Storm King Mountain Hike

Storm King Mountain Hike

Storm King Mountain hike is a moderate, short hike, located in Storm King State Park, which is in the Hudson Valley, NY and has spectacular panoramic summit views of the Catskills and the Hudson Valley.

AllTrails link to Storm King Mountain hike


Basic Information About Storm King Mountain Hike

Date of hike: September 28, 2019

Difficulty level: moderate

Distance: 2.4 miles round trip

Elevation gain: 629 feet

Location: Storm King State Park, Hudson Valley, NY

Approximate hiking time: 2.5 hours

Parking: Limited spaces in lot and some spaces on shoulder of highway

Our rating: 5 stars – great work-out, gorgeous views

How Did Storm King Mountain Get Its Name?

The Mountain was originally named Klinkesberg by Henry Hudson’s crew for its wrinkly looking rock cliffs.  It was later renamed to Boterbertg by the early Dutch settlers, which means Butter Hill, since they thought it looked like a lump of butter.  In the middle of the 19th century, writer Nathaniel Parker Willis gave the mountain its current name.  He claimed that one can forecast a storm by observing clouds descend upon the mountain.

Our Impressions

This was our second weekend together and a wonderful way for me to spend Rosh Hashana – the Jewish New Year.  Wow! One hike is better than the next.  We couldn’t believe we’ve never tried hiking in our younger years.

The leaves started changing color and I was still fascinated by every crawling insect. I made two new friends – the grasshopper and the worm.

The hike was a natural Stairmaster machine with some steep rock scrambling.  There were many gorgeous vista points along the way.

Storm King Mountain Worm
Storm King Mountain Grasshopper
Views from Storm King Mountain Hike

Author

  • Meet Anna

    Anna was born in the former Soviet Union, the part that is now Ukraine. She came to the US as a refugee at the age of 8. She is an outdoor, fitness, health, and environment lover who found a way to express her passions through hiking. She enjoys exploring new places, seeking out adventures, and sharing her experiences with friends and family. Anna is also on a mission to help others feel young and healthy. She is a health and wellness coach that specializes in improving digestive health and IBS symptoms. Please visit her business page https://linktr.ee/anna.toyberman

    View all posts