Sunday, January 12, 2014

TMI Trailhead-Breakneck Mountain Loop

Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Tuxedo-Mt Ivy (TMI) Trail: Red blaze
Breakneck Mountain Trail: White blaze
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze
Red Arrow Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 3 hours
Estimated Distance: 6.6 miles
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult
Level of Recommendation: Recommended for a quiet, natural hike
Points Of Interest: Solitude, Breakneck Mountain, Mountain Laurel Forest, Third Reservoir
Pros: Very quiet part of park, Scenic natural area
Cons: Lacks good panoramic views

Google Map of Parking:

View 2014 Hiking Locations in a larger map

This hike was a longer than usual hike in a remote park of the park. Though there were three other cars in the  trailhead, I didn't see anyone on the trail the entire time, which is unusual especially considering this was a Sunday. The snow was still gone, and the weather was a bit warmer than seasonal, and there was no snow whatsoever.

I started at the Tuxedo-Mt Ivy Trail on Diltzes Road right off Route 202 near Ladentown. I took the trail up the mountain on the newly routed trail, and continued along this trail past the Red Arrow Trail and past the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail. At this point there is an extensive mountain laurel forest, which affords nice evergreen color to the otherwise drab brown. I continued past Woodtown Road and all the way to the intersection the the Breakneck Mountain Trail.

Breakneck Mountain is at a relatively high elevation, with nice rocky exposures, but it lacks good vistas and scrambles. The Breakneck Mountain Trail goes along the length of the ridge. I took this trail in its entirety to the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail, and then took that trail east. The Third Reservoir is right there, and it was mostly frozen over. I continued along the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail to the Red Arrow Trail, took the short Red Arrow Trail in its entirety, and then returned back down the mountain and back to my car on the Tuxedo-Mt Ivy Trail.

Map of the Route. Harriman/Bear Mnt State Park Southern Map

View While Ascending the Mountain.
Facing East Towards the Hudson River at West Haverstraw 

The Same View as Above, Zoomed Out.
Limekiln Mountain is Across the Valley

Green Mountain Laurel Forest on the TMI Trail

Beginning of the Breakneck Mountain Trail

Temporary Clearing of the Clouds, Interesting Photo Perspective

Bare Rock Faces Along the Breakneck Mountain Trail

Summit of Breakneck Mountain

Grassy Area Atop Breackneck Mountain

Third Reservoir from the SBM Trail

Another View of the Third Reservoir

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