West Hook Mountain Loop

West Hook Mountain Open Space,
Town of Clarkstown,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
West Hook Mountain Trail: White Blaze

Total Time: 0:40 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.1 Miles

Pros: Quiet area and nice views
Cons: Parking area is very rough
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Google Map of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/73z93a2NciggNXb87

This is an area that is little-known and rarely traversed. In fact, the parking area is on a private road, which scares people away from parking there, but since it's public land usage of the private road is open to all that are accessing the public land where this hike is contained.

West Hook Mountain is the mountain on the opposite side of Hook Mountain across Route 9W. The land is owned by the Town of Clarkstown, purchased in 2003 as public open space. There is a trail loop in the area that visits the view, above Route 9W with great views of Hook Mountain, the Hudson River, and Tappan Zee Bridge. 

I noticed this trail on the Palisades Trail maps and was glad to notice this trail and visit it for the first time. It's a short and easy trail with good views, but the parking is difficult with a rocky small parking area that can scrape the bottom of your car unless you drive very slow. 

I parked on Old Stone Road at the parking area. Old Stone Road has a private sign at at the beginning with a very steep hill. I took the white trail, and and at the loop I took the eastern side of the loop right above the ridge, and then to the view. I then descended around the loop to the straight path which I took back to the car.

Map of the Route

Trailhead from Parking

Beginning of the Hike

Starting the Ascent

Large Rock Near the Ridge Line

Tappan Zee Bridge in the Distance

Hudson River 

Ascending to the Top of West Hook Mountain

Main View at West Hook Mountain