ABOUT THE PARKS:
DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.04756, -74.25139
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| Upper lot off of Skyline Drive. Expect it to be full by 9AM if not sooner. |
TRAIL MAP:
HIKE DISTANCE: 2.8 miles
THE HIKE:
My 6-year-old granddaughter, Ellie, had been expressing an interest in "hiking like grandma" and wanting to see a castle. We can do that! To earn her Girl Scout family hiking badge this was the hike that covered all bases in addition to a big surprise on the trail! Ellie also wished she had a camera to take pictures like grandma. Amazon to the rescue for children's cameras for Ellie and 4-year old Harry who would be meeting us at Van Slyke Castle with his parents and 19-month-old brother, Teddy. As planned, Ellie spent the night at grandma's and we headed out early in the morning on Easter Day to begin the hike.
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| Lesson #1: All good hikers carry a map. |
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| With your back to Skyline Drive, right on the white Castle Loop Trail. |
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| Ellie asked for my old trekking poles and she used them throughout the hike. |
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| When the Cannonball Trail comes in from the left, we went right on white/red and would be returning from the left. |
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| White leaves red to the left and we would be staying with white all the way to the castle ruins. |
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| As taught by her grandmother, parents and the Girl Scouts, Ellie insisted we pack out the plastic bottle some irresponsible and careless person tossed in the bushes. |
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| Taking a break. |
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| Ellie learned that even though her backpack was mostly empty early on, it soon filled up with layers of clothing as the weather warmed up. |
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| Coming up on the stone tower. |
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| But first up to the overlook. |
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| Stone Water Tower |
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| Continuing on to ... |
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| ... the next overlook. |
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| Van Slyke Castle |
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| Taking a break while waiting for the rest of the family to join us. |
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| And here they come! |
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| New York City skyline view from Van Slyke Castle. |
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| Ramapo Lake from Van Slyke Castle. |
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| Now Harry and Ellie would come with me down to Ramapo Lake and we would meet up with the others in a bit. |
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| Going down the ladder from the castle to descend very steeply at times. |
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| Coming up on Ramapo Lake. |
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| Time to backtrack a bit to the intersection of white and red to meet up with the rest of the family where... |
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| ... the Easter Bunny had left eggs along the trail for the Easter egg hunt! |
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| The Easter egg hunt on a hiking trail was a huge hit! |
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| Continuing on the red Cannonball Trail. |
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| The children figured out that there are games on their cameras. |
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| Very awesome hikers who loved this hike and want to keep hiking with grandma. |
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| Back at the parking lot with cars hovering for a spot. |
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ELLIE:
PHOTOGRAPHY BY HARRY:
