Peanut Leap Falls and Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory

Palisades Interstate Park
Rockland Co., New York
& Bergen Co., New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Long Path: Green blaze
Shore Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 1:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.3 Miles

Pros: Nice waterfall and river views
Cons: None
Hike Type: Lollipop Wrapper Loop
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/weG9YfLvSFDYZYsv7

It had been raining very hard overnight with about 2 inches of rain. It was still raining and was at the end of the storm when I headed out for the hike, so I got my rain gear and headed out to the State Line area where the I would go down the Palisades cliffs to the Peanut Leap waterfall which I figured would be going very strong due to the rain. I was indeed right and the waterfall was very impressive!

I parked on Route 9W right on the shoulder right before Lamont-Doherty Child Development Center. I took the Long Path parallel to the road, and then passed the entrance of Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, a scientific research center that is part of Columbia University that studies the earth. I continued along the Long Path to Skunk Hollow, a peaceful brook that flows through a steep valley as it makes its way towards the Hudson River. I presume it's named after the skunk cabbage that abounds alongside the brook. I then took the Shore Trail at its terminus in Skunk Hollow.

The trail was overflowing with water, making it difficult to traverse as I descended towards the falls. I reached the top of the falls, which was roaring and quite impressive. I then descended the snake path to the bottom where the falls lands and explored some of the flooded old ruins and made my way to the Hudson River shore. After taking some nice pictures of the waterfall, I went back up the Shore Trail, and at the intersection with the Long Path, I took the unmarked trail that heads through the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory. At the top of the trail I reached a sprawling campus, which I walked through and then cut across back to the Long Path near the top of a small ridge. I then took the Long Path back to my car.

Map of the Route

Historical Marker (De Windt House) Where I Parked on Route 9W

Swamp Along the Long Path, with Skunk Cabbage

Long Path Sign Entering the Palisades Interstate Park

Stepping Stones on the Long Hollow

Skunk Hollow Brook

Intersection of the Shore Trail and Long Path

Skunk Hollow Brook Descending Towards the Waterfalls

A Smaller Side Waterfall Along the Trail

At the Top of Peanut Leap Falls

Trail on the Descent

Peanut Leap Falls

Hudson River Shore and Old Ruins

Hudson River Shore

Tappan Zee Bridge in the Distance

Old Ruins at the Falls

Venomous Snake Warning Sign at the Lamont Trail 

Building at the Lamont-Doherty Campus