hiking

Spring Hiking At Easy to Reach and Popular Westchester County Park Locales

April 8, 2022 by Nolan Thornton

Photo by Elena Wolfe for Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture

Looking for a fun new hike for this Spring? Look no further. We put together a short list of diverse trails to blaze as the weather turns warmer. After all, Spring in New York is that perfect sweet spot when it’s not too cold and not too hot. In other words, it’s the perfect time of year to put down those phones and go to the park!

WARD POUND RIDGE RESERVATION

This stunning park clocks in at over 4,300 total acres, and is located in Pound Ridge, NY. According to a spokesman for Westchester County Parks, Linda Lovallo, “The Reservation is a mecca for hikers from nearby, as well as communities throughout Westchester, as well as Connecticut, New York City and even Long Island.” Because of the sheer size of the park, hikers have many choices for planning their routes. There are more moderate routes like the Pound Ridge Marsh Loop, a 2.6 mile loop, and there are far more challenging paths more experienced hikers can traverse on their own. Camping is offered at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation as well.

For programming, the reservation has much to offer. A particularly interesting program is called, “Gallery In the Park,” where artists exhibit their work in the beautiful surroundings of the reservation. There are two shows scheduled this spring. The first is, “For Mother Nature,” a multi-artist mixed-medium show that will celebrate Mother Nature, and will coincide with the weekend after Earth Day. There will be an opening reception scheduled for Saturday, April 23, from 1 to 4 p.m. There will be refreshments and live acoustic music. “For Mother Nature” will run through Sunday, June 5. The second show is by renowned wildlife photographer, Dona Tracy. The show will open Saturday and Sunday, June 11 and 12, from 1 to 4 p.m., and will feature live music on Saturday and a live Birds of Prey demonstration on Sunday. The show will run through August 14.

STONE BARNS

While perhaps a bit of an unconventional choice for a hike, unconventional isn’t necessarily a bad thing. While many trails are flooded with hikers when the nicer weather comes around, the 80-acres Stone Barns (located in Pocantico Hills) has to offer will be all yours (and getting up close to the animals who live there is just a bonus).

Blue Hill is the famous restaurant that Stone Barns serves, but the grounds aren’t just limited to their customers. A parking pass is available for $10 on the weekends (parking is free on weekdays) so that everyone can enjoy its beauty. “In the Stone Barns Center fields, you will see our hard-working teams making the transition from winter cover to spring abundance. The fields are coming alive with new growth of diversified vegetables, grains, herbs and flowers,” said Stone Barns crop director Jason Grauer.

You don’t have to just stay with the fields, either. Stone Barns offers guided tours of their facilities for $25 an adult, and $10 a kid over 5. “When visiting the Stone Barns Center Greenhouse this spring, one can see the propagation space, a warm nursery environment with tens of thousands of plants started from seed and plant tissue culture,” said Grauer. With Stone Barns, it’s not just a hike, it’s an entire agricultural experience.

The programs can get a little bit pricey, but they are top notch. They range from the relatively modest and children-friendly tour mentioned above, to a $75 tour led by a Stone Barns farmer and a Blue Hill chef, to a $95 sheep shearing demonstration. Stone Barns also features an upscale cafeteria that is open from Thursday to Sunday, starting at 10 a.m. The perfect place to end a hike!

CROTON POINT PARK

At 508 acres, it’s right in the middle of Pound Ridge and Stone Barns. Like Pound Ridge, Croton Point has many exciting amenities when you plan your visit. “This park offers year-round events and activities and has facilities for camping, hiking and swimming. Patrons come from Connecticut, all five boroughs of New York City, upstate New York, all parts of Westchester County, and from as far as Alaska and The Netherlands,” said Lovallo. You can go for a serious camping trip, or you can go for a quick three-minute walk or run.

During the summer months, the park is an attraction for swimmers. In the spring, the beautiful river-side park may just be the perfect place for hikes and visits of all types. In addition to camping and swimming, Croton Point Park offers other compelling programming as well. “The Croton Point Nature Center houses exhibits on local flora and fauna including Hudson River specimens, local and Native American history and hands-on activities,” said Lovallo. The park is on land that belonged to Native Americans, and the director of the center tries to reflect that.

Another fun feature of Croton Point Park is the miniature air field that Croton Point Field becomes when members of the Miniature Aircraft Association of Westchester gather. You won’t notice them on your hike, but you’ll pass right by them when on your way to park.

The 3.7 mile Croton Point Park trail is perfect for hikers of every skill level. It features a river view and, like all entries on this list, exemplifies the lush, beautiful greenery that the Hudson Valley is known for. At the end of the trail, you can even walk right up to the cliff overlooking the water (that is very safely protected with barricades). This trail is not to be missed in the spring. Bring the kids, bring the dog, bring the whole family!

The Devil in a Day

May 31, 2019 by Sabra Staudenmaier

(L-R): Matt Chmielecki and Walter Staudenmaier

The Devil’s Path is considered one of the most difficult hikes in the country. Located in the Catskill Mountains about a two-hour drive north of Chappaqua; the trail is approximately 25 miles long with six peaks and 16,000 feet of elevation. For most brave adventurers who take on this challenge, it is tackled over the course of two to three days; but for the past four years an ambitious group of Dads from Chappaqua have partaken in what has become an annual tradition of completing the hike in one grueling 14-hour stretch.

When the weather starts to get warm, but before summer’s heat sets in, the men call in a personal day at work and forgo their usual train commute into the City. They pack their cars with supplies and convoy north to the Catskills.

Practice hikes take place in advance. Brian Cook takes his training very seriously. To prepare for his inaugural hike he was often seen walking around town with a weighted backpack to simulate the supplies he would be carrying. Andy Shaiken, who has also completed the New York City marathon, considers the hike to be “more difficult and more rewarding” in comparison.

The men depart on a Thursday night. They leave one car full of supplies at the halfway point and another at the end. It is not an out and back trail, so they finish at a different point from where they start. They then check into the Kaatskill Mountain Club Hotel and attempt to go to bed early; but nerves prevent much sleep. At 4 a.m. they wake up and the long day begins.

Walter Staudenmaier, who will be hiking the Devil’s Path for the fourth year this Spring, packs seven bacon and banana sandwiches, fourteen GU energy gels and twelve liters of a 50/50 water and Gatorade mix as his personal fuel of choice.

They rendezvous in the parking lot and head to the trail for a 4:45 a.m. sharp departure. There is excited and nervous banter at the beginning. A brisk pace is set. It’s dark, so headlamps are needed for the first 45-minute gradual uphill climb. Putting one foot in front of the other, the monotony of the hike sets in and the first hill quickly disappears. A regimen is established; the hikers briefly stop every 45 minutes to take salt tablets and supplements to offset what their bodies are expending. Few additional stops are taken.

The first half of the hike consists of three intense peaks. “There is an incredibly steep descent to the halfway point of the trail that rattles your knees, your toes are banging into your boots at every step.” Recalls Staudenmaier.

At the halfway point, the men take a well-deserved 30-minute break. They get off their feet, massage their legs, change clothes, replenish supplies, use tiger balm to try to get muscles loose and prepare to set off again.

The second half begins with a torturous vertical climb and exhaustion quickly sets in. A third of the way into the second half the hikers feel extremely uncomfortable. The last four hours are “complete misery; every single step hurts.”

(L-R): Chappaqua Dads, Brian Cook, Andrew Skala, Andy Shaiken, Walter Staudenmaier, and Eric Rose

About halfway through the second half is the point of no return. Until then, the path is always no more than a couple of miles away from a put out; but towards the end that option is lost because it’s the same distance to finish as all other exit points. At about eleven hours in, with approximately three hours remaining, there is no way out except to finish.

“Hiking for 14+ hours straight is a whole lot easier when you are sharing the struggle with good friends. It also helps to have a cooler full of beer at the end of the trail waiting for us.” Says Matt Chmielecki, a Cross Fit enthusiast who will be hiking the trail for the third year this Spring.

Overall, the first half of the hike is much more technical and challenging; there are a lot of rock ledges and obstacles. The second half is easier but exhaustion gets in the way of appreciating it. The fatigue gets so intense in the second half, the hikers don’t take many photos; only at the very end.

The journey shifts from struggle to relief once the hike is complete. A steak dinner at the hotel is the final reward, in addition to the satisfaction of having completed “the Devil” in a day.

Progress on the ‘ChapLine’: Plans for a “Woodsy Trail” and Much, Much More

December 2, 2015 by The Inside Press

L-R: New Castle Deputy Supervisor Lisa Katz, New Castle Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein, and New Castle Resident and proposer of the ChapLine, Dan Googel

Story and Photo By Matt Smith

Imagine it’s a clear, calm, Spring, Saturday afternoon. You’re in town, having completed a morning of shopping, or finished lunch with a friend. As you would usually do, you head back to your car and prepare for the drive home. But imagine you didn’t bring your car–and instead, you travel home via bike, which is also the way you came. You ride along a woodsy trail, surrounded by trees and steeped in nature. As you pedal, you feel the cool, crisp air brushing against your face and the soothing warmth of the sun washing over your back. Just before you reach the clearing, you cycle across a bridge and look out at a lake, its ripples shimmering in the sunlight. Pure bliss. Wouldn’t that be just wonderful?

With any luck, you could be doing exactly that…and sooner than later, as the New Castle Town Board is steadily making progress on its previously announced plans to construct the proposed ChapLine.

The project would involve upgrading an existing path–cleared and graded in 2005 in order to install a sewer line–to create a fresh, 1.6 mile, multi-use recreational trail connecting Chappaqua Crossing to Horace Greeley High School, and the downtown shopping area (King St. and N. Greeley Ave.)

The project received new attention last year when New Castle resident Dan Googel–who was also, at the time, a member of the Master Planning Commercial Work Group–approached the Town Board at a public meeting, with new ideas for moving forward with the plan.

Noting that community members, according to a July 2014 report from the community work sessions run by Pace, had requested “a more walkable community, a more bike-friendly community, [and] more places for the community to gather,” Googel explained that the establishment of such a trail in Chappaqua would “be a cost-effective means to accomplish these goals.”

Though he acknowledges the town master plan is still not yet complete, Googel has been encouraged by the outpouring of positive feedback from the town and residents since his initial presentation. Comments New Castle Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein, on the matter: “There is still a lot of work ahead of us, but there is also enormous support for creating this trail, and I’m hopeful that we will finally get it done.”

Greenstein also recognizes the many benefits to having the trail completed. For one, he says, “it’s good for business,” as the trail would provide easy access to the downtown shopping area. Additionally, it would be good for the community, as according to studies from other towns and communities, such trails “actually increase the home values of these areas,” making them more attractive and vibrant.

Googel, on the other hand, stresses that having a walking/running/biking trail would encourage a healthy lifestyle, “providing a place for people to get exercise [and] to be outside.” Furthermore, “it’s environmentally friendly,” as it reduces the needs for cars (which cuts down on fuel expenses and gas emission) and “allows a great deal more students to get to school without having to drive.”

Equally important, it would provide residents with a safe alternative to biking or walking on the main roads. “Route 117 is dangerous,” comments New Castle Deputy Supervisor Lisa Katz. “So, to have anyone be able to walk from school or town [on a safer trail] would be phenomenal.”

Greenstein also notes that the trail would provide a more appropriate running course for members of the Greeley Track and Field team, who currently train by crossing Rt-117 and running up Annandale Rd, stating “Crossing Rt-117 in the afternoon is far from ideal, but what option do they [currently] have? ChapLine would give the team a safe option.”

While the Town is enthusiastic about the benefits the trail would provide, Board members are also aware of certain concerns and obstacles that may need to be addressed as they move forward. “We understand that there are neighbors who are affected [by this process] and we’ll do everything in our power to try to minimize and lessen those impacts,” comments Greenstein.

On the subject, Googel expressed that he would like to see the Town work with the affected residents during the path development process. “We want the adjacent neighbors to see this as a positive amenity,” he explains. “And we want to build the path in a manner such that it enhances their property in addition to [enhancing] the broader New Castle community.” Of note, the Town owns the land next to the affected private properties, and intends to evaluate either procuring easements and/or relocating the trail onto this Town-owned land.

Additionally, the team has recently issued an RFP for an engineering firm to conduct both a feasibility study and cost analysis for the competition of the trail. “We’ll have to do a SECQR [State Environmental Quality Review] as well,” says Greenstein, which will “identify any [additional] environmental concerns or technical issues.” Though Greenstein is confident in the Town’s ability to mitigate any major concerns, he explains that because the project is in such an early stage, “We may not even know what our biggest obstacle is yet.”

As for additional future plans, the Town would like to assemble a committee of sorts–which might include a member of the school board, the Town Board, the Planning Board, the New Castle Recreation and Parks Department, and a few of the affected neighbors–so that issues and questions about the project can be answered in a forum where everyone can be heard. Greenstein adds that having the committee might also benefit the newly elected Town Board members, giving them “a chance to quickly get up to speed.”

Furthermore, having received a generous donation of $1.5 million by Summit Greenfield (the owner of Chappaqua Crossing), in support of pursuing this project, the Town hopes to explore additional sources of funding after the feasibility study has been completed. “I have full confidence in this community, as family-oriented as it is, that people would be very supportive personally,” states Googel, on the subject. “The town will definitely come together on this issue.”

So, all in all, things are looking up. “This is a great opportunity,” adds Greenstein, “and we’re going to work hard to get it done, and get it done right.” Reiterates Googel, with a smile: “[The trail] is already here. It’s just begging to be completed.” And, when it is, he says, looking optimistically at the grassy path in front of him, “Hopefully, we can all have a great amenity for our families to enjoy.”

Matt Smith is a proud graduate of Skidmore College and a regular contributor to the Inside Press.

Adventures In Armonk: Walks And Hikes Right In Our Backyard

September 1, 2015 by The Inside Press

Moss-carpeted ground at the Eugene and Agnes Meyer Preserve

Article & Photos By Liz Susman Karp

Let the phrase “take a hike” take on a different, and far more positive meaning this fall by heading outdoors on one of the many noteworthy local hikes and walks in and around Armonk. The nearly 350 acres of parkland in North Castle feature trails for walking and hiking at all different levels and various lengths.

The Betsy Sluder Preserve offers a beautiful, easy walk in shady, leafy environs off of Old Route 22. Cat Rocks Park (Bedford), designated a nature conservancy by North Castle, is a similar spot; note parking can be difficult on the narrow roads. North Castle Superintendent of Recreation & Parks, Matt Trainor, recommends the Johnson Tract, a wooded area off of North Greenwich Road, as “a wonderful quiet hiking area.”

In the heart of downtown Armonk, meander through the paths of bucolic Wampus Brook Park for a lovely, leisurely walk. Looking for more of a challenge? Resident Jane Ellen Gertz comments, “Since the 16 years I have lived in the Whippoorwill Hills neighborhood, close to town, I have run or jogged with and without a baby jogger or walked, depending on my level of fitness, a 3-5 mile loop that takes me through town and back home again. There are various turns to make each day’s exercise a little different, including Old Mount Kisco Road, Lombardi Park, Rainbow Bridge over Interstate 684, H.C. Crittenden fields, Wampus School fields and connecting paths to Lombardi Park and Wampus Brook Park.” Trainor agrees, saying that those fields and parks “sort of interconnect, which in itself would make for a great circuit. Just a thought: If you are taking a dog–please remember to clean up!”

A well-trodden trail at the Betsy Sluder Preserve beckons to be walked.

Two superb spaces in which to walk or hike are the Eugene and Agnes Meyer Preserve and the Herbert L. Nichols Preserve, both owned by the Nature Conservancy. The 247-acre Meyer Preserve, primarily donated by the former owners of The Washington Post who once lived at the nearby Seven Springs estate now owned by Donald Trump, encompasses vernal pools, rare flora and fauna and over 6.5 miles of wooded trails and fields. Enter on Bretton Ridge Rd for the western parcel or on Oregon Road for the eastern parcel. Near the Greenwich border off of Riversville Road, the 87-acre Nichols Preserve offers walking trails and several ponds and streams.

For those who prefer walking on a track, there are two available, at Byram Hills High School (Tripp Lane) when school is not in session, and at North Castle Community Park (Business Park Drive) which Trainor says, “is desirable for runners and athletes with knee issues because of its cinder base…it’s better on the joints and muscles.” The high school also has a network of paths used in season by the cross country team, and the park has a long asphalt path that runs the length of the playing fields, providing a nice walk and community atmosphere for spectators and residents.

Wide pathways run alongside the water at picturesque Wampus Brook Park.

The Bronx River Greenway, a series of disconnected paths that run parallel to the Bronx River Parkway beginning in Yonkers and ending at the Kensico Dam “to me,” says Trainor, ”unofficially connects North White Plains to the Kensico Dam Complex,” where he often takes his family. “It’s a great all-around facility and you can’t beat the view from the top of the dam.” The wide pathway at the top of this Westchester County symbol opened in May 2012. He suggests taking that trail along with the Greenway and heading south on Route 22 towards North White Plains. “The great thing here is that you can get super creative with the routes and length of walks you take, even in the more ‘urban’ settings,” enthuses Trainor.

Another popular destination close by is Cranberry Lake Preserve, a Westchester County Park in North White Plains. Trails range from 1-2.4 miles in length and include cliffs and a history trail past remnants of an early 20th century stone mining operation.

Heading farther afield, the exceptional Rockefeller State Park Preserve offers over 30 miles of specially-designed wide interconnected carriage roads past rolling hills and picturesque scenery for easy to moderate walks. Trail maps are available online and at the Preserve office, entrance on Phelps Way in Pleasantville.

North Castle Seniors Nellie Palamarczuk (left) and Faye Barresi (right) walk with Liz Thomas (center), North Castle Senior Recrea- tion Leader, in Wampus Brook Park. Senior walks are regularly scheduled on Mondays and Thursdays at 10 a.m.

A recent thread on Facebook’s Armonk Moms page discussed additional prime spots frequented by locals, including Westmoreland and Butler Sanctuaries (Mount Kisco), the Mianus River Gorge Preserve (Bedford), Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, the county’s largest park (Pound Ridge), and Audobon Greenwich. The Zofnass Family Preserve, also in Pound Ridge, offers a family Westchester Wilderness Walk. The Westchester County Parks website (parks.westchestergov.com) and numerous books, such as Walkable Westchester, are excellent resources.

To join organized hikes in the county and surrounding areas, local groups available include Westchester Trails Association (www.westhike.org), New York-New Jersey Trail Conference (www.nynjtc.org), The Westchester Hiking Meetup Group (www.meetup.com/Westchester-Hiking-Group) and the Facebook group, Bedford Castle Baby Trails, which plans monthly family hikes.

Remember to wear proper footgear, use bug spray, bring water and check for ticks! Whether your preference is for a walk or a hike, living in Armonk provides abundant opportunities for a pleasant pastime or invigorating exercise while enjoying the natural beauty of our area.

Liz Susman Karp is a freelance writer and public relations practitioner. She, her husband and their two teenage boys live in Briarcliff Manor. They all look forward to trying some new walks and hikes.

Great Parks in Westchester County

March 5, 2013 by The Inside Press

Story and drawings by Dylan O’Keefe

Spring is upon us, and what better way to embrace the changing of the seasons than to get out and explore the splendor of the natural world around you. As residents of Westchester County, we are lucky to have so many beautiful public parks to hike, fish, picnic, etc. Whether you are looking for a challenging hike on dynamic terrain, or an easy scenic area to relax and socialize with friends and family, Westchester Parks have something to offer everyone; young and old alike.

As a long time resident of Chappaqua, I have been able to visit many of the parks our county has to offer. Here are ten of my favorites:

1. Manor Park, Larchmont:

After entering the park on its smooth tarmac pathway you will be struck by its extraordinary view of the Long Island Sound, its quaint gazebos, and the glacially striated rocks spanning the 5000 ft. shoreline. Historically the land has passed in ownership from the Siwanoy, to the Dutch, to the nephew of John Jay.

2. Whippoorwill Park, Chappaqua:

I found this park’s hilly and dense terrain the best for long hikes in solitude. A wandering body in nature leads to a more fluid and creative wondering mind. The area also allows tent camping with permission from the town.

3. Rockefeller Preserve, Sleepy Hollow:

Donated by the Rockefeller family in 1983, this 1,233-acre park features dirt, tarmac and gravel trails, great for running, jogging or walking through dense tree lines. The park even allows for horse riding. The area looks out onto the Hudson with picturesque views of the Tappan Zee Bridge, a sight that is far more attractive when seen from a distance of three miles.

4. Gedney Park, Chappaqua:

A New Castle favorite, this family friendly 126-acre park features playgrounds, picnic areas, sporting fields and hiking trails.

5. Kensico Resevoir, Mount Pleasant:

Technically not a park, but contiguous to both Cranberry Lake Preserve and Kensico Plaza Dam Park, the reservoir offers fishing and boating to permit holders. Cranberry Lake has elementary trails with swamps, cliffs, and woodland scenery.

6. Teatown Lake Preservation, Yorktown-Cortlandt-New Castle:

This 834-acre nature preserve operated by a not-for-profit hosts a summer camp and environmental education programs to adults and children alike. The park itself features hiking trails with varying degrees of difficulty, and scenic lakeside views of regional flora and fauna.

7. Muscoot Farms,  Katonah:

Once privately run, this family friendly farm was acquired by the county in the 1960’s and has been a public park ever since. Its 777 acres offer visitors hiking trails, and educational tours of barns lively with farm animals.

8. Bear Mountain State Park,  Rockland County:

Although located in Rockland County, the Bear Mountain Bridge connects the park to mountainous trails in Westchester County consisting of challenging routes up steep hills to moderate paths through low wetlands and swooping valleys. The mountain lookout on the west side of the park has breathtaking views of the Hudson valley. Though some might view the Bridge as an eyesore in the valley, I see it as a beautiful juxtaposition between the intelligent design of civil engineering and the naturally selected design of the surrounding flora.

9. Burden Preserve, Armonk:

Perfect for long walks in solitude. Being amongst the trees in this park brings an oasis of serenity that is both cleansing and refreshing compared to the din of a town or city. Nature gives us a window to our biological roots and leads us to ask what took us from a species that swung from the limbs of trees to the bipedal creatures we are today. It gives us the perspective that even with all of our technology, we are still so connected to our animal roots– for good or for bad.

10. Croton Gorge Park, Cortlandt: This scenic park features undemanding trails with fountains and bridges. Sitting below the colossal New Croton Dam, this park is another great example of nature meets civil engineering.

I am sure I left some great Westchester parks out so if you have any comments or suggestions email me at dokeefe@albany.edu or follow/ tweet @DylanOKeefe. In hiking always remember to pack the provisions you need with you, carry out what you carry in, and tell someone if you plan to journey alone.

To learn about our county parks:  visit: http://parks.westchestergov.com/

Dylan O’Keefe, Greeley Class of 2010, is in his junior year at SUNY Albany.