For Chol Hamoed Pesach, we have prepared an array of five hikes of varying degrees of difficulty. In each case, this article contains only a summary of the hike, and a link is provided to the full hike description that appears online.

1. Minnewaska State Park Preserve. Located in the heart of the Shawangunk Mountains in Ulster County, New York, Minnewaska State Park Preserve offers some of the most dramatic scenery in our area. This 8-mile, five-hour moderate hike begins by following a particularly attractive footpath along the cascading Peters Kill. It then climbs on another footpath to Castle Point, a spectacular viewpoint, traversing many open rock ledges along the way. The return to the trailhead is on well-graded carriage roads, with more panoramic views. The park is about 80 miles from Teaneck, and it should take about 90 minutes to get there. For a complete description of the hike, go to https://jewishlink.news/hike-the-minnewaska-state-park-preserve/

   

2. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. This 7-mile moderate hike loops around the southern section of the 4,315-acre Ward Pound Ridge Reservation–the largest park in Westchester County, New York. Along the route of the hike, you’ll climb to a panoramic lookout over the Cross River Reservoir and pass the interesting Leatherman’s Cave, the Bear Rock Petroglyph, Dancing Rock, the Raven Rocks viewpoint and the Indian Rock Shelter. The hike follows woods roads for most of the way, but several sections are on narrower footpaths. It should take about four and one-half hours. The park is about 80 miles from Teaneck, and it should take about 90 minutes to get there. The reservation is about 50 miles from Teaneck, and it should take about 70 minutes to get there. For a complete description of the hike, go to https://jewishlink.news/hike-the-ward-pound-ridge-reservation/

   

3. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation. This 6-mile, easy-to-moderate hike traverses the southern section of the 3,500-acre Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, the largest park in the park system of Morris County, New Jersey. It passes remnants of former mining operations and climbs to two panoramic viewpoints from which hardly any civilization can be seen. The hike should take about four hours. The trailhead is about 45 miles from Teaneck, and it should take about 50 minutes to get there. For a complete description of the hike, go to https://jewishlink.news/hike-the-mahlon-dickerson-reservation/

   

4. Vista Loop Trail in Ramapo Valley County Reservation. This moderate hike follows the yellow-blazed Vista Loop Trail in Ramapo Valley County Reservation (in Mahwah, Bergen County, New Jersey). Built by volunteers from the Trail Conference in 2016, the trail climbs to several viewpoints from which the New York City skyline can be seen, passes a rock ledge with clumps of cactus (actually a native species!), and goes by a waterfall. The hike should take about 2 ½ hours. The reservation is about 20 miles from Teaneck, and it should take about 25 minutes to get there. For a complete description of the hike, go to https://jewishlink.news/hike-the-vista-loop-trail-in-ramapo-valley-county-reservation/
5. Loop Hike Along the Palisades South of State Line Lookout. This 3-mile, easy-to-moderate hike along the Palisades (in Bergen County, New Jersey), beginning at the State Line Lookout in Alpine, features many panoramic views over the Hudson River and Westchester County across the river. It also passes by the Women’s Federation Monument–a small stone “castle” that commemorates the efforts of the New Jersey Federation of Women’s Clubs to preserve the Palisades in the early 20th century. The hike is nearly flat for most of the way, but it includes a descent and then a climb of stone steps towards its end. It can be completed in two hours, but it might take you a little longer if you spend some time at the viewpoints along the way. The trailhead is about 14 miles from Teaneck, and it should take about 20 minutes to get there. For a complete description of the hike, go to https://jewishlink.news/hike-the-loop-hike-along-the-palisades-south-of-state-line-lookout/

This hiking article is provided by Daniel Chazin of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. The Trail Conference is a volunteer organization that builds and maintains over 2,000 miles of hiking trails and publishes a library of hiking maps and books. The Trail Conference’s office is at 600 Ramapo Valley Road (Route 202), Mahwah; (201) 512-9348; www.nynjtc.org. Daniel Chazin can be reached at [email protected].