Hike Reviews

April 15, 2018
5
One of my favorite hikes
Fourthcubix
This is one of my favorite hikes, I do it every season. A true hidden gem. I have found ticks on me on a few occasions as part of these trails are not as well maintained. Be careful!
August 08, 2017
4
mod-stren hike for 3.5 mi, followed by easy, then one last climb
SnowEcho
its mainly a moderate-strenuous hike for the first 3.5 miles - up mount misery, hill of pines and rattlesnake hill. but there is very minimal scrambling (maybe 3 times total?) - so i would not say strenuous or very strenuous. after these 3 hills/mountains, you come down to arthur's pond which is quite nice, then you have a long carriage road which is not just moderate, it's easy. if you were trail running you could easily run this section. then you turn back into the forest to scale black rock mountain - come back, see ben's bridge again, but don't cross it (otherwise you do the whole thing again) but go left up the red marked blazes to the parking lot. things we saw: we saw several mushrooms including a HUGE mushroom almost about a foot in diameter. we saw lots of frogs and newts (orange color) as well as huge worms (centipedes?) we also saw a snake on the side of the trail. and we ate from the many blueberry bushes that were ripe of blueberries. however at some point (on black rock) we saw another plant that had berries, but they were not blueberries. we're not sure what these were, they look exactly like blueberries but the plant is different than the blueberry bushes. the views are quite nice and the trail is well cleared for the most part. a couple of things to note: (1) the tower vue trail is actually not easy to miss, it is quite hard to miss and quite obvious. it did take us 5 min to get there, however i do think the wording here should be different and qualitative, bc not everyone walks at the same pace. perhaps the actual distance would be helpful. (2) at the end, the last summit on black rock mountain the description says "The trail turns right and descends gradually. With the wide White Oak Road visible ahead, the trail bears left and joins a woods road." but this is not completely right however, the trail doesn't turn right, you need to head back and turn left from the way you came (or turn right before you climb atop the rock and see the views) - as noted by the user @kleepet it looks like: "When you reach the top of Black Rock Mountain, the views are to your left, and it looks like the trail goes off that way, too. It does NOT. That is an old trail, marked with painted footprints that peter out. Note where you leave the real trail BEFORE you check out the views. It has an arrow with two points painted on the rock." we ended up following the old trail with painted blue footprints that peter out - and promptly got lost. There is a trail but then it just ends abruptly. For us, it was fine b/c we saw that it crosses the white trail at some point. but we followed the directions, not the comments and now that i'm seeing it, now i know to bring the comments with me. we also have the New York Walk Book so we'll be bringing that with us as well. if we were to do this again, i would look at kleepet's notes one more time. all in all, the directions were generally good - and the hike was good, thank you!
January 05, 2014
0
Your hike
Daniel Chazin
<p>I read your comment on my hike and tried to follow the route you describe on my map.</p> <p>To begin with, I note that you state that "I don't have a map of the area." &nbsp;While I consider my directions quite accurate, I would never do a hike in an area that I'm not familiar with -- or even generally in an area that I am familiar with -- without having a map with me. &nbsp;This is particularly the case when it comes to Black Rock Forest, which is criss-crossed by unmarked woods roads. &nbsp;I would highly recommend the Trail Conference's West Hudson Trails map set, which includes all the trails in Black Rock Forest. &nbsp;But if you don't want to purchase this map, Black Rock Forest makes available a free trail map at the trailhead kiosk. &nbsp;A map is also available online.</p> <p>Getting back to your description of where you think you actually went, you say: &nbsp;"After crossing the inlet stream of the pond, the trail reaches the dirt Bog Meadow Road, which it crosses on a slant. Turn right onto the woods road." &nbsp;Two things are incorrect there. &nbsp;First, the Scenic Trail does not cross the dirt Bog Meadow Road on a slant. &nbsp;Second, the trail turns left, not right, onto the road. &nbsp;</p> <p>Initially, I was completely puzzled as to what you did. &nbsp;After thinking about it some more and carefully reexamining the map, I think I know what you must have done. &nbsp;You must have turned right onto Carpenter Road, which the Scenic Trail intersects between Hill of Pines and Rattlesnake Hill (thus completely eliminating Rattlesnake Hill from your hike). &nbsp;If this is what you did, your alternative route makes complete sense. &nbsp;But that also means that if you had actually followed the route of the hike as described, you would have had no trouble following the cairn -- as you admit that the cairn was quite obvious once you reached its actual location.</p>
January 04, 2014
0
Some discrepancy in trail description possible
auoconnell
<p>Just did this hike (end of December 2013).&nbsp; Loved the hike -- and the views!&nbsp; We had trouble at the part of the description which references the cairn marker ("easy to miss").&nbsp; After backtracking several times, we gave up the search and took a few turns down woods roads.&nbsp; Not ten minutes after we did so, we stumbled across the cairn, and all of the subsequent directions guided us where we wanted to go.</p> <p>I don't have a map of the area.&nbsp; I'm curious whether, had we continued down the trail, we would eventually have come across the cairn via a longer route... definitely longer than 5 minutes from the junction.&nbsp; Below is the description of the route we took, for those interested:</p> <p>(from original directions) After pausing to enjoy the view, continue ahead on the white trail, which begins to descend, first steeply, then more gradually. The trail briefly runs along the southern boundary of Black Rock Forest, with Bog Meadow Pond visible through the trees to the left. After crossing the inlet stream of the pond, the trail reaches the dirt Bog Meadow Road, which it crosses on a slant. Turn right onto the woods road, and continue for a few minutes until you reach an intersection with another woods road.&nbsp; Take a left at the intersection.&nbsp; After a short distance, you will see white blazes reappear on the trees.&nbsp; Keep an eye out for the cairn to your right -- it is a good-sized cairn, with clearly marked yellow blazes on the tree above.</p> <p>Turn right and follow the yellow-blazed Tower Vue Trail over undulating terrain, through mountain laurel with an understory of blueberry. (continue with original directions)</p> <p>Eliminating our backtracking to try and find the cairn through the original instructions, this adjustment took about 10 minutes. We tend to walk at a good clip.</p> <p>If you try the hike in the winter, note that crossing below the dam can be tricky due to ice.&nbsp; We crossed on a log further downstream.</p> <p>Love this hike &amp; this area! Hope to be back soon.</p>
October 14, 2013
0
Parking lot at trailhead
Daniel Chazin
<p>There is a medium-size parking lot at the trailhead.&nbsp; I believe that there would be room for about 20 cars there, and I have never seen the parking lot filled to the point that no spaces were available.&nbsp; To the best of my recollection, there are no restroom facilities (not even a port-a-john) at the trailhead parking area.</p>
October 14, 2013
0
Re Hike description has been updated
Chaimspear
<p>Daniel,</p> <p>thank you for your hike postings, they are really useful.</p> <p>By any chance does this hike have a big parking lot and facilities?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>thank you again</p>
August 05, 2013
0
Did this hike a couple weeks ago
Manning Krull
<p>Did this hike a couple weeks ago (July 2013) and unfortunately we missed all the views due to crazy thick fog and clouds, but it was still a great day. Saw three ribbon snakes and a few cute chipmunks. Some of the uphill parts really got our hearts pounding! Everything was clear and well-marked.</p>
October 20, 2012
0
Hunting at Black Rock
PVPatrick
<p>Just a reminder, Black Rock Forest is closed to hikers during&nbsp;the regular deer&nbsp;hunting season which runs Nov 17 through December 9, 2012.</p>
October 14, 2012
0
Hike description has been updated
Daniel Chazin
<p>I did this hike again today and have updated the description.&nbsp; You are correct that there is no longer an arrow on the left side of the road to indicate the start of the Tower Vue Trail, and the description has been changed accordingly.&nbsp; As far as the time for the hike is concerned, it took us 5 hours and 20 minutes to complete the hike today.&nbsp; This includes over 15 minutes at the top of Hill of Pines and 25 minutes at the summit of Black Rock Mountain, but the whole point of the hike is to take your time and enjoy the views.&nbsp; If you are a fast hiker and don't spend much time at the viewpoints, you could certainly finish the hike in only 4 hours.</p>
July 21, 2012
0
Just finished today
estreetmont
<p>We did this hike today.&nbsp; Amazing!!&nbsp; Great views and well marked.&nbsp; Rattlesnake hill lived up to its name (We saw a big rattler sleeping under a rock at the top of the hill).&nbsp; We did not see the marker for the Tower Vue trail on the left side of the road.&nbsp; We did see the trail markers on the right side.&nbsp; Overall a great hike!! </p>
August 09, 2010
0
I hiked this trail on August 7th 2010
silverosepetals
I found that the trail description was very accurate, I picked up the map at the trail head, but I didn't open during the entire hike. The 2nd and last mountian had the best views. I took the recomendation to wear pants, and I am SO glad I did (I was going to wear capris) There is a lot of brush that gets about knee-high for a decent portion of the hike. Climing up to the first summit was deff VERY difficult; this was the most strenuous I have ever done (and I just got back from Acadia National Park where I hiked up 4 mountains, including Cadillac Mountain, the tallest peak on the island) If you are not a legit hiker, I would not attempt this trail. I would say that the time given to complete the 7.5 miles was off though, I finished it in 4 hours, not 5.5... however, while I did stop a bunch to rehydrate my dog and myself, and stopped breifly for pictures and to take in the views, i didn't stop for more than 10 minutes at a time, so if you are the type to really take in the scenery (which most people are, I'm just a speed hiker) then it might take you to full amount of time given... all in all the hike was enjoyable and described clearly...the only things I would like to comment on are: When you reach the tower vue trail there is no arrow on the left side of the road, but there is a cairn on the right side of the road with a trail head blaze marked in yellow on a tree behind the cairn, it is not as easy to miss as noted... when you decend the last mountain and it tells you to join a woods road, follow the description to go to the left, don't go on the actual road that you can see to the right. I got a little confused here, but maybe it was just me... have fun! bring LOTS of water! (and a camera)
July 29, 2009
0
Hiked this late July 2009
kleepet
<p>Great description and details about where to find the best views. Pretty strenuous to begin with, and the first view (Mt. Misery) was so-so. After that, it calmed down to moderate, and the views from Rattlesnake Hill and Black Rock Mountain (pictured above) are super.</p><p>Some comments on the trail as I found it: </p><ul> <li>The junction onto the Tower Vue trail had a cairn on the right; I did not see an arrow. The trail had a lot of undergrowth creeping onto it, so wear long pants.</li> <li>It says that when the White Oak Trail reaches Continental Road at a T intersection, you should turn right on the road and not follow the blazes. The blazes currently DO go to the right, so you will follow them at this part.</li> <li>When you reach the top of Black Rock Mountain, the views are to your left, and it looks like the trail goes off that way, too. It does NOT. That is an old trail, marked with painted footprints that peter out. Note where you leave the real trail BEFORE you check out the views. It has an arrow with two points painted on the rock.</li> <li>I completely lost the white-blazed Black Rock Hollow Trail at a pile of deadfalls. I wandered downhill for maybe 200 feet before I found it again.  </li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><p><b>Black Rock Forest map</b> here: http://www.blackrockforest.org/html-sites/default/files/imagemap.html</p><p>My photos from the hike here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kleepet/tags/blackrockforest/</p>