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.

Buttermilk Valley Entrance parking lot to Hartshorn Woods Park.






Laurel Ridge trail marker.











Grand Tour trail marker.

Huber Woods Park

This is the entrance to The Huber Woods Park Environmental Center parking area.





From the parking lot, take the Nature Loop trail into the woods to pick up the Fox Hollow trail. This is the marker at the crossroad.








This is the trail access parking area on Locust Point Road.










Huber Wood Park trail access from the Locust Point Road. The parking lot connects to Claypit Run.

Easy Ride at Manasquan Reservoir

It was a beautiful day for a trail, non-technical ride around the Manasquan Reservoir in Howell Township, Monmouth County. My sons and I did the Perimeter Trail which is a multi use (hiking, horseback riding, biking) five miles loop around the reservoir. The trail is generally very wide except for the wooden bridges and a few spots in the woods. The terrain is flat with packed gravel. There are a few inclines and twist and turns to make the trail fun to ride.

It took us about half an hour to complete the loop at a steady pace with a few stops for pictures. But plan on one to two hours if you will be riding with young children or if you plan to stop along the way to enjoy some the views.

Besides hiking, horseback riding and biking, there are also canoe, kayak and rowboat rentals, boat tours, fishing, picnic tables and barbeque pits, and children's playground. There is also an Environmental Center with exhibits and observation posts of nesting ospreys.

The Manasquan Reservoir is a great place for an easy trail ride or hike with kids and young

children.

Summary:

Easy hike and bike ride around a five mile loop around the Reservoir. Easy enough for young children and should provide a very enjoyable day out for the whole family. Besides the trail, there is also fishing. Boating, and picnicking at the Reservoir. There is also an Environmental Center.

Trail Description:

An easy, five mile, wide loop trail around Manasquan Reservoir that winds through woods and open areas around the Reservoir. Generally flat, hard packed gravel.

Directions:

· Garden State Parkway to Exit 98, Interstate 195 west. Proceed on I-195 west to Exit 28B, Rt. 9 north-Freehold. Stay in right lane when entering Rt. 9 north. At first traffic light, turn right onto Georgia Tavern Road. Follow Georgia Tavern Road for 0.3 mile. Turn right onto Windeler Rd. Continue 1.5 miles to the Reservoir Area on left.
· State Hwy. 9 south from Freehold to Georgia Tavern Rd. Use Jug handle to turn left onto Georgia Tavern Rd. Proceed on Georgia Tavern Rd. for 0.3 mile. Turn right onto Windeler Rd. Continue 1.5 miles to the Reservoir Area on left.

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.

Bike Ride at Lake Minnewaska State Park

My brother and I went mountain biking this past Saturday at Lake Minnewaska State Park in the Shawngunks. My two sons didn’t want to get up for the 7:30 AM start so they stayed home for this one. They would have loved the ride. My brother and I certainly did. It was definitely worth the drive.

We pulled into the parking lot at around 10:15 AM. The lot was already half full. By the time we finished our ride and got back to the car around 1:30 PM, the lot was full and the park entrance was closed. Cars were lined up waiting to get into the park. I can’t blame people for going there that day. It was a beautiful autumn day with the temperature in the mid seventies. The foliage was just fantastic.

We took the Upper Awosting Carriageway (Green marker) from Lake Minnewaska to Lake Awosting , around the lake on the Lake Awosting Carriageway (Black marker), and back to Lake Minnewaska by way of the Castle Point Carriageway (Blue marker). The round trip is about 12 miles and took me and my brother about three hours to complete – with plenty of stops along the way to take in the views. The first half of the route was a steady up hill with a few drips and was a lot of work. The second half of the route – the fun half – was down hill almost all the way. There was a short climb toward the end that I didn’t expect. The downhill can be fast, especially when there are no hikers on the trail to get in the way, and are dangerous, so use caution and check your speed. See more of the pictures I took at Lake Minnewaska State Park at Flickr.

Long sections of the trails are all wide old carriage road with loose gravel or dirt, exposed roots, rocks and out crops along the ledges. The trail around Lake Awosting is not a former carriage road and is narrow with lots of exposed roots and rocks.

These trails are designated as multi-use, so expect families with young kids and strollers, hikers and horse riders.

I would rate the route that my brother and I took as moderate for the distance and grades. And it is a better ride and “easier” ride following our route instead of riding the revised direction.

I think my 11 year old and 8 year old would have handled the trail just fine even with the distance and climbs. It would be tougher for them and for me if the ride was in summer with higher temperatures and humidity.

I would not hike this route with kids. It is too long and not that interesting the first leg of the route from Lake Minnewaska to Lake Awosting.

Summary:
A scenic and intense ride – due to being close to the ledges during the descends - with mostly wide rolling trails. The trails do get crowded, especial close to Lake Minnewaska and the parking lots, so get there early in the morning.

Trail Description:
Lake Minnewaska State Park, Ulster County, New York. Shawangunk Mountain ridge more than 2,000 feet above sea level.

Upper Awosting Carriageway (Green) from Lake Minnewaska to Lake Awosting , around the lake on the Lake Awosting Carriageway (Black), and back to Lake Minnewaska by way of the Castle Point Carriageway (Blue). Twelve miles round trip: first half mostly steady up hill climbs; second half mostly down hill descend with loose rock and gravel and drops. Use caution and check your speed during descend. Yield to riders on horseback and hikers. Helmet required.

How I got there:

From the south, we took exit 18 off the New York Thruway (I-87) and turn left onto Route 299 west. Went through town and continue until Route 299 ended. Made a right onto NY Route 44/55 west. Drove drive up the hill with the hair pin turn (a landmark?), passed the rock climbing area for another three miles(?), and turned left to enter the park. Paid $6.00 at the gate and got a trail map. Drove a short distant up to the parking lot and parked.