Take a Walk in the Park and Enjoy the Great Outdoors!

Health Department offers free guided park walks

Pomona, NY – Rockland County and the Rockland County Department of Health encourage you to put on your walking shoes and enjoy the “great outdoors!” Join experienced Rockland County Trail Guide Docents on a variety of free local guided walks this month. The walks highlighted below offer varied terrain, great scenery, interesting discussion points, and different levels of walking (1 sneaker is easy, 2 sneaker is moderate, 3 sneaker is strenuous).

Hook Mountain: “Atop Hook Mountain”
Saturday, May 4, from 10 a.m. – 12 noon
Join Docent Marianne Bloomfeld on this 3-mile more moderate (2.5 sneaker) walk for 360 degree views on top of The Hook – 700 feet above the Hudson. Walkers will be delighted with scenic views of the Hudson River. The docent will discuss flora, fauna and geology of the area. Most of the walk is moderate, but there are a few short, steep sections. The walk is linear, and goes east until it meets the Long Path. Then we go south to a high point on Hook Mountain overlooking the Hudson and Rockland Lake. The walk will focus on the natural beauty of the area. Participants wiill spend about 15 minutes at the top before returning along the same route used to go up. The terrain is a mostly cleared trail through woods. Meet in the rear of the parking lot at Rockland Lake State Park Executive Golf Course located in Congers.

Bear Mountain: Walk Over the Bear Mountain Bridge
Sunday, May 5, from 10 a.m. – 12 noon
Join Docent Louise Parnell on this moderate (2 sneaker) walk along a mostly paved path/sidewalk that will be 3.0 miles in length roundtrip. Enjoy the views as you cross the Bear Mountain Bridge. Meet in the upper parking lot of Fort Montgomery Historic Site located at 690 Route 9W. Parking is free. Directions: Take the Palisades Parkway North to the Bear Mountain Circle. Take the exit for 9W North. Follow to 690 Route 9W. The sign for Fort Montgomery is on the right. Go down to the parking lot near the main building. This walk is not handicap accessible and not stroller friendly. Restrooms are available. No dogs are allowed. Bring a walking stick if desired. Pack a snack to enjoy at the end of the walk.

Tallman Mountain State Park: “Rockland vs. Big Oil. The Untold Story From the 1930s”
Saturday, May 11, from 9-11 a.m.
Join Docent Jack Bloom, on this moderate (2 sneaker) 3-mile walk on a flat wide trail that offers glimpses of the Hudson. Walk through the history of Rockland County versus Big Oil. What REALLY happened at Tallman Mountain State Park? See if you can spot the evidence! The trail is packed earth and wide, with little incline. The walk is mostly flat and not rocky. It is along a road used for emergency vehicles. Meet at the secondary lot, small south lot, on the east side of Route 9W in Sparkill. Please note this is not the main parking lot. Restrooms are not available, no dogs are allowed, and this walk is not stroller friendly. This walk is appropriate for youth and up.

“We hope County residents take advantage of this great chance to explore our beautiful, natural environment and get some exercise at the same time,” said Kathleen M. Henry, R.N., M.A., Acting Commissioner of Health.

Pre-registration for all walks is suggested (for some walks pre-registration is required). For more information or to register, call 845-708-7308 or e-mail rcamericorps@co.rockland.ny.us.

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