[Journal entry for November 29, 2013; Bare Rock Overlook, Sterling Forest State Park, NY]. I parked at the Highlands Environmental Research Institute off of Old Forge Road and headed west along the southern shore of Sterling Lake, past the old Lakeville Iron Works. Being November, it’s hunting season, and I am wearing my orange coat and hat for safety. I go to take a photo of the lake, only to discover that I have forgotten to put a memory card in my camera. Fortunately, I have a spare in my car detour back to get it. I retraced by path and tskr the Bare Rock Trail (blazed in orange) westward, towards Greenwood Lake. The trail first crosses a little stream via a footbridge and then follows an old woods road up into the wooded hills of the New Jersey Highlands.

The trail ascends Sterling Ridge and then descends into the valley of the Jennings Creek, a small stream that drains south into Monksville Reservoir. The last few days have been below freezing and many of the puddles along the trail are frozen. I am surprised to find that that the ground is covered with a dusting of snow; I suppose that the precipitation that we experienced Wednesday in Tappan as drizzle fell as light snow here. The trail then ascends up onto another ridge to a west-facing overlook that commands and excellent view of Greenwood Lake. However, I am a bit disappointed that the day, which began clear, has turned overcast, with only infrequent moments of sun.

I had brought along a thermos of coffee. I poured myself a cupful and sat on the rock ledge of the overlook admiring the lake. It is a largish lake, perhaps six miles long and three-quarters of a mile across, set between two high ridges. I once hiked the opposite ridge, called Bearfort Mountain, for the Appalachian Trail runs along its crest. Today’s is my first visit to the eastern ridge. I am surprised to see several boats motoring around the lake on such a cold day.

I then spend about ten minutes exploring the rock ledges near the overlook. They are composed of grey gneiss, but many erratic boulders of pink Schunemunk quartzite are scattered about, which Ice Age glaciers brought over from Bearford Mountain. Stands of Red Cedar trees are growing on most of these ledges.

I continued along the Bare Rock Trail, taking it south along the ridge crest. Parts of this are trail remind me of the Timp-Torne Trail on West Mountain in Harriman State Park, for both cross high rock ledges with pitch pines and cedars. The trail then descended into the valley. I connected with the West Valley Trail (blazed in green), which follows Jennings Creek. Beavers have dammed a section of creek, creating or enlarging a swamp. I poked around the shore of the swamp a bit, and then took the Fire Tower Trail (blazed in red) over to the Sterling Ridge Trail (blazed in blue). I headed north on this trail, climbing a steep rocky hillside to an overlook with a nice view towards the south. After a few additional minutes of climbing, I reached the Sterling Fire Tower. The room atop the tower is locked, but people are allowed to climb the stairs to just below it. That vantage commands a great three-hundred sixty degree view of the surrounding hills. I want to come back on a sunny day, for the land was rather indistinct under the overcast. The horizon was pretty, though, for sunbeams were showing through the clouds on the western horizon.

After returning to ground level, I continued north on the Sterling Ridge Trail. I meet a hunter with a rifle; neither of us has seen any game the whole day. I connect with the Bare Rock Trail and take it back to Sterling Lake and my car. It’s 4PM by the time I arrive.

Today’s loop was the most interesting I’ve yet done in Sterling Forest State Park. I must return and do it again on a sunnier day.

About five hours.