Hikes: New York

Hike Name Great Swamp and Corbin Hill*
Closest Town Pawling, NY
Difficulty Level** Easy to moderate
Elevation Gain  
Distance 2.8 miles round trip
Features Second largest wetland in NY, views
Description Walk southward on New York 22 from the parking area, turn right onto a dirt road at 0.1 mile, and cross the railroad tracks at the Appalachian Trail Station.  Soon follow puncheon across the wet areas of Great Swamp, crossing Swamp River on a footbridge at 0.4 mile.  Cattails grow in great numbers beside the trail.  Begin the steady, but gradual climb along the side of Corbin Hill.  Open meadows . . . provide the views.  It is time to turn around when the trail enters the woods near the top of the rise.  Retrace your steps to the parking area.
Directions The parking area is about 2 miles north of Pawling, NY on New York 22, just a few feet north of the trail crossing.

 

Hike Name West Mountain*
Closest Town Pawling, NY
Difficulty Level** Moderate to Strenuous
Elevation Gain  
Distance 2 miles round trip
Features Views, 'Dover Oak' thought to be the largest white oak on the A.T.
Description From County Road 20, follow the A.T. south.  In 0.25 mile, pass through a gap in an old rock wall and begin climbing the eastern slope of West Mountain.  At mile 0.7, pass the 0.1 mile side trail to the Telephone Pioneers Shelter.  Continue on the A.T. for 0.2 mile to a short side trail to a nice view from a rock ledge. Hike another 0.1 mile south on the A.T. and reach the summit of West Mountain (where you'll be rewarded with a fine view to the north of rural New York. The return hike is north on the A.T. back down to the trailhead on County Road 20.
Directions From Pawling (at New York 22), travel 2.4 miles north on County Road 20 to the trail crossing.  CR 20 is known as Charles Colman Boulevard in Pawling, but after 0.25 mile its name changes to West Dover Road.  Limited parking is available along the road at the trailhead.

 

Hike Name West Slope of Hosner Mountain*
Closest Town East Fishkill/Shenandoah, NY
Difficulty Level** Easy
Distance 3.8 miles round trip
Features Views of the Hudson River Valley
Description From Hosner Mountain Road, hike south on the A.T. and begin climbing Hosner Mountain, passing through a hemlock grove on your way up the ridge.  There is a fine view of the Hudson River Valley to the north and west. At mile 1.3, reach a blue-blazed trail (the old A.T. that you will return on later) and continue following the white-blazed A.T. for another 0.6 mile to reach the southern end of the blue-blazed trail.  Following the blue-blazed trail - which takes a lower route across the ridge -hike back to the A.T. and return to the trailhead on Hosner Mountain Road.
Directions Hosner Mountain Road is the first intersection on the Taconic State Parkway as you head north past Interstate - 84. Turn right off the Parkway and travel about 0.5 mile to a fork. Turn right, cross under I-84, and drive 0.25 mile to the trail crossing. There is limited parking available along the road.

 

Hike Name Denning Hill*
Closest Town Peekskill, NY
Difficulty Level** Moderate to Strenuous
Distance 5.2 miles round trip
Features Great views - NYC may be visible on clear days, bog bridges.
Description Walk the road back to where the A.T. crosses the intersection of US 9 and New York 403 and heads north into the woods.  At 0.3 mile, you will cross a swampy area on bog bridges and then the Old Highland Turnpike, a dirt road.  The A.T. continues through the woods, turning left and following a cleared strip of land in another 0.25 mile. At mile 0.6, following a brief but steep climb, you will pass through a grass y area and turn left onto a paved road.  After crossing the paved Old West Point Road (the pavement ends here), you will continue downhill on a private gravel road, turning left off that road in 0.1 mile. The trail enters the woods, passes through an overgrown field, and begins to climb Little Fort Hill.  At mile 1.4, you will come to the junction with a side trail that heads right to Graymoor Monastery. At mile 2.1, another side trail at the top of a rocky ascent leads to a viewpoint.  After 0.1 mile, you will turn right onto a woods road, and after another 0.1 mile, you will turn right again, leaving the woods road.  (The woods road continues left a short distance to a good view of the Hudson River.)  At mile 2.6. after a short but steep climb, you will reach the ridge of Denning Hill. After turning right, you will follow the ridge a short distance to a viewpoint in a clearing.  Retrace your steps to complete the hike.
Directions The trail crossing at the junction of US 9 and New York 403 is 4 miles north of the US 9 - US 6/202 intersection, which is just north of Peekskill.  Parking is available on a short road between US 9 and NY 403, about 0.1 mile from the trail crossing.

 

Hike Name Buchanan Mountain*
Closest Town Southfields, Arden NY
Difficulty Level** Moderate
Distance 1.6 miles round trip
Features Views
Description From the A.T. crossing at East Mombasha Road, enter the woods heading south and climb steadily.  In 0.25 mile, you will reach the first viewpoint on the secondary summit of Buchanan Mountain. Enjoy views to the east over Little Dam Lake. Descend steeply to a rocky, hemlock covered slope and continue along the footpath.  In 0.1 mile, cross a stream, and in another 0.1 mile, cross a second stream.  At mile 0.5, you will cross the third stream in your descent befor climbing the final 0.25 mile to the primary summit of Buchanan Mountain.  After enjoying the review, retrace your steps to complete the hike.
Directions The trail crossing at East Mombasha Road can be reached by taking the Orange Turnpike off New York 17 in Southfields, and bearing left on West Mombasha Road at the fork. Shortly thereafter, turn right onto East Mombasha Road and follow it less than 0.5 mile to the trail crossing. Only day parking is permitted at the trail crossing.

 

Hike Name Fitzgerald Falls and Mombasha High Point*
Closest Town Greenwood Lake, NY
Difficulty Level** Moderate
Distance 4.6 miles round trip
Features Views (NYC visible on clear days), waterfall,
Description From the A.T. crossing at Lakes Road (Monroe Road), the footpath descends and crosses a wood truss bridge over Trout Brook.  In 0.25 mile, you will cross another brook, turn left and follow the brook through a hemlock grove. Because this area is frequently flooded, there is a blue-blazed bypass trail to avoid the crossing of two more brooks in wet weather.  The side trail ascends to the right through hemlocks and rejoins the A.T. after 0.1 mile (at Fitzgerald Falls). Fitzgerald Falls flows 25 feet through a rocky cleft.  Crossing the stream just below the falls, you will climb steeply up rock steps alongside the falls. After 0.1 mile, you will cross a stream and a tributary before passing through a hemlock grove, and in another 0.1 mile, you will cross another tributary stream and a dirt road as you continue to ascend.  At mile 0.75, pass some stone walls to the left.  These are the remains of an abandoned settlement. Slightly more than 0.5 mile later, make a left turn before climbing steadily 0.1 mile later.  At mile 1.5, at the top of a rise, the blue-blazed Allis Trail heads off to the right.  A viewpoint is located a short distance north on the Allis Trail, which was named for an early treasurer of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. From the viewpoint, High Point Monument in New Jersey and Mount Tammany at the Pennsylvania- New Jersey border are visible to the west.  The trail levels off here and reaches Mombasha High Point in another 0.75 mile.  The view to the left of Mombasha Lake with Shunemunk Mountain behind it to the northeast. Kloiber's Pond is straight ahead along West Mombasha Road, Harriman State Park is to the east. New York City can be seen on the southern Horizon on clear days, and Bellvale Mountain is to the west. Retrace your steps to complete the hike.
Directions To reach the trail crossing, take Lakes (Monroe) Road out of Greenwood Lake and travel about 4 miles.

 

Hike Name Prospect Rock*
Closest Town Greenwood Lake, NY
Difficulty Level** Moderate
Distance 3.4 miles round trip
Features Views
Description Begin hiking on the State Line Trail and ascend for 0.25 mile before turning right (houses are still in view here).  For the next 0.25 mile, the trail uses log steps to prevent erosion.  At mile 0.75, the Ernest Walter Trail (yellow blazes) heads off to the left.  This trail makes a loop around Surprise Lake and West Pond.  After 0.1 mile, the State Line Trail turns sharply to the left and then to the right. For the next 0.4 mile, the trail heads west, crossing over the ridge of Bellvale Mountain with several short ascents and descents. At mile 1.2, the State Line Trail joins the A.T. at the New York - New Jersey border, heading north on the A.T.for 0.1 mile to good western views from open rocks. After 0.25 mile, there is a trail register on a pine tre to the right of the trail, and 0.5 mile after joining the A.T. (following a short climb), you will reach Prospect Rock.  Retrace your steps to complete the hike.
Directions The State Line Trail begins opposite the Greenwood Lake Marina, off New York 210 in Greenwood Lake.