It’s been a while since I have gotten out for a walk. I did one last week at Meyer Preserve, but left my camera at home, so no report.
I wanted to check out the western side of Teatown, which includes Cliffdale Farm, a working farm that is used for education and day-camps.
I parked at the parking area for John Hand Park, which put me closer to the Cliffdale/Teatown Trail than if I had parked at the nature center. It was a nice, sunny morning, and a bit brisk and windy, though it warmed up quite a bit towards the end of the hike.
The Cliffdale/Teatown Trail (CT) starts at the dam for Teatown Lake, though I picked it up where it intersects the Briarcliff/Peekskill Trail. The trail passes through a swampy area where the skunk cabbage is now out in full force.
The CT trail crosses the power lines that bisect the reservation, unfortunately. Otherwise it’s a pleasant trail that mainly follows below a ridge-line, then winds its way up it.
The CT trail brings you to the northeaster side of Cliffdale Farm, where you pick up the Cliffdale Loop Trail (CL).
Typical of my nature I followed this trail counter-clockwise, which brings you through some mowed fields and past some educational areas. Like this one that appears to display Native American huts.
Before exiting the fields I came across what appeared to be an area used for retired farm equipment and yard-type waste. It appeared that there was also some household waste dumped there. Not too attractive.
The CL trail looped around to the south and put me in a very nice wooded area.
At the southern end of the CL trail I was able to pick up the Catamount Hill Trail (CH) which proved to be very attractive and hilly.
The CH trail reconnected with the CL trail and passed through a field adjacent to an entry road for the farm, where there were birdhouses on posts.
I reconnected with the CT trail which took me back towards the lake, and where I parked. I really like this trail as, for a while, it’s at the bottom of some very attractive and dramatic rock outcroppings and bolder-strewn hills.
This was quite a long hike, totaling about 6 1/2 miles.