Henry Hudson Trail, NJ - Aberdeen to Marlboro

ABOUT THE PARK:
Henry Hudson Trail - Monmouth County Park System

DIRECTIONS:

GPS Coordinates 40.409319,-74.230666

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Parking is at the YMCA on Church Street.

TRAIL MAP:
Henry Hudson Trail (South) - Monmouth County Park System

HIKE DISTANCE:
Aberdeen (Church Street) to Marlboro (Harbor Road) 3.5 miles one way, 7 miles round trip

THE HIKE:

Walk from the parking lot to Church Street, turn right, take about 2 steps, then turn right on the Henry Hudson Trail.

A tiny little trail user.

A feral cat colony lives along the trail.  They seem to be used to dogs walking by.

The trail follows along an unattractive power cut for the most part but wow, the foliage!

Still a colorful fall flower here and there.

Lots and lots of birds all along the trail.

I think I see some winter stash being transported in those cheeks.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Walk out of parking lot to Church Road, turn right then right again on Henry Hudson Trail
[  0.60]  Cross Route 79 - cross to the left then to the right, trail continues to right of paving stone company
[  1.00]  Cross Wilson Avenue
[  1.10]  Cross Texas Road
[  2.00]  Cross Greenwood Road
[  2.10]  Cross Tennent Road
[  2.45]  Go under old bridge
[  2.75]  Cross Brown Road
[  2.85]  Power cut leaves to the right
[  2.90]  Cross road at cemetery
[  3.05]  Possible trail parking lot on right (not on map)
[  3.50]  Harbor Road; retrace

Harriman State Park, NY - Reeves Brook to Diamond Mountain to Stony Brook

ABOUT THE PARK:
Harriman State Park - The Palisades Parks Conservancy
Harriman State Park - New York State Parks

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates to Reeves Meadow Visitor Center parking 41.173744,-74.168567

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This parking lot fills up quickly, even during the week.  Monday at 7:30 AM...

... Monday at 2:30 PM, lot packed and people hovering for spots.  Everyone tends to go to Pine Meadow Lake - ran into very few hikers on this hike.

TRAIL MAP:  NY/NJ Trail Conference Southern Harriman Bear Mountain Trails Map 118

PEAK BAGGING:
Diamond Mountain - Peakery.com

HIKE DISTANCE:  6.5 miles

THE HIKE:

Start on the red on white Pine Meadow Trail from the parking lot for a short distance then turn right on the white-blazed Reeves Brook Trial.

Only 9 days ago there was very little color in this area - now past peak with lots of leaf drop but still very nice color at the views.

The white trail follows along pretty Reeves Brook.

An abandoned home on the trail.

Immediately after turning left on the blue on white Seven Hills Trail, a steep uphill scramble that can present a huge challenge for dogs.

Checking to be sure I am really serious about going this way.

Some incentive part of the way up.

Almost there...

Now that was worth the climb!

After crossing a gas pipeline cut, up to more panoramic views.

Views continue along the Seven Hills Trail.

A brand new bridge replaces the one destroyed by Hurricane Irene where the Seven Hills and Kakiat Trails cross over Pine Meadow Creek.  (Shown as "bridge out" on the 2012 map.)

Pine Meadow Creek

Not at all amused at yet another claw-biting vertical scramble.

But there is a chicken jerky reward at the top for her...

... and more views for both of us.

Lake Sebago comes into view.

The descent on the red line on white Tuxedo-Mt. Ivy Trail was much gentler than the climb up.

The Tuxedo-Mt. Ivy Trail crosses Diamond Creek before ending at the orange trail.

The yellow-blazed trail runs along scenic Stony Brook.

Foliage in the gas pipeline cut.

It was an amazing crystal clear day.

Now that feels good!

Stony Brook

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Take red square on white trail Pine Meadow Trail to right of kiosk and visitor center
[  0.05]  Turn right on white Reeves Brook Trail
[  1.20]  Left on blue on white Seven Hills Trail; steep vertical scramble
[  1.50]  Rock hop creek then cross gas pipeline cut
[  1.75]  Orange merges in from the right then leaves to the left; stay on blue on white
[  2.05]  Right on blue on white/red on white combined
[  2.10]  Left on blue on white/red on white when white joins in from the right, cross bridge then turn left on blue on white/white when red on white goes right
[  2.20]  Right on blue on white when white goes straight (turn hard to see - blaze on large boulder)
[  2.75]  Orange comes in from left; stay on blue on white/orange when yellow starts to the right
[  3.00]  Orange leaves to the left, stay on blue on white
[  3.05]  Yellow starts on the right, stay on blue on white
[  3.45]  Keep left on blue on white when grassy woods road goes right
[  3.70]  Turn left on red line on white Tuxedo-Mt. Ivy Trail
[  4.10]  Rock hop Diamond Creek
[  4.25]  Left on orange when red line on white goes straight
[  4.30]  Right on yellow Stony Brook Trail when orange goes straight
[  4.50]  Rock hop over Diamond Creek
[  5.60]  White joins in from right, cross bridge, right on white/yellow after bridge
[  5.95]  Cross gas pipeline
[  6.00]  Cross bridge
[  6.10]  Turn right on red square on white Pine Meadow Trail
[  6.50]  Back at parking lot