Harriman Hiker: Harriman State Park and Beyond: Cobus Mountain in the Fog

Sunday, December 13, 2020

Cobus Mountain in the Fog

Kakiat County Park /
Harriman State Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Old Mill Trail: Blue blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 1:20 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.4 Miles

Pros: Scenic area with a great view
Cons: View marred by power lines
Hike Type: Eight loop hike
Level of Difficulty: Difficult (Bushwack and steep incline)

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/m9vUUiUpJaZ8a4pD6

This hike is short and sweet. It's close to where I live, and is a short but still with a good climb and great view. There is no direct trail to the top, so it's not a popular hike, and unknown except for expert hiker. It's across the valley from the much more popular Kakiat Mountain.

This hike was on a very warm December day. It was 60 degrees and I was wearing short sleeves. Not bad for December! The morning featured very dense fog, but when I climbed to the top of the mountain it was above the fog level on the ground and bright and sunny. By the time I climbed down, most of the fog had already burned up.

I parked at the Kakiat Park parking area, and crossed the Mahwah River, taking the Old Mill Trail to it's end at the Kakiat Trail. I then took the Kakiat Trail up the mountain, past the Gas Line, and at the trail bend, I bushwacked up the mountain to the view at the Lower Peak of Cobus Mountain. At the view, I went down along the ridge, bushwacking down to the Gas Line, and crossing the Gas Line to waterfalls. The waterfalls was in full force from the recent rains. I then crossed the brook back to the Kakiat Trail, climbing down the trail and then cutting across a shortcut back again to the Kakiat Trail, which I took to the terminus and then crossed the bridge back to my car.