Monday at Ward Pound Ridge (4.2 or 8 Miles)

Join us on Monday for your choice of either a short or full length hike along some of the park's iconic trails. This two-loop itinerary brings us back to our starting point after 4.2 low-moderate miles, with the option to continue with the hike leader for a moderate plus additional 3.8 miles.

Registration at: https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UVX0000015mD72AI/act00020354 Clicking "Attend" on Meetup will put you on a wait-list, so please follow this activities.outdoors.org link if you are serious about joining us.

Overview:

• 9:30 am, Monday, April 20
• Kimberly Bridge Parking & Picnic Area, Ward Pound Ridge
• 4.2 miles (low-moderate) or 8 miles (moderate)
• No bushwacking or stream crossings; the Blue Trail (moderate) starts with an uphill climb and also includes a downhill rock scramble

Details:

Our Monday hike takes us to the eastern and northern parts of Westchester's largest park, the 4315 acre Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.

We'll start with the Brown Trail, whose 3.7 miles are among the easiest of the 35 miles of trails in the park, and where we'll hike clockwise. We'll follow the Cross River for the first mile before turning north and then east, then briefly picking up the Deer Hollow Trail and soon thereafter returning to the Brown Trail These trails are mostly flat, although there is a long-but-gentle ascent between park junctions 5 and 6 and a couple of shorter ascents near the end. While sneaker-clad families often populate the Brown Trail on weekends, parts of it are rocky; boots and poles are strongly recommended, even for those planning to skip the Blue Trail.

After finishing the Brown Trail, we'll pass through our parking area, the end point for those doing the 4.2 mile outing; continuing hikers will pick up the 3.8 mile Blue Trail. On the Blue Trail, we'll hike counter-clockwise towards Gilmore Pond, about an hour away. The route starts with a steady 15 minute ascent, then levels off and includes a rocky descent, of a type familiar to anyone who has hiked in Harriman. Soon thereafter, we'll briefly skirt Gilmore Pond, which is private property and guarded with "No Trespassing" signs and allegedly by giant snapping turtles, and then follow the trail back north, returning us to the Kimberly Bridge parking area.

Lunch: Hikers doing the Brown Trail only can expect to be done around 11:45, so will not need to bring lunch. However, hikers continuing on the Blue Trail will stop for lunch at the picnic tables near the parking lot, and 4.2 mile hikers are welcome to join us. And for everyone, water is a must.

AMC Health Advisory: Covid and other respiratory illnesses are circulating in our community. Do not participate if you, or someone whom you have recently been in contact with, is either infected or symptomatic.
RSVP only for "Yes," by Sunday 6:30 pm, by registering here. A pre-hike update will be sent to all signed-up participants early Sunday evening.