New Trail To Hook Mountain From Nyack Beach Park Opens June 18

NYACK, NY — A spectacular new trail connecting the riverfront at Nyack Beach State Park in Upper Nyack with the summit of Hook Mountain will open with a celebration June 18.

"The new trail completes an important circuit connecting the Hudson River's edge with the 'Long Path' to the top of Hook Mountain," said David Neil, Board Chair of The Friends of Rockland Lake & Hook Mountain. "But it's much more than a ‘linker' path. It's a magnificent blending of nature and human ingenuity."

Located at the heart of one of Rockland County's most cherished nature preserves, the new trail officially opens with a ceremony at noon June 18 in the lower parking lot at Nyack Beach.

The public is invited to participate. The event has capacity for 200 people. Due to COVID restrictions, all guests must RSVP.

After the brief opening ceremony, attendees are invited join a guided walk on the new trail. Trail snacks and water will be provided. Hikers should plan to devote roughly one hour to the walk.

The trail is built on solid rock: huge slabs of "diabase" and giant boulders, engineered and sculpted to form bridges, walkways, and staircases — all crafted by the NY-NJ Trail Conference Long Distance Trails Crew. The crew's all-volunteer team visualized and designed the trail, and then devoted two years and thousands of hours of grueling labor to complete it.

The surrounding trail habitat is home to a wide variety of woodland plants and wildlife — an open, peaceful environment where the hush of the low woods offers a tranquil background for birdsongs and the sound of spring water making its way down the mountainside.

"People seeking outdoor adventures in mountain communities should put Rockland County on their list — a Hudson River estuary with over 2,000 acres of public land open for exploration and recreation," said Neil. "What's more, Nyack Beach State Park, with the cliffs at Hook Mountain, is one of only 602 National Park Service-designated National Natural Landmark sites in the United States."

"So if you want a beautiful experience in a magnificent natural park, you don't have to travel thousands of miles west," Neil added. "That's a big advantage for our community at any time, but especially now as we're emerging from the COVID pandemic."

The new trail has been in the making for seven years. It began with the vision of a pathway that would complete a loop integrating four state parks: Nyack Beach, Hook Mountain, Haverstraw Beach and Rockland Lake.

"Over a dozen organizations have worked tirelessly, and in close collaboration, to bring this vision to life, undertaking everything from land acquisition to the moving of mountains (almost literally) to painting trail blazes and completing all the finishing touches," said Neil.

"Our mission was, and is, to enhance the experience of park visitors, while protecting these public lands," said Elizabeth Co, President of the Friends of Rockland Lake & Hook Mountain. "The new trail accomplishes that beautifully."

A key step was the acquisition of 30 acres of the property locally known as "Marydell," owned since 1924 by the Sisters of Our Lady of Christian Doctrine. SEE: Marydell Deal Complete, Hook Mountain State Park Expands in Upper Nyack

This offers the only southern public access point to the summit. With the acquisition, this land and the new trail are now incorporated into the Hook Mountain and Nyack Beach state parks.

Working closely with the Trust for Public Land and other parties, The Friends of Rockland Lake & Hook Mountain also secured a conservation easement on 10 acres of private property adjacent to the parks. That added step provides protection to 40 acres at the southern base of Hook Mountain, a valuable community asset.

"None of this would have been possible without the support of many organizations, and the many hours of work offered by many dedicated individuals who generously donated their time and skills," said Bob Stien, Friends of Rockland Lake & Hook Mountain board member.

"It's a great accomplishment. The new trail adds important value to our community, and will attract hikers and nature lovers from across the tri-state area and beyond."

The Friends of Rockland Lake & Hook Mountain is a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to supporting the preservation of the local history and natural resources of Rockland Lake, Hook Mountain, Nyack Beach State Park and Haverstraw Beach State Park.

The organization educates the general public about these local treasures, and strives to protect and preserve them for future generations. Engaging young people in learning about the environment, understanding the importance of preservation and the impact of human activity, and experiencing natural habitats firsthand is a key program goal.

Working alongside The Friends who will host the event, the following organizations contributed significant time and resources in creating the new trail:

• NY-NJ Trail Conference Long Distance Trails Crew
• Palisades Interstate Park Commission
• N.Y. State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
• The Marydell Faith & Life Center and the Sisters of Our Lady Christian Doctrine
• Trust for Public Land
• New York State Environmental Protection Fund
• Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Corporation
• Town of Clarkstown
• Village of Upper Nyack
• Open Space Institute
• The Durst Organization

Speakers at the ribbon-cutting ceremony will include:

• David Neil, Board Chair, Friends of Rockland Lake & Hook Mountain, Event Host
• Josh Laird, Executive Director, Palisades Interstate Park Commission
• Andy Fyfe, Director of Land Acquisition, NY State Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation
• Carter Strickland, NY State Director, Trust for Public Land
• Josh Howard, Executive Director, NY-NJ Trail Conference
• Sister Eileen, Marydell Faith & Life Center
• Elected officials from Clarkstown and Village of Upper Nyack

RSVP: The public is invited to the opening celebration and to the guided walk. Space is limited. Everyone interested in attending should make a reservation by contacting event organizer Melody Parkrick at melodypartrick@gmail.com