Beacon access Black Rock Preserve via Mtn Rd
Submitted by HSchiffman on Wed, 04/22/2015 - 20:04Beacon Railroad Station, start> 9D, Beacon Newburgh Bridge> Water St> 9W> Shore Rd> Rt 218> Mtn Rd> Reservoir Rd, Black Rock Preserve, end
Beacon Railroad Station, start> 9D, Beacon Newburgh Bridge> Water St> 9W> Shore Rd> Rt 218> Mtn Rd> Reservoir Rd, Black Rock Preserve, end
Salisbury Mills-Cornwall Railroad Station, start> Rt 94> Jackson Ave> Orrs Mills Rd> Rt 32 south> Quaker Ave> Rt 9W south> Peck's Rd> Hulse Rd> Black Rock Preserve, end
Oh my, this is one of the toughest ascents in our region, and it is only an access road!
South Mtn Pass> top of Anthony's Nose
This route is not a full destination ride as by itself it is less than 4 miles. You could hike it, but would probably just access the summit via the Appalachian Trail from 9d. This is an old carriage road, severely eroded, but a satisfying challenge on mtn bike.
Directions only are given for one way, but as it is an out and back, you will have no problem reversing the route to the start.
Main Street, Cold Spring (start)> 301> 9d north> Campbell Rd> School Mountain Rd> East Mtn Rd (end)
Here we have a 750' climb on a severely eroded road/trail for mountain bike. A leaf strewn coverage could give you the illusion that the surface is rideable, while it might not be so. Falling directly on rocks beneath leaves will break the illusion with more clarity than you might want. Care must be taken. More than likely you will be walking some sections. Walking is mountain biking too!
Poughkeepsie RR Station (start)> Highland Bridge> Hudson Valley Rail Trail> 299> Wallkill Valley Rail Trail> 44/55> CR 7> Tillson Lake Rd> Awosting Portal, Minnewaska SP> Mohonk Preserve> Lenape Lane> R2R Trail> 299> Hudson Valley Rail Trail> Poughkeepsie RR Station (end)
Manitou Metro North stop (start)> 9D south, Bear Mtn Bridge> 9W south> South Entrance Rd> 7 Lakes Drive> Perkins Memorial Drive> top of Bear Mtn> Perkins Memorial Drive> 7 Lakes Drive> 9W north> Bear Mtn Bridge> 9D north> South Station Rd, Garrison> Garrison Metro North southbound railroad platform (end)
This route is the shortest on access to the top of Bear Mtn, aka Perkins, via Metro North.
Manitou is a stop on most outbound trains from GCT on weekends, please check that it is on the train you are planning on using. You can only exit the train in the last 2 cars of the train at Manitou. And there is no platform so you need to carry your bike down steps, a rather awkward maneuver. If this does not work for you, you can take the train one stop further to Garrison and go south on 9D, cycling the extra distance.