Hook Mountain State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hook Mountain State Park |
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View of the Hudson River from Hook Mountain State Park in November 2015.
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| Type | State park (undeveloped) |
| Location | Rockland County, New York |
| Nearest city | Upper Nyack, New York |
| Area | 676 acres (2.74 km2) |
| Created | 1911 |
| Operated by | |
| Visitors | 36,806 (in 2014) |
| Open | All year |
| Designated: | 1980 |
Hook Mountain State Park is a large, undeveloped park in Rockland County, New York. It covers about 676 acres (2.7 km2) of land. The park includes a part of the Hudson River Palisades on the western side of the Hudson River. It is also part of the Palisades Interstate Park system.
Hook Mountain State Park is connected to other parks, forming one big natural area. These parks include Rockland Lake State Park, Nyack Beach State Park, and Haverstraw Beach State Park. A main feature of the park is Hook Mountain itself. This mountain is 689 feet (210 m) tall. From its summit, you can see amazing views of Rockland Lake and the Hudson River.
Contents
History of Hook Mountain Park
Early Names and Meanings
The Dutch settlers who first came to this area had a special name for Hook Mountain. They called it Verdrietige Hook, which means "Tedious Point." This name might have come from how long the mountain stayed in view as sailors passed it on the Hudson River. Or, it could have been because of the tricky winds sailors faced near this spot. Hook Mountain was also known in the past as Diedrick Hook.
Protecting the Land from Quarrying
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, places like the Hudson River Palisades were in danger. Companies were digging up the land to get rocks, a process called quarry. To protect this beautiful area, the land that is now Hook Mountain State Park was bought in 1911. It became part of the Palisades Interstate Park. This helped save the natural landscape.
A Special Place for Nature: National Natural Landmark
In 1980, parts of Hook Mountain State Park and nearby Nyack Beach State Park were given a special title. They were named a National Natural Landmark. This was because of their unique rock formations, known as the Palisades Sill. This title helps protect the area's important natural features.
Important for Birds: A Bird Conservation Area
Hook Mountain is a very important place for birds. In 1997, the New York Audubon Society named it an Important Bird Area. This is because many migratory songbirds and hawks use the park as a feeding spot. Since 1971, people have been watching hawks here every year. Today, the park is called a "Bird Conservation Area" by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. This shows how important it is for protecting birds.
Expanding the Park: New Land for Nature
In May 2015, a group called the Sisters of Our Lady of Christian Doctrine made an announcement. They were thinking about adding their 38-acre (0.15 km2) property to Hook Mountain State Park. This land is right next to the southern part of the park. The plan was for The Trust for Public Land to buy the property. Then, they would give the land to New York State, making the park even bigger.
What You Can Do at Hook Mountain Park
Hook Mountain State Park is an undeveloped park. This means it doesn't have many buildings or special facilities. Instead, it's a great place for quiet activities like hiking and watching birds. The Long Path, a famous hiking trail, goes right through the park. It even passes over the top of Hook Mountain.
Even though Hook Mountain State Park is undeveloped, it's part of a larger group of parks. These parks are connected and include Rockland Lake State Park, Nyack Beach State Park, and Haverstraw Beach State Park. These nearby parks do have more facilities for fun activities. So, you can enjoy the quiet nature of Hook Mountain and then visit the other parks for more things to do.
Images for kids
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View of Hook Mountain from the Hudson River in November 2015
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View from the summit of Hook Mountain in November 2017
