Hiking the Popolopen Gorge

Yesterday, Stelios and I took advantage of a beautiful March day to hike the Popolopen Gorge. The Popolopen Gorge is the deepest gorge in the lower Hudson River area. I love the name and I remember vividly the first time I hiked this trail. There was deep snow on the ground and I was with a group called the Wednesday hikers. Dave Sutter, an intrepid hiker who was then about eighty, led.

Starting at the historic Montgomery Fort parking lot, we took the 1777 trail. Under the bridge we went, and then single file we walked over the bridge along the busy road. Once we stepped off the road and into the woods, the magic of this tributary to the Mighty Hudson revealed itself in every step.

 Up and up we went on the RD(red dot) trail, going past the great falls thundering with the power of rushing water. Then we swooped down the blue trail and crossed the gorge on a foot bridge.

On this day, we also started our trek at Fort Montgomery and climbed the steps that lead to the path. Again, under the bridge we went and then over. Hurricane Irene has caused a lot of damage to the trail and fallen trees were all over. We just had to go over them!

Soon, we were in the woods. Up and up we climbed and about an hour later we met the new part of the trail. It was wide as a carriage road and smooth as a highway. The RD crossed the Blue trail where we remembered it would and we took it and went down to the river. Since Hurricane Irene had swept away the old bridge, we found a spanking new, super modern, high tech bridge in its place. Thank you to the hard working folks who built it!

After a trail lunch of turkey and cheese sandwiches while sitting on a rock in the sun(who played hide and go seek with us) we retraced our steps  back to the parking lot.

 

 

 

If you ever have the chance, take the Popolopen Gorge trail and go for a hike. You'll love it!

Maria