All posts filed under: Hikes

Fri. 11/28/2025: Black Friday Hike on Hook Mountain for Inner & Outer Exploration

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“Instead of going shopping, go outside.” – REI #OptOutside Campaign Inspired by REI’s #OptOutside movement on Black Friday, we invite you to join us in the beautiful Hudson Valley for a guided, meditative hike—an opportunity to reconnect with both inner landscape and the natural world.  This hike takes the scenic route along the Long Path—into the Rockland Lake State Park and up Hook Mountain. Enjoy expansive vistas from only 1.5 hours outside of the city, and an extraordinary area designated by the New York Audubon Society as an Important Bird Area. Much of the hike will be observed in silence and we will integrate nature meditation practices throughout the day — allowing our senses to come alive and our sense of separateness to fall away.  Together, we will cultivate a deeper intimacy with the land—and with our inner landscape—moving through the day with reverence and presence. We will foster a reciprocal mindset: as the land nourishes us, we give back through gratitude, awareness, and care.  Through this shared exploration, we will reflect on what it …

Sat. 9/7/2024: BIPOC Meditative Hike to Anthony’s Nose, with Sebene Selassie

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For Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color “The true miracle is not walking on water or walking in air, but simply walking on this earth.” — Thich Nhat Hanh Join us on this fall Saturday for a journey into nature — a time to reconnect with both the natural world and ourselves. Throughout the hike, we’ll weave in various nature meditations, embracing silence as a key element for introspection and transformation. This is a chance to unwind and restore. It’s also an opportunity to understand our relationship to nature in both its simplicity and complexity. “We need acts of restoration, not only for polluted waters and degraded lands, but also for our relationship to the world.” — Robin Wall Kimmerer *********************** As teachers, we always begin every session of practice (whether inside or outdoors) with three honorings: honoring native land, honoring practice lineages, & honoring personal ancestors. But what does it mean to honor native land in a culture rampant with the destruction and desecration of nature? How do we heed the call of …

Sun. 11/28/2021: Thanksgiving Weekend Hike to Hook Mountain, Rockland Lake State Park (on the Long Path)

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Enjoy a fall day in the peaceful beauty of the Hudson Valley with a guided, meditative hike to connect with nature and ourselves. This hike takes the scenic route along the Long Path—into the Rockland Lake State Park and up Hook Mountain. Enjoy expansive vistas only 1.5 hours outside of the city, and an extraordinary space designated by the New York Audubon Society as an Important Bird Area. Much of the hike will be observed in silence but we will integrate meditation practices throughout the day — allowing our senses to come alive and our sense of separateness fall away. Turning our attention inward allows us to become receptive to both of our outer and inner experiences. The dynamic outdoor conditions will be a perfect container for mindfulness practices. The hike will be approximately from 10am – 3pm. When: 9:45am-3pm, Sunday, November 28, 2021 Who: Lin Wang Gordon Where: Rockland Lake State Park, South Entrance on Route 9W and Lake Road, Valley Cottage, NY, 10989. (Use “753 Route 9W” for Rockland Roots GPS. The park entrance should …

Sun. 9/27/2020: Fall Foliage Hike to Hook Mountain, Rockland Lake State Park (on the Long Path)

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Enjoy a fall day in the peaceful beauty of the Hudson Valley with a guided, meditative hike to connect with nature and ourselves. This hike takes the scenic route along the Long Path—into the Rockland Lake State Park and up Hook Mountain. Enjoy expansive vistas only 1.5 hours outside of the city, and an extraordinary space designated by the New York Audubon Society as an Important Bird Area. Much of the hike will be observed in silence but we will integrate meditation practices throughout the day — allowing our senses to come alive and our sense of separateness fall away. Turning our attention inward allows us to become receptive to both of our outer and inner experiences. The dynamic outdoor conditions will be a perfect container for mindfulness practices. The hike will be approximately from 10am – 3pm. Who: Lin Gordon When: 9:45am-3pm, Sunday, September 27, 2020 Where: Rockland Lake State Park, South Entrance on Route 9W and Lake Road, Valley Cottage, NY, 10989. (Use “753 Route 9W” for Rockland Roots GPS. The park entrance should be …

Sun. October 20, 2019: Fall Foliage Hike to Hook Mountain, Rockland Lake State Park (on the Long Path)

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Enjoy a fall day in the peaceful beauty of the Hudson Valley with a guided, meditative hike to connect with nature and ourselves. This hike takes the scenic route along the Long Path—into the Rockland Lake State Park and up Hook Mountain. Enjoy expansive vistas only 1.5 hours outside of the city, and an extraordinary space designated by the New York Audubon Society as an Important Bird Area. Much of the hike will be observed in silence but we will integrate meditation practices throughout the day — allowing our senses to come alive and our sense of separateness fall away. Turning our attention inward allows us to become receptive to both of our outer and inner experiences. The dynamic outdoor conditions will be a perfect container for mindfulness practices. The hike will be approximately from 10am – 3pm. Who: Lin Gordon When: 8:15am-3pm, Sunday, October 20, 2019 Where: Rockland Lake State Park, South Entrance on Route 9W and Lake Road (parking lot #4). Valley Cottage, NY. (299 Lake Rd. Valley Cottage, NY, 10989). There is a picnic …

Sat. July 13, 2019 – Summer Hike to Hook Mountain, Rockland Lake State Park (on the Long Path)

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“Walking mindfully on the Earth can restore our peace and harmony, and it can restore Earth’s peace and harmony as well.  We are children of the Earth.  We rely on her for our happiness, and she relies on us also.  Whether the Earth is beautiful, fresh and green, or arid and parched depends on our way of walking.  When we practice walking meditation beautifully, we massage the Earth with our feet and plant seeds of joy and happiness with each step.  Our Mother will heal us, and we will heal her.” — Thich Nhat Hanh Register Enjoy a summer day in the peaceful beauty of the Hudson Valley.  This guided, meditative hike takes the scenic route along the Long Path—into the Rockland Lake State Park and up Hook Mountain (698 ft). Enjoy expansive vistas only 1.5 hours outside of the city, and an extraordinary space designated by the New York Audubon Society as an Important Bird Area. Take a walk into the woods to connect with nature and ourselves.  We’ll integrate sitting and walking nature …

Sat. November 24, 2018: Thanksgiving Meditative Hike to Hook Mountain, Rockland Lake State Park (on the Long Path)

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  “Walking mindfully on the Earth can restore our peace and harmony, and it can restore Earth’s peace and harmony as well.  We are children of the Earth.  We rely on her for our happiness, and she relies on us also.  Whether the Earth is beautiful, fresh and green, or arid and parched depends on our way of walking.  When we practice walking meditation beautifully, we massage the Earth with our feet and plant seeds of joy and happiness with each step.  Our Mother will heal us, and we will heal her.” — Thich Nhat Hanh   Register Immerse in the peaceful beauty of autumn in the Hudson Valley before winter arrives. This guided, meditative hike takes the scenic route along the Long Path—into the Rockland Lake State Park and up Hook Mountain (698 ft). Enjoy expansive vistas only 1.5 hours outside of the city, and an extraordinary space designated by the New York Audubon Society as an Important Bird Area. As we head into deep fall, take a walk into the woods to connect …

Sat. April 21, 2018: Earth Day Meditative Hike to Anthony’s Nose

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Register Here “Walking mindfully on the Earth can restore our peace and harmony, and it can restore Earth’s peace and harmony as well.  We are children of the Earth.  We rely on her for our happiness, and she relies on us also.  Whether the Earth is beautiful, fresh and green, or arid and parched depends on our way of walking.  When we practice walking meditation beautifully, we massage the Earth with our feet and plant seeds of joy and happiness with each step.  Our Mother will heal us, and we will heal her.” — Thich Nhat Hanh Feel the spring energy in the air?  How about taking a meditative hike that takes you past a crystalline lake and the lowest-elevation stretch of the Appalachian Trail (AT) to one of the most dramatic scenic destinations in the Hudson Valley? Anthony’s Nose (900 feet) is only an hour outside of the city, and it will take you to fresh air, expansive vista, and blossoming trees.  On this Earth Day (4/22) weekend, take a walk into the woods to …

June 24, 2017: Mineral Springs Falls Meditative Hike – Lakes, A Waterfall, and Unique Flora

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“The birds have dissolved into the sky And the last remaining clouds have faded away We sit together the mountain and me Until the only mountain remains” – Li Po, Zazen on Ching Ting Mountain What we love about this hike Visit beautiful waterfalls Multiple open views of the Hudson Valley Unique ecosystems in Black Rock Forest Stop at a local farmstand Join us on a meditative hike through Black Rock Forest, a hidden gem in the Hudson Valley that’s home to unique ecosystems. Our hike begins as we pass Mineral Springs Falls and hike along the spring as we head uphill. After our first tough climb, we’ll pass by Jupiter’s Boulder and soon a break will await us at Sutherland Pond, where the bravest among us can dip our toes.  We will rest and meditate there for a while. After we’ll follow winding trails through the park – a favorite place of biologists and botanists due to its high species and habitat diversity – and observe the variety of berries and wild edibles that fill the forest …