Upper Nyack Trail to Nyack Beach

Nyack Beach State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Upper Nyack Trail: White Blaze
Nyack Beach Path: Unblazed

Total Time: 0:35 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.6 Miles

Pros: Scenic area and nice river views
Cons: Many people on trail
Hike Type: Back and out
Level of Difficulty: Paths: Very Easy / Bushwhack: Very Difficult

Hike Type: Inverted Lollipop Loop

Google Map of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/tGTZZ3DESqKtEihGA

I had was off for the Friday before New Years, which was on a Saturday, and I had an errand to run at the Palisades Center Mall in West Nyack. When I finished I had about half an hour available for a short hike, so I took the opportunity to complete the Upper Nyack Trail, a new trail which connects Hook Mountain to Nyack Beach. I had hiked the new trail back in November, but didn't complete the remainder section connecting the plateau to the Hudson River waterfront. This part of the trail was already there before, but was now officially routed as the Upper Nyack Trail.

I parked at the plateau, and walked on the road down the hill to the Upper Nyack Trail, meandering down to the end at the Nyack Beach Path. I took the Nyack Beach Path for about half a mile along the river, before turning back and going back up to the Upper Nyack Trail, but then I bushwhacked an old steep route up to the plateau, where I returned to my car.

Map of the Route

Cliff at Hook Mountain from the Plateau

Upper Nyack Trail

Hudson River at Nyack Beach

Tappan Zee Bridge in the Fog

Diamond Mountain Ridge

Harriman State Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
7 Hills Trail: Blue blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze
Hillburn Torne Sebago Trail: Orange blaze
Pine Meadow Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:00 hours
Estimated Distance: 4 Miles

Pros: Good climb, great views
Cons: None
Hike Type: Loop

Hiking Partners:
David Koegel
Debbie Koegel

Map of Parking:
Car 1: https://goo.gl/maps/rHtp8iaJkwvmfqSb6
Car 2: https://goo.gl/maps/W7CAyXQEZB2ukLWW7

This was a nice day, with bright blue skies and relatively mild temperatures for the season. We parked our first car at Reeves Meadow on Seven Lakes Drive, and then drove together to Sebago Boat Launch, where we parked our second car and started the hike. We took the 7 Hills Trail up the mountain, up until the Diamond Mountain Ridge, passing along many trail intersections along the way and across the rocky areas. After the summit, we descended along the steep scramble to the valley, taking the Kakiat Trail to the HTS Trail, which we took briefly across the Pine Meadow Brook on the new bridge. We then took the Pine Meadow Trail all the way down to the car. We noticed the Reeves Meadow Visitor center, long abandoned, had been refurbished and reopened, with bathrooms and a small visitors center.

Map of the Route

Lake Sebago from Diamond Mountain

Manhattan Skyline from Diamond Mountain

Diamond Mountain

Trail Intersection

Reeves Meadow New Store

Inside the Reeves Meadow New Store

Pine Swamp Mountain and Lakes First Snow Hike

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Long Path: Green blaze
Arden-Surebridge Trail: Red blaze
Red Cross Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 0:55 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.7 Miles

Pros: Good climb, nice view, scenic lakes
Cons: None
Hike Type: Loop

Map of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/RsrGtA7BJFJBiKRt9

This was the first snow season of the season. Although it wasn't all that much, a fast-moving Alberta Clipper brought about an inch of dry snow to the area. I took advantage being off from work to take a quick and scenic hike in Harriman. I parked in the Lake Skanatati Parking area, and took the Long Path for a short distance alongside the lake, then turned around and took the Arden-Surebridge Trail up. I veered off on the old Arden-Surebridge Trail before it was rerouted, and took it up to the view, where both Lake Skanatati and Kanawauke are in good view. I then turned back and went down along the eastern portion of the ridge back to the new Arden-Surebridge Trail, which I took to the Red Cross Trail. I took the Red Cross Trail down to Seven Lakes Drive, and then took Seven Lakes Drive south, alongside Lake Askoti, crossing the bridge at the stream outlet. I then took the Long Path back down to Lake Skanatati and back down to my car.

Map of the Route

Lake Skanatati

Long Path Alongside Lake Skanatati

Arden-Surebridge Trailhead

Ascending the Arden Surebridge Trail

View at Pine Swamp Mountain, with Lake Skanatati and Lake Askoti

Lake Askoti

Seven Lakes Drive

Lake Askoti

Lake Skanatati