Nearly one-third of Rockland County’s land is protected. Check out these stunning views that you won’t get elsewhere, from the mountains to the Hudson River.
In New York, you can’t go much further south than Rockland County. It’s only a hop, skip, and a jump from New Jersey, and New York City is only about 30 miles away, making it a perfect middle ground for those who want easy access to bigger metropolitan areas without any of the headaches that come with actually living in one. But more than that, the county is home to some truly stunning sights.
Rockland County actively works to preserve nature, which is why roughly one-third of the county’s land is classified as protected parks (via Komoot). According to the county’s website, that translates to 30 parks that take up more than 3,100 acres. Grants, gifts, taxes, and more have helped the county purchase and maintain these lands, and the goal is simply to keep people connected to nature. Isn’t that the most beautiful thing you’ve read today?
Because the Parks Commission has created a county where the environment is truly celebrated, there’s no shortage of sights to see if you live in Rockland County (or are planning to visit soon). Here are seven stunning options, from breathtaking views of the Hudson River to mountain angles that will really move you.
1. West Mountain Shelter
The West Mountain Shelter is located exactly where it sounds like it would be: on West Mountain. But the perks of going aren’t as obvious as its location. This small building, featuring stone construction and a slanted roof, has no door, but that’s exactly what makes it perfect for getting great views. You can halt your hike here to watch the sunrise or sunset, or you can escape from the rain until it fizzles out. You can even set up a tent around it to sleep at one of the state’s most beautiful lookouts. Regardless, you’re going to see breathtaking glimpses of New York.
Getting to the West Mountain Shelter is actually pretty easy, too. According to the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, only about 1.75 miles stand between the shelter and the Seven Lakes Drive hiking parking lot. Most of that journey is spent on the Appalachian Trail (White Blaze), and you’ll finish off on the Timp Torne Trail (Blue Blaze). Then, you’ll have found yourself looking out over the mountains, with glistening water in the distance. It doesn’t get much better than that.
2. Stony Point Lighthouse
If you’ve ever seen the 2018 science-fiction film “Annihilation,” you already have a good sense of what the Stony Point Lighthouse looks like. Stony Point has the honor of possessing the Hudson River’s oldest lighthouse, and it does show its age a little bit, with one side of the lighthouse being slightly discolored. But that’s part of its charm—it’s living history, and it’s something that everyone in the area needs to see at least once.
Visiting the Stony Point Lighthouse at sunrise or sunset is perfect, as you’ll get a beautiful backdrop of glinting water, but it’s worth seeing even if you can’t make it at those specific times, especially if you’re someone who hasn’t seen any or many lighthouses in their day. What’s more, the lighthouse is located at the Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site, which contains a museum. There, you can learn about local history and get a good snap for the ‘Gram.
3. Peanut Leap Cascade
Peanut Leap Cascade is one of the most beautiful parks in Rockland County, and we don’t say that lightly. It’s a stone paradise, featuring stone steps and large walls of rock. This park is a harder hike than, say, the short trek to the West Mountain Shelter, but it’s equally worth it thanks to the views at the top. Peanut Leap Cascade sits just next to the Hudson River, so once you’re high enough, you earn some captivating views of the river (and New Jersey, even if many New Yorkers might not call Jersey captivating).
The biggest highlight at Peanut Leap Cascade seems to be its waterfalls. These are what folks usually grab their phones for and post, and rightfully so. Seeing water rush down the rock walls never gets old, which is exactly why it’s landed on this list.
4. Bear Mountain Inn
Sometimes, the best views come from hikes, but other times, they come from staying somewhere with the most beautiful built-in vibes. That’s where the Bear Mountain Inn enters the conversation. This inn is on Bear Mountain’s Appalachian Trail and surrounded by greenery. When you combine this stunning nature with the inn’s gorgeous facade, featuring renovated wood and stone, you get a getaway location that’s second to none. At the time of writing, stays start at just $144 per night, making this a rather affordable destination to boot.
Stunning sights are built into stays at the Bear Mountain Inn, but you can also use it as a hub for treks to additional views. It’s situated near the base of the mountain, so you can hike up to get more sprawling views of the area, or you can stay near the base for an equally dreamy time. Ultimately, this is a choose-your-own-adventure type of getaway, which makes it all the more fun.
5. Hook Mountain State Park
Hook Mountain State Park sits in the middle of a large wilderness area and alone contains 676 acres, per Palisades Parks Conservancy. There’s plenty to see if you hike here, particularly if you take the ridge trail, which is about two miles long and contains plenty of stunning sights (via Harriman Hikes). The ridge trail is a good mid-tier hike; it’s not the easiest, but it’s not the most difficult either.
One of the best aspects of trekking here is that you can see two different bodies of water once you get high enough on the mountain. On one side, you can see the Hudson River, and on the other, you have Rockland Lake, an oblong-shaped water source with a perimeter of beautiful trees. In our opinion, the views here are the best in the fall when it seems like all of the trees are ablaze and the water reflects their colors with a burning passion, but every season is gorgeous here.
6. Piermont Pier
If you love dreamy waterscapes and have already visited the Stony Point Lighthouse, then the Piermont Pier needs to be your next stop. The entry point to the pier is already stunning as it is, surrounded by lush greenery, but it gets even better when you realize just how far it juts into the Hudson River. You can walk a good way out, becoming one with the river and seeing a new point of view that you can’t get anywhere else.
The actual pier is pretty plain, with a few scant buildings on it and otherwise looking like a long paved road. But if you trust the process, you’ll be rewarded with some of the best views you’ve ever seen and photos you’ve ever taken.
7. DeWint House
Natural views are some of the best, but folks into history or architecture may want to visit the DeWint House to experience a different type of beauty. According to the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, the DeWint House is a Revolutionary War-era building from 1700 that President George Washington visited multiple times. Notable figures from other nations, such as British General Sir Guy Carleton, also visited the house.
The exterior of the property is ravishing, featuring emerald-green windows, blooming flowerbeds along the side of the house, and a long, winding walkway that’s straight out of a fairy tale. The building has clearly been well maintained over the years, and its legacy has been expanded into another, relatively newer construction from the 1800s—a carriage house used to store and display items from the Revolutionary War era that have since been recovered.
