North-South Lake, North Point, The Catskills, NY
Trail Description: This great day hike in the Catskills at North-South Lake utilizing multiple trails offers stunning views such as Artists Rock, Sunset Rock, Newmans Ledge, and North Point. Also, some popular features such as Ashley Falls, Badmans Cave, and more.
Trail Info:
Where: Haines Falls, NY Distance: 7.0m (4-5 hours) Difficulty: Difficult Trail Type: Loop Features: Views, Mountains, Valley, Lake, Water, Cave, Catksills, Hudson Valley
How to get there:
93 North Lake Road, Haines Falls, NY 12436
https://goo.gl/maps/9rUFAjK3PieRJY7U9
Put the address above in your GPS. You will need to drive through the state park to find the trail. As you get closer, you will pass Scutt Road on the right, then go past the guardhouse. Turn right onto the first fork around the lakes heading south. Follow this road passing a big parking lot on the left until you reach another big parking lot at a dead end, past the pavilions. Park in this area and the trail will start in the back corner.
Hiking Tips
Not great phone service, so make sure to screenshot a map. Or my guide!
Lots of signage throughout trail, but keep an eye on the trail markers.
The Hike
This is a long one folks. Make sure you have all the snacks and hydration necessary on this hike. Once you are ready to go, head to the back right corner of the parking lot for the start of the trail, away from the picnic pavilion and lake area. There will be a gate with a stop sign. Go around the gate and start your trek on the yellow trail toward the old Catskill Mountain House, the first of many sites and views on this hike.
There will be a junction with the blue trail. Continue to walk straight across the field at the area of the old Catskill Mountain House. Off the ledge of the field will be the first view of the hike overlooking the Hudson Valley.
Turn around and head back toward the junction across the field. Stick to the right and continue following the blue trail until you see the North Lake signage. Past the guardrail with a stop sign, cross another parking lot to re-enter the woods & head straight across to find the blue trail. I did not see a sign (could have missed it) but just keep an eye for the blue markers.
Pass the picnic tables and this will lead to walking along a chain link fence to the right. At the end of the fence, there is a view off a porch ledge. Keeping straight on blue, the next item to pass is a registration box.
From here, the hike will begin to have an incline. In about 10 minutes will be the first viewpoint, Artist’s Rock. The first of many views on this hike.
Continue on the blue trail as the trail gets steeper toward the next viewpoint, Sunset Rock. There will be a set of cliffs above on the right. Sunset Rock viewpoint sits above these cliffs. The trail will eventually get you there. There will be a sign to hop on the yellow trail for Sunset Rock in 0.2 miles.
Keep a lookout for the markers, then turn right onto the yellow trail. The views will just open up and another incredible view will be had. But this isn’t Sunset Rock quite yet. Keep along the yellow trail and in a few minutes there will be a big rock to the right. I was actually too enamored with the view, I did not take a picture of the rock! But it will be pretty obvious & there is a sign. This area will have the best views of the hike. There will be views of North-South Lake with the Catskills in the background. Pretty jaw dropping in my opinion.
From here, retrace your steps from the yellow trail back to the blue trail. Turn right at the blue/yellow junction to rejoin the blue trail. There will be signage for Newman’s Ledge, 0.2 miles away, and North Point, 1.6 miles away. The trail will get steeper but in minutes you will reach more awesome views off of Newman’s Ledge.
In about 0.6 miles the next point of interest is Badman's Cave following the blue trail.
Continue on the blue trail as it becomes steep then levels out in an open area before re-entering the woods. In 0.6 miles there will be a junction with the red marked Mary Glen’s Trail. The red trail will need to be used but for now continue on the blue trail toward North Point. There will be a sign showing only 0.3 miles to North Point. The ascend for the next 0.3 miles is one of toughest in the hike. There will be a sign for North Point. The views will be beautiful as the Catskills will be right in your sight.
After you soak in the last of the amazing views, begin to head back toward the junction with the red trail. Take a right to hop on the red trail. This will be a rocky, steady decline as you eventually reach the sign for the North Lake Campsite, which will be another 0.6 miles. This will lead around the lakes onto the paved roads of the campsite. Continue to follow the red trail as you cross a footbridge over a stream. There will be a sign for Ashley Falls off the yellow trail if you wanted to take a look, it was very short but no waterfalls on this hot day in the middle of the summer.
Continue on the red and take a left on the road by the campsites. Then it will be almost a mile until you get back to the parking lot. At least it is a flat surface to end! Whew, what a hike. Tough but so many views.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search City or State here.
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Bull Hill (Mt Taurus) Hike, Cold Spring, NY
Trail Description: Bull Hill (Mt Taurus) is a loop trail that offers amazing views of the Hudson River and surrounding mountains in the Hudson Highlands such as Storm King and Breakneck Ridge.
Trail Info:
Where: Cold Spring, NY Distance: 5.4m (3-4 hours) Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult Trail Type: Loop Features: Views, Mountains, Valley, River, Ruins
How to get there:
The trailhead is north of Cold Spring village along Route 9D by about a mile. The parking is shared with Little Stony Point. The location you may see searching on google map will be the Washburn Trail, which is where the hike begins.
Click here for parking lot coordinates
Hiking Tips
There are multiple trails, can choose short or long route.
Stick to a loop trail and connecting to other trails to get back. The terrain is steep going up, probably not fun going down…unless that is your thing!
Parking lot is small, fills up very quick on weekends!
The Hike
Starting at the parking area, you have a decision. How long do you want to hike? To be completely honest, my intention was to take the short route but I ended up hiking about the same as the full loop somehow. So, this is the short loop with a little twist. To begin, start trekking on the right to the white marked trail, the Washburn Trail.
The trail follows through the woods along a road at first with a gradual incline. This will lead to an open area with a sign to take a sharp right to continue on the trail.
This is a well marked trail and there are many signs for all the viewpoints.
The first few miles are pretty steep before you reach some viewpoints.
The first viewpoint will be a view of the Hudson River with Breakneck & Storm King Mountain in the background. Shortly after, the second viewpoint provides views of Cold Spring & West Point in the distance.
Continue along the white trail markers as the trail incline increases. There will be more views to take in. Eventually, the trail reaches an intersection. The short loop will be to your left following the yellow marker and the full loop is straight ahead following the white trail. I wanted to reach the summit view of Mt Taurus so I went straight here. Continue on this trail and you will notice some rocks with the word “View” painted with arrows pointing up. This will lead to the astonishing views from Bull Hill (Mt Taurus).
From here, I retraced my steps back down to the intersection and hopped on the yellow marked trail (Short Loop). You could continue on the long loop as well.
Once on the yellow marked trail, there continues to be awesome views such a clear shot of Storm King Mountain.
Follow the yellow marked trail until reaching signage for the red marked trail to connect to. There will be a stream to your right and a bridge to pass. Follow that and the blue marked trail will connect quickly and this will lead you all the way to the parking lot. There will be gradual decline in switchbacks and will become flat pavement for the last mile or so. Along the blue trail, the ruins of the Cornish Estate can be explored as well but this was a very crowded day so I decided to skip that.
This is a fun hike with so many viewpoints and exploration. It is certainly not easy with a lot of steep inclines the first few miles but the views are nonstop you won’t even notice the difficulty. This is definitely one of the better marked trails and there are many trail options to make the hike your own. Fantastic day hike!
HIKING FOR DONUTS
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search City or State here.
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Ferncliff Forest Fire Tower, Rhinebeck, NY
Trail Description: This is a short hike that brings you to a fire tower with stunning panoramic views of the Catskill Mountains.
Trail Info:
Where: Rhinebeck, NY Distance: 1.4 miles (1 hour) Difficulty: Easy Trail Type: Out & Back Features: Views, Mountains, Water, Pond, River, Fire Tower
How to get there:
68 Mt. Rutsen Road Rhinebeck, NY 12572
https://goo.gl/maps/cXzcj8ZLTL8BxYBh7
Hiking Tips
A busy spot for nice weather and fall foliage.
There are multiple hiking trails in this park, plan your route.
The Hike
From the parking lot, there is a kiosk where you can view the trail map. The yellow-blazed trail starts past the gate. Proceed with the yellow-blazed trail as it inclines gradually along the gravel road. The signage is pretty good on this trail and there are signs to the fire tower.
In about 5 minutes, the trail reaches a pond and there will be a cabin with a sign marked “TOWER” .
And, once you pass the cabin, there is a lean-to that points to the right to continue on the yellow-blazed trail marked “TOWER”. That is the trail you want to be on.
The path continues to climb slowly. There will be another lean-to on the trail and at about another 0.6 miles, the fire tower will be on the left. There are multiple paths that lead to the tower. This is the shortest route. Once my wife and I arrived, there was already a line to go up to the tower. Only 10 people can fit at a time and even that is a stretch. Only family and friend groups were going up.
Once we got up to the top, the panoramic views were amazing! Views of the Hudson River, Catskills, and the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge. The fall colors were really popping. This is a great spot for sunset or sunrise. We didn’t get to spend as much time as we wanted up top as we wanted to be considerate to others waiting in line. We returned the same way we came but you could get back to the parking lot a different way.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search City or State here.
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Hiking the Breakneck Ridge Trail, New York
Trail Description: The Breakneck Ridge hike is one of the most challenging trails in the Hudson Valley. The mountain is known for rocky terrain, steep rock scrambling, and beautiful views of the Hudson Valley. This trail is immensely popular due to its easy access.
Trail Info:
Where: Cold Spring, NY Distance: 3.7 miles (3.5-4.5 hours) Difficulty: Strenuous Trail Type: Loop Features: Views, River, Mountains, Rock Scrambling
How to get there:
Typing the location “Breakneck Ridge Trailhead” into Google Maps will take you near the parking areas. There are multiple parking spots along State Road 9D, just park where you can north of the tunnel. There is a small lot near the trailhead and a larger lot further down.
For those concerned about parking/driving, this hike is accessible via train. There is a MTA to the Breakneck Ridge train station that is within walking distance to the trail on weekends only.
Hiking Tips
Go on a weekday to avoid the crowds, if possible. Go early on weekends.
Be prepared to rock scramble & use your hands to scale the cliff.
Not dog friendly (unless small dog that you can carry or your dog is a mountain climber)
The Hike
After parking, make sure you are walking along the right hand side of the road. The trailhead starts to the right of the tunnel, where there is trail signage and maps.
There are 3 trail route options for Breakneck Ridge. There is a sign explaining this at the beginning of the trail. The options consist of the short loop (2 hours) ,the regular/classic loop (3 hours), or the trail back to Cold Spring (4 hours). This guide will be the option we took which is the full classic loop.
There is a set of rock stairs that will bring you to the sharp ascent. Follow the white trail markers and start climbing! The terrain on the trail is pretty hard right away. There is a very steep ascent and I needed my hands and knees to get me through this portion of the hike. If you did bring hiking poles, I would suggest securing the poles to your backpack here as they will not be helpful. Depending on your level of climbing up, this can be anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.
Keep climbing until you reach the flagpole. You will see Pollepel Island with Bannerman’s Castle to your right, along with views of Storm King Mountain straight ahead across the river.
After taking in the views and enjoying a break, continue to follow the white markers as the incline continues. This part is less intense but still some rock scrambling. There is an area in the trail where you can choose to go steeper or take the easier ascent marked with X with an arrow pointing left & right. The easier route was definitely welcomed after the steep climb.
Continue to climb higher and there is another viewpoint with the flagpole far in the distance from above.
Keep climbing until there are no more bluffs and cannot continue further.This is where you head into the forest. The next few miles are much, much easier. You could go back down the way you came but it’s a tough way down and you will be greeted with a traffic jam of many hikers ascending up.
Continue on white markers & ignore the yellow marked trail for now.
There will be a fork eventually. Look for a turn off to the red marked trail (tough to miss red marking on rock). Follow red trail down a gradual descent through woods.
Depending on your pace, the red trail will dead end in about 30-60 minutes where you take left onto yellow trail (Wilkinson Memorial Trail) and keep going downhill and follow all the way to the parking area.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search City or State here.
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Poets’ Walk Park, Red Hook, NY
Trail Description: Poets’ Walk Park is an easy jaunt through scenic meadows that offers wonderful views of the Hudson River and Catskills.
Trail Info:
Where: Red Hook, NY Distance: 2.4m (1.5 hours) Difficulty: Easy Trail Type: Loop Features: Views, Mountains, Water, River, Bridge
How to get there:
776 River Road, (County Road 103) Red Hook, NY
https://goo.gl/maps/y9V6GaXcWxRzqd6P9
Hiking Tips
Walk the entire loop. Many see the views of the bridge initially and turn around.
Not great phone service, so make sure to screenshot a map. Or my guide!
For trail map, click HERE.
The Hike
As I continue to look for the best bang for your buck views, I really don’t think it gets better than taking a stroll through Poets’ Walk Park in the fall. The Hudson Valley is full of amazing landscape and mountainous views. Most of those views require challenging hiking. However, a leisurely stroll in Poets’ Walk Park offers stunning views of the Catskills and the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge.
From the parking lot, begin walking on the gravel road by the trail signage. Continuing straight through the open field will lead you to a gazebo structure. Walking through the gazebo, there is the first “oh snap” view of the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge with the Catskills looming in the background. There is a neat little wooden bench to take a seat and enjoy the views.
The trail will split from here, where the loop begins. Either direction will bring you back to this spot. We chose left heading toward the river. Some great views of Catskills to the right and a closer view of the bridge to the left. The loop will begin on the right and suddenly you will find myself thwarted into the woods. There will be a few bridges to cross. If you need a moment of solitude, the Summerhouse gazebo area is a good spot to take a seat and look out into the mountains above the river.
From the Summerhouse structure, just retrace your steps back to the trail split and head on back to the parking lot. Easy peasy. The skies cleared on our the way back and the fall colors really popped. Just incredible views.
Depending on how long you choose to explore, take pictures, and enjoy the benches, this shouldn’t take more than an hour and half, give or take. Definitely one of those places I considered keeping to myself but the place was crazy packed. There is no secret here. It’s a spectacular park to visit for stunning views.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search City or State here.
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Sam’s Point and Verkeerderkill Falls Trail, New York
Trail Description: Sam’s Point Reserve offers panoramic views of the Shawangunk Ridge along with exploring a 180 foot waterfall.
Trail Info:
Where: Ellenville, NY Distance: 6.2 miles (3-4 hours) Difficulty: Moderate Trail Type: Out and Back Features: Views, Mountains, Valley, Waterfall, Ice Caves (optional)
How to get there:
400 Sams Point Rd Cragsmoor, NY 12420
This will take you right to the parking lot. Parking costs $10. There is a kiosk to pay near the visitor center.
Hiking Tips
Parking lot opens at 9am. If parking lot is full, you have to wait until someone leaves. Plan accordingly as parking is limited.
Did not include the Ice Caves on this day. Would add an additional 1.1 miles to the hike.
Use bug spray for ticks and sunscreen when sun is out. Most of the hike is the open.
The Hike
The next hike in the Hudson Valley to check off my list is Sam’s Point. I anticipated great views but there was much more to this hike than I thought. Until I researched recently, I didn’t realize a waterfall was part of the hike. Veerkeerderkill Falls is the tallest waterfall in the Shawangunk Mountains at 180 feet. And, there are even ice caves on this trail. Sam’s Point is part of Minnewaska State Park, but the parking is located at a different location than the park’s entrance. We left early in time to beat the 9am opening and there were already quite a few cars in line. Once parked, there is a kiosk to pay for parking and there is a visitor center at this lot, where there are 2 restrooms.
After packing up our gear, we headed toward the trailhead. Walking around the gate took us on the main trail, Loop Road. There is an intersection almost immediately to choose from, veering right will take you to Sam’s Point. The other option is the Huckleberry Pickers’ shacks. Tempting but we will pass on that. Heading up the fragmented road, there is a slight incline as altitude gains up the switchbacks. In short time, we came up to a massive rock with a cliff above, which we learned later is the top of Sam’s Point. At about a half mile, the first view was on our left on top of a rocky platform.
Loop Road will even out and we had an option to keep straight toward the waterfall or turn left toward the short trail to check out the view from Sam’s Point. It was pretty crowded and I just wanted to beat everyone to the waterfall so we saved Sam’s Point for the end. A short distance off Loop Road, we saw signs on our left to head toward Verkeerderkill Falls on the aqua blazed trail. If you wanted to check out the Ice Caves, continue straight from here. We couldn’t fit those in today, so we headed toward the waterfall.
I did not anticipate the cool landscape we would be hiking through on this hike. Strolling along the trail you will the see rare dwarf pine trees offering very unique scenery. In addition, there are wide views of the Northern Shawangunk Ridge along this part of the trail. The trail will head downhill slightly. This isn’t terrible but the fact that it gets rockier, makes it a bit more challenging. As you get closer to the waterfall, there is a steep descend down.
Eventually, we came upon a stream above the falls. Depending how high the water is on a given day, you may have to follow upstream to cross. We made our way to the cliff overlook and we were greeted with a large crowd. Then, I turned around and saw the amazing view of Verkeerderkill Falls! The water was flowing pretty well on this day. This is nice spot to take a break and relax. However with the crowd and popularity of the hike, we absorbed the fall briefly and started retracing our steps back.
We finally made our way over to Sam’s Point. The views are outstanding. From the cliffs, you can see the Shawangunk Ridge and Wallkill Valley. Lots of space to take in all the scenery, grab a snack, or take a selfie. There were lots of selfies going on around us. Before we left, I had one thing left to do. I was waiting for the perfect moment. Mostly, I was waiting out the 20 plus Cub Scout group that were yelling and running around. In addition, there was this one kid (like in his 20s) with his mom who kept taking selfies and would NOT leave until he got the perfect one for Instagram. Come on dude. Once they left, I saw my opening and proposed to my amazing girlfriend! Even though I made her trek 6 miles on her birthday and endure 20 minutes of freezing wind atop Sam’s Point, she said yes. I didn’t realize how packed this overlook would be at all times. Sorta risky move. No backup plan. But in the end, everything went as planned. Then, we joyously made our way back down to the parking lot.
This hike has a lot of meaning for me going forward but this was a dynamite hike. When you can explore different landscapes and come across multiple features that this trail offers, there is not much more you can ask for in a hike. This is a great place to visit to spend the day.
MORE PICTURES BELOW:
HIKING FOR DONUTS
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every change I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search City or State here.
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Mount Beacon Fire Tower, Beacon, NY
Mount Beacon is one of the most popular trails along the Hudson River. It offers different terrain for a good workout, old railway landmarks, and incredible views of the Hudson Valley as well as the Catskills and NYC on a clear day. Most people will hike to the top of the mountain overlooking Beacon. However, adding the fire tower to this hike is worth it. Check out the blog for details and pictures!
Trail Description: Mount Beacon offers gorgeous views of the Hudson Valley and you can see as far as NYC and the Catskills from the fire tower.
Trail Info:
Where: Beacon, NY Distance: 4.4 miles (3-3.5 hours) Difficulty: Moderate Trail Type: Out and Back Features: Views, Hudson River, Fire Tower, Mountains, Valley, Reservoir, Railway
How to get there:
788 Wolcott Ave Beacon, NY 12508
You will see the parking lot located the intersection of Route 9D and Howland Avenue in the City of Beacon. Parking can be limited here. For more info, https://www.scenichudson.org/mountbeacon.
Hiking Tips
Get there early for parking on weekends.
First half mile is the toughest. After that, it’s a breeze. Keep going!
Once you reach the white-blazed trail, take that up to fire tower. The White Trail is not marked as well as the Red Trail, look for faded markings on the rocks.
The Hike
Mount Beacon is one of the most popular trails along the Hudson River. It offers different terrain for a good workout, old railway landmarks, and incredible views. The trail head starts at the parking lot where we found the information kiosk. From here, walk past the wooden gate and proceed along the gravel path on the red-blazed Casino Trail. We arrived at the ruins of the Mount Beacon Incline Railway. The railway was used as a tourist attraction for the views of the Hudson River as well as visiting a Casino Hotel at the top of the mountain in the early 1900s. This was the steepest railway in the world during its operation. Pretty wild! If you want to know more historic details, click here. After passing the ruins, we started making our way up the metal staircase continuing onto the red-blaze trail.
The tough part begins here, only for about a half mile. This is where you see happy faces coming down and not so happy faces going up. The hike will slowly begin to ascend up the mountain following the switchbacks. There may be areas that look unmarked but keep your eyes on the red markings. Eventually, the terrain will become rockier and even steeper uphill. Huffing and puffing our way up, the first glimpse of a view appears as we came up on the first landmark. The motor house of the railway has brick walls still standing and there you will find huge rusted gears and the motor. Past the motor house lies the foundation of what used to be the casino, which is where the first scenic view of the hike can be seen. The view from Mount Beacon stretches across the Hudson with stunning views overlooking Beacon. It is awesome that you can get this view only after hiking just over a mile. The hike started with overcast but amazingly the sky started opened up once we reached the overlook.
It was time to head toward the fire tower. We turned around from the look out, walked across the old casino ground toward the tower. Eventually, we noticed a red marking on a tree and followed that dirt road through two metal poles and continued on the red-blaze trail. We passed what looks to be a door or frame of an old car or truck on the trail. Additional steep climbing ensued for about 10-15 minutes until there is a clearing with a view of the fire tower. Shortly after, we arrived to the White trail. Before we reached the White Trail, we did notice an unmarked trail leading up the hill toward the fire tower but thanks to research we did not take that path. About 15 minutes later, we found ourselves making our way up the fire tower. This fire tower is pretty high. I was actually getting a bit nervous going up. By this time, the sky opened up completely and the views were an unbelievable 360 view. From the top, you will see Beacon Reservoir and Catskills to your northwest, the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge and Shawangunk Ridge to the west, and, to the south, the southern Hudson Highlands. Even as far down as NYC. And, probably more stuff I don’t even know! My girlfriend had to pry me off the tower. It was super windy but I just kept saying, “This is awesome”. Very fortunate to be able to have access to great hikes like this in the Hudson Valley. Oh, and there’s a donut shop 5 minutes away that is amazing for post hike donuts (Glazed Over Donuts blog post). I cannot recommend this hike enough!
More pics of the hike:
HIKING FOR DONUTS
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every change I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search City or State here.
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Walkway over the Hudson
Walkway Over the Hudson. What an amazing view! This isa bridge for walkers and runners and bikers only in the Hudson Valley in NY. A beautiful view of the Hudson River.
Trail Description: The Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park is the world’s longest elevated pedestrian walkway.
Trail Info:
Where: Walkway over the Hudson, Poughkeepsie, NY Distance: ~2.5m (1.5-2 hours) Difficulty: Easy Trail Type: Out and Back Features: Bridge, Hudson River, Views, Beach
How to get there: This is the address I used for the West entrance on the Highland side. Once you approach the area, you will see the parking.
87 Haviland Road
Highland, NY 12528
If you would like to park at the East entrance in Poughkeepsie, this is the address to enter:
61 Parker Ave
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
This link is helpful also, https://walkway.org/visit/frequently-asked-questions/.
Hiking Tips:
The Highland side has more parking.
Can be very crowded. Plan accordingly.
The Hike:
You know what they say, your girlfriend is always right. I can’t argue with that. While in upstate NY recently, Nichole suggested we would visit the Walkway Over the Hudson over a local hike. A simple walk over a bridge I say. Come on, I need stouter material for the blog. Some knowledge I was not aware of, the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park is the world’s longest elevated pedestrian walkway. You read that right, in the whole entire world! The walkway extends 1.28 miles and hovers 212 feet over the Hudson River connecting Ulster and Dutchess counties in Poughkeepsie, NY. On this walkway you will see great views of Poughkeepsie, Mid-Hudson Bridge and Hudson Highlands. This has been open to the public only since 2009. I was skeptical but once I got there I was enthusiastic. I said to her, “Why haven’t we done this already?!? This is awesome!”
We decided to park on the Highland side as this tends to be easier to park with less of a crowd and ample parking. As I say about most outdoors activities in the Hudson Valley, prepare for a crowd. We went later in the day on a Sunday, so it wasn’t too bad. The NYC visitors probably needed to jump on a train to head back to the city.
As we made our way through the parking lot, we crossed train tracks and strolled through an open area where restrooms are located, multiple food trucks, and other vendors. A very cool spot to hang out before or after your walk.
Soon after we stepped on the bridge, I immediately saw the amazing views of why so many people visit this walkway. I saw the Mid-Hudson Bridge to my right and an open view of the Hudson to my left. The entire walk consisted of wonderful views. My head was on a swivel. For those curious about being on a bridge so high up, it feels very secure. The concrete makes this feel like just another sidewalk. Aside from the amazing landscapes views, this is definitely some great people watching material. You will see people walking dogs, baby strollers, running, power walking, bike riding, roller blading, you name it. And, lots of selfies. Beneath the bridge, you may see barges, boats, or some annoying person on a loud jet ski perusing the Hudson.
The walk can be as far as you like. You can stop anytime bridge and turn around to head back. We walked to the end of the bridge and back. If you live nearby, this is a great way to get exercise and enjoy the outdoors without too much demanding activity. Also, this is ADA compliant. There is an area to take an elevator up (closes certain times of the year). I would be a regular for sure. There are great pictures to be had here. Another successful exploration in the books and more lessons learned. Always listen to your girlfriend.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Storm King Mountain, New York
If you are looking for a great hike with awesome views in the Hudson Valley, Storm King Mountain is one of the best hikes in the area. Located in upstate New York, the trail will get your heart pumping but you will be amazed at the summit view from the top.
Trail Description: Storm King Mountain offers one of best views in the Hudson Valley. The hike includes an initial steep hike to the top of Butter Hill, but the gratifying views at the top are worth the effort.
Trail Info:
Where: Storm King Mountain, Cornwall, NY Distance: 2.7 miles (2.5-3 hours) Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult Trail Type: Loop Features: Ruins, Mountains, Views, River, Views, Bridge
How to get there:
Heading south on Rt 9W from Newburgh, cross under the overpass for Angola Road. You will begin climbing a hill (in your car!) and on your left you will the parking lot for the Storm King Mountain. However, you can’t make a left here because it is an illegal turn. Continue driving a few miles until reaching the exit at Rt 218/Rt 293. Get back on Rt 9W and circle back to the parking lot. If you type in this address: 1750 US Rte 9W, Cornwall=on-Hudson, NY 12518, this should sufficient enough for the GPS.
Hiking Tips
Get there early for a less crowded trail.
Start on the orange trail in the beginning (not the white trail).
Pay close attention to when markers change colors
Bring hiking poles
THE HIKE
During the summer, I made a list of hikes I wanted to accomplish by the end of the year. Somehow, some way I was going to make them happen. I wanted to end the year hiking awesome and challenging trails. Storm King Mountain was high on my list. I came across this hike first on Instagram, of course. The pictures looked stunning. Since I do frequently travel to the Hudson Valley area, all I had to do was make the time. The hike does look intimidating but it wasn’t that bad. I would have liked better weather on this day, as it was a tad cloudy with overcast. But, the hike was really fun and awesome views nonetheless.
View from the parking lot.
This hike is really popular. Get there earlier or try a weekday if you can. There were already a lot of cars and a shuttle bus of tourists by 930am. After we got our gear ready, the trailhead was to our left facing the woods. We saw the white trail on our right. I read hopping on the orange trail was the way to go. And, that was 100% accurate. It is more difficult in the beginning but I rather have fresher legs climbing up. The orange trail starts off steep right away. I found this part super fun. It was strictly a steep incline climbing up. The rocky path was taking us up to Butter Hill. Looking back, we witnessed some cool views of the highway as it started to disappear.
First of many views on the hike.
Model climber.
Once all the climbing was done, we reached some small ruins. Keeping the orange markers in our sights, we continued up toward Butter Hill. A little more views started to appear. There is an important decision to be made on the trail. The Orange Trail abruptly ends as the blue Yellow Trail markings appear (you will see blue marking first) . Turning right at this junction, lead us on the correct path. I have read this is a point in the hike where people take a left and get lost. One more time, turn RIGHT when the Orange Trails ends or your day hiking will be regretful.
Ruins.
highway overlook.
We reached Butter Hill in about a half an hour from the start of the hike. This is the highest point of the hike at 1,375 feet. Continuing forward there still was some uphill stretches as the blue/yellow trail moseys across the mountain. There are intersections where the blue/red marked trail is on your left. However, you want to turn right on the blue/yellow trail you will see a small cairn. It is easy to get off track with all the intersecting trails. You will see a blue-blazed, don’t fall for it. Just stick to blue/yellow trails at this point.
Continuing around the mountain….
turn right toward the yellow blue trail.
From here, the hike took us to the northern end of Storm King Mountain. Not quite the money shot view. Just a little tease of what it is next .
almost there.
A little bit past this spot, we reached a rocky field in the open and BOOM. Stunning landscape. There are wide views of Newburgh Bay, Bannerman’s Castle, and the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. On a clear day, the Catskills are visible. We could see some sail boats in the Hudson River as well. A very cool summit view.
newburgh bay.
this is why you hike this trail.
After taking an excessive amount of pictures, we hopped back on the blue/yellow trail. Going down, we noticed some more cool overlooks on our left looking at the town of Cold Spring and getting a smaller glimpse of the summit view. I recommend taking a look. Shortly after the awesome view, the White Trail markers will appear. Taking a sharp left around the mountain with a U-turn, we started on the White Trail. And soon after, the trail will be blazed with blue and white markers. BUT, then the blue markers will fade and this goes back to only white markers. And now, the white markers will take you back to the parking lot. There is one last steep uphill climb before the parking lot to give you a nice good-bye and keep your heart pumping.
Views of cold spring as you hike down.
That's what I call a bang for your buck hike. The hike was very challenging, the hike wasn't too long, and there a multiple magnificent views for photo opportunities. And, I had a blast hiking it. The trail route we took was about 2.7 miles and took us under 3 hrs, including probably 30 mins of me taking pics. There are some very steep inclines but nothing your average hiker can't overcome. As long as you start the hard way first, the hike ain't so bad. This is one of the best hikes in the Hudson Valley hands down. I am happy to check this off the list, but now I want to go back!
Amazing.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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Minnewaska State Park Reserve
Minnewaska State Park Reserve is located in Kerhonkson, NY on the Shawangunk Ridge. The park is full of numerous awesome hiking trails to spend hours exploring. This post will cover Awosting Falls, Lake Minnewaska, and Kempton Ledge. Great picturesque views through out the hiking trails. A great visit visit to Minnewaska State Park reserve. Hiking for Donuts approved.
Trail Description: Minnewaska State Park Preserve is situated on the Shawangunk Mountain ridge. This park offers a variety of intersecting hiking trails that offer magnificent views. A great day hike consists of capturing Awosting Falls to cliff views off Kempton Ledge and back around Lake Minnewaska. This will offer best landscapes of the park.
Trail Info:
Where: Minnewaska State Park Reserve, Kerhonkson, NY Distance: 5.5 miles (4 hours) Difficulty: Moderate Trail Type: Loop Features: Views, Waterfall, Mountains, Lake, Cliffs, Views
How to get there:
The park is easy to find and it’s a cool drive. The address for the GPS is:
5281 Route 44-55, Kerhonkson, NY 12446
Once entering the park, you will pay the $10 parking fee at the guard shack. For this hike, pull straight ahead into the Awosting Falls parking lot.
Hiking Tips:
Get there early for a less crowded trail. It can be chaos.
There are no signs for the Kempton Ledge but there will be a big opening off the cliff ledge with a big open view. If you keep your eyes out, you won’t pass it.
The trails are well marked but there are areas that are not as obvious. Having a map will be handy.
The Hike
Finally getting around to some hikes I did in the summer! I have seen amazing pictures online of Lake Minnewaska. My girlfriend has told me memories of her hiking in this park and how much there is to offer. On this past Memorial Day Weekend, we decided to head to Minnewaska State Park Reserve in Kerhonkson, NY located on the Shawangunk Ridge. The park is full of many trails and provides some spectacular views of Lake Minnewaska and overlooks the Catskill Mountains. You can spend hours exploring or just come for a quick hike. The one downfall I was warned about it how unbelievably crowded this park can be. And, that was definitely the case. There are many parking lots in walking distance to pretty nice views and picnic table areas hence there will be lots of families. And, the trails are not that difficult. They are mostly carriage roads and can be flat. As one blog I read on this hike stated, you will find more peace and quiet at Walmart. However, the exploring of this park is completely worth it and there are many trails that are less trafficked.
Given the knowledge of the potential crowds, we started our drive toward Minnewaska early and got there as the park opened at 9am. Note, parking will cost $10 inside the park. Not bad in my opinion. Once you enter the park, you will pay at the guard shack. There are many lots to park. Since there weren’t many people there yet, we pulled straight ahead into the Awosting Falls parking lot. The busier it gets, the further you will have to park from the guard shack. Our agenda for this day was to check out Awosting Falls, Kempton Ledge, and finish with trail around Lake Minnewaska. Once parked, we followed the signs to the Awosting Falls Trail.
About a half mile from the parking lot, we found ourselves descending 60 feet into a wide open view of the falls. This is actually a decent size waterfall and there are multiple different viewpoints. You can climb the rocks up on the side of it and get close like I did. Meanwhile, Nichole got stuck videoing an engagement proposal. She was like did you see that? Not a chance, there was a waterfall in front of me!
At this time, there was no one really at the falls so I took advantage of it. After taking a half hour of pics, Nichole was ready to get this hike moving along. We headed back the same way we came. We found the orange blazed Sunset Carriageway on our left as we approached the road. We started taking the trail up the switchbacks. As we got closer to Lake Minnewaska, we noticed the parking lot to our left. This is where you would park if you didn’t want to hike the fun way. We kept on the trail and started following the red blazed trail labeled “Minnewaska Lake Loop.” There is a pretty awesome lookout right away of the lake and the cliffs.
Continuing on the red trail, we passed the swimming beach that gave another gorgeous view of the lake. After that, we came up to the bathroom facility. Then we noticed the sign for the blue blazed Castle Point Carriageway on our right. That is what we needed to get to Kempton Ledge. After about 30 minutes, you will arrive at Kempton Ledge. There is no sign for it but once you see the ledge, you will know. There is an amazing view.
We headed back the way we came and took the first right you can to the Hamilton Carriage Road (will see sign). We kept going straight ignoring the merging trails. Eventually, this road led us back onto the red blazed Lake Minnewaska Loop and right down to the edge of the water. Here you will get great views across the lake. This is where you find all those who parked at the top. This can be a crowded section on a busy day.
The red trail continues and becomes a little steeper. We noticed a viewpoint to our right that will display the Skytop Tower at Mohonk Mountain House. The skies weren’t as clear as we hoped this day but still a great view. After this, we kept climbing at the fork toward the white cliffs.
There was a wide open picnic area as we approached the top. We walked across the grass toward the cliffs and views of the lake. We decided to take a quick lunch as the views were beautiful. And, there was some solitude at this particular time.
After absorbing the views, we headed back around the lake staying as close to the lake as we could. The trails become less marked around this area. Looking for more red markings, we passed some private property and porto-potties. Taking the middle road to the left of the porto-potties, we walked by an open field of many picnic tables and families. This path gave us one last look of Lake Minnewaska before we reached the parking lot again. The orange trial (Sunset Carriageway) was on our right and we took that the same way we came up down the hill back out to the road. Following the signs to Awosting Falls parking lot, we made our way back to the car.
I had a blast on this hike. Minnewaska State Park Reserve has so much to offer. You can choose your trail and go as far as you like. There are so many awesome views to see. Yes, it can be crowded but I would just plan accordingly. I suggest going early because we didn’t hit the crowds much. And, you will know which trails will have more traffic, closer to the lake and the waterfall. The hiking paths are really wide and flat. Our hike on this day was just around 5.5 miles. This took us about 4 hours but I also was a photo whore so you can knock off 30-45 min from that. I would say it was easy to moderate only because of the mileage. I look forward to coming back to this park. Afterwards, we drove into the downtown area of New Paltz, NY that was about 10 minutes away from the park. And there were cool shops, restaurants, donuts, and a brewery. That is what I’m talking about! Hopefully I will be exploring more of what the Hudson Valley has to offer.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
EXPLORE OTHER POSTS IN THE ARCHIVE
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See where I have been recently on Instagram. Follow @HIKINGFORDONUTS
Ninham Mountain Fire Tower Hike
Hiking Ninham Mountain Fire Tower in NY. Another great Hudson Valley, NY hike. Easy hike, beautiful views.
Trail Description: Ninham Mountain Fire Tower is a short hike that provides an amazing 360 view of rolling hills, lakes, and reservoirs from the top. A glimpse of the Catskills can be visible with clear skies.
Trail Info:
Where: Ninham Mountain Fire Tower, Kent, NY Distance: 1.3 miles (1 hour) Difficulty: Easy Trail Type: Out and Back Features: Fire Tower, Lake, Views, Rolling Hills, Reservoir
How to get there:
As always, do your research on hikes. I read that finding the trail parking was an issue for some hikers. Luckily, I saw that and made sure we had the right directions. We found it pretty easy. It is in the middle of nowhere. The GPS I would enter is Mount Nimham Ct, Carmel Hamlet, NY 10512. This took us on the Taconic State Parkway. Once we were on Gypsy Trail Road, we made another right onto Mt. Nimham Ct. You will see a sign for Ninham Mountain Multiple Use Area. Follow this all the way down until you see the parking lot.
Hiking Tips
Finding the parking lot can be tricky.
The old stone chambers are directly across the parking area. This may be covered by bushes.
The Hike
Traveling through the Hudson Valley area once again, I was in search of a shorter hike. Always need to walk off the beer and donuts from weekend activities. I have a huge list of hikes to do in the area, but my girlfriend and I had some time constraints driving back to CT. Thankful for other hiking bloggers, I came across Ninham Mountain Fire Tower in Kent, NY. The hike was more of a walk with an incline, but the views were fantastic from the fire tower.
Wonder Lake.
Look for these signs at the entrance.
Where the Trail head starts. Parking area is to your left.
The trail head will start behind the gate. Before you even start, don’t miss the old stone chambers directly across the parking lot behind you like we did. We didn’t notice until we were ready to leave. The only reason we had these on our mind was that we read this area was full of paranormal activity. I took my pictures and walked away. I’m no ghost hunter.
Old stone chamber.
Now, onto the hike. Just continue up the gravel road. The trail is uphill but it’s not bad at all. Nothing too difficult but still a good workout. This seemed to be a popular trail for mountain bikers as well. It took us about 15-20 minutes to reach the fire tower.
pretty easy gravel road.
all the way up.
Ninham Mountain FIre Tower
The 360-degree view at the top of the tower was amazing. It was beautiful weather and a clearly visible day. You will see rolling hills, lakes, and reservoirs. The Catskills are also visible in the distance. After you have soaked it all in, you will come back down and walk the same path to your car. Pretty quick and easy. There are some trails you will see off the path but I can’t speak to those.
clear skies and rolling hills.
the money view.
Rolling hills a little closer.
Little overcast on this side of the tower.
Round trip and going up & down the fire tower, this is a total of 1.3 miles. This took us less than a hour. I am glad I came across this spot in my research. If you want the most bang for your buck, this jaunt checks all the boxes including a spectacular view.
HIking for donuts models.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
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See where I have been recently on Instagram. Follow @HIKINGFORDONUTS
Dennings Point, Long Dock Park, Beacon, NY
Lock Dock Park Beacon, New York: Klara Sauer Trail to Dennings Point Trail
Trail Description: The Klara Sauer Trail is a flat walk until you meet up with the Dennings Point Trail along the shoreline. There are short access trails for views of the Hudson River and a beach with mountainous lookouts, where kayakers will often stop by onshore.
Trail Info:
Where: Long Dock Park, Beacon, NY Distance: 2.8 miles (1.5-2 hrs) Difficulty: Easy Trail Type: Out and Back Features: Bridge, Water, Mountains, Beach, River
How to get there:
GPS this address below. Easy to find.
23 Long Dock Rd Beacon, NY 12508
Hiking Tips:
At the time of my hike, storm damage caused trees to block the trail paths. If this is the case, turn around and go back the same way.
Make sure to stop at all access trails for additional views. Including the beach!
Denning’s Point Trail is closed December 15th to March 18th.
The Hike
Sometimes it is good to go for a nice leisurely walk, with an awesome view. The Hudson Valley is full of satisfying and challenging hiking trails with beautiful views. I am learning more and more about the area. There is a lot to offer if you are looking for outdoor activities. Short on time and looking for something easy, my girlfriend introduced me to a very cool spot located in Beacon, NY, called Long Dock Park.
path from the parking lot to the pier.
Upon arriving, I could see the fantastic view of the Hudson River as we parked. There is a good amount of parking but I can see this area being very busy. As we walked toward the pier, you will see trail maps within the park. Many people we saw were jogging, bike riding, and walking their dogs on the trails. You can also rent a kayak or paddleboard for the day. We walked out to the dock which is to the right of the parking lot. There are stools and fishing rod holders. A few fishermen were out bright and early on this day. From the dock, you get a fantastic view of the town across the river, including the bridge Beacon to Newburgh. This would be a good location to see the sunrise or sunset. The park has a very relaxing atmosphere.
Newburgh bridge from beacon.
View from the pier across the river.
Long Dock Park is connected to the Hudson Highlands State Park by a train track turned trail. Dennings Point is the northernmost area of the Hudson Highlands State Park, and is a peninsula that extends out in the Hudson River. That was our goal destination of the day. After checking out the views from the dock, we started our walk on the Klara Sauer Trail. This flat and easy trail will lead along the shoreline of Dennings Point. There are access trails to venture and see better views of the river along the way. Some lookouts were muddy so I am glad I had my hiking boots on.
Views from some of the access point along the klara sauer trail.
Ducklings going for a swim.
Hudson river view with some mountains.
Unexpectedly, we did see more wildlife than anticipated. Peter Rabbit and Bambi made appearances.
At the end of the Klara Sauer trail, we saw signs for the Dennings Point trail at the T intersection. Dennings Point trail was to our right. We did take a detour to our left on the Fjord trail to see the railroads tracks and caught a train going by under the bridge.
Railroads track if you veer on the trail to look for a train passing.
We circled back to follow the Dennings Point trail into the woods. We passed an abandoned building covered in tree branches where there was a brick factory many years ago. There will be a beach area path, where kayakers will stop for breaks, on your right. The beach front offered some impressive mountain views. Note, this trail is typically a loop but we reached an area that says to turn around due to the recent storm damage. We just turned around went back the same way.
when you run into this turn around the way you came!
views of kayakers and mOuntains.
views from the beach area of dennings point.
Great views.
This was a nice break from intense hiking. This was still great exercise. I would definitely come back. We walked about 2.8 miles and took us under 90 minutes. We got to see some great views. Long Dock Park is a great spot to kayak the Hudson River, do some fishing (may need a license), or just picnic with the friends and family.
love the views of the woods. trees down from storms on Dennings Point trail.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
If you are looking for posts in a particular place, search by city or state here.
EXPLORE OTHER POSTS IN THE ARCHIVE
RECOMMENDED POSTS
MOST RECENT POSTS
See where I have been recently on Instagram. Follow @HIKINGFORDONUTS