman/Bear Mountain area. Its a very prominent mountain that can be seen from all around the area due to its steep western-facing side, and has excellent views at the summit. It is not an easy hike, with no quick approach and this being the shortest route on the trail system.

I parked at the 1777 Trailhead and took the trail slowly but steadily up the mountain, alongside the stream. I took the trail to the intersection with the 1777 Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. I then continued along the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail, first facing the south-facing view, and then the view from south to north. I then continued slightly further on the trail at the beginning of the descent for a great north-facing view.

I then turned around and took the Timp-Torne Trail parallel where I was before, and then upon the 1777 intersection I went along that route down the mountain returning to my car.

Map of the Route

Breakneck Pond Dock

Large Snapping Turtle in Breakneck Pond

Breackneck Pond Loop Trail

Breackneck Pond from the Eastern Side of the Lake

Beaver Presence on Large Trees at the Breakneck Pond Trail

Boulder Canyon Tent Sites Area at the Breakneck Pond

Breackneck Pond Loop Trail

Rocky Flats Tent Sites at the Pond Loop Trail

Bear Ledge Tent Sites

Breackneck Pond from the Western Side

Breackneck Pond Looking North to the Dock

Breackneck Pond Tranquil View

Looking Across Breakneck Pond

Looking Towards the Dock at Breakneck Pond

Me at Breakneck Pond

View from the Large Rock at the North end of Breakneck Pond

Peaceful Evening Scene at Breakneck Pond

Me at Breakneck Pond

Sunset at Breakneck Pond

Me at the Sunset at Breakneck Pond

Another View of Breakneck Pond