Lake Sebago and Diamond Mountain Loop

Harriman State Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Tuxedo-Mt. Ivy Trail: Red blaze
Hillburn-Torne-Sebago (HTS) Trail: Orange blaze
Diamond Mountain Tower Trail: Yellow blaze
7 Hills Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 2:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.1 Miles

Pros: Scenic lakes, good climb and views
Cons: None

Hiking Partner:
Rayzi Friedman

It was a beautiful late spring day, and I had wanted to do a good climb with good views. Harriman State Park has been very busy during this period of time with the Coronavirus still closing many things and causing many people to hike.

The Lake Sebago Boat Launch was full, even at 9:20 AM, so I parked right outside the boat launch on the side of the Road at Seven Lakes Drive. The police were giving tickets to people parked on the sides of Seven Lakes Drive, but parking right outside the parking area on the side of the road was permitted here.

We walked on the unmarked shore path of Lake Sebago, going south, past the old beach. We then walked on Seven Lakes Drive for a short distance across the dam at the outlet of the lake. Right after the outlet we took the Tuxedo-Mt. Ivy Trail parallel to the brook, for a short distance. We then took the HTS Trail steeply up the mountain to the top of Diamond Mountain.

We met with the 7 Hills Trail, and took the concurrent 7 Hills and HTS Trails south to the summit of Diamond Mountain. We then turned around for a short distance, and took the Diamond Mountain Tower down the mountain, passing the view facing Pine Meadow Lake. We took the trail down towards the Pine Meadow Trail, and then took the trail back up the mountain again, in its entirety. We then took the 7 Hills Trail north along the Diamond Mountain Ridge, past Monitor Rock, then up Halfway Mountain and then down the mountain to the parking area.

Map of the Route

Lake Sebago

Zoomed at at Lake Sebago

Me at the Old Lake Sebago Beach

Another View of Lake Sebago

Kayaker at Lake Sebago

Another View of the Kayaker at Lake Sebago

Family of Baby Geese at Lake Sebago

Dam at Lake Sebago and Seven Lakes Drive

Cool "Whale Rock" While Ascending the HTS

Rock Scramble up the HTS

Large Bedrock Exposure on the Top of Diamond Mountain

Freshly Bloomed Mountain Laurels at Diamond Mountain

Me on Diamond Mountain

Manhattan Skyline in the Distance from Diamond Mountain

Zoomed out from the Above View

Another View at Diamond Mountain

Me at the Diamond Mountain View

Pine Meadow Lake from the Diamond Mountain Tower Trail

Me at the Diamond Mountain Tower Trail View

Group of Hikers at the Pine Meadow Lake Overlook

Pine Meadow Lake in the Distance

View of Lake Sebago in the Distance from Diamond Mountain

Zoomed into Lake Sebago from Diamond Mountain

Monitor Rock

East Mountain Fahnestock State Park

Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park
Putnam Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
School Mountain Road Trail: White blaze
East Mountain Loop Trail: Red blaze
Round Hill Bypass Trail: Green blaze
Hubbard Loop Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 2:15 hour
Estimated Distance: 5.1 Miles

Pros: Scenic area
Cons: View is not great

I really enjoyed the area near Round Hill at Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park on my trip a few weeks prior, and went back to visit more trails in the area. I parked at the Hubbard Lodge parking area, near the Intersection of Route 9 and Route 301, and took the School Mountain Road Trail. I took this trail northeast for a while, crossing a brand new bridge which I had seen being built a few weeks prior.

The trail grade of the School Mountain Road Trail is relatively easy. Upon intersecting with the East Mountain Loop Trail, I took the trail as it climbed up the mountain. There is a viewpoint at the top, but was disappointed because it is obscured to too many trees. I then took the same trail down the mountain, back to the intersection of the School Mountain Road Trail, at the abandoned spooky house.

I then went back southwest on the School Mountain Road Trail, and at the Round Hill Bypass Trail: Green blaze intersection, I tool this trail for a short distance parallel to the School Mountain Road Trail, stopping for a short break at the waterfall. I then bushwacked back to the School Mountain Road Trail, and then took the newly blazed Hubbard Loop Trail, which goes parallel to the School Mountain Road Trail. I then continued along the School Mountain Road Trail back to my car.

Map of the Route

Round Hill in the Distance

Swampy Area from the First Bridge on the School Mountain Road Trail

Beaver Dam Along the Brook on the School Mountain Road Trail

Collapsed House at the School Mountain Road Trail

Brand New Bridge on the School Mountain Road Trail.
This Bridge was being built on my previous trip here a few weeks prior.

Bridge at the Beginning of the East Mountain Loop Trail

At the Top of East Mountain

View from the Top of East Mountain

Mountain in the Distance from the Top of East Mountain

Another View from East Mountain

Large Stone Wall and Foundation Ruins on the East Mountain Loop Trail

Dilapidated House at the East Mountain Loop and
School Mountain Road Trails Intersection

View of the Dilapidated Spooky House in the Distance

Trail Confluence of the School Mountain Road Trail, East Mountain Loop
Trail, and Round Hill Bypass Trail

Waterfall at the Round Hill Bypass Trail

Memorial Day Kakiak Lower Hike

Kakiat County Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Mountain Trail: Orange blaze

Total Time: 35 minutes
Estimated Distance: 1.2 miles

Pros: Nice short hike with good view
Cons: None

I had a busy schedule on memorial day, and at the end of the day near sunset I did a short hike up Kakiat. I parked in the main parking area, crossed the bridge over the Mahwah River, and took the Mountain Trail up to the first view. After the first view, turned around and went back down the same route, though took a slight detour along the path on the south flank of the park to the path alongside the river and then back to my car.

Map of the Route

View Facing Southwest Prior to Sunset

Another View Southeast

From the View Facing East

Me at the View

Catfish Loop and Appalachian Trail at Fahnestock Park

Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park
Putnam Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Catfish Loop Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 2:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.8 Miles

Pros: Very quiet and scenic area, nice rock formation and good view
Cons: None

This trail is a continuation of the northernmost reaches of the Appalachian Trail in area. I had completed an additional section in Fahnestock State Park, in the Catfish Loop area. I parked on Dennytown Road, where it hits the Appalachian Trail at the Catfish Loop area. I parked and headed on the Appalachian Trail south, up the ridge, and then at the intersection of the Appalachian and Catfish Loop Trails, I took the Catfish Loop Trail south, along some of the areas I had recently travelled. I climbed the ridge, and at the view at the rock formation, I climbed up the rock for some good views. This part of the trail contains some nice rock formations with exposed rock.

I then continued along the trail, and then hooked around the northern part of the trail. I missed the short spur to the Duck Pond, and continued along to the northern end of the trail, which I then took back to my car.

Map of the Route

Catfish Loop Trailhead Marker

View Along the Appalachian Trail, Facing West

Intersection of the Appalachian Trail and the Catfish Loop Trail

Junction of the Catfish Loop Trail and Moneyhole Mountain Trail

Large Rockface on the Moneyhole Mountain Trail

Approaching the Split Rock on the View on the Catfish Loop Trail

Going through the Split Rock on the View on the Catfish Loop Trail

View Atop the Split Rock on the View, Facing West

View Atop the Split Rock on the View, Facing Northwest Towards Storm King

Large Rocks at the Split Rock View Area

Me at the Split Rock View

View from the Split Rock facing North

Another View from the Split Rock, Facing West