Mountainview Nature Park
Welcome to Mountainview Nature Park!
Mountainview Nature Park
Located in Central Nyack in Rockland County NY, the 83 acre park features an estimated 2.5 miles of hiking trails winding their way through an Oak-Hickory forest.
Mountainview Nature Park Forest
Mountainview Nature Park was acquired as a gift from the Winston Perry family by Rockland County in 1979.
Geology
Diabase Rocks
The land comprising Mountainview Nature Park is part of the Palisades ridge. The Palisades extend from Staten Island NY to Mount Ivy NY. The rocks are known as diabase. Diabase was formed around 200 million years ago by molten magma intruding into softer sedimentary rocks.
Virtual Hike
Mountain Trail Trailhead
From the parking area on Strawberry Hill Lane we find ourselves at the trailhead of the orange blazed Mountain Trail. At 1.15 miles, the Mountain Trail is the longest trail found in Mountainview Nature Park. We will use this trail map to help guide us. Ready? Let’s go!
Bridge over Hackensack River Tributary
Heading east on the Mountain Trail, we cross a Hackensack River tributary on a wooden bridge.
NY Thruway
Dipping south we see (and hear) the NY State Thruway straight ahead near another Hackensack River tributary.
Rock Wall Mountain Trail
Turning north on the Mountain Trail we see several old stone walls of farms that existed here at one time.
Goat Path Trailhead
Continuing north on the Mountain Trail the white-blazed trailhead of the .60 mile Goat Path appears to our right. Let’s take it!
Pileated Woodpecker (a bit on the blurry side)
Heading southeast on the Goat Path a large American Crow size bird with a bright patch of red on its head flies over us. It’s a Pileated Woodpecker! This guy is on the ground poking through fallen snags for its favorite food: carpenter ants.
Goat Path Climb
Leaving the Pileated Woodpecker behind we continue southeast on the Goat Path and start to climb uphill.
Building near Goat Path
Coming to the edge of the eastern border of Mountainview Nature Park with a building visible straight ahead, the Goat Path turns left climbing northwest along the edge of a hillside.
Goat Path Hillside
Careful! We have to really watch our footsteps here. Whew! We’ve arrived near the top.
Goat Path Chestnut Oak
At the top of the mountain Chestnut Oak and Eastern Red Cedar are abundant.
Goat Path Eastern Red Cedar
From here the Goat Path turns right heading southeast through an Oak-Hickory forest. Trees present in this forest include:
Mountain Trail Intersection
Just ahead we come to an intersection with the orange blazed Mountain Trail we left awhile ago. But for now, let’s head south on the Overlook Spur section of the Goat Path.
White-Tailed Deer
As we walk on the Goat Path we spot a White-Tailed Deer to our left watching us.
Goat Path Trailend
Leaving the deer we continue southwest to the Goat Path terminus.
Palisades Center Mall & NY Thruway with Ramapo Mountains in distance
Let’s take a breather to see the view. Directly in front of us is the Palisades Center Mall with the NY Thruway heading west towards the distant Ramapo Mountains. Ready to continue on? Let’s turn back and head back to the Mountain Trail intersection.
Mountain Trail
We are now leaving the white blazed Goat Path and heading east on the Mountain Trail.
Bear Swamp Trailhead
Just to the left of the Mountain Trail is the western trailhead of the blue blazed .28 mile Bear Swamp Trail loop. Let’s go explore it!
Bear Swamp
The Bear Swamp Trail loops around Bear Swamp and will take us back to the Mountain Trail. Bear Swamp, which is seasonally flooded, is a hardwood swamp dominated by Red Maple, one of the more common trees found in the eastern forest. Shrubs such as Spicebush are quite abundant in the understory.
Royal Fern
Ferns such as Cinnamon and Sensitive Fern are also abundant in Bear Swamp. While they are gone since we are in late fall, we still see the remains of Royal Fern.
Bear Swamp Trailend
Completing our loop, we find ourselves back on the Mountain Trail at the eastern entrance to the Bear Swamp trail. We can either continue heading east (which leads to Mountainview Avenue and the Long Path) or we can retrace our footsteps and head west. Since it’s getting late, let’s head west on the Mountain Trail.
Mountainview Nature Park Mountain Trail
Passing the Goat Path we are now heading west on the Mountain Trail.
Decaying Log
As we walk we pass by numerous blow downs and old decaying logs. These old logs play an important ecological role in the forest. Decaying logs retain moisture and release nutrients into the ground that aid in new plant growth.
Posted Private Property
Heading southwest on the Mountain Trail, we pass near the northern boundary of the park near private property.
Hudson River Mountain Trail
Walking southwest on the Mountain Trail we can just catch glimpses of the distant Hudson River through the remaining leaves on the trees to our left.
Mountain Trail Descent
We’ve now begun our climb down the western border of the hill we climbed earlier on the Goat Path. This trail will take us back down pass the trailhead of the Goat path and back to our car.
Mountain Trail End
We made it back to our car. Thank you so much for joining me today on this virtual hike of Mountainview Nature Park. I hope that it inspires you to visit and hike the park yourself in person!
Directions: (as taken from the NYNJ Trail Conference website)
To reach the park, take NY 303 to North Greenbush Road and follow it to Strawberry Hill Lane. Parking is available off Strawberry Hill Lane.
Feel free to e-mail NJUrbanForest at NJUrbanForest@gmail.com with any comments, memories or suggestion! Thank you and have fun exploring!
Hiking/Ecology Books!
1. The Nature of New York – An Environmental History of the Empire State – This work offers a sweeping environmental history of New York State
Click here for more information!
2. Eastern Deciduous Forest Ecology and Wildlife Conservation - This book is a useful tool for anyone who wants know or hopes to help one of North America’s great natural resources!
Click here for more information!
3.60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: New York City: Including northern New Jersey, southwestern Connecticut, and western Long Island – Packed with valuable tips and humorous observations, the guide prepares both novices and veterans for the outdoors. From secluded woods and sun-struck seashores, to lowland swamps and rock-strewn mountain tops, this practical guidebook contains all the information needed to have many great hikes in and around New York City.
Click here for more information!
4. Take a Hike New York City: 80 Hikes within Two Hours of Manhattan – In Moon Take a Hike New York City, award-winning writer Skip Card shows you the best hikes in and around The Big Apple—all within two hours of the city.
Click here for more information!
http://www.nynjtc.org/park/mountainview-county-nature-park
