Harriman Hiker: Harriman State Park and Beyond: Pine Swamp Mountain to Lake Tiorati Area

Sunday, November 22, 2020

Pine Swamp Mountain to Lake Tiorati Area

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Arden-Surebridge Trail: Red blaze
"Pacman" Trail: Pacman blazes
Pine Swamp Road: Unblazed
Bottle Cap Trail: Bottle cap blazes
Red Cross Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 1:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.7 Miles

Pros: Nice views, mostly quiet area after the beginning
Cons: No remarkable views
Hike Type: Loop hike

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/j4HaA63watvm9Wim7

This was a dreary, cold and gray day. It was cloudy and windy for the hike, with few people out on the trail. I parked at the Lake Skanatati Parking area, and took the Arden-Surebridge Trail for a short distance and then took the old trail route above the rock scramble. I then took the old trail to the Pine Swamp Mountain view no longer serviced by the trail. I noticed some new trail markers on this original, now disused trails. They were surprisingly different blaze symbols relating to Pacman: Pacman, ghosts, and digital raspberries and strawberries. I am not sure if this was some sort of Halloween prank, and if it was put up by someone without authorization. But what I did find interesting is that there were no marked symbols at the beginning or end or the trail to notice from the Arden-Surebridge Trail. The end markers were only on the other side, so if you weren't looking you wouldn't notice the trail marking. I would love to get more information about this.

I then continued on the Arden-Surebridge Trail, and at the northern area of Pine Swamp Mine. I then took the unblazed Pine Swamp Mine Road North towards Seven Lakes Drive, crossed the road, and then took the paved road to Camp Thendara to the Bottle Cap Trail. This Bottle Cap trail is not the same as the one nearby on the west side of Seven Lakes Drive. It's a short trail, not listed on the map as marked, that connects the Camp Thendara Road to the Red Cross Trail. I then took the Red Cross Trail to the view and down the mountain to the northern part of Lake Askoti. I took the Red Cross Trail across the road, back up the hill, and back up to the parking area.