Explore Hudson Valley Trails

Welcome to week one of everything being closed and canceled for me and Abby Girl. We are known for our hiking adventures. So this week we decided to just wander as much as possible on Hudson Valley Trails and push ourselves to new heights and new limits. Abby girl really wanted rock scrambles!

Below is a list from this week. We hiked 14 miles on trails. Our miles tracked are never just running around our yard or house. They are actual miles on trails. We also burned over 2000 calories. My husband said, “that’s it?” In response to our miles wandered. Yes, dear like to see you try and keep up. Remember, we are the ones that set a goal of 100 miles in six weeks last year for the Get Fit Challenge and made it around 60 miles with Abby hiking most herself? There are fun videos with each location too!

Shaupeneak Ridge Trail to Waterfall-

We hiked with the dog. The trail is fairly easy and then starts to climb. Follow the trail (think it’s purple) down to the right. It’s very rocky and narrow. Eventually, it will open up to a waterfall. We were the only ones there. There is a small path down to the left that leads to a memorial up against a tree for someone who was killed at the waterfall. Don’t go there if you don’t want to end up explaining it to your children. My daughter wanted to know why she couldn’t eat the chocolate at the tree. I had to channel my inner Daniel Tiger to explain it to her without scaring her. Thank God my child gets things.

After done at the falls, just trace your steps back to the car. If you are feeling spunky, which we weren’t, you can continue on up to the summit. We just decided to do the Shaupeneak Shuffle. Yes, it’s in the video.

River to Ridge Trail, New Paltz-

Way too overcrowded for proper self-isolation. It’s a rail trail with amazing, sweeping views. But, during this time, I wouldn’t recommend it as way too many people out there. However, the people were super friendly we did meet!

Little Stony Point-

Little Stony Point is super awesome. We finally took the trail straight ahead and it opened up to a rock ledge and amazing sweeping views of the Hudson. It was cold and damp when we went. After, taking in the scenery, Abby and the dog found an unmarked trail down to the path by the beach.

We stopped at the beach. However, it was windy and hightide. So the water was really crashing into the beach. So we hiked on.

We completed the rest of the mile loop including stopping and playing at almost every cove. We also explored the cave and touched the giant rock on the side of the mountain to feel the water running down. There was no one while out there.

What are the top five essential items that should be in the backpack?

Hudson Highlands State Park Red Trail-

We took the dog up here too. It climbs right away. Definitely a more advanced hike. We could see a waterfall off in the distance on our left as we climbed up and views of Breakneck Mountain. At the top, we first went and explored Cornish Estates. It’s a bunch of ruins and the path here is easy. We then walked back the other way and found a small waterfall. Abby also found a shell of a house that she now calls, “the big bad wolf’s house.”

We walked on and Abby found a very overgrown trail not marked. So we didn’t go too far in. We went back the other way and climbed a bit up the red trail before turning around and heading back to the car. We only saw one family while on the trail.

Mills Norrie State Park-

It was another damp day. However, we got the Alltrails App and picked a loop trail starting at the camp parking lot. It’s a moderate hike. A lot of ledge walking along the Hudson. The rocks are slippery. We didn’t see many people.

We eventually made it to where people can see Mills Mansion up on the hill and had our lunch on the beach. Sadly, there was pollution. A family walked by us and stood about fifteen-twenty feet away and just stared at us. I finally decided to pack up and hike on with Abby. I watched them take our spot and only stayed a couple of minutes before walking on. Talk about being that annoying person during social distancing.

Abby found lots of little flooded areas to take her shoes off and play in and the grassy field on the other side was perfect for practicing her acrobatics.

We hiked on eventually and followed the trail until we came to an orange trail. We took that. Then I took blue to the left. On the road, we walked up and by the monument, ducked back in the woods. From there, it was fairly simple following directions back to the car. Watch the mud, Abby girls shoe became a casualty. Not the first time an article of clothing became stuck in the mud.

Look at great nature-based activities to do with your kids!

Hudson Highlands State Park-

There is a huge trail system to explore within the Hudson Highlands State Park. We found a very handy map at the Red Trail Kiosk off 9D. There are also directions on how to get the map online to download!

Red Trail-

We started at the red trail again. However, this time, we continued on up the red trail. It follows a nice, flowing stream. Very scenic. The trail is rocky but fairly wide. We passed a creepy gate that said, do not enter. There was a crypt looking structure at the end of the road just at the base of the mountain. Honestly, very creepy and looked like something from Walking dead.

Eventually, a yellow trail went off to the left. In fact, it is a small bridge that takes a leap to get onto it. This should have been signs of what was to come.

Yellow trail-

The yellow trail is a little confusing in the first section. A trail marker goes off in the wrong direction. But, after a short, unnecessary scramble, we made it back on the trail and climbed up. We eventually made it to a lookout. I wanted to turn around. However, Abby girl saw that the trail dropped down into a scramble. She really wanted to try it. So we did it. She stopped at the bottom and said: “you know what else is scrambled, scrambled eggs.” Trail humor.

The yellow trail passes a lovely warning sign that says if you don’t want to climb more, turn around. Of course, we ignored the sign. More scrambles ahead.

tips–

-Most four-year-olds shouldn’t do this level of the hike.

-Younger children who do this level of the hike should wear a helmet

-have lots of water and snacks. You will need them

proper footing is absolutely necessary

Yellow trail Continued-

It keeps following a series of rock scrambles and steady, rocky climbs. People will start to smell a campfire and see everything burnt. There was a recent fire up here.

At the top, the yellow trail ends to white. This is the breakneck ridge trail. We went right. The rock scramble is intense here. In one part, Abby kicked a rock out and almost hit me in the head. A small section was too steep and tall for Abby’s small frame. Though we are practicing social distancing, we had to rely on a group of young hikers. One on each wrist, pulled Abby’s arms up as her feet climbed. Another person took my poles so I could catch-up. The trail continues up and down scrambles to viewpoints. It’s a very challenging and rewarding trail. It was kind of crowded so we couldn’t go to a lot of views. We just hiked on and took breaks away from people on our own rocks off the trail.

The yellow trail eventually goes down and at the blue trail, go left

Blue Trail-

The blue trail is another series of downhill drops. Not the extreme scrambles of before and more of a woodland setting. The trail starts to really open up. At the bottom, one way says do not enter. Go to the right.

The trail is fairly flat for a while. There are some more cool ruins to explore down the blue trail. There are also a couple of small stream crossings with no bridges. Just balance on the log or skip the rocks.

Soon you will be at the red trail again and just retrace your steps back to the car. Overall, about five and a half miles. Some trails very isolated and others more populated. A good elevation gain in a short distance.

Final Thoughts-

With proper distancing and picking the roads less traveled, hiking can be a great outlet. So go look at our trail guide if you are local to the Hudson Valley. Otherwise, I strongly suggest Alltrails. It’s an awesome app.