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This is the Hike of the Week from
3/14/2008 as described on the NY-NJ Trail Conference website.
Rockwood Hall is a western extension of the much more elaborate Rockefeller State Park Preserve, a large park east of Route 9 and further from the Hudson River. The Rockwood Hall parcel of land is on the Hudson, separated from the river by only a Metro North railroad track. We planned on hiking in the larger park today, but when we got to the park entrance on Route 117, it was closed off. Laura got on the phone and called the park service to learn that it was too dangerous to hike due to many fallen trees and branches from last week's blizzard. I often have a Plan B, and today I did. So we got back on Route 117 and headed west a mile or so to the extension, which was open. And it was a delight! We hiked just about every trail in the park, and they were all packed by snowshoes and cross-country skis from the previous days. Temperatures were in the 40s, so it was a perfect, warm, sunny day to be out there. Total distance hiked today was 2.9 miles in approximately 2 hours. (Click on the thumbnail to bring up a bigger image in a pop-up window)
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 Mansion near Kendal on Hudson |
 Horse get priority |
 At the kiosk [photo by Laura] |
 On Foundation Loop |
 First view of Hudson |
 Sledding Hill |
 Laura thought about it ... |
 ... but decided against it |
 Upper Nyack across the river |
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 Gorgeous willow tree |
 On the Foundation Loop |
 Old fire hydrant on the grounds |
 Remaining fundation |
 Kendal on Hudson and Tappan Zee bridge |
 Snow fort |
 Tappan Zee bridge and lighthouse |
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 Foundations on river side |
 Laura at top of stairway |
 Gloves left behind |
 View of Upper Nyack |
 Graffiti notice |
 Gorgeous London Plane tree |
 Beautiful trunk |
 View south |
 Heading north |
 The foundation winds |
 View north of foundation |
 Downy woodpecker |
 Heading north on Upper trail |
 View south of Upper trail |
 Fallen tree |
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 View north to Hook Mountain |
 Great view [photo by Laura] |
 Descending to Lower trail |
 Railroad from Lower trail |
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 At the NW tip of park |
 Great place for a rest |
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 On Rockwood Hall Brook trail |
 Fallen trees were in abundance |
 The brook |
 Foundation of something |
 Rhodendrum thicket |
 Another foundation in the brook |
 Lots of green! |
 Concrete opening |
 Heading east to first bridge |
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 Five bridges cross the brook here |
 Rockwood Road bridge |
 Lake near NY Life |
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 Cliffs of Hook Mountain |
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 Heading to Lower trail again |
 Waves breaking on shore below |
 Dwarfed by old growth |
 Coast Guard boat in Hudson |
 Heading north on Lower trail |
 Tugboat and barge in Hudson |
 Trains and boats |
 Close-up of tug |
 On Lower trail |
 More tree damage from storm |
 Huge fallen tree |
 Pine cones and estate foundation |
 Very old growth |
 Old wall on Lower trail |
 Bridge and railroad |
 Bridge and train |
 Tappan Zee bridge and lighthouse |
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 Climbing back up |
 Kendal on Hudson |
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Photographs and content copyright © Dan Balogh Web design by Dan Balogh |