Hike #511 9/9/10
9/9/10 Palisades; Northvale/Rockleigh/Tallman Mt/Piermont/Sparkill with Action Adam Stevens and Jim Delotto
Group shot on Tallman Mountain, NY
I was still off of work I suppose from the fire at this time, and it was a Thursday so Action Adam was off of work. In addition, my friend Jim Delotto was also available, so we made plans to get out for a hike. I picked up Delotto in Hackettstown and we headed to Action Adam's place in Nutley NJ and met his lovely pig, Taylor.
We then jumped into Action Adam's truck and headed north to the town of Northvale to start a great loop hike I had planned, the next section of the Long Path and the Palisades northbound.
This hike was also my first one using my new Olympus Stylus Tough Camera.
We parked along Railroad Ave next to the tracks where we'd close the loop hike, then walked out and turned right on Paris Ave.
Looking into a mirror in Northvale NJ, Paris Ave.
Hiking across Rockleigh Golf Course
We continued down the road and soon came upon what appeared to be a woods road going to the right. It was on the property of the Rockleigh Golf Course so I figured we could get away with walking it if it paralleled the road. It did for a bit, but went much too far in to the course. We had to turn left and parallel the road back to the golf course's parking lot. Fortunately no one saw us there.
We continued along the road to a left turn on Piermont Road, then a right on Willow. This took us out to Rockleigh Road and the municipal building across where we picked up the trail in Rockleigh Nature Center. We went into the woods and turned right on the yellow blazed Sneden-Haring-Lamont Trail and followed it to the south end of the Rockleigh Woods Sanctuary. It took us through a little field area and then back into the woods where we turned right onto the white blazed Lamont Trail in Lamont Preserve. This went by "Lamont Rock" but I don't remember seeing it, or maybe I just didn't notice.
Here's a link to a good map of the trails here:
http://www.nynjtc.org/files/RockleighLamontTrailMap_BW_2010.pdf
We continued around the lower east end of the park and then came back to another part of the yellow trail.
End of the paved section of abandoned road off of Rt 9W near Lamont Reserve, NJ
Just after a brook crossing we bushwhacked into the woods to the right to head out to Rt 9W on the way we took on the previous Palisades hike. We found our way to the woods road and came out at the paved abandoned cul de sac that led back out to Rt 9W.
Laying down in Old Rt 9W, Palisades Interstate Park. This one's from Delotto's camera
Old Rt 9W in Palisades Interstate Park near the state line.
We turned left along 9W and passed under Palisades Interstate Parkway. We then came to the intersection with Old Rt 9W on the right. We turned right on it and followed it south for a bit. It wasn't very far before we came to another trail that led sort of up hill to the right. The trails in the area were named for letters and such, and this one was the "D" Trail. It was used as a mountain biking trail, and had a "most difficult" sign on the beginning of it.
Beginning of D Trail, Palisades Interstate Park
We followed this trail which was soon joined by a "C" Trail to the left and continued south a bit until we reached the aqua blazes of the Long Path. We then turned left and followed it north to State Line Lookout and concession stand. The view was great, and it wasn't really too crowded.
State Line Lookout, Palisades Interstate Park, NJ
View north from near the NY/NJ state line.
From here, we continued along the Long Path which followed briefly old Rt 9W, then turned off of it to the right. We descended for a bit and soon reached the monument marking the NY/NJ state line. We turned right following the state line then went through an opening in a chain link fence entering NY state. We descended a bit more and then came to the awesome High Gutter Point.
High Gutter Point, Long Path in Palisades Interstate Park
View toward the Tappan Zee Bridge from High Gutter Point along the Long Path
Action High Gutter Adam
We continued along the Long Path down the fine stone steps that led to the creek which cascades to Peanut Leap Falls, but we weren't taking this route on this trip. We continued on the Long Path which took us back out to Rt 9W at the entrance to the Lamont Doherty Observatory and continued through some woods directly parallel with the highway. We continued down below the level of the road in some neat little woods, then ascended above on an outcropping before reaching another former route of the main road. This one was probably the road route long before the 9W designation was ever given to it. The trail continued on this and eventually turned off of it to emergat at the Lamont Doherty Child Development Center parking lot. We turned left out of this back onto 9W which the trail now followed.
We soon passed an intersection in the village of Palisades and then came to a small market on the right. We went in and got some food. I wished that this place had been open on our previous visit in the Spring. It was high priced, but a good location.
Just after this we continued along the road and the Long Path turned right at a parking lot into Tallman Mountain State Park, at first along a bike path. We continued to the cliffs and then took the unmarked side path out to an awesome overlook over the Hudson and the Piermont Marsh, as well as the Tappan Zee Bridge.
View from the Long Path in Tallman Mountain State Park, NY
After our break we continued along the path heading to the north.
A side path from the Long Path, Tallman Mountain State Park, NY
The path led us out to the Long Path again where we continued north. This was now a portion of the Long Path I had yet to cover.
Giant tree along the Long Path, Tallman Mountain State Park
The trail kept us close to the cliffs but in a more densely forested area than the NJ section. At one point I recall it came close to a picnic area where we had a little break. As we continued along the trail, there weren't really many more view points yet, but we did come across a giant tree, which I always enjoy.
Giant tree along the Long Path, Tallman Mountain State Park NY
The trail eventually came out at an access road in the park. Even before reaching this point the Long Path blazes were becoming more difficult to follow. We somehow missed the turn and went down a road to the right which led to a spot above the swimming pool in the park.
Swimming pool in Tallman Mountain State Park.
We had to walk back up hill and I believe the path turned off of or near a bike path in the park. At a circular intersection the path crossed and ascended a bit more onto Tallman Mountain, then came to another area full of picnic pavilions and such. It skirted the right side and views began to open up.
View from Tallman Mountain
From this first vista we could see across the Hudson with the Piermont Marshes in the foreground. Beyond was the long pier for which Piermont took it's name jutting out a mile into the Hudson. Just beyond that was the Tappan Zee Bridge making it's long bending route across the river.
View of the Piermont Pier from Tallman Mountain, NY. Not bad for a cell phone picture!
We were there taking pictures when a nice asian lady came up to us and asked us if we'd like her to take the picture. I know it's a stereotype, but this woman was quite excellent with the camera. She took several shots, citing that she needed another because the lighting wasn't quite right. She was correct, as it was very back lit. She somehow managed to get a couple shots to come out. I'm glad she cared enough to make them come out good.
Group shot on Tallman Mountain, NY
View north from Tallman Mountain
The trail skirted the mowed and manicured picnic areas along the top of Tallman Mountain, then emerged at an outstanding view up the Hudson before making it's descent. We could see the entire village of Piermont, and all the way up river from there toward Nyack and Hook Mountain. We could see so many more close details as well including buildings and more of the Tappan Zee Bridge.
View from Tallman Mountain over the vilage of Piermont NY
View of new developement from Tallman Mountain
View fo Tappan Zee Bridge from Tallman Mountain
The trail descended quite steeply on some uncertain ground to an access road, now part of the bike route, into Tallman Mountain State Park. I was surprised there were no map boxes for the park, and there seem to be no maps available for the place on line. The only one I'm aware of is the one through NY/NJ Trail Conference which I fortunately had. One of the few series' of maps to survive the fire was my Palisades set.
Old Bridge Street bridge in Piermont NY
We came out to Ferdon Ave. I remember the trash cans at the park entrance were beautifully painted and the quaint village welcomed us with an incredible old draw bridge over the Sparkill Creek. Delotto, being an engineer, was quite entralled with it.
I think this is Sparkill Creek, Piermont NY
Sparkill Creek, Piermont NY
I was surprised the Long Path was not routed across the inredible old bridge instead of on the road next to it. It would not have been really any significant distance, less than a block more walking, but still it followed along the main driving road north into town.
Action Merry Go Round Adam, Piermont NY
We passed a small park on the right and then came to some memorials on the left. Just behind these was the right of way to the former Erie Railroad where it once came into town and out onto the Piermont Pier for which the town takes it's name.
High Five, war memorial statue in Piermont NY
I knew I loved this town the second we walked into it...painted garbage cans, an historic bridge, bridge, a creek, a park, memorials, railroad beds, and now a beautifully painted house on the corner of the main road. One can't help but feel good walking into this town.
Beautifully painted old house in Piermont, NY
I recall I walked up through the town on the main drag first. I went into a nice antique/thrift store on the left and looked around for things Jillane might like. I knew I had to bring her back because she'd love the place. These hidden gem towns caked in between more popular places like Nyack are great for her. I then went to a general store and got a couple of Four Locos...or maybe it was Joose...I forget.
We all then walked a road out toward the Piermont Pier. This was a side trip I wanted to do if time allowed, and it did. The road walk kind of sucked, but we soon came to the old pier. This was not a pier as I'd imagined it. It was pretty much land that was built up out onto the river, not a wooden dock, though there were rotting timbers sticking out of the water along the way which this must have simply been the framework for.
View back to land from Piermont Pier
View toward Hook Mountain from Piermont Pier
I believe that's Hook Mountain in the distance
Piermont from the pier
View from Piermont Pier
View south of the Palisades from Piermont Pier
A pathway followed the left side of the road heading out. We stopped and talked to a woman on the way out the pier about the area and moved on. There were interesting benches and such as we continued out.
Nicely built bench on the Piermont Pier.
Interesting stuff on Peirmont Pier
View from Piermont Pier
We found another one of these which bears an uncanny resemblence to my friend Jason Aquino, though this time it was given a name.
Delotto held back and chatted with people I guess, but Action Adam and I made our way out to the very end of the Piermont Pier. It was really cool being out on the Hudson so far, looking up and down river in both directions. There was a seemingly abandoned building near the end which Adam tried to get into to no avail.
Old timbers out on the Piermont Pier
The very end of the Piermont Pier
View down the Hudson from Piermont Pier
View across the Hudson from the end of the Piermont Pier
View from the Piermont Pier
We continued back down the pier toward town, and when the access road we'd walked in went left, we were able to walk a paved pathway to the right on the north side of the pier out.
Pathway back into Piermont from the pier
This walkway skirted the edge of some hideous condos that had been built on the very end of the pier, probably only in the past few years. It was probably at one time railroad yards.
Walkway out from Piermont Pier
Pathway near the condos in Piermont NY
We passed by the condos and continued out to the parking area with all sorts of stores and such, like an outdoor mall area. The centerpiece for this area was a giant old steel wheel in the middle. It looked very similar to the giant wheel I'd seen in Phoenixville PA in the fall of 2008. We couldn't figure out exactly what it's use was, but it was interesting. I read that it was an old paper mill fly wheel.
Old wheel, similar to the one I'd seen in Phoenixville PA
We made our way back to the Long Path blazed along the streets in town. We had to walk up an insanely steep side street and turn left. The Long Path went from the road onto a nice path with a hand rail ascending the side of the mountain.
Long Path in Pieirmont NY
It came out along the abandoned right of way of the Erie Railroad at the Piermont train station. The station I think now housed an historical society and the rail bed was now a trail north to Piermont and south to Sparkill.
Old Piermont railroad station from the Erie Railroad
Entrance to the rail trail on the old Erie Railroad, Piermont NY
We followed the railroad bed left from here heading south. It was slightly disturbed like maybe they were working on a utility line under it. It soon turned from south to west on a high shelf. Houses came into view below us to the left and the spur line that once went out to the pier came closer to join ahead (it was overgrown though). I believe we went under Hillside Ave then crossed Orangeburg Road at grade. Another trail went to the right, this was part of another section of the line, also a trail. We were now in Sparkill NY and feeling happy with our drinks.
Old Sparkill railroad station
We also came across the old Sparkill rairoad station.
Old rail bed in Sparkill NY
We continued as the rail bed took us through a section of woods and then out to an area were we had roads on both sides of us, and we were sort of in an exposed open and mowed park.
Former railroad junction, now trails, in Sparkill NY
We had reached the south junction of two sections of the Erie Railroad here. The section we were walking was just a gravel surface while the one that we had joined, now known as the Joseph Clarke Rail Trail was a paved route. We hid our drinks while we walked through the open.
Along Joseph Clarke Rail Trail, Sparkill NY
We crossed Sparkill Ave followed by Main Street and then were in a section of more secluded woods. There was another very well painted garbage cane we went by as we continued south.
Joseph Clarke Railroad just south of Sparkill NY
We laughed and goofed off quite a bit as we continued through this easy trail section, and we made really good time. We passed beneath the Palisades Interstate Parkway and came to the end of the trail section at Oak Tree Road where we found a map of it.
Southern end of Joseph Clarke Rail Trail
Southern End of Jospeph Clarke Rail Trail
Joseph Clarke Rail Trail map
The rail bed south of Oak Tree Road near NY/NJ state line.
Beyond this point the railroad bed was abandoned but still walkable. There was a path that followed it as well as a utility line. We soon came to an old bridge over the Sparkill Creek, just a small tributary at this time.
Bridge over the Sparkill Creek near the state line.
There was a path along the creek I'd like to go back to follow one day. It was a beautiful spot.
Just north of Northvale NJ, Sparkill Creek
As we continued the rails started back up on the old rail line, though they were obviosly long unused.
Old rail line north of Northvale NJ
Old rail line north of Northvale NJ
Just as we were coming into the town of Northvale again, there were some cars parked on a siding. It was here that they serviced some business and the line became active again. We climbed around on the cars for a bit and goofed off some more.
Climbing rail cars, Northvale NJ
Northvale NJ
Action Box Car Adam, Northvale NJ
Northvale NJ
We then continued south on the tracks and crossed over Paris Ave and returned to Action Adams hike to close the loop and another great hike.
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