Robert Moses ocean adventures

Robert Moses State park has about 5 miles of ocean beach from which visitors can swim, surf or surf-fish. Anglers can also fish from the piers. A day-use boat basin can accommodate 40 boats. Check it out!- http://nysparks.com/parks/7/details.aspx#sthash.EOTCpAF2.dpuf

Adventure: What would summertime be without a beach adventure? Do to the fact the ocean isn't located in upstate NY, this adventure takes place at the beautiful beaches of long island. Compared to the usual adventures money is needed on this one. A minor expense for parking ($15) to enjoy a full day at the beach. Robert Moses is the best family beach on the strip. If you want to be with all the college kids Jones beach a mile down the road is the spot for you.

I took my 5 year old nephew Jayden to enjoy the day. For hours he buried himself in the sand, followed by jumping in the water and  then started all over again. By the end of the day he was so tired he fell asleep the second we were all back in the car. What a wonderful thing! I suggest taking an adventure to one of the beached long island has to offer.

Plotter kill Preserve

Description: The Plotter Kill Preserve (located in the town of Rotterdam on Route 159) contains 632 acres of rugged hardwood and
coniferous forest along the Plotter Kill, a scenic tributary to the Mohawk River. The gorge of the Plotter Kill was cut by melt waters at the close of the ice ages about 10,000 years ago. The ledges give the stream its name: platte (flat) and kill (creek): Please exercise caution when hiking in the Preserve; the terrain is very rugged with steep slopes and ledges near the trails. 
The Plotter Kill drops 900 feet in its 3.5 mile descent from Rynex Corners to the Mohawk River. There are three spectacular waterfalls: the Upper Falls, Lower Falls and the Rynex Creek Falls at the junction of Rynex Creek and the Plotter Kill. All are magnificent sights in spring high water and in winter ice. The Upper Falls is 60 feet high, and the others 40 feet.

The Plotter Kill Preserve is wonderful for nature study. Over 600 species of plants have been found in the area including: trilliums, violets, lilies, ferns and club mosses.



My Adventure: The Hike is a moderate/difficult adventure I suggest leaving the little kids home on this one. The hike starts with a difficult rocky decline leading to flat surface. After you get to the flat surface look for the trail that breaks off on the left. This trails leads straight to the beautiful water fall.  The Waterfall is beautiful and many people just relax by it all day. Well worth the Beginning leg work out.

Kaaterskill Falls

Kaaterskill falls is located off of 23a in Haines Falls, NY.  The trail trail is a moderate difficulty 2 mile trail there and back. The train runs next to 2 beautiful water falls and in between the 2 is a wonderful swimming hole.  Bring the family out and enjoy the beautiful scenery but keep an eye on the little ones when you get to the top.

Croton Gorge Park

Description: Croton Gorge Park is a 97-acre property at the base of the Croton Dam and affords impressive views of the dam and spillway. The park is a popular spot for fishing, picnicking and hiking, with direct trail access to New York State’s Old Croton Aqueduct, which begins here. In winter, the park is a favorite spot for cross-country skiing and sledding.

The Croton River also begins here. The bridge that spans the Croton River and affords the best view of the spectacular spillway is once again open to the public after a repair project.

The Old Croton Dam, built to supply New York City with water, was the first large masonry dam in the United States. Completed in 1842, it was the prototype for many municipal water supply dams in the east during the mid-nineteenth century. The city’s needs, however, soon outgrew the Croton Dam water supply. Consequently, work began on the New Croton Dam, also called the Cornell Dam because of its location on land purchased from A.B. Cornell, in 1893. Completed in 1907, the Cornell Dam stands over 200 feet high. The Croton Reservoir has a capacity of about 34 billion gallons of water with a watershed covering 177 square miles.

My Adventure: Croton Gorge park is just the starting point. Park at the park hop on a bike or wear your hiking shoes and get to the top of the dam. After experiencing the views from the top of the dam adventure to the other side where you will experience miles of flat trails that run along side the water. Hop in take a swim! The water was beautiful and the scenery is amazing.

Ninham Mountain biking

Carmel, NY

Difficulty: 20% beginner, 20% intermediate, 60% expert
Length: up to 20 miles

Once you ride there, you’ll become addicted and will have to go back every chance you get. Ninham puts the “stunt” in cross-stuntry, and busy trailbuilders have fashioned trails to challenge the best technical riders around. Super-steep rollers, drops from 2’ to 12+, uber-technical slickrock climbs, log-rides galore, and even a few pieces of creative construction (read into that as you will) get the adrenalin flowing and keep riders constantly on point. You don’t have to be a freerider to love Ninham- in fact, there’s a bit too much pedaling involved for a lot of freeriders, as you have to earn your turns and find them gems deep back in the woods. You’ll often find mixed groups having a great time- the XC racers have miles and miles of trails, and tons of technical climbing to sharpen up with, while the cross-stuntry crew has a plethora of options for stopping and playing. Ninham MUA straddles Gypsy Trail Road, with trails on both sides of the road. Big bikes might want to pedal up the paved then dirt road which leads to the top of Mt. Ninham (there are a couple trails that head down from the top). XC’ers might want to climb the trail, and enjoy a 600 foot vertical steep and technical climb. On the parking lot side of Ninham, ride the road that continues from the entrance, straight back into the trails that bear left, then cross the earthen dam that holds back the small reservoir, and head up the fire road until it starts to make a sharp turn, and you’ll find good trails to your right. Take a map, or preferably a GPS, as it’s easy to get lost back there..

Trail Map: http://www.bikerag.com/images/MAPS/ny/ny_ninham_map.JPG

Fahnestock State park

The Beautiful state park located minutes from Taconic state parkway.

Fahnestock Memorial State Park is a delight for outdoor enthusiasts. This 14,086 acre park, covering land in Putnam and Dutchess counties, boasts hiking trails, a beautiful beach, picnic areas, scenic campground, and abundant opportunities for boating, hunting, fishing, and birding. The park is also home to the Taconic Outdoor Education Center which provides high quality environmental programming and Fahnestock Winter Park which includes 15 kilometers of groomed trails for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. - See more at: Fahnestock information

My Adventure:

   Faunstock has a lot to offer, from dozens of hiking/mountain biking trails to beautiful lakes to kayak and swim. Today I brought my 2-year-old Jack Russell/Pitbull pup named Blake to enjoy hiking, kayaking and some swim time. I know you are thinking, "You take your dog kayaking?" The answer is YES, He sits right in between my legs and barks at ducks as we pass them by. The lake has beautiful scenery from little islands to beautiful rock faces along the shores. The best part about Faunstock is it never seems to be over crowded! You always have room to let the dog off the leash and watch him adventure. The trails cut through the woods without an extreme vertical climb perfect for people of all ages.  I encourage you to take a day and adventure NY upstate and everything Faunstock State park has to offer, I promise you won't be disappointed. 

North-South lake

Located in Haines Falls New York is a beautiful state park with everything needed for an outdoor adventure.

"North-South Lake is the biggest and most popular state campground in the Catskill Forest Preserve, offering extraordinary scenic beauty, and historical sites, such as: Alligator Rock, Kaaterskill Falls, and the former site of the Catskill Mountain House. An abrupt change in elevation occurs from about 540 feet above sea level at the base of the escarpment to approximately 2,250 feet at the site of the former Catskill Mountain House. The provinces around the lakes have long provided visitors with exceptional views of the surrounding countryside. It is said that on a clear day, five states can be viewed from the escarpment. Within the facility you can go: boating, fishing, hiking, swimming, picnicking, and much more!"
 North-South Lake Information


My Adventure:
  
ONLY $8 for a full day of play! North-South Lake is my favorite place to enjoy a good mountain bike adventure. The aggressive ride of the blue trail is great for a good workout as well as beautiful views of the Catskill Mountains. On days I decide to bring my dog with me, North-South Lake is pet friendly and you can see dozens of dogs on any given day. North-South Lake has over 10 miles of good hiking trails, after over a dozen trips I still have not conquered the whole mountain. After a great day of outdoor physical activity the beautiful lake is the best place to end up.  There are two beaches to enjoy the water either swimming or renting a non-motorized boat. I encourage you to Adventure NY upstate and what North-South Lake has to offer.