Take a Walk in the Park This Fall!

Get exercise and enjoy the great outdoors at free guided park walks

Fall is here, 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.

“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 Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert, Rockland County commissioner of Health. The September and October guided park walks highlighted below offer visitors varied terrain, great scenery, interesting discussion points, and different levels of walking (1 sneaker is easy, 2 sneaker is moderate, 3 sneaker is strenuous):

Samuel G. Fisher Mt. Ivy Park: Rockland’s Mysterious Bayou
Saturday, September 21, from 10 a.m. – 12 noon

· Join Docent Jack Bloom on this moderate (2-sneaker) 3-mile walk on a combination of an old road, open meadows and an abandoned railroad track. There may be some wet spots, especially after rain, as the area is a wetland. The trail is relatively flat and wide. Half of the walk is along an old railroad right of way. The other half is a natural trail. The docent will discuss the Pomona/Mt. Ivy wetlands: Rockland’s mysterious bayou.
· Meet at the park entrance located just past the Fire Training Center on Firemen’s Memorial Drive in Pomona.
· This walk is not stroller friendly, no restrooms are available, and dogs are not allowed on this guided walk.

Stateline Lookout: Walk Along Old Route 9W
Sunday, October 6, from 10 a.m. – 12 noon

· Join Docent John Parnell on this 3-mile moderately difficult (2 sneaker) walk with some steep sections, but otherwise level. This is a graded trail with some stone steps.
· Meet in the parking lot.
· Hiking boots are recommended, and a walking stick is suggested. Bring water. Restrooms are available, no dogs are allowed and this walk is not stroller friendly.

Haverstraw Talk and Walk: Haverstraw History and Brick Industry
Saturday, October 19 from 1 – 3 p.m.

· Join Docents Louise and Jack Parnell for a walk and 2-mile, easy (1 sneaker) hour walk around landmarks of Haverstraw. The walk will be on a paved surface or sidewalks. Historic sites include historic stores, the site of the landslide, and the Elks Club (which used to be one of the brickyard owners home).
· Directions: From 9W proceed to Main Street in Haverstraw. Make a right turn and proceed to Maple Street. Make a right on Maple and go 1 1/2 blocks to the free parking lot on the left. Walk back to Main Street. The Haverstraw Brick Museum is located at 12 Main Street, just off West Street.
· Meet at the Haverstraw Brick Museum at 1pm for an hour talk before the walk. Parking is available behind the museum (25 cents for 30 minutes up to 2 hours). Free parking is available within walking distance (1/2 block).
· This event is part of the Hudson River Valley Ramble and in partnership with the Haverstraw Brick Museum.

Free Talk at the Haverstraw Brick Museum: Learn about the Vanished Hamlets of the Hudson Valley
Sunday, October 27, from 2 – 4 p.m.

· Join the Rockland County Trail Guide Docents at a free talk by Elizabeth “Perk” Stalter, a former resident of Doodletown, and the author of “Doodletown Hiking Through History in a Vanished Hamlet on the Hudson.” She will talk about the vanished hamlets of the Hudson Valley, including Johnsonton, Sandyfield, Baileytown, and Queensboro.
· Free parking is available in the back of the building.
· Refreshments (coffee and cake) will be served. The talk will end no later than 4:00 pm, when the museum closes. Donations accepted.

  Rockland County Department of Health, rockland guided walks, rockland walks