Buck Trail Conklin Mountain Loop

Harriman State Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Ski Trail: Unblazed
Pine Meadow Road: Unblazed
Buck Trail Northern Spur: Yellow/Black blaze
Buck Trail: Yellow blaze
Seven Hills Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 1:20 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.5 Miles

Pros: Quiet trail with few people
Cons: No views or scenic vistas, first part of hike overgrown

I had just returned from a weeklong camping trip in Letchworth State Park, and back home on Sunday missed my all stomping grounds around the corner, Harriman State Park. I did a more "toned-down" hike than usual this time, without any strenuous climbs. I parked by the Lake Sebago Boat launch, and took the unmarked Ski trail north of the boat launch, crossing Seven Lakes Drive and then to the end of the trail at Pine Meadow Road.

The Ski Trail was somewhat overgrown prior to crossing the road. I took Pine Meadow Road until the intersection of the Buck Trail. The Buck Trail splits with a northern and western spur. The northern spur is marked with a combined yellow and black blaze, which I took to the main part of the trail, to its terminus at the Seven Hills Trail. I took the Seven Hills Trail down the steep part crossing Seven Lakes Drive and back to my car at the boat launch parking area.

Map of the Route

Lake Sebago at the Boat Launch

Lake Sebago, Looking Southwest

"Foot Travel Only" Sign at Pine Meadow Road

Start of the Buck Trail Northern Spur. Its Easy to Miss this!

Blaze on the other side of the Tree

Garter Snake on the Buck Trail

Buck Trail Northern Spur Blazes almost Entirely Worn Out

Glacial Rock on Conklin Mountain on the Buck Trail

Closer up to the Rock

Me at Lake Sebago Boat Launch

Buck Trail and Breakneck Pond

Harriman State Park,
Rockland County,
New York

Trails:
Unmarked Ski Paths: Unblazed
Buck Trail: Yellow blaze
Pine Meadow Road Trail: Unblazed

Total Time: 1:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.0 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult
Level of Recommendation: Recommended except for bushwack part
Points Of Interest: Tranquil and quiet trail

Google Maps of Parking:

View 2012 Hiking in a larger map

I parked at the Lake Sebago Boat Launch, and took the unmarked ski trail north. This trail is the old Johnstown Road again, which was eventually replaced with Seven Lakes Drive slightly to the east, though the trail remains on the original road. In a short while, the trail crosses the road, and then a bit further meets up with another unmarked trail that climbs Conklin Mountain to the Buck Trail. I took that trail up to the Buck Trail, and then took the Buck Trail north to its intersection with the northern spur of the Buck Trail. The northern spur is blazed yellow with a black stripe through it. Took the northern spur of the Buck Trail to its terminus at Pine Meadow Road.

At this point I decided to bushwack from Pine Meadow Road to the Breakneck Pond. This was a big mistake, even though it looks very close from the map. The route to the pond is very dense with thorns and evergreen rhododendrons, and this was extremely difficult. I also was traumatized when I found several ticks upon my jacket and pants once I was done the bushwack part, but luckily I was able to flick them. After bushwacking back to the Pine Meadow Road, I went down the mountain, and from there veered off the unmarked ski trail and then back to my car.

Map of the Route.

On the beginning of the Ski Trail,
on the old Johnstown Road.
Note the thorn briars with the new green leaves emerging.

A tombstone or monument, across 7 Lakes Drive on the Ski Trail

Intersection of the unmarked trail with the Ski Trail.
Its easy to miss, but you can find it by looking at the cairns and this fallen tree.
This unmarked trail is well marked with cairns.
Conklin Mountain is in the background.

Intersection of the Buck Trail with the northern Buck extension.
"The Buck Stops Here"

Breakneck Pond, from the southwestern shore.

Ditto, with the marsh growth visible.

Breakneck Mountain

Harriman State Park,
Rockland County, New York

This was a much longer hike then I had expected. I also moved along very quickly, and didn't take any breaks so I came home quite charlie-hoarse. Started out at the Johnsontown Rd. Cemetary (not far from Lake Welch), and took the Long Path southeast. Hit the Old Turnpike and then turned onto the Road to Camp Lanowa. At Camp Lanowa I met a park ranger who got upset at me for trespassing camp propery, but hey, this is state parkland and I have a right to hike it. I didn't want to argue with the guy so I just apologized and went on. I wanted to take the unmarked trail up Breakneck Mountain to the Breakneck Mountain Trail, but I somehow missed it and ended up taking a different, overgrown unmarked trail (that's not even on the map) alongside Breakneck Pond. (This mountain is not to be confused with the very famous Breakneck Ridge, a mountain about 25 miles north on the western shore of the Hudson River.)

Breakneck Pond is one of the most remote lakes within Harriman State Park as there are no roads leading to (except for the camp road) and there aren't any official hiking trails that touch it. It is actually one of the few lakes in Harriman inhabited by beavers, as evidenced by the beaver-bitten trees all along the shoreline. Anyways, after hiking along the south shore of the lake for a little bit, decided to bushwack thru the dense brush up the steep hill towards the Breakneck Mountain Trail. Finally hit that trail and hiked along south till its short end. Breakneck Mountain is high mountain by Harriman standards but doesn't show any views, although it does have several nice rocky summit areas. At the end of the Breakneck Mountain Trail, took the red-blazed Tuxedo-Mnt. Ivy Trail for a very short distace to the old Pine Meadow Road path, which I took to the Buck Trail. Took the Buck Trail west to the Buch Extension Trail, and then back to the Pine Meadow Rd. path. From there took the Cranberry Mountain Trail north back towards the Long Path, and took the longpath back to where I parked the car.

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Breakneck Pond from the shore near Camp Lanowa.

At north shore looking southwest.

A partially gnawed tree attacked by a beaver

Breakneck Mountain Trail near the summit

Summit of Breakview Mountain Trail. Facing SW.
The view on this mountain isn't the greatest.

Intersection of the Buck and Buck Extension Trails.