Sam's Point Dwarf Pine Ridge Preserve

Here are a couple of pictures from my hike with my sons from last October at Sam’s Point Preserve located in Cragsmoor in Ulster County New York. .

Sam's Point is a 5,400-acre preserve that sits on the highest point of the Shawangunk Ridge, south of Mohonk and Minnewaska State Park Preserves. The Preserve is owned by the Open Space Institute and managed by The Nature Conservancy.

It was beautiful day and a lot of fun but very exhausting. The hike to the Ice Cave and the Verkeerderkill Falls and back was about an eight-mile hike. It is the longest hike to date for my two sons. The trails were very rocky.

The best part of the hike for us was along the side of the ridge and the Ice Caves. The Verkeerderkill Falls was a disappointment from the top of the falls. I think most waterfalls are better enjoyed at the bottom of the falls.

Summary:

This hike climbs to Sam's Point, with spectacular views, follows a narrow path through the crevices of the Ice Caves, and continues to Verkeerderkill Falls - the highest waterfall in the Shawangunks. The whole loop is not suitable for very young children. My two sons, 7 and 10 years old at the time, were very tied after the 6 hour hike: Stop often and bring lots of water and snacks.

Trail Description:

Moderate to strenuous loop trail about 8 miles of exposed rocks and roots. No long uphills or downhills except some rock scrambling in the Ice Caves.

Directions:

From the South: Take the New York Thruway (Interstate 87) to Rt. 17 West to Exit 119 and continue on Rt. 302 North for about 10 miles to Pine Bush. In Pine Bush, Rt. 302 ends, make a left onto Rt. 52 and continue for about 6 miles. Just before the crest of a hill, turn right onto Cragsmoor Road. Go about one mile to the Cragsmoor post office and make a right in front of post office, continue for a short distance and make a right onto Sam's Point Road and follow it for about 1.7 miles to the entrance of the Preserve.

From the North: Take New York Thruway to Kingston. In Kingston, take Rt. 209/Ellenville. Follow Rt. 209 to Ellenville center. Turn left onto Rt. 52 and continue for about four miles. Look for a green sign pointing left to Cragsmoor Road. Shortly after the sign, make a left onto Cragsmoor Road. Go about one mile to the Cragsmoor post office and make a right in front of post office, continue for a short distance and make a right onto Sam's Point Road and follow it for about 1.7 miles to the entrance of the Preserve.

Holmdel Park and Longstreet Farm

My sons and I went hiking at Holmdel Park this past weekend. It was a perfect autumn day for a short hike in the woods. Holmdel Park is where I brought my sons a few years ago for their first real hike in the woods. My older son was 6 years old then and the younger one was four years old.

We hiked part of the High Point trail, the Marsh Trail and the Ridge Walk. The total distance was about mile and a half and the terrain was relatively flat. We started our hike at the High Point trail head north of the tennis courts at the hill top portion of the park and ended the hike coming off the Ridge Walk trail south of the tennis courts. The trail is natural dirt and wounded through woods and marsh.

Holmdel Park and Longstreet Farm are part of the Monmouth County Park system located in Holmdel, New Jersey. I think it is the best park in the whole system.

The park has a network of hiking trails in the woods, lawns for outdoor games and activities, five tennis courts, two playgrounds for children, a fish stocked pond, and an arboretum. In the winter, when conditions permit, there is a small pond next to the bigger pond that offers a place to ice skating and a hill for sledding. During summer weekends, the park is a popular place with families, church and community groups to have picnics and gatherings.

Schools and other organization also use the park’s trials for cross country runs. Longstreet Farm is right after the entrance to the park on the right hand side. The farm has been preserved and volunteers run the farm dressed in period outfits and work the fields using horses and tools from the late 1800s. There are exhibits and animals to look at and daily and seasonal agricultural and domestic activities.

Holmdel Park and Longstreet Farm is definitely worth taking your kids and young children to visit. Most of the hiking trails should be easy to do with kids and children as young as three years old. There is no mountain bike riding on the trails.

Map of Holmdel Park

Summary:

Easy hikes in the woods for children and should provide very enjoyable hikes for novice and experienced hikers alike. The trails do get crowded at times and sometimes are used for running events. Besides the trail, there is also fishing at the pond, tennis and Longstreet Farm. Check the park for scheduled events before going if you don’t like large crowds.

Trail Description:

Few miles of trail in the woods, rated easy to moderate.

Directions:

*Garden State Parkway to Exit 114. Southbound, turn right onto Red Hill Rd; northbound, turn left onto Red Hill Rd. Follow Red Hill Rd. to Everett Rd., turn right (heading west). Follow Everett Rd. to Roberts Rd., turn left. Follow Roberts Rd. to Longstreet Rd.; turn right to Park on left.

*State Hwy. 34 to Roberts Rd. (1.75 miles north of Rt. 520). Southbound, turn left; northbound, turn right. Follow Roberts Rd. to Longstreet Rd., turn left. Park is on left.

*State Hwy. 35 to Holmdel/Keyport Rd. Northbound, turn left; southbound, and turn right. Follow Holmdel/Keyport Rd. to Crawfords Corner Rd., turn left. Continue to Longstreet Rd., turn right Park is on right.