Andy Arthur.
Sunset Rock.
A short hike from Taconic State Park with amazing views of Columbia County near Hillsdale.
June 14, 2009.
Related Fodder: Alander Mountain, Sunset Rock in Winter.
Related Maps: Taconics.
Related Photos: Alander Mountain, Bash Bish.
After hiking Bash Bish Mountain, I decided it was early enough in the morning that I would have time to visit Sunset Rock on Cedar Mountain. It has some of the most impressive views around.
I decided to take the Cedar Brook Trail, the Blue Trail on up the mountain. This is not the recommended route if it's been raining the day before hiking, like as it had been when I went out hiking.
Cedar Creek Waterfall.
Bash Bish on June 14, 2009. (N 42° 7' 37.45" W 73° 30' 13.9")
Kodak Z7590 Zoom Digital Camera, Exposure: 1/80 sec, Aperature: f/3.2, ISO 400, EV -3/3, Focal Length: 69mm.
The trail crosses the Cedar Brook five times, and one of locations was deep enough I found myself wading through at least one of those spots.
Wading. After crossing Cedar Creek which was full from the previous night's hard rain.
Bash Bish on June 14, 2009. (N 42° 7' 20.6" W 73° 30' 23.22")
Kodak Z7590 Zoom Digital Camera, Exposure: 1/60 sec, Aperature: f/2.8, ISO 400, EV +2/3, Focal Length: 38mm.
Once you climb out of the Cedar Brook Valley, via a rather steep trail, you connect up with the main South Taconic trail to Sunset Rock. This trail was much less wet then crossing the brook, but still rather flooded in several locations
Wet Trail. All that rain turned the Sunset Rock Trail into more of a stream then a hiking trail. It wasn't all that eroded or steep in this section, just very wet.
Bash Bish on June 14, 2009. (N 42° 7' 43.9" W 73° 30' 9.72")
Kodak Z7590 Zoom Digital Camera, Exposure: 1/200 sec, Aperature: f/2.8, ISO 400, EV -2/3, Focal Length: 38mm.
Once you reach the top, the foliage changes. First it goes to open canopy with ample ferns and decedious trees high above. At the top, it is quite open with just a little bit of scrub oak and ample blueberries around. From the must-needed Sunset Rock sign, you follow a trail about 1/4 mile to Sunset Rock, a small boulder you walk on top for wonderful views of the valley below.
To Sunset Rock. The sign is helpful, because there are a couple of directions of trails and sunset rock is not directly visible from the South Taconics Trail.
Bash Bish on June 14, 2009. (N 42° 8' 3.52" W 73° 29' 43.51")
Kodak Z7590 Zoom Digital Camera, Exposure: 1/1600 sec, Aperature: f/5.6, ISO 400, EV -2/3, Focal Length: 38mm.
The views from Sunset Rock are amazing. As you could see by this picture, it's gotten very clear out by around 1 PM. I have to say this is one of the nicer views I've seen around, with the Catskill Mountains in the background.
The View. From Sunset Rock. Those are the Catskills in the background. By 1 PM it had cleared out quite nicely with minimal haze, at least for New York State.
Bash Bish on June 14, 2009. (N 42° 8' 4.45" W 73° 29' 46.25")
Kodak Z7590 Zoom Digital Camera, Exposure: 1/1250 sec, Aperature: f/6.3, ISO 400, Focal Length: 189mm.
Here is what it looks like towards the South-West, towards Overlook Mountain and beyond that, the Shawangunks.
South Taconic Trail Sign.
Bash Bish on January 16, 2010. (N 42° 7' 21.72" W 73° 30' 29.09")
Kodak Z7590 Zoom Digital Camera, Exposure: 1/200 sec, Aperature: f/3.6, ISO 80, Focal Length: 288mm.
The main South Taconics Trail descending Sunset Rock was much drier, following an old wagon road, that is smooth enough you could drive a regular car up it. If you have any question about how wet it's been, this route is the one to take. I will upload a photo later.
View Hiking in 2009 in a larger map
“The policy of the state shall be to conserve and protect its natural resources and scenic beauty and encourage the development and improvement of its agricultural lands for the production of food and other agricultural products.”
— Article 14, Section 4 NY State Constitution