Hiking Photos

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Hiking Photos, 1600 Spring Valley Rd, Ossining, NY.

Dedicated to hiking and nature photos and videos, product reviews, as well as stories about my adventures, in and around the Hudson Valley region of New York State.

05/02/2022

This privately-held nature preserve spans 1,000 acres and contains over 15 miles of hiking trails. This was an easy and enjoyable hike on a beautiful afternoon with only minimal elevation inclines throughout the day. The scenery was ever-changing, from small streams to marsh lands to lush green areas to pine trees to clearings to lakes to waterfalls. I was pleased with the diversity and would love to explore some of the other trails on a future visit, including Wildflower Island and the rest of the Visitor Center.

My fifth visit and first winter hike was all about trying out new gear, including trekking poles, sunglasses, gloves, and a gaiter.

03/07/2022

On a beautiful spring-like afternoon, I returned to a familiar park to continue exploring new nooks and crannies. Ice Pond and Marshall Pond are almost done with their winter thaw. It was awesome to view Irvington Reservoir from the west and south angles. I then hit all the POIs in the southern and eastern sections of the park: Macy Monument, the Terrace, the Steps, and Hermit's Grave. On my way north, I made an obligatory stop at Hermit Wetlands. This park holds a special place in my memory as it was where I first gained my initial hiking experience and confidence.

My fifth visit and first winter hike was all about trying out new gear, including trekking poles, sunglasses, gloves, and a gaiter.

02/07/2022

There's something special about the Cross River in the warmer months, but nothing compares to seeing it weave through patches of snow and ice. I was super impressed with how well my crampons performed on the ice-covered trails. Throughout the day, I encountered icy inclines, icy declines, and ice so smooth it looked like panes of glass. Never once did I feel any sort of slippage or instability in my walking. Temperatures were in the low 20s with very little wind, so as long as I was moving along, I barely noticed the cold.

The views of the partially-frozen Cross River and the snow-covered scenery gave a new persepctive and an apprecitation of winter hiking.

10/19/2021

This was an amazing day filled with some challenges I don't normally encounter on my traditional woods-based hikes. If rock scrambles and crawls through tight spaces and up ladders are your thing, the Labyrinth, Crevice, and Lemon Squeeze deliver. The reward includes amazing views reaching as far as NY, NJ, CT, MA, and PA from Sky Top Tower. The Mohonk Mountain House property and Mohonk Lake are equally beautiful. We barely touched the surface of the seemingly endless trails offered by Mohonk Preserve and I'll definitely be back again soon!

If rock scrambles and crawls through tight spaces and up ladders are your thing, the Labyrinth, Crevice, and Lemon Squeeze deliver.

09/27/2021

I'm really happy with the way this day turned out! The weather was beautiful, in the low 70's with no humidity. The dozens of buildings in ruin were amazing to explore and to imagine life in a different era. On top of that, the waterfalls, the mountain and river views, and the varied terrain put this hike toward the top of my all-time favorite list. The 1,400 foot incline from the start to the summit of Bull Hill is sneaky because it's a low grade, but still enough to get the blood pumping. It's a very approachable hike for almost any level of hiker.

The dozens of ruins, waterfalls, mountain and river views, and the varied terrain put this hike toward the top of my all-time favorite list.

09/13/2021

This was a fun preserve to explore! The western area of the preserve features several large meadows containing wild flowers being visited by bumble bees, honey bees, butterflies, and dragonflies. The eastern section leads to Byram Lake Reservoir, including two aqueducts and a man-made waterfall. Throughout the hike there are various wetlands, including a red maple swamp and several vernal pools where reptiles, amphibians, frogs, salamanders, and fairy shrimp live. The elevation changes are minimal and these were all easy trails to follow for even a novice hiker.

An awesome preserve with vernal pools, a red maple swamp, Byram Lake Reservoir, two aqueducts, a man-made waterfall, and wildflower meadows.

07/11/2021

I met up with group of six friends who rented a weekend cabin at the Stephen & Betsy Corman AMC Harriman Outdoor Center. I was impressed with how modern and clean the cabin was, with two bedrooms, six beds, and electricity for lights, a microwave, and a refrigerator. We started the day with an almost 9-mile hike from Breakneck Pond to Pine Meadow Lake and back. Then we grabbed dinner in the community center before heading out to kayak and canoe across Breakneck Pond. We finished the night sitting around the campfire, chatting and playing games.

Getting the full experience of the Harriman Outdoor Center was amazing. We fit in a 9-mile hike, kayaks and canoes, and a campfire.

06/07/2021

I came out of this hike completely soaked in sweat. This is the first time I really pushed through the heat for such a long distance. I was initially worried if I brought enough water, but I monitored my intake and sipped at a consistent pace throughout the day. I knew going in this would be more of a forest hike than a view hike and I was okay with that. Due to the intense sun, I didn't want to spend too much time on mountain tops and I was happy to stay in the shade as much as possible. Even without the views, it was an awesome hike! I enjoyed exploring a new section of Harriman.

I got a couple of cool views here and there, but I knew going in this would be more of a forest hike and I was okay with that.

05/26/2021

This was an amazing hike on a beautiful day. Since it was a Tuesday, I only ran into a handful of people the entire day, which allowed me to have a really peaceful hike and I felt like I practically had the park to myself. The views climbing up Breakneck were breathtaking. The trek up to the fire tower was fun and a challenge of its own. Being able to "hog" the fire tower gave me some really awesome shots. The second half of the hike heading back south is an oasis of quiet forest. Then being able to catch a few trains on video was the cherry on the top of an already perfect day.

The rock scramble to the many lookout spots along the face of the mountain give rewarding views of the Hudson River and nearby valley.

05/23/2021

This hike provides amazing views of the Minnewaska State Park Preserve and the Hudson Valley while walking through the pine barren ridges, including areas where the April 2016 wildfire burned over 2,000 acres to the park. The highlight of the trip was the Verkeerderkill Falls, a 187-ft tall waterfall viewed from the rocky outcrops that were a bit higher and off to the side of the top of the waterfall. Large sections of the trail are over uncovered carriage roads and open ridge areas, so come prepared with proper footwear and plenty of water.

Amazing views of the Minnewaska State Park Preserve and the Hudson Valley while walking through the pine barren ridges.

05/09/2021

This is a beautiful park with varied terrain and excellent views of the Hudson Valley and Hudson River. I can only imagine how much more I could have seen without the rain and fog. The temperatures in the mid-40s, combined with the rain, made parts of the hike unpleasant and slippery, but not unbearable. The calming sound of a few surprise waterfalls brightened the afternoon. Walking alongside the train tracks and up to the train trestle was a unique experience. I only wish I was able to record a train passing by.

This is a beautiful park with varied terrain and excellent views of the Hudson Valley and Hudson River, and a trail next to the train trestle.

05/02/2021

Harriman is abundant with water sources, as I encountered over a dozen streams on this hike alone. Lake Skemonto provided a great backdrop to enjoy during lunch. The small rock scramble up to Tom Jones Mountain was well worth the views of the Hudson Valley once up there. Campers were abundant, as well as at least one black snake I encountered on my way up Black Rock mountain. The view of Lake Stahahe from the top of Car Pond mountain was a bit obstructed, but allowed me to find another shelter. My longest hike to date did not disappoint.

Harriman is abundant with water sources, as I encountered over a dozen streams on this hike alone on a beautiful spring afternoon.

Address

1600 Spring Valley Rd
Ossining, NY
10562

Website

https://hiking.photos/

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