Rockland Lake Loop
June 19, 2022 – Valley Cottage, NY
Problem: Simple
Size: Roughly 3.3 miles
Max elevation: 161 ft.– whole elevation acquire roughly 66 ft.
Route sort: Circuit
Purchase Maps (Paper & Avenza): Hudson Palisades Trails Map #111
Free Internet Map: Rockland Lake State Park Map 2021
Trailhead parking: Rockland Lake Rd, Valley Cottage, NY 10989
Charge: $10.00 per automobile Day Use (in season) – Empire Pass Accepted
Ample parking is accessible – Restrooms on website
The park is open year-round, from daylight to nightfall.
Please Be aware: Could 1 to September thirtieth, canines not permitted within the Park. October 1 to March 31, canines permitted within the Park however not on bike path or improved walkways.
Rockland Lake State Park is situated within the hamlets of Congers and Valley Cottage within the japanese a part of the City of Clarkstown in Rockland County, NY. It consists of 1,133 acres, together with a picturesque 256-acre contemporary water lake, circled by a 3.2-mile paved multi-use path. The lake is situated on a ridge of Hook Mountain above the west financial institution of the Hudson River. The Park consists of a big public swimming pool, golf programs, tennis courts, picnic benches and charcoal grills. Many picturesque areas will be discovered surrounding Rockland Lake that present vital scenic vistas of the lake, flora and surrounding topography.
Rockland Lake
Rockland Lake State Park could be very closely used in the course of the summer time season for picnicking, swimming, strolling, bicycling, {golfing} and area actions. On heat summer time weekends and holidays, the park is commonly crammed to capability. It has two 18-hole golf programs, a Championship Golf Course and an Govt Golf Course.
Rockland Lake State Park is a mixture of developed and undeveloped lands, together with the 256-acre lake and a forested wetland. It has been designated a Hen Conservation Space (BCA) and Birding is a well-liked exercise on the park.
Nice Blue Heron – Rockland Lake
Rockland Lake, Hook Mountain, Nyack Seashore State Park, and Haverstraw Seashore State Park are collectively almost 2,000 acres of public land. The 4 adjoining state parks are linked collectively by mountain climbing and biking trails and performance as one park system.
The park advanced is situated within the Palisades Area that’s collectively administered by the Palisades Interstate Park Fee and NYS Workplace of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP).
Historical past:
Rockland Lake, due to its clear spring fed water and proximity to the Hudson River, New York Metropolis, and worldwide transport lanes, grew to become the undisputed chief within the ice harvesting trade, and the Knickerbocker Ice Firm was shaped in 1831.
Ice harvesting – Rockland Lake
What started as a single warehouse to retailer the ice blocks neatly lower into 20” x 40” rectangles quickly grew to become three large constructions able to containing over 100,000 tons of ice. As ice was harvested, it was conveyed to Rockland Touchdown by a type of “escalator” and loaded onto riverboats. The Knickerbocker Ice Firm at one time employed 4 thousand males. Icehouses measuring greater than 350 toes lengthy, 100 toes large, and 50 toes excessive, every with as much as a 100,000-ton capability, had been located on the northeast nook of the lake.
Icehouse – Rockland Lake
With the arrival of electrical energy and refrigeration., synthetic ice changed the pure variety, and residential freezers meant provide might rise and demand fall. The Knickerbocker Ice Firm closed in 1924. In 1926, one of many icehouses caught hearth throughout demolition, and the fireplace unfold and destroyed a lot of the village of Rockland Lake. The inspiration of the ice firm stays in the present day, however not a lot else exists to remind us of this once-flourishing trade.
On July 24, 1958, the Palisades Interstate Park Fee (PIPC) acquired the primary property to create Rockland Lake State Park. This consisted of the 256-acre lake and 225 acres of adjoining land. The $735,000 acquisition was generously donated by PIPC Commissioners W. Averell Harriman, George W. Perkins, and Laurence S. Rockefeller. The State of New York (NYS) offered an identical appropriation for this reward. By December 31, 1964, with additional Fee presents totaling $223,000, and Park and Recreation Bond Challenge allocations of $1,040,925, a complete of 1,035 acres had been bought. Since that point, a further 98 acres has been acquired for a complete of 1,133 acres.
Trails Overview:
The ten-foot large, paved pathway stretches 3.2 miles because it absolutely circles the lake. Accessible to wheelchairs and shared by bicyclists, hikers, rollerbladers and joggers, the path passes swimming swimming pools, golf programs, ballfields and picnic areas because it follows the lake’s shoreline. Parking areas are spaced across the lake, giving entry to restrooms and alternative to go to the park’s nature heart. The paved loop is open to hike 12 months spherical and gives entry to snowshoeing and cross-country snowboarding trails within the winter.
Rockland Lake Multi-Use Path
Brief trails with a mix of wood boardwalks and footbridges, will be discovered on the Nature Middle. Situated on the northern finish of the lake, between Parking Area #6 and Parking Area #1, it definitely deserves a go to.
Rockland Lake Nature Middle
Hike Overview:
I’ve visited Rockland Lake State Park many instances all through the years, beginning after I was a child. It’s an attractive space that has many issues to take pleasure in on any given day. If you’re looking for solitude, this isn’t the place for you. At anytime in the course of the 12 months, you’ll encounter folks strolling the paved path or engaged in every other sort of out of doors actions. Nonetheless, there is sufficient to do and see that it’s value a go to.
We visited the park on Father’s Day with the temps within the excessive 50’s/low 60’s and considerably windy. The northern finish of the lake (round Parking Area #1) was rather more populated than the opposite areas.
We parked at Parking Area #6, however you may park your automobile at any one of many half-dozen parking fields, the place you’ll discover the chance to make use of a restroom, get in some pre-walk stretching on the picnic tables or comply with your stroll with a swim (in season), recreation of tennis or spherical of golf.
We took a leisurely stroll, clockwise across the lake, stopping on the Nature Middle to discover their trails. There are many geese, geese, swans and wading birds to maintain issues fascinating. The monitor for the Nature Middle Trails just isn’t proven beneath because the picture was from a earlier go to when the Nature Middle was closed.
Rockland Lake Loop
The Stroll:
From Parking Area #6, comply with the paved path clockwise alongside the lake. Instantly to the best, there are open views of the lake.
Rockland Lake Multi-Use Path
Rockland Lake
Rockland Lake
As the trail heads round to the northern finish of the lake, it crosses a wood footbridge over the East Department Hackensack River, the lake’s outlet stream. Shortly after crossing the bridge, the trail reaches the Rockland Lake Nature Middle. Chances are you’ll wish to take a detour and discover the just lately put in boardwalks and bridges.
Rockland Lake Multi-Use Path
Rockland Lake Multi-Use Path
The Rockland Lake Nature Middle, which opened in 1965, offered all kinds of instructional alternatives for patrons. Resulting from budgetary constraints, park workers eliminated the animal reveals and closed the Middle within the early 1990’s.
Rockland Lake Nature Middle
With renewed funding, the park reopened the world in 2005 with new pure and cultural reveals concerning the park’s sources. The character heart is supervised by Trailside Museum and Zoo at Bear Mountain State Park and staffed with Scholar Conservation Affiliation and AmeriCorps interns.
Rockland Lake Nature Middle
Rockland Lake Nature Middle
In 2016 Rockland Lake State Park acquired $150,000 in state funding to switch the deteriorated 1,300-foot boardwalk path on the Rockland Lake Nature Middle. The work was accomplished in 2019.
Rockland Lake Nature Middle
It’s a brief, however entertaining stroll alongside the just lately reconstructed trails.
Swamp Forest Path – Rockland Lake Nature Middle
Swamp Forest Path – Rockland Lake Nature Middle
A number of boardwalks, wood footbridges and nature trails journey by way of a forested wetland situated behind the Nature Middle
Swamp Forest Path – Rockland Lake Nature Middle
Swamp Forest Path – Rockland Lake Nature Middle
Swamp Forest Path – Rockland Lake Nature Middle
Swamp Forest Path – Rockland Lake Nature Middle
Swamp Forest Path – Rockland Lake Nature Middle
The lake’s outlet stream flows by way of the wetland and underneath three park roads earlier than leaving park property.
Swamp Forest Path – Rockland Lake Nature Middle
Swamp Forest Path – Rockland Lake Nature Middle
Swamp Forest Path – Rockland Lake Nature Middle
The Lakeside Loop Path goes out to a viewing platform overlooking the lake and returns to the beginning.
Lakeside Loop Path – Rockland Lake Nature Middle
Lakeside Loop Path – Rockland Lake Nature Middle
Lakeside Loop Path – Rockland Lake Nature Middle
Lakeside Loop Path – Rockland Lake Nature Middle
Lakeside Loop Path – Rockland Lake Nature Middle
Lakeside Loop Path – Rockland Lake Nature Middle
Lakeside Loop Path – Rockland Lake Nature Middle
Lakeside Loop Path – Rockland Lake Nature Middle
Lakeside Loop Path – Rockland Lake Nature Middle
Rockland Lake Nature Middle
An outdated stone fountain, a reminder of what this space as soon as was. Within the 1870’s, the location of the current day nature heart, was often called Sylvan Grove, an 11-acre picnic and amusement park, with services for picnicking, eating, taking part in baseball, fishing, boating, swimming, stables, and amusement rides.
fountain – Rockland Lake Nature Middle
Rockland Lake Nature Middle
Flip proper after leaving the character heart to proceed the clockwise loop round Rockland Lake. On the subsequent intersection, flip proper once more, heading alongside the pool space and in the direction of the lake.
Rockland Lake Multi-Use Path
Rockland Lake Multi-Use Path
Rockland Lake Multi-Use Path
Chances are you’ll be greeted with the sight of a Nice Blue Heron as you stroll by the shoreline. Regardless of their spectacular measurement, Nice Blue Herons weigh solely 5 to six kilos thanks partly to their hole bones—a characteristic all birds share.
Nice Blue Heron – Rockland Lake
Because of specifically formed neck vertebrae, Nice Blue Herons can rapidly strike prey at a distance.
Nice Blue Heron – Rockland Lake
Rockland Lake
Nice Blue Herons have specialised feathers on their chest that frequently develop and fray. The herons comb this “powder down” with a fringed claw on their center toes, utilizing the down like a washcloth to take away fish slime and different oils from their feathers as they preen.
Nice Blue Heron – Rockland Lake
Rockland Lake
The busiest part of the park appears to be the world round Parking Area #1, which is close to the pool and the primary services.
Rockland Lake Multi-Use Path
Rockland Lake
Rockland Lake Multi-Use Path
Rockland Lake
Because the paved path wraps across the northern finish of the lake and runs alongside its japanese shore, there are extra shaded areas.
Rockland Lake Multi-Use Path
A tree grows across the stone basis of one of many outdated ice homes.
Rockland Lake Multi-Use Path
Rockland Lake
Rockland Lake Multi-Use Path
Rockland Lake
The crumbled stone partitions are the final remnants of the ice homes that used to retailer the ice between harvest and cargo.
Rockland Lake Multi-Use Path
Rockland Lake Multi-Use Path
Rockland Lake
Quickly, you may see the quarried face of Hook Mountain seem above the tree-line.
Rockland Lake
Rockland Lake
The paved path passes a number of different parking fields and picnic areas because it makes its method alongside the western shore of the lake.
Rockland Lake Multi-Use Path
Rockland Lake
Rockland Lake Multi-Use Path
Rockland Lake Multi-Use Path
Rockland Lake Multi-Use Path
Rockland Lake Multi-Use Path
Rockland Lake Multi-Use Path
Rockland Lake
Rockland Lake Multi-Use Path
The stroll ends the place it started, at Parking Area #6. Should you determine to park elsewhere, simply keep in mind which parking area you left your automobile.
Parking Area #6 – Rockland Lake State Park
Some nice sights earlier than taking off.
Swan – Rockland Lake
Nice Blue Heron – Rockland Lake
Evaluate:
A ravishing park that’s nicely maintained and has many factors of curiosity. Take into account that Rockland Lake State Park is without doubt one of the hottest state parks within the Hudson Valley and sometimes fills to capability in the summertime months. It’s important to select the best time to go to to keep away from the congestion or being turned away. Value a go to with the household/youngsters, who will benefit from the many issues it has to supply.
Professionals:
Rockland Lake, a number of hen exercise, scenic panorama, many factors of curiosity.
Cons:
Can get crowded in the course of the summer time months.
Take a stroll!
Rockland Lake Loop
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