Sunday, October 25, 2015

West Mountain Loop

Harriman/Bear Mountain State Parks
Rockland/Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
1777 Trail: Red blaze
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Suffern-Bear Mountain (S-BM) Trail: Yellow blaze
Timp-Torne Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 3:00 hours
Estimated Distance: 5.0 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended

Points of Interest: Good climb and many excellent views
Cons: None

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

West Mountain is one of my favorite hikes in the area. And this hike was during the peak foliage at the end of November, which made for a memorable hike. In the morning it had been raining, and the beginning of the hike was cloudy, but then it cleared up and at the end of the hike became sunny, allowing for the excellent pictures towards the end.

We had originally planned on parking at the lower parking area of Anthony Wayne Rec Area, but the the Oktoberfest was taking place at Anthony Wayne, and it was very busy and there was a fee to park. We decided to save our money and enjoy the peace and quiet and instead parked off of 7 Lakes Drive at the foot of the southern end of Bear Mountain. We took the 1777 Trail combined with the Appalachian Trail, and then split off on the Doodletown Bridle Path to the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail. We took the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail south and up the eastern flank of West Mountain, and then met up up with the Timp-Torne Trail. From the Timp-Torne Trail we took a short spur to the Shelter, where there is a great view, and then headed back on the Timp-Torne Trail along the West Mountain Ridge, affording many excellent views along the way. We then split off the Appalachian Trail, and then took that all the way back to hiking trailhead.

Map of the Route.
Harriman/Bear Mountain Trails Northern Map

Along the 1777 Trail 

Bright Red Huckleberries Along the S-BM Trail

Amazing Foliage Colors along the S-BM Trail

View from the Eastern Flank Summit of West Mountain on the S-BM Trail
Looking North Towards Bear Mountain

Shimmy on West Mountain

More Great Foliage Colors

The Timp and Haverstraw Bay from the Timp-Torne Shelter

View from the Timp-Torne Shelter

Me at the Timp-Torne Shelter

Me at the Timp-Torne Shelter at the Above View

Another Interesting Perspective From the Shelter View

Another View from the Timp-Torne Shelter

Shimmy at the Timp Torne Shelter View, with the Timp Behind Him

View along the Ridge on West Mountain
Looking Towards the Southern West Mountain

Another View at the Same Area

West Mountain Approaching the Intersection with the Appalachian Trail

Beautiful Orange Sugar Maple Along on the Trail

Appalachian Trail and Timp-Torne Trail View

View on West Mountain Facing West

View Facing North

View Facing West

Me at the View

Me at the View

Amazing Colors with the Sun Breaking Through

The Same View, Zoomed In

Facing North Towards Bear Mountain

Facing North Torwards Anthony Wayne

Me at the View of Bear Mountain Prior to the Descent on the AT

Facing East Towards the Hudson Gap

View of Bear Mountain to the North

3 comments:

  1. It was so busy today at Perkins that there was a collision on top, so they just shut the entrance down. So I did this hike today. Thanks for the hike.

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    Replies
    1. This trailhead parking area can also fill up on nice weekends. But its definitely a bit off the main area considering the coming and going right nearby at Bear Mountain.

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