More than a month before the solstice, but Saturday, May 16, 2026 felt like the day summer arrived. Clear skies and a mild morning made for a time to hike some miles before the thermometer broke into the 80s, and so we did.
Today we finished the Long Path’s Hudson Palisades section, hiking Section 4 from Long Cove to Mount Ivy. Officially 6.85 miles, we logged 7.35 miles while ascending about 1,100 feet.
Tilcon Haverstraw Quarry
The section first follows some lightly-used roads by the Haverstraw Quarry, and you might think – as I did – that this would be a dull section of the walk. You would be wrong.
The unexpected highlight was not the quarried cliffs of the Palisades, but the birds.
What first captured our attention was a Turkey Vulture perched atop a utility pole, wings outspread, almost like the crown of a totem pole.
Once we opened our eyes, we began to see dozens of Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures everywhere throughout and near the quarry site – perched on trees, buildings, and industrial equipment – and gliding through the air. I had never seen this many vultures in one place.
High Tor
After some more road walk, the trail enters the woods and begins a climb to High Tor. We heard gobbling and came upon three Wild Turkeys – two toms and a hen.
Not far beyond, four deer darted away from us and into the woods.
Just before reaching the summit of High Tor, an unmarked viewpoint provides views south toward the New York City skyline, with DeForest Lake in the foreground.
To the southeast is the Hudson River and Tilcon quarry, with the steep cuts visible on the south side of the mountain.
The 832-foot basaltic summit of High Tor – the highest point of the Hudson Palisades – provides views in all directions and overlooks the Town of Haverstraw below.
During the American Revolution, High Tor was used as a signal point, with troops setting fires when they spotted British troops heading up the Hudson. More recently, the summit hosted an air beacon, described in 1932 by the US Army Corps of Engineers as “a tall steel structure supporting a revolving aerial light” which helped guide passenger planes going to and from New York City. While the beacon was removed in the 60s, concrete and steel foundations can still be seen on the summit.
Little Tor
A short side trail leads to Little Tor, which overlooks Haverstraw and West Haverstraw.
South Mountain Park
Near the end of the section, as you reach the western edge of South Mountain Park just before the parking area, there is a view over an old quarry toward Mount Ivy.
From here, the trail continues descending toward the parking lot, following the last visible curve of the Palisades ridge before the rock formation dips below the surrounding ground surface.
With the Palisades now behind us, Section 5 will mark the start of the Long Path through the Hudson Highlands region.
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