Lower New York on Appalachian Trail

Entering New York on the Appalachian Trail, you are greeted with the line marked on rocks. The bigger welcome is shortly after, the summit of Prospect Rock. The elevation is only 1,429 feet but you still feel like you are high in the mountains. The open rock crags of Prospect Rock are the highest point on the AT in New York. There are views down to Greenwood Lake and some far off distant points. The skyline of New York City is also barely visible over the ridge of Sterling Mountain. The trail keeps meandering north past viewpoints, small lakes and several rocky areas. The main highlight is Harriman State Park. Here you will find some lakes for swimming and lots of open forest. Within the state park is Elk Park, a huge territory that was cleared of underbrush to make way for elk herds to be shipped in from out west. The venture failed but the managed forest looks amazing with the green floor and wide open spaces between large old trees. The final obstacle before Bear Mountain is the Palisades Parkway decision. The Appalachian Trail was diverted around 2022 to avoid crossing the dangerous Palisades Parkway. A now boring route is used as the official route, but the old AT is much more interesting. Hard to say if the lack of maintenance will make it still passable in the future, time will tell. I took the old route in 2024 and many trees were already blocking spots on the overgrowing trail. The crossing of the highway is safe if you are patient. Choose your own adventure.