Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
Submitted by: CaptainMo
Description
The 4,315-acre park makes Ward Pound Ridge Reservation the county’s largest park. With its varied terrain and landscapes and miles of wooded trails, the park provides a variety of activities in all seasons. There are areas for picnicking, lean-to camping, fishing and cross-country skiing.
Originally part of Cortlandt Manor, the reservation was settled by farmers from Connecticut. The name Pound Ridge is credited to the Indians who originally lived in the area. They had a local pound in which they kept game on the hoof until they needed it for food. The Indians built an enclosure of saplings driven into the ground and drove their game into the pound. The name was spelled “Poundridge” until 1938, when the county bought the property and added the “Ward” to honor William Lukens Ward, Westchester’s Republican county leader from 1896 to 1933.
The park features several different zones of bouldering, Spy Rock, Raven Rocks, and Leatherman's Cave. The area was developed by the likes of Josh and Bret Lowell, Aaron Back, John Kootz, and others.
Getting There
Both Spy Rock and Leatherman's cave can be accessed off Honey Hollow Rd. Raven Rocks is a bit trickier to get to and requires some tact.
Comments
giants98954 Mar 18, 2012
What's the access situation here?
Will Roth May 17, 2012
Climbing is not strictly prohibited but you should keep a low profile when climbing here. DO NOT park with your tires on the road! You need to be off the pavement of Honey Hollow Rd to not subject this access point to stricter police presence. Besides bouldering there is roped climbing to be had. Many locals long before my time have lead all the routes you could imagine at all these different cliffs. If Fred is still around he is the one to ask about the history.
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