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.

Map of the Route

Lake Skanatati

Arden-Surebridge Trail

Pacman Trail Marker

Ghost Trail Marker on the "Pacman" Trail

Fire Pit Atop the Pine Swamp Mine Lookout with Lake Skanatati and Kanawauke Below

Lake Skanatati and Kanawauke from Pine Swamp Mountain

Lake Skanatati from Pine Swamp Mountain

Looking West Towards Black Rock Mountain

Me at Pine Swamp Mountain

Ghosts at the End of the "Pacman" Trail

Small Pit at the Pine Swamp Mine

Looking Towards Lake Tiorati from Thendara Road

Large Exposed Rock at the Bottle Cap Trail

Start of the Unofficial Bottle Cap Trail

Bottle Cap Trail Marker

Cairn at the end of the Bottle Cap Trail at the Red Cross Trail

View Towards Hogencamp Mountain from the Red Cross Trail

Descending Towards Lake Askoti

Lake Askoti

Lake Askoti from the Northern Shoreline

Peninsula at Lake Askoti

Rock in the Water at the Northern End of Lake Askoti

Pine Swamp Mountain to Surebridge Mountain

Harriman State Park
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Arden-Surebridge Trail: Red blaze
Ramapo Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze
Bottle Cap Trail: Blazed with bottle caps
Long Path: Green blaze

Total Time: 3:10 hour
Estimated Distance: 5.8 miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly recommended
Points Of Interest: Varied scenery, Pine Swamp Mnt View, Old Mines
Pros: Very scenic area, good views, historic mines
Cons: None

Google Map of Parking:

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This was a fall foliage hike on a beautiful autumn day. I was off from work and took advantage with a big hike, covering some remote parts of Harriman. I parked at the Lake Skanatati Parking area off of Seven Lakes Drive, and took the Arden-Surebridge (A-SB) Trail up the mountain. This area is currently being refurbished and there is trail work with steps on the lower part near the lake. A short but good climb up leads to a popular viewpoint overlooking Lake Skanatati and Lake Kanawauke, where I snapped some nice colorful photos.

I continued on the A-SB Trail past the Pine Swamp Mine, and then continued past the Dunning Trail terminus. At "Times Square", a trail intersection with many different spurs, I took the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail north, ascending one of the highest points in Harriman, and then down to the Bottle Cap Trail.

The Bottle Cap Trail is an official unofficial Trail. It is marked by bottle caps nailed into trees inside of the typical blazes. I don't believe that is maintained by the regular trail volunteers, but it is still officially sanctioned being on the maps and not being removed by rangers or volunteers. I took the Bottle Cap Trail west past the Surebridge Mine and then to its end at the A-SB Trail. I took the A-SB Trail up, and the trail gets very interesting here with sparse tree cover and dense brush. I took this trail back to Times Square, and then took the Long Path the Hogencamp Mine, and continued along the Long Path back towards Lake Skanatati and the parking area.

Map of the Route.
Harriman/Bear Mountain Trails Northern Map

Lake Skanatati at the Parking Area

New Steps at the A-SB Trail Beginning

View of Lake Skanatati and Lake Kanawauke
from the Pine Swamp Mountain View

Another Perspective from the Above View

Lake Skanatati from the Viewpoint

Scenery Along the A-SB Trail

One of the Mine Openings of the Pine Swamp Mine

Scenery Along the A-SB Trail

Rock at Times Square

Black Rat Snake Across the Ramapo Dunderberg Trail

View Ascending Up on the Ramapo Dunderberg Trail

Red Huckleberry Bushes Atop the High Point on the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail 

Another Angle at the Above Area

Descending the Ramapo Dunderberg Trail

Marker at the Bottle Cap Trail.
The Ribbon is to Make it Noticeable at the Ramapo Dunderberg Trail Intersection

Small Mine Shaft of the Surebridge Mine Along the Bottle Cap Trail./
This is not Shown on the Trail Conference Maps

Scenery Along the Bottle Cap Trail

Lonely Tree Along the A-SB Trail

Scenery Along the A-SB Trail

Amazing Colors Along the A-SB Trail

More Amazing Colors on the A-SB Trail

Rock Formation Known as "Cape Horn" Right Off the Long Path.
I went Through  These Rocks for a Scenic Bypass

Peninsula on Lake Skanatati as Seen from the Long Path

A Zoom into the Above Photo

View of Lake Skanatati Near the End of the Hike

Fingerboard Mountain & the Bottle Cap Trail

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

Trails:
Hurst Trail: Blue blaze
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:15 hr
Estimated Distance: 2.8 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended for beautiful flora
Points Of Interest: Beautiful and lush trees and plants

Hiking Partners:
Gary Greenstein

Google Maps of Parking:

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This was a hike in late autumn, and the first hike with all the trees already having shed their leaves. However, this hike goes through a beautiful area of Harriman State Park rich in different plant types such as evergreen Mountain Laurels, colorful lichen, and green pine and hemlock forests. So despite the leaves gone in most of the trees, this hike was still very colorful. We parked off Seven Lakes Drive off the entrance to Camp Thendara, but we got a notice on the windshield stating that it's illegal to park here. Glad there was no ticket and the car wasn't towed.

We took the short Hurst trail up to the Fingerboard Mountain shelter where it hits the combined Appalachian and Ramapo-Dunderberg Trails. Continued on the Ramapo-Dunderberg after the split, taking it all the way down to the Bottle Cap Trail. The Bottle Cap Trail is an unofficial trail with it's markings using bottlecaps, hence it's name. This trail is not recommended for inexperienced hikers due to its overgrown state and easyness in missing the markers. I was on this trail about three years ago and found it much easier to follow in the past then it was now. All the downed trees and flooding from the recent severe storms have taken a big toll on this unmaintained trail.

We took the Bottle Cap all the way to the end where it nears 7 Lakes Drive and then went back to our car.

Map of the Route

Ascending the Hurst Trail, Looking Towards the Shelter

Gary Reading the Trail Intersection Sign

On Top of Fingerboard Mountain. Facing West.

Gary Atop Fingerboard. Facing East Towards Lake Tiorati.

Lake Tiorati From Fingerboard Mnt.

Amazing Colors on the Mountaintop

More Amazing Colors. The Bright Red Plants are Blueberries.
Blueberries are late foliage plants.

Me Atop Fingerboard with the Red Blueberries

Fingerboard Viewpoint, facing southeast.
Jackie Jones Tower is in the Distance.

Bottle Cap Trail In the Valley.
Note the Marker on the Tree.