Pine Swamp Mountain and Lakes First Snow Hike

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Long Path: Green blaze
Arden-Surebridge Trail: Red blaze
Red Cross Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 0:55 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.7 Miles

Pros: Good climb, nice view, scenic lakes
Cons: None
Hike Type: Loop

Map of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/RsrGtA7BJFJBiKRt9

This was the first snow season of the season. Although it wasn't all that much, a fast-moving Alberta Clipper brought about an inch of dry snow to the area. I took advantage being off from work to take a quick and scenic hike in Harriman. I parked in the Lake Skanatati Parking area, and took the Long Path for a short distance alongside the lake, then turned around and took the Arden-Surebridge Trail up. I veered off on the old Arden-Surebridge Trail before it was rerouted, and took it up to the view, where both Lake Skanatati and Kanawauke are in good view. I then turned back and went down along the eastern portion of the ridge back to the new Arden-Surebridge Trail, which I took to the Red Cross Trail. I took the Red Cross Trail down to Seven Lakes Drive, and then took Seven Lakes Drive south, alongside Lake Askoti, crossing the bridge at the stream outlet. I then took the Long Path back down to Lake Skanatati and back down to my car.

Map of the Route

Lake Skanatati

Long Path Alongside Lake Skanatati

Arden-Surebridge Trailhead

Ascending the Arden Surebridge Trail

View at Pine Swamp Mountain, with Lake Skanatati and Lake Askoti

Lake Askoti

Seven Lakes Drive

Lake Askoti

Lake Skanatati

Dater Mountain County Park,Harriman State Park,

Rockland County,
New York

Trails:
Orange Trail: Orange blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze
Blue Disc Trail: Blue blaze
Pine Meadow Trail: Red Blaze

Total Time: 2:40 min
Estimated Distance: 4.5 Miles

This was a wet and muddy hike. A large amount of snow had melted, but there was still a slushly layer several inches deep and empty patches of mud. The conditions were very difficult. I parked on Johnsontown Road at the parking area for Daters Mountain. I took the Orange Trail (don't know if this trail has a name or not; its a new trail and its not named in the map or in the books) passed the stream and up to the viewpoint. Continued along from there past the intersection with the blue trail, and to the Kakiat Trail right under the "Almost Perpendicular" portion of Daters Mountain. I originally wanted to take the Kakiat Trail all the way to the Pine Meadow Trail, but was too exhausted, wet, and muddy, so instead took the Blue Disc Trail head to the end of the trail, and then crossed the overflowing brook to 7 Lakes Drive by the gas line.

I walked along the side of 7 Lakes Drive towards Reeves Meadow, and at the Reeves Meadow parking area continued along the little-used portion of the Pine Meadown Trail towards Sloatsburg. Upon hitting the area along the stream bank, I discovered I had lost my sunglasses, so turned around and went all the way back almost all the way back to Reeves Brook, and sadly did not find them. So I turned back again towards where I was originally going, and to my surprise I found them not too far from my original discovery of noticing they were missing. I continued along to the end of trail where it hits 7 Lakes Drive in Sloatsburg, veered onto Johnsontown Road, and walked along Johnsontown Road to the parking area.

Map of the route.
7 Lakes Drive is not yet listed on this old USGS map.

Stream on the way up Dater Mountain view

The view atop Dater Mountain. Facing northeast towards Halfway Mnt.

Another view of Dater Mountain.
Facing east towards 7 Lakes Drive.

Near the end of the Orange Trail,
facing the "Almost Perpendicular" cliff wall.

The gas line crossing the stream at the end of the Blue Disc Trail

Above the Stony Brook on 7 Lakes Drive.
Lots of water due to melting snow!

My sunglasses - found!