Pyramid Mtn. & Tripod, Bear, Whalehead Rocks (Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area)
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Distance: 5.27 miles
Elevation: 735 feet
Time: 2 hours, 12 minutes
Distance: 5.27 miles
Elevation: 735 feet
Time: 2 hours, 12 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge
The Hike
#2 in my series "I still have energy but can't actually go for the goals that I set for myself becuase rain shut down Harriman/Bear Mountain State Parks" - I revisited Pyramid Mountain! The plan was to hit some spots I know and love, but also to hike on some trails I've never been on before. I was slightly turned off when I passed a group of 30+ children in the parking lot, but I got past the "fight or flight" and headed into the woods!
The blue trail is right off the parking lot and very well maintained/blazed. I swam through the dense, hot humidity while following the winding blazes which led to a slightly sketchy bridge that crosses a lovely stream. Here, the blue trail splits into its two forks to form its loop - I turned left. There were a few instances of dog poop on the side of the trail which was a huge bummer, but my crankiness went away when I saw the lovely view from the wide-footbeded power cut - yay! It actually reminded me slightly of that early 2000s jumpscare video with a car driving on a winding road...
Further down the trail there is an off-trail overlook also onto the powercut (at the height-of-land on the cut), and then the blue trail turns right on a relocated section to climb up the shoulder of Pyramid Mountain, passing some razz/wineberries that I wasn't feeling adventerous to snack on. The views from Pyramid Mountain are quite lovely, with a hazy NYC in the background.
Continuing on the blue trail along the ridge of Pyramid Mountain, I enjoyed a lovely breeze, and then continued on the blue-dot trail, which was lined in some lovely fungi. I took the purple trail to the mostly overgrown Lucy's Overlook, which is a short, slightly rugged trail. I made my way down to Tripod Rock which is always neat before turning around and taking an unblazed trail down the northwest side of the mountain.
The unblazed trail appeared to be blazed in a past life, and steeply descended the mountain into a mossy floor that was a little wet with a few mosquitos. My body was telling me to drink more water and that I was probably still dehydrated from yesterday... whoops. This trail terminates at a lovely footbridge over a stream to the massive erratic named Bear Rock.
Bear Rock was a fun surprise becuase I hadn't looked at the map in a minute, and again, it was massive. On the backside you could see how it's actually two rocks, clarly split from one another who knows how long ago. Sadly, I couldn't stay too long as the bugs were ACTIVE.
Continuing on the orange trail now, I was soon greeted with a massive bile of fresh berry-filled bear poop, which did put me on alert (I was never to see a bear, but did hear some questionable rustling in the woods). The trail alternated between dry, muddy, and comically wet, with Bear Swamp on the right.
The orange trail turns at the junction with the white trail (with a sign warning that the white trail leaves the park) and becomes more rugged, passing over mid-sized rocks for what felt like an eternity, especially paired with the bugs. There were some loud construction sounds coming from the nearby homes, which initially spooked me. The trail then began to climb back up the shoulder of the mountain steeply with rocky footing, which definitely hurt, but it left all the bugs down low and brought back the beloved breeze!
Now up on the ridge, the orange trail meanders in a roller-coaster-like fashion past many erratics and at one point passing by some homes. The trail passes the extremities of Big Cat Swamp where there were many bullfrogs singing their silly songs, and I realized that this stretch of trail was much longer than I was emotionally ready for.
Finally I approached my favorite part of trail in this park - the orange trail along the Tarrytown Reservoir. The trail opened up on a slab with an obstructed view and a sign pointing out that you must take the slab, as the herd path around the back has been closed (but they didn't brush it in, which is interesting). I was impressed with how much the vegetation has grown in since February (which of course makes sense) - it looked like a whole new forest!
The trail approached the reservoir which smelled strongly of lake and had dozens of dragonflies zooming about. There was a lovely breeze, and a great blue heron skirting the waterline flying away from the beast stomping towards it (me). The rest of the hike was quick and easy, taking orange back to the blue, crossing the sketchy bridge, and wiping the pools of sweat off myself back at the car.
Step-By-Step
- Park at main parking area.
- Start hike on Blue Trail.
- After crossing stream, turn left at the split.
- At next junction, turn right to stay on Blue Trail.
- Summit Pyramid Mountain.
- At next junction, turn left onto Blue-Dot Trail.
- At next junction, veer right to stay on Blue-Dot Trail.
- At next junction, turn left to follow Purple Trail to Lucy's Overlook.
- At terminus, turn left back onto Blue-Dot Trail.
- Continue on Blue-Dot to Tripod Rock.
- Turn around at Tripod Rock.
- Turn left off of Blue-Dot Trail to unblazed Trail.
- At terminus, turn right onto Yellow Trail.
- Cross bridge to Bear Rock.
- At terminus of Yellow Trail, turn right onto Orange Trail.
- Stay on Orange Trail for a long time, until its terminus back at the Blue Trail.
- Follow Blue Trail back to car.
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