Explorer's Guide 50 Hikes in the Lower Hudson Valley by Green Mountain Club

Author:Green Mountain Club
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Countryman Press
Published: 2014-05-13T16:00:00+00:00

Introduction to the West Hudson Area

New York’s Orange County—known by hikers as the West Hudson area—has four distinct hiking areas: privately owned Black Rock Forest and Schunemunk Mountain, Storm King, and Sterling Forest State Parks.

BLACK ROCK FOREST

Black Rock Forest is a 3,800-acre preserve dedicated to scientific research, education, and conservation of the natural ecosystem that once covered this entire region. Only 50 miles north of New York City, the area is home to numerous ponds, wetlands, and great biological diversity.

The land remains relatively pristine, thanks to the foresight of Dr. Ernest Stillman, who in 1949 established and endowed it as a Harvard University research forest. In 1989, after Harvard decided the tract was no longer needed for its programs, the land was acquired by the late philanthropist William Golden, who established the not-for-profit Black Rock Forest Preserve.

Today, the forest is used as a field station by the Black Rock Forest Consortium, comprising 20+ private and public educational and research institutions, including the New York–New Jersey Trail Conference (NY–NJTC). The consortium provides a center for research and teaching at all levels and serves as an information network linking students, researchers, teachers, administrators, and institutions.

Public access continues. Hikers in the forest may notice distinctive plots of native trees, each with differing timber-management techniques. All but one of the half-dozen ponds are part of water systems for nearby towns, so laws prohibit use of them in any way. Dirt roads connect the various plots and are used by the forest’s managers, but public vehicular traffic is not permitted. The Black Rock Fish & Game Club has sole permission to hunt the numerous deer that populate the forest. The property is closed to the public during deer season and may also be closed during times of high fire danger and for occasional special events. Call 845-534-4517 for information, or go to www.blackrockforest.org. Organized groups such as hiking clubs must call to preregister.

SCHUNEMUNK MOUNTAIN STATE PARK

Schunemunk Mountain sits in solitary splendor, its long, gently rounded form isolated from the Hudson Highlands and the Shawangunks as completely as its rocks are separated by the ages from their surroundings. Light grayish and pinkish sandstones, shales, and conglomerates crown its summit ridge. Hikers marvel at the unique conglomerate bedrock, commonly called puddingstone, so apparent when walking along either of the two distinct ridges. In many places the bedrock has been ground down to a smooth surface by the movement of glaciers. The purplish hue of the main rock houses different sizes of pink-and lavender-colored rocks as well as attractive white quartz pebbles.

The name Schunemunk is believed to mean “excellent fireplace” and was given to the Leni-Lenape Native American village once located on the northern part of the mountain that is now a familiar sight to travelers on the adjacent New York State Thruway.

The northern half of the ridge was saved from development by Star Expansion Industries, the Ogden Family Foundation, and the Storm King Art Center, which, under the leadership of H. Peter Stern, formed the Mountainville Conservancy.

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