November 5, 2022 – Haverstraw, NY
Issue: Straightforward
Size: Roughly 4.5 miles
Max elevation: 131 ft.– complete elevation acquire roughly 373 ft.
Route sort: Out and again
Purchase Map (Paper & Avenza): Hudson Palisades Trails Map #111 (2018)
Trailhead parking: Hudson River Greenway trailhead & parking
Riverside Ave, Haverstraw, NY 10927
Paved parking space for about 8 automobiles – No restrooms on web site
The park is open year-round, from daybreak to nightfall.
Overview:
The 73-acre Haverstraw Seaside State Park is nestled between the excessive cliffs of Hook Mountain and the Hudson River. It’s a element of the bigger Rockland Lake State Park complicated. The park complicated is situated on the Hudson River in central Rockland County within the decrease Hudson Valley. Haverstraw Seaside State Park is minimally developed, and is NOT a swimming seashore, however primarily gives trails for biking, mountain climbing and dog-walking. Scenic vistas overlooking the Hudson River, will be discovered inside the park. The Hook Mountain/Nyack Seaside Bikeway/River Path runs by the park.
Haverstraw Seaside, Rockland Lake, Hook Mountain and Nyack Seaside state parks are collectively almost 2,000 acres of public land. The 4 adjoining state parks are linked collectively by mountain climbing and biking trails and performance as one park system.
The park complicated is situated within the Palisades Area that’s collectively administered by the Palisades Interstate Park Fee (PIPC) and NYS Workplace of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP).
Historical past:
In Dutch, “Haverstroo” means “oat straw,” probably instructed by the wild oats that grew on the waterfront beds of pure clay within the space. This clay helped the Haverstraw space play a big function within the brick business, because of the clay content material within the soil and the big amount of wooden accessible close by, together with wooden from Hook Mountain that was wanted to fireplace the furnaces. Some proof from this time interval stays within the space within the type of ruins and discarded bricks.
On the night time of September twenty first, 1780, British spy Main John André traveled north on a British sloop, the H.M.S. Vulture. On the similar time, American Common Benedict Arnold traveled south from West Level to Haverstraw. Arnold met Andre alongside the Hudson River shoreline close to Haverstraw’s Dutchtown within the early morning hours of September 22, 1780. A stone marker identifies the place the place Andre landed (Andre’s Dock).
The H.M.S. Vulture was anchored in Haverstraw Bay simply off Teller’s Level (Croton Level Park), whereas a rowboat introduced André ashore for the assembly with Arnold. A historic marker alongside the River Path designates the world the place American Common Benedict Arnold met secretly with British Main John André within the pre-dawn darkness on September 22, 1780 with a view to finalize plans for Arnold’s betrayal of West Level to the British.
The park’s location was previously often called Snedeker’s Touchdown then in a while Waldberg Touchdown. Early within the nineteenth Century the Snedeker household’s touchdown on the Hudson shore beneath, got here into use for native delivery. In 1845 the Snedekers established a shipyard with marine railway for repairing brickyard vessels and a dock for scheduled steamboats. All the yard was demolished by fireplace in 1854 and deserted. Later through the Conger household possession it grew to become often called Waldberg Touchdown.
The Palisades Interstate Park Fee bought what was to develop into the park in 1911 to guard the land from the results of quarrying that had been impacting the Hudson River Palisades through the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Lots of the historic constructions and websites discovered on Hook Mountain, Nyack Seaside and Haverstraw Seaside State Parks are remnants of a former park complicated developed by PIPC after the acquisition of the land in 1911.
Trails Overview:
The Lengthy Path runs alongside the escarpment above, whereas a motorcycle path follows the river’s edge from Haverstraw Seaside State Park in “Dutchtown,” a quaint part of Haverstraw, to Nyack Seaside State Park in Higher Nyack. Guests can bike, hike, stroll, or run for nearly 5 uninterrupted miles alongside the Hudson River. The River Path is the one path alongside the decrease Hudson River in New York, that doesn’t share its waterfront with a prepare line or freeway. The Lengthy Path parallels this path excessive above atop the cliffs.
Three connecting trails to the Lengthy Path, one every on the north, south, and center factors of the magnificent facade of Hook Mountain, permit for round hikes of various lengths. The total loop of the Lengthy Path and bike path is 12 miles.
The part of the River Path chronicled right here, runs close to the bottom of Hook Mountain and is a part of Hudson River Valley Greenway. The roughly 10-foot huge path is paved on the northern finish, however transitions to crumbling asphalt then gravel because it heads south.
Hike Overview:
Trying to get exterior on a heat November day, I used to be on the lookout for extra of a straightforward stroll than an precise hike. Initially, I used to be going to stroll the River Path from Nyack Seaside State Park, however having walked that part quite a few instances, determined to start out on the northern finish in Haverstraw. I additionally wished to take a look at “Treason Rock” often known as “Traitor’s Rock.” An engraved boulder on the shore of the Hudson River, marking the spot the place Main John André landed in Haverstraw to plot the give up of West Level with Common Benedict Arnold. The issue is, the engraved boulder can solely be considered throughout low tide. I should return one other time to really see it. The NY-NJ Path Convention map exhibits Treason Rock on land, however it’s truly on the shore of the river.
This part of the River Path is much less common and thus much less traveled than the world round Nyack Seaside State Park. There being solely 8 parking areas could also be one of many causes that this part sees much less foot site visitors. We noticed a couple of 1/2 dozen folks strolling and about the identical quantity of bikers. In contrast to the part at Nyack Seaside State Park which runs principally at river degree, the River Path in Haverstraw Seaside State Park runs increased above the river with a couple of spur trails that descend to river degree.
That is a straightforward out and again which will be simply become an extended and tougher hike by using the Lengthy Path, or persevering with alongside the River Path 4.9 miles to Nyack Seaside State Park.
As you may see beneath, the River Path is usually average rolling terrain, with little elevation acquire.
The Hike:
This hike begins on the Hudson River Greenway trailhead parking space, on the finish of Riverside Avenue, the place there are lined parking areas for 8 automobiles.
Proceed previous the gate on the paved River Path. This can be a multi-use path so be vigilant of passing two-wheelers and runners.
As you stroll south on the River Path, the Hudson River is seen by the bushes on the left. In about 250 yards, there’s a historic marker alongside the pathway detailing American Common Benedict Arnold’s assembly with British spy John André.
In about 0.3 mile from the parking space, there’s a footpath on the left that leads right down to outdated Redstone Seaside, which was deserted someday after World Conflict II. We continued previous and explored this space on the way in which again.
Simply forward are the stays of the caretaker’s dwelling, barely seen by the vegetation.
A brief distance forward, there’s a deteriorated outdated park constructing on the left.
Quickly, the River Path passes stone quarries that had been deserted within the early 1900’s. Just a few hundred yards south, one can see the muse and big concrete footings of the Foss stone crusher (Wilson Perkins Foss), down beneath on the left.
The River Path climbs steadily and passes a concrete and brick shelter constructed into the hillside. Presumably a crude blast shelter to guard staff from blasts, explosions and rock slides throughout quarry operations.
Fencing has been positioned at factors of abrasion to warn guests of steep slopes and scale back the danger of accidents.
About 1.5 miles from the beginning, the River Path involves a viewpoint over the Hudson River and Croton Level Park. There are a few giant stone blocks positioned right here to sit down upon. This makes for a great place to take a break and benefit from the view.
I noticed one thing floating within the river, probably a private flotation system that fell out of a ship.
The point of view makes for a great turnaround spot, however we continued south for a brief distance and had been glad that we did.
A big hollowed out fallen tree which might make a pleasant shelter for some critters.
I occurred to identify a Bald Eagle perched on a tree overlooking the river. He stayed there posing for us for fairly a while, then flew off on the lookout for one thing to eat I presume.
We then retraced our steps on the River Path and once we obtained to the footpath to Redstone Seaside, we turned proper and descended in direction of the river’s edge.
The world is now in ruins and just a little overgrown, however in its heyday was fairly energetic. There are remnants of park benches and walkways designed to accommodate guests who used the Hudson River for swimming and different leisure actions.
What stays of an outdated park constructing, probably a altering room for beach-goers, is located near the sting of the river.
Shoreline view of the Hudson River east to Croton-on-Hudson in Westchester County.
Wanting south, that strip of land jutting out into the river behind the buoy, is Teller’s Level in Croton Level Park
Wanting instantly throughout the Hudson River to Croton-On-Hudson.
Wanting north in direction of Haverstraw and past.
This location all through historical past has had numerous names. initially it was referred to as Snedekers Touchdown, then Waldberg Touchdown, and at last Redstone Seaside.
The concrete desk tops are just about intact, however have been separated from the legs.
A small park constructing, a concession stand maybe?
After exploring Redstone Seaside for a bit, we returned to the River Path, turned proper and walked again to the parking space, the place the hike started.
Overview:
A very nice stroll with little foot site visitors. The path is usually shaded and with minimal elevation acquire, makes it best for a scorching summer time day. In winter, in all probability a great place to view Bald Eagles and different birds of prey. In Autumn, the surroundings is sort of good.
Professionals:
Straightforward strolling path, historic options, Hudson River views. wildlife.
Cons:
None.
Take a hike!
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