West Point and Storm King

Sports and the Outdoors

Peaceful hiking trails traverse the 3,830-acre Black Rock Forest Preserve and Consortium, just north of Storm King in Cornwall. In the 1800s loggers cut down the old-growth forest here to make way for farms. By the next century a restoration project was under way to bring the forest back, and the preserve remains an important educational and research site. Black Rock, the forest's highest peak, can be accessed from a number of trails. The Stillman Trail climbs through mountain laurel to the summit, which affords views of Storm King, the Schunnemunk Mountains, and the Shawangunks. Rte. 9W, Cornwall, NY, 12518. 845/534-4517. www.blackrockforest.org.

At the heart of the 1,900-acre Storm King State Park is Storm King Mountain, which is veined with hiking trails, many with spectacular views. The park is undeveloped, so there are no bathrooms and parking is limited. Hikers must heed posted warnings and restrictions and stick to marked trails here, because unexploded artillery shells from the neighboring military academy might be found off trails in area B of the park, in the south. Off Rte. 9W between Cornwall and West Point, NY, 12518. 845/786-2701. nysparks.com.