LeGrande Hill and Ramapo Lake

LeGrande Hill and Ramapo Lake
Ramapo Mountain State Forest
Bergen/Passaic Cos.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Ramapo Lake Spur Trail (formerly MacEvoy Trail): Blue/Black Blaze
LeGrande Hill Loop Trail (formerly Lookout Trail): Red Blaze
LeGrande Lake Connector Trail (formerly Hoeferlin Memorial Trail): Red/Blue Blaze
Ramapo Lake Loop Trail (formerly Lakeshore Path): Blue Blaze

Total Time: 2:15 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.8 Miles

Pros: Scenic lake, good views
Cons: Noise from Interstate 287, views of built-up areas
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/hrLUu1Z33MGggf2L8

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick
(With Shimmy Rosenberg at the beginning of the hike)

This hike involved the first snow of the season. It had been a while since I had been here, and I see that many of the trails have been renamed to include popular loops as the primary trail structure. I included the new and old trail names in this post. 

We parked at the lower Ramapo Reservation parking area at the beginning of Skyline Drive, and took the Ramapo Lake Spur Trail (formerly MacEvoy Trail) parallel to the brook up the mountain to Ramapo Lake. We enjoyed the spotty layer of light snow, crossing the dam outlet of Ramapo Lake, and then took the LeGrande Hill Loop Trail (formerly Lookout Trail). We took the trail up to the ridge, enjoying the views, and then took the trail down to the LeGrande Lake Connector Trail (formerly Hoeferlin Memorial Trail). We then took the Ramapo Lake Loop Trail on the south side of the lake back to the Ramapo Lake Loop Trail, which we took back to the car.

Map of the Route

Trailhead at the Start of the Hike

Approaching Ramapo Lake

Spotty Layer of Snow on the Dam

Ramapo Lake

Flock of Geese High Above the Lake

Le Grande Hill View with Windbeam Mountain in the Distance

Le Grande Hill View 

Ramapo Lake Eastern Terminus with Snow and Ice

Ramapo Lake

Popolopen Gorge to Queensboro Lake

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

Hiking Trails:
Timp Torne Trail: Blue Blaze
Popolopen Gorge Trail: Red Blaze
1777/1779 Trail: White Blaze

Total Time: 1:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.5 Miles

Pros: Scenic gorge, nice lake views
Cons: Noise from Palisades Parkway
Hike Type: Back and out
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/Q87mNPypZBgQT48Y9

I was off for Thanksgiving, and the weather was beautiful in the afternoon, so I decided to take a quick hike. I parked at the Popolopen Trailhead, and took the Timp-Torne Trail down the hill into the gorge, down to the new bridge, and then crossing the Popolopen Brook. I then took the combined Popolopen Gorge/1777/1779 Trail alongside the brook, and then crossed on the other bridge and then headed to Queensboro Lake. I took some pictures at the lake, and then turned around and took the same route back.

Map of the Route

Start of the Hike

Bear Mountain from Across the Steep Gorge

Approaching the Popolopen Brook Bridge

Crossing the Popolopen Brook Bridge

Popolopen Brook from the Bridge

The Smaller Bridge Over Popolopen Brook

Queensboro Lake

West Mountain Late Fall

West Mountain Late Fall
Harriman State Park /
Bear Mountain State Park
Rockland Co. /
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Anthony Wayne Trail: White Blaze
Fawn Trail: Red Blaze
Timp Torne Trail: Blue Blaze
Appalachian Trail: White Blaze

Total Time: 3:05 hour
Estimated Distance: 5.2 Miles

Pros: Great views, good climb nice scrambles
Cons: None
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/zd751gTHUPQw5tBk8

Hiking Partners:
Yehudah Koblick
Shimmy Rosenberg
Simcha Krongold

The main parking area for West Mountain, at Anthony Wayne Recreation Area, had been closed for Covid testing for a long time, and it was finally opened over the summer. This is a popular hiking area and because of the Corona testing I had not been able to visit this area for a while, so it was good to be back.

We parked at the northern end of the Anthony Wayne Recreation Area, near the Anthony Wayne Trail, and took this to the Fawn Trail which climbed up the foot of the mountain. We then took the Timp Torne Trail along the ridge, passing many views along the way as the trail intersected with the Appalachian Trail. 

We then took the Timp-Torne Trail to the shelter, taking a short coffee break there, and then headed back and took the Appalachian Trail down the mountain, which we took to Beechy Bottom Road. We then took the trail to the parking lot and returned back to our car.

Map of the Route

First View at West Mountain, Looking Towards Bear Mountain

View from the Shelter, Overlooking the Timp and Hudson River

Brewing Our Own Coffee

West Mountain Shelter

Beechy Bottom Road