Hudson Highlands, Sugarloaf & Osborn Loop.

Plans to visit Pawling Preserve were suspended due to possible rainy weather. Consulting the NYNJTC we decided on a hike closer to the city at Hudson Highlands State Park at Garrison station. NYNJ Trail Conference site allows you to view the hikes available via public transportation. It was gloomy the whole train ride until we reached Garrison. It was a beautiful Sunday and no one was around except for a few locals on their Sunday jaunt.

Highlights include: crumbling buildings with trees growing through, giant gazebo over looking the Hudson River, amazing views of Castle Rock mansion, remains of a recent forest fire, hawks, spotting a Fisher (never knew this animal existed), trekking up the red trail to Sugarloaf Hill observing the mystical Eastern Prickly Pear cactus flowering & wild views of the Hudson, finding short cuts through fields, listening to weird animal sounds that freaked us out, being completely alone in the woods (the most isolated I have felt on a hike so fair), walking down the Appalachian Trail and thinking about the grandma that hiked the AT in Keds and a shower curtain.

Trail head with a not very useful map.

Castle Rock mansion.

Forest fire March 24 started by discarded cigarette.

Eastern Prickly Pear cactus.

View from Sugarloaf Hill.

Walking through the short cut.

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Train MetroNorth to Garrison. We took the 10:50am train and left on the 5:21pm. (no vending machine at the station) No town either. A real rural stop.

Directions to trail walk to the south end of the Garrison station parking lot. Trail begins there.

Length 8 miles (if you climb Sugerloaf Hill which is optional) It took us 5 hours including stopping for lunch & photographs.

Suggestions Lots of water & food. We were warned by a man walking a dog of the ticks. He was actually just recovering from Lyme disease. Use bug spray with DEET.

Toliets No bathrooms at train station. There are some pit toilets inside Castle Rock.

Maps buy East Hudson Trail Maps You will need this map. Not many people around to ask questions.

Notes Read the detailed instructions on the NJNYTC website on how to reach Castle Rock where the Sugarloaf Hill & Osborn Loop trail head begins. The trail that begins at Garrison is only about 1.5 miles long and leaves you at Route 9. Cross the road to Castle Rock’s entrance.

Harriman State Park, Claudius Smith Rock Loop.

Yesterday we went on a hike to celebrate our anniversary. No more walks for us. This hike was steep and strenuous but gave way to wild vistas and lots of varied landscapes. We saw deer, snakes, a duck, birch trees, huge boulders and caves. Not a boring trip. There were enough people on the trail to feel safe but space enough for solitude.

We started the hike around 10:45 taking the white trail up an incline. Around 11am when switching onto the blue trail we found ourselves lost. Thinking we could figure it out we dove deeper into the forest only making it worse. (first rule of hiking—if you get lost don’t go deeper in the woods. Turn around!) Finally after about 30 minutes of searching we turned round and figured out where we went wrong. Realizing vandals knocked us off track we eventually found blazes (hiking lingo) lying on the ground ripped from the trees.

We got through the rough spot and from then on the blue blazes were prominent. Excellent views. There about 4 big vistas on this hike to Claudius Smith’s Den. Mr. Smith was an outlaw during the Revolutionary War stole from farmers and hiding in a cave. Eventually he was captured and hanged.

This was a 4 hour hike. With getting lost we still made it in about 4 hours 15 min. This time we were more prepared—we brought lunch, water and maps! My high top flat soled sneakers weren’t the best. Brock bought these incredible hiking maps at Tents and Trails (definitely helped finding the right trails and saved us from getting lost several more times)

This hike has given us the bug to explore more and more. Learn more about hiking and nature. This was a five star day.

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Train PATH to Hoboken, NJTransit to Tuxedo. (beautiful new bathroom in station, deli across the street) Express train 9:21am Saturday.

Directions to trail read detailed directions here

Suggestions Lots of water, it’s hot and a long hike. Bug spray, it wasn’t really buggy but seemed like a good idea. Food.

Maps buy Harriman State Park trail maps. Totally worth it and necessary for first time Harriman hikers.

Little Red Lighthouse.

Jeff, BS and I set out on a Friday afternoon ride around the horn of Manhattan and all the way up the West side along the Hudson River to the Little Red Lighthouse under the George Washington Bridge. Well, actually Jeff set out to ride to the Cloisters. We accompanied him most of the way.

We sailed over the Williamsburg Bridge and onto the East side bike path. Lower Manhattan bike paths and hoards tourists do not mix. Yeah, I don’t think I am riding the around the horn again. Too much trouble. Though I love the West side ride. It was a beautiful day.

We rode for a long while along the water until the path led us inbound towards the city. Around the low 100s we got a hot tip from a local how to reunite with the waterside path. So we rode on. It was a nice stretch, not busy and soon reached the Little Red Lighthouse. Jeff parted upward to the Cloisters while BS & I headed back to Brooklyn by way of Central Park.

That’s when my vintage cruiser said ‘No More!’ and rear wheel exploded. Ugh. Around mile 20 my bike just gives up. I really do need a new bike. This is not the first time it’s had a override freak out. Right before rush hour madness we managed to get on the subway from 86th St and took a long annoying subway ride home.

Jeff had lovely time and thoroughly enjoyed the unicorn tapestries.

©KR

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Map smart to carry NYC bike maps.

Rockefeller State Park Preserve.

Disembarking the train at Philispe Manor station (beautiful!) we walked through a quiet, well groomed neighborhood and into Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. We meandered through the haunted cemetery and into the newer gravestones. Walking up a steep hill past the new development we spied a small parting of the gate which leads to the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail. Quickly passing over the trail we stumbled onto the next piece of land which was Rockefeller State Park Preserve. It immediately opens up to a vast green meadow. So beautiful!

Rockefeller State Park has many trails on its roaming acres of land. There are rivers, forests, meadows. It was an easy, pleasant jaunt in the woods. BS & I did not plan well and were without maps. This was remedied by simply talking to fellow hikers on the trail (we asked directions often). We noticed a high percentage of Europeans on the trail. Our theory is Europeans are used to taking the train and if they live in a city they get out — go on hikes — enjoying nature and trains.

BS & I also learned another lesson: bring food and water. I really don’t know what our city minds were thinking. We’re so accustomed to having a deli on every corner I guess we just figured Philispe Manor station was a town. Note: Philispe Manor station is simply a neighborhood. No vending machines. There is a writing center built into the old train station. Luckily, they let us use bathrooms and we filled up our empty water bottles.

View upon entering the Rockefeller Preserve

Eagle down by the Hudson River, Philispe Manor.

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Train MetroNorth, Hudson line to Philispe Manor

Directions take left at Riverside Drive, right onto Harwood Ave, left onto and cross Rt 9. Enter Sleepy Hollow Cemetery’s main entrance. Walk left through and to the back of the cemetery, newer graves up a hill. On top the hill is the Aqueduct trail, cross trail. Enter Rockfeller Perserve. Explore.

Suggestion bring lots of water and food! No place to buy anything!

Map bring a map! Print these.

WWW.

Not exactly public transport—I rented zipcar for this little expedition. BS bought the book 60 Hikes within 60 Miles and we’ve been meaning to check out some of the sites. Unfortunately many of the the hikes are only available if you have a car. We invited a few friends to join us and headed to the Westchester Wilderness Walk.

The drive was quick and easy. Located in wealthy Westchester county—trails are not so much out in the country but more in the depths of peoples backyards. The walk was pretty and quiet—we only saw 2 people and 1 dog. It was more of a relaxing stroll than proper hike. Very foresty, lots of stone walls. We enjoyed ourselves. Jeff played the wood flute and summoned a snake. We lunched from the trunk of the car. Unfortunately, I had to rush the walk a bit because I needed to get the car back at a certain time. This was a bummer and deters me from renting a car for future hikes. Plus, trains are cheaper.

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Car about 40 minute drive from Brooklyn.

Map no trail maps necessary. Trails well marked.

Old Croton Aqueduct Trail.

On a whim after breakfast BS & I decided to take a trip North. Upstate. We scoured the MTA website for a quick day trip and found The Old Croton Aqueduct Trail. It only took around 1 hour from our apartment in Williamsburg.

The Aqueduct was completed in 1842 and provided NYC with clean water. Today this aqueduct trail weaves between wealthy persons backyards and nature. Totally loved it! The trail is 26 miles long and we traveled 5. Starting in Dobbs Ferry we passed by the Octagon House, ate lunch at a little deli on Main St. Irvington (only 2 blocks west of the trail-left before the school)  and freely romped around the grounds of Lyndhurst Mansion ending our journey in Tarrytown. (more via nisn)

A backyard.

Old Croton Aqueduct trail.

Aqueduct trail marker.

Octagon House.

Lyndhurst Mansion.

Lyndhurst Greenhouse.

to Tarrytown.

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Train Metro North, Hudson Line to Dobbs Ferry.

Directions to trail Walk up a steep hill that curves left down the main street. Walk all the way to the end (to the T in the road) and the trail picks up there. About 1/2 mile from train.

Suggestion Tarrytown was not the best place to end. It was a long walk to the train down a busy road, not as quaint an experience as Dobbs Ferry. Try Philispe Manor. Because the Aqueduct Trail is 26 miles long you may design your hike to fit between any train stations from Yonkers Station to Ossington Station.

Map Take this hand drawn map with you. It will help you find all the important landmarks. PDF here.

Update: Steve Oakes, the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail’s Park Manager recommends purchasing for $5 a trail map available on www.Aqueduct.org. Thanks for the tip!