Cobus Mountain Winter Hike

Cobus Mountain Winter Hike
Kakiat County Park /
Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

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

Total Time: 0:25 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.5 Miles

Pros: Good climb and excellent view
Cons: None
Hike Type: Reverse Lollipop
Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/NkxXbLfHSQyV3yc3A

The weather was exceptionally cold, with a low in the single digits overnight and very gusty winds. We wrapped up well, and headed up Cobus. We parked in the main Kakiat area, took the Old Mill Trail around the loop, and then veered onto the Kakiat Trail. We bushwhacked by the Kakiat Waterfalls, which is flowing stong and had been frozen around the edges. We then continued back to the Kakiat Trail, and took it for a short distance the intersection with the gas line. We then climbed up Cobus Mountain, then climbed back down, taking the Kakiat Trail to the Old Mill Trail to our car.

Map of the Route

Ice on the Frozen Overflow on the Mahwah River

Mahwah River

Mahwah River Icicles

Ice from Frozen Rain along the Old Mill Trail

Mahwah River and Ice

Kakiat Waterfalls and Icicles

Upper Falls at Kakiat

Ascending Cobus Mountain

Cobus Mountain View

Frozen Stream Below the Waterfalls

Storm King Mountain Western Ridge Snow

Storm King State Park
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Butter Hill Trail: Orange blaze
Stillman Trail / Highlands Trail: Yellow / Blue blaze
White Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 2:05 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.3 Miles

Pros: Good climb, amazing views
Cons: None
Hike Type: Back and out
Level of Difficulty: Very difficult in snow conditions

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/muYUeDq3wg9PGLMP9

A large Nor'easter storm affected the region on Friday. It fell as rain in the region, but further upstate it fell as snow. I had driven north through Harriman, where there was no snow, and as I drove up Route 9W, the snow covered the area at about the 800 foot level. I parked at the Butter Hill parking area, and started the hike at the Butter Hill Trail trailhead. There was about 5 inches of snow on the ground.

At the notch between Butter Hill and the Western Ridge of Storm King, I cut across to the combined Stillman Trail and Highlands Trail which goes along the Western Ridge of Storm King, with great views on both sides of the mountain. I took the trail to the White blaze,  a short spur to the northern lookout, and then turned back at the end and continued along the combined Stillman Trail and Highlands Trail. I took the trail down to Mountain Road, and then turned around and then went back up the combined Stillman Trail and Highlands Trail. I cut across up the hill to the White Trail and then back to the Stillman / Highlands Trail, which I took back to the notch and then took the Butter Hill Trail back to the trailhead.

Map of the Route

View of Butter Hill from the Parking Trailhead

Parking Trailhead

Butter Hill Trail

Stillman / Highlands Trail Views