Lemon Squeezer to Lichen Trail

Harriman State Park
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Crooked Road: Unblazed
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Arden-Surebridge Trail: Red Blaze
Lichen Trail: Blue Blaze
Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail: Red Blaze
Dunning Trail: Yellow Blaze
White Bar Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 2:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.3 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Highly recommended
Points Of Interest: Lemon Squeezer, Lichen Trail, Unique Scenery
Pros: Lemon squeezer formation, beatiful scenery and view by Surebridge Mountain
Cons: Difficulty parking

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

Google Map of Parking:

View 2014 Hiking Locations in a larger map

This is one of the most scenic areas in Harriman State Park. The parking proved more difficult than usual, as my usual spot on Arden Valley Road was blocked off. Arden Valley Road was recently refurbished, and the spot where I had usually parked in after the bend on the north side was blocked off by large boulders. I don't have an Island Pond parking pass, so I turned around and luckily found a small roadside spot on the south side right by the Crooked Road path.

We took took Crooked Road to the Appalachian Trail, and took the Appalachian Trail to the Lemon Squeezer, which is a pile of boulders and crevice that the trail goes through with some tight spots. We then took the blue-blazed Appalachian bypass route down and along the side back to the intersection of the Arden-Surebridge Trail, which meets the Appalachian at the Lemon Squeezer.

We took the Arden Surebridge to the Lichen Trail, and climbed up Surebridge Mountain from the Lichen Trail. This part of the area is very scenic with unique terrain that is full of large rocks and has sparse tree cover. It is also among the highest terrain in the park. There is also a very good view here on the Lichen Trail towards the west including Island Pond.

At the end of the Lichen Trail, which is very short, we took the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail to the Dunning Trail, down the mountain, to the White Bar Trail. This trail skirts along swampy area and eventually heads back to the Arden-Surebrige Trail. We took this trail back to the Appalachian Trail and then towards Crooked Road back to our car.

Map of the Route.
Harriman/Bear Mountain State Parks Northern Map

Me at the Entrance to the Lemon Squeezer

Going Through the Lemon Squeezer

Narrow Crevice in the Lemon Squeezer

Shimmy Ascending Surebridge Mountain at the
Beginning of the Lichen Trail

Dead Tree at the Beginning of the Lichen Trail

Me at the View on the Lichen Trail

Interesting Rocks and Colors Along the Lichen Trail

View from the Lichen Trail, Facing West.
Very Early Foliage is Apparent.

View on the Lichen Trail, Facing Southwest.

Large Rock Faces with Striations on the Lichen Trail

Island Pond from the Lichen Trail View

Beautiful Colors

Foliage Atop Surebridge Mountain

Shimmy on a Large Rock Face on Surebridge Mountain

More Beautiful Scenery Along Surebridge Mountain, on the R-D Trail

The Same View, Zoomed In

Shimmy Walking Across Giant Rock on the R-D Trail

Me at a Giant Rock Face on the R-D Trail