I know I say this a lot, but this park definitely warrants days more to explore than I was able to give it. The hike we did was absolutely spectacular, but this is one of those places you could take a week to explore and never get bored. There is a rainforest and a beach section to this park that I've only seen pictures of, but can't wait to go back and check them out for myself. Also, I didn't realize how obsessed I am with moss covered trees, but turns out they're really important to me.
Mount Storm King
This hike starts as a vary large and VERY busy trailhead (even on a Wednesday afternoon), since it's an easy hike to Marymere Falls from that point. I would consider this hike difficult, at only 4 miles, but with 2,000ft of elevation and a ropes course, this was a very fun challenge. It took us about 4 hours, stopping a while at the top, and adding in Marymere.
This hike starts off on the wide, well maintained trail that takes you to Marymere Falls, and this trail splits off at a large boulder a half mile in, and sends you pretty much vertical to start. The switchbacks are rather steep and not rewarding, but the last half mile or so is on the top of a ridge and opens up so you can see Crescent Lake from either side. The 'End of Maintained Trail' sign comes about 0.3 miles from the summit, and that's where the ropes begin. There was a stack of garden gloves at the base of the ropes that were a literal lifesaver. The ropes were very fun to climb up, and my friend elected to let me to first on the way back down without mentioning it's best to pull from behind you since that's where the tension is. I ended up sliding down on my bum for that section and everyone behind me was entertained, and I wasn't injured, so it was all good. But, as a friend, I'm telling you to turn your body on that part and repel down from behind you.
Once you get passed the ropes, there is a fun rock climb up a formation (idk what technical terms for these things exist) and then you're granted with one of the most beautiful views I've ever seen. I'm such a sucker for lakes amongst green mountains, and this view was perfection. We sat up here for a long time, eating snacks and taking pictures, then headed back down to the bottom. Which, props again to the trekking poles because those switchbacks were steep and unkind in a whole different way on the way down. Overall, would put this hike up with Angels Landing in terms of challenge level, but the views are even better, in my opinion.
Marymere Falls
Off the same stupid busy trail head as Mt. Storm King is Marymere Falls. It's about a mile and a half out and back on a shady, well maintained trail. Once you get to the falls, you can take some stairs in a loop to see it from different vantage points. Per my friend, heading clockwise to the first view point is the best spot, so we stopped and turned around there. The falls were gorgeous and definitely worth heading down to, and it was a nice easy walk after coming down from Mount Storm King. Just be ready for swarms of people doing inconsiderate things, like playing in the creek where signs say to keep off the rocks due to conservation efforts for the fish that live in the streams.
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