Mt. Nebo Loop from Tackamack Park

March 15, 2026 – Blauvelt, NY

Issue: Reasonable

Size: Roughly 4.5 miles

Max elevation: 682 ft. – complete elevation acquire roughly 550 ft.

Route sort: Circuit

Map: Hudson Palisades Trails Map #109 – Clausland Mountain County Park Map

Trailhead parking: 68 Clausland Mountain Rd, Blauvelt, NY 10913

Paved car parking zone – No restrooms on web site

Hours: Open Each day, Dawn – Sundown

Overview:

Rising to 682 ft above sea stage, Mount Nebo sits alongside the western fringe of the Hudson Valley, not removed from the Hudson River and the village of Nyack. The terrain right here is traditional decrease Hudson Highlands: rolling ridges, pockets of dense hardwood forest, and seasonal views that open up by the timber. Relying in your route, you may catch glimpses of the Hudson, close by cities, or the undulating ridgelines stretching north and south.

However what actually units Mount Nebo aside is its previous. Through the top of the Chilly Battle, the summit space was dwelling to a Nike missile protection set up, a part of a nationwide community designed to guard main metropolitan areas like New York Metropolis.

Right this moment, Nike Overlook Park sits atop the summit of Mount Nebo, providing restricted views of the Hudson River Valley. Scattered concrete foundations, rusted fencing, graded clearings, and previous entry roads trace at its Chilly Battle previous, when this quiet mountaintop was a part of a extremely secured missile protection web site. Now, it stands as an off-the-beaten-path vacation spot the place woodland solitude meets a delicate reminder of world tensions.

Surrounding Mount Nebo is a surprisingly wealthy patchwork of parkland that turns this modest summit into one thing a lot larger than a single vacation spot. What makes the realm particular isn’t simply the mountain itself—it’s how seamlessly it connects to neighboring preserves, creating miles of steady woods, ridgelines, and path choices throughout southern Rockland County.

Adjoining to Mount Nebo, you’ll discover a community of native and county parks that really feel extra intimate however no much less rewarding. Clausland Mountain County Park sits simply to the north and west, providing rolling terrain, rocky outcrops, and a maze of intersecting trails. It’s a favourite for loop hikes, with gradual climbs and the occasional overlook that hints on the broader panorama past the timber.

Simply to the west, Tackamack Park gives a quieter, usually neglected complement to the encircling lands. With its mixture of wooded trails, small ponds, and local-use paths, it presents a extra relaxed, neighborhood really feel whereas nonetheless connecting into the broader path community. It’s the sort of place the place a brief stroll can simply flip into an extended wander as you hyperlink into adjoining public lands.

Threading by a lot of this terrain is the Lengthy Path, an aqua-blazed long-distance path that hyperlinks these parks right into a steady mountaineering hall stretching far past Rockland County. Throughout Mount Nebo and its neighboring lands, the Lengthy Path acts as each a information and a spine, connecting excessive factors, wooded valleys, and historic websites right into a cohesive journey.

Collectively, these adjoining lands create a panorama that feels expansive with out ever being overwhelming. You possibly can hold issues easy with a brief out-and-back, or wander for miles throughout park boundaries with out realizing the place one ends and one other begins. It’s this quiet continuity—the place locations like Mount Nebo, Clausland Mountain, and Tackamack Park mix collectively—that provides the realm its distinctive character and lasting enchantment.

Historical past:

Nike Missile Web site – NY-03/04 –

Mount Nebo (immediately’s Nike Overlook Park) was NOT the missile launch web site—it was the brains of the system, controlling missiles that had been to be launched from a separate location.

Clausland Mountain consists not of a single mountain however a sequence of hilltops alongside the Palisades between Piermont and S. Nyack. The tallest hilltop, practically 700 ft, is Mount Nebo on the southern finish overlooking Rockland Cemetery and Piermont. The title comes from a biblical reference to a mountain from which Moses noticed the Promised Land and upon which he died. The title seems irregularly on maps of the previous, so it’s unclear who named it or when it was named. Timber obscure the view many of the 12 months. Stone outcroppings present that the soil is skinny and never appropriate for farming. There is no such thing as a indication on maps that anybody lived close by.

The US Military already owned the Mount Nebo web site from WW II, and it was an ideal place to accommodate an commentary put up as soon as once more, this time with radar. A command heart was constructed on the 15-acre web site together with an enormous golf ball formed radar dome whose basis can nonetheless be discovered there. Beneath the mountain on the northwest intersection of the Palisades Parkway and Rt. 303 was the missile launch web site. Missiles had been stored in silos till there was want for launch.

From 1954 to 1974, throughout the top of the Chilly Battle, a hoop of Nike missile websites protected the New York metropolitan space, together with installations on Mount Nebo. Designed to intercept incoming Soviet long-range bombers—such because the Tu-95 “Bear”—these missiles might interact threats earlier than they reached the mainland. In complete, nineteen Nike websites shaped a defensive perimeter round New York Metropolis.

In 1954, the U.S. Military deployed the world’s first operational guided surface-to-air missile system: the Nike Ajax. Initially conceived close to the tip of World Battle II and developed within the early Chilly Battle years, the system was fast-tracked into service in response to rising fears of Soviet air assault. Nike Ajax batteries had been strategically positioned to defend main city, and industrial facilities throughout the nation.

Every Nike missile web site was organized into three foremost elements: the executive space, the Built-in Hearth Management space (IFC), and the launch space. The executive part—usually positioned inside or close to the opposite two—contained barracks, a multitude corridor, and help buildings, sometimes easy one-story cinder block buildings. It additionally included automobile upkeep services and gas storage.

The IFC served because the technological coronary heart of the operation. It housed radar methods used to detect and monitor incoming plane, together with management trailers, energy tools, and communications infrastructure. Positioned a minimum of 1,000 yards—and infrequently greater than a mile—from the launch space, the IFC maintained a direct visible line of sight to coordinate concentrating on and engagement.

Nike Overlook Park –

In 1976, Orangetown bought the IFC (Built-in Hearth Management) web site on Mount Nebo for $10,000. The city made a couple of enhancements and Nike Overlook Park was born. A pool was deliberate however by no means constructed. In 1995, the Higher Grandview Affiliation made the suggestion that the park buildings be preserved as a Chilly Battle museum, however nothing got here of it. The title preserves its Chilly Battle previous, whereas the land itself has been reclaimed for recreation and open area.

Trails Overview:

The path community round Mount Nebo presents a surprisingly numerous mixture of terrain, issue, and connectivity, making it straightforward to tailor a hike to only about any tempo or expertise stage. Reasonably than a single outlined route, the realm is finest understood as an interconnected system of trails that weave by a number of parks and preserves.

Branching off from the Lengthy Path are various native trails—many unblazed or marked with normal colours that create loop alternatives by adjoining lands. In Clausland Mountain County Park, trails wind over rolling hills and rocky outcrops, providing reasonable elevation adjustments and occasional viewpoints. These paths are well-suited for constructing longer loops or exploring less-traveled sections of the forest.

General, the Mount Nebo path system is outlined by its flexibility. Quick out-and-back walks, reasonable loops, and multi-park traverses are all potential with out ever straying removed from the core community. It’s a spot the place navigation will be as easy or as exploratory as you need it to be—rewarding each informal walkers and extra seasoned hikers seeking to piece collectively their very own route.

Hike Overview:

I visited Mount Nebo in the summertime of 2017. We tried to do a loop again then, much like the one described right here. The White Path was not marked again then and we misplaced the path, inflicting us to bushwack by a maze of downed timber. Now, though the paths within the space are nicely marked, one ought to concentrate whereas on the White Path as a result of fixed switchbacks and sharp turns that the path takes.

It is a nice hike by a quiet space. There aren’t any sweeping views right here, and the remnants of the Nike Missile Web site atop Mount Nebo aren’t particularly outstanding. However if you happen to’re seeking to discover a quieter stretch of path with minimal foot site visitors, and admire a little bit of Chilly Battle historical past tucked away within the woods, this hike presents a peaceable, off-the-beaten-path expertise.

This hike covers roughly 4.5 miles, with about 550 ft of elevation acquire.

Because the elevation profile beneath exhibits, this hike options loads of minor ups and downs.

Parking:

The principle lot for Tackamack Park sits immediately on Clausland Mountain Highway, making it a straightforward and apparent trailhead for accessing each Tackamack and the encircling path community. Parking is free and open each day, with no formal gates or restricted hours generally. From the lot, you’ll be able to instantly connect with native trails and in addition hyperlink into Blauvelt State Park and Clausland Mountain County Park, making it a helpful start line for longer hikes.

The Lengthy Path passes immediately by the parking space at Tackamack Park, making it one of many extra handy entry factors to this part of the path. 

The Hike:

From the Tackamack Park parking space, head out to Clausland Mountain Highway and comply with the aqua-blazed Lengthy Path east. After crossing the highway and getting into the woods, you’ll discover a white-blazed path on the left—this shall be your return route. For now, proceed straight, following the aqua blazes.

After a brief distance, the path reaches a picket footbridge spanning a small, usually gently flowing stream. Cross the bridge and proceed forward as the trail begins a gentle, gradual climb by the encircling woods, gaining elevation with out ever turning into too steep.

Ultimately, the path steepens because it climbs by Clausland Mountain Park. A few mile from the beginning, the Lengthy Path makes a pointy proper flip. Proper at this bend, search for a tree marked with three orange blazes on the left. Flip left right here and comply with the path uphill.

In a brief distance, you’ll move the again of an indication, and simply past it, an previous, rusted chain-link fence comes into view—marking the boundary of Nike Overlook Park.

Shortly after passing by the chain-link fence, the Orange Path reaches a T-intersection. The opposite finish of the White Path begins on the left, however flip proper to stay on the Orange Path. Nearly instantly, the path passes a clearing on the left. Go away the Orange Path and head into the partially paved clearing, the place you’ll discover a number of oddly formed concrete rings scattered throughout the bottom, some partially hidden by grass. It’s value taking a couple of moments to discover this space.

There isn’t a lot to see on this a part of the park, although we did come throughout what seem like concrete stands that after supported some sort of tank.

Once you’re able to proceed, head towards the park’s foremost entrance gate and stroll down the paved highway, labeled “US Military Highway” on Google Maps. Proceed downhill for about 175 yards to the following intersection, then flip proper onto Nike Lane. Comply with the highway for one more 350 yards till you attain the primary gate of the IFC web site.

Nike Lane continues previous the gate, bearing left because it passes the primary set of buildings. Comply with the highway to the excessive level, holding a watch out for remnants of the IFC web site alongside the best way.

One of many buildings close to the summit with a high-capacity venting system. 

To the left of the highway, nearly hidden, is a rusty metal radar platform.

We took a brief relaxation on the summit, then spent a while wandering the realm, in search of out scattered remnants—some tucked away within the surrounding woods. We then started heading downhill on Nike Lane, stopping often to take a look at something we could have missed on the best way up.

A number of buildings nonetheless stand at Nike Overlook Park, initially supporting operations equivalent to radar monitoring, missile steering, communications, and command features. Typical buildings at an IFC web site included radar towers, management rooms, generator buildings, and different small help services.

As you proceed previous the gate on Nike Lane, the Orange Path begins on the left, throughout from the small parking space. 

The Orange Path leaves Nike Lane and enters the woods. Simply forward there are three orange blazes on a tree, marking the beginning of the path. Proceed forward till you attain a T-intersection marked by a park map. Right here, the Orange Path goes in each instructions. Flip RIGHT and comply with the orange blazes because the path weaves by the forest.

After about 260 yards, the Orange Path reaches a junction the place it makes a pointy left by a break within the fence—the identical route you took on the best way up. Simply forward, three white blazes on a tree mark the beginning of the White Path. Proceed ahead, following the white blazes.

The White Path quickly passes by a clearing earlier than re-entering the woods. It then goes by a break in a chain-link fence and turns left, leaving Nike Overlook Park and getting into Clausland Mountain Park.

From Nike Overlook Park, the White Path descends by Clausland Mountain Park, following lengthy, looping switchbacks that wind by a mixture of open clearings and shaded forest. The path gives a peaceable, wooded route, with occasional glimpses of previous fence traces. Its gradual downhill course makes for a straightforward, scenic return by the quiet woods.

Alongside the White Path, hikers will encounter various fascinating boulders and low stone partitions scattered all through the woods. These options add character to the panorama, hinting on the space’s pure historical past and previous human exercise.

The White Path additionally crosses a number of small streams, which will be simply hopped over. They provide an opportunity to pause and benefit from the mild sounds of flowing water. These crossings add selection to the hike and spotlight the quiet, pure great thing about the forest.

After about 2 miles, the White Path ends at a junction with the Lengthy Path. Flip proper, cross Clausland Mountain Highway, and proceed again to the Tackamack Park car parking zone, the place the hike started.

Evaluation:

This loop hike presents a rewarding mixture of historical past, nature, and solitude, making it a hidden gem in Rockland County. Ranging from Tackamack Park, the path winds by quiet woods, mild streams, and scenic clearings, with lengthy switchbacks offering a cushty climb and descent. Alongside the best way, hikers can discover remnants of Chilly Battle historical past at Nike Overlook Park on the summit of Mount Nebo. The mixture of fascinating boulders, low stone partitions, and peaceable stream crossings provides selection and allure, whereas the evenly traveled trails guarantee a way of tranquility. Whether or not you’re a historical past fanatic, a nature lover, or just on the lookout for a reasonable hike away from the crowds, this route presents a novel and memorable expertise.

Execs:

Chilly Battle period historical past, Lengthy Path, nicely marked trails, little foot site visitors, scenic panorama.

Cons:

Some highway noise turns into noticeable alongside the White Path because it approaches close by streets.

Take a hike!

Sources: