Fall foliage lookouts close to home

Reaching the summit of Turkey Mountain in Yorktown. E. FARRELL PHOTO

By BRIAN KLUEPFEL 

Westchester doesn’t have the tall peaks of the Adirondacks or Catskills, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t high points from which to view New York’s spectacular fall foliage. Following are a quartet of elevated vistas that punch well above their weight when autumn arrives.

Blue Mountain Reservation, Peekskill 

Part of the Westchester Parks system, there is a fee to enter with a car at Blue Mountain. The good news is that its two peaks, Blue Mountain and Spitzenberg, offer excellent views of the surrounding area. The bad news is that the spaghetti-like cluster of trails is confusingly marked, with signage of different eras overlapping. One hiker noted, “with all the bisecting trails, it’s easy to get lost.” Also, the park is popular with mountain bikers, meaning you’re often sharing the trails, and on an event weekend it can be overwhelming. As noted in “Best hikes near New York City,” some smaller, unmarked side trails to the left of the main trail, leading to massive rock outcroppings, reward the hiker with good looks at the park below. 

Sal J. Prezioso Mountain Lakes Park, North Salem 

Commonly known as Mountain Lakes, the honorary name was added to give props to Prezioso, a local legislator who did much for the parks system. The 1,082-acre site has the highest point in the county (984 feet), although the views are blocked by trees.

A trail sign in Mountain Lakes Park, North Salem. BRIAN KLUEPFEL PHOTO

A better vantage point in Mountain Lakes is the aptly-named Lookout Point (740 feet). If you park in the well-marked turnout about 200 yards past the main entrance and climb up a relatively easy half-mile junket, you’ll come to a lichen-dappled flat lookout equipped with a bench, a viewing scope dedicated to Prezioso, and remarkable views of three lakes below: Waccabuc, Rippowam and Oscaleta. Note that historic documents call this the “White Trail,” yet the blazes are brown.

If you want to take it higher on the Lookout Trail, go past a decimated brick chimney of unknown origin and up a rocky incline, where stone steps lead to another lookout: a wooden bench dedicated to Somers resident Mark R. Vincent, who founded the Sarah Bishop Bushwhack memorial 10K race through the park. Vincent died in 2019, but his spirit lives on in a placard reading: “Where a beautiful soul has been there is a trail of beautiful memories.” It’s likely Vincent would be pleased to be honored by such an aerie. 

From behind the Mountain Lakes park office, an orange-blaze trail leads past Laurel Lake and Pine Lake: the view from the Yurt Village is pretty sweet. 

Turkey Mountain, Yorktown

Turkey Mountain’s 831-foot summit offers possibly the county’s most impressive views, south to the New York City skyline and west over the Croton Reservoir to the Hudson River. Only some shrubbery at the top — including some splendid yellow false foxglove — prevents a complete 360-degree expanse. “The park is beautiful,” said Ed Lyons, a visiting hiker from Oakland, Calif., although the view is compromised by trees and bushes. 

While the 1.3-mile blue trail wends around the park and will take you there in a more leisurely fashion, most opt for the more direct route, scampering up the white path like mountain goats and arriving breathlessly at the peak — it’s half a mile (well, 0.7) you’ll not soon forget. 

“You have to be in good shape,” said West of the Westchester Trails Association, “but not an experienced hiker.” 

Take a moment at the top to savor the aerobic triumph and admire the expansive vistas. 

Westmoreland Sanctuary, Mount Kisco

This 670-acre park tucked into a corner of Mount Kisco bordering Interstate 684 sports lovely views from high and low. Sanctuary Executive Director Ann Paul suggested the Lost Pond trail, just a couple of miles from the park entrance, with vestiges of daffodils and colorful wood ducks navigating the sun-loving turtles, native duck weed and spatterdock lily pads. It’s worth the hike. For those seeking a less-taxing outing, the Easy Loop Trail is just that, a white-pine-needle strewn path parallel for much of its length with Bechtel Lake, through the various hardwoods of red maple, sweet birch, American beech and Norway maple competing for sunlight. A bit of a challenge with a wonderful payoff is the Raptor Ridge trail, which contains the sanctuary’s highest point at 814 feet and passes Blueberry Pond, ringed by tennis-ball-green moss (easy on the feet). Westmoreland is very well marked, and for those seeking total tranquility, no dogs are allowed. 

Resources for finding local hikes

“Walkable Westchester, 3rd edition,” by Jane and Walt Daniels, “50 Hikes in the Lower Hudson Valley,” by Daniel Chazin; and “Best Hikes Near New York City,” by Ben Keene.

The local group the Westchester Trails Association leads four hikes every weekend: two on Saturdays and two on Sundays. The New York-New Jersey Trails Conference is also useful. 

Safety tips for hiking

— Wear waterproof boots that go above the ankle. You’ll stay dry and prevent some ankle twisting on New York’s infamously rocky ground. Wear two pairs of socks and put some petroleum jelly on your feet to prevent blisters. 

— Apply sunscreen. Bring plenty of water. Eat beforehand and have a snack handy during. 

— Check for ticks after your hike, and take preventive measures to keep them off while hiking, whether it’s spray, nerdy socks-tucked-in-pants and long sleeves if at all possible.

— Bring a map, and let someone know where you’ll be going. 

Brian Kluepfel is a writer and musician who contributes to Lonely Planet travel guides, Birdwatching Magazine and other publications.