Breakneck Pond AMC Loop

Harriman State Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Pond Loop Trail: Green blaze
Cranberry Mountain Trail: Unblazed
Pine Meadow Road: Unblazed

Total Time: 2:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.1 Miles

Pros: Scenic lake and trail
Cons: No views or scenic vistas

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

The previous week I had hiked around Conklin Mountain, and passed near Breakneck Pond. I wanted to explore the area some more, and take the Cranberry Mountain Trail and connector trail from the AMC Harriman Center. We parked in the parking area at the AMC Harriman Center, and walked to the beginning of the new Pond Loop Trail that goes around the lake, starting at the section on the northern part of the lake. 

We took the trail briefly until the unmarked trail that connects to the Cranberry Mountain Trail. On top of Cranberry Mountain at the top of the hill there are some large water tanks, which apparently supply water to the AMC camping area. We then went down to the Cranberry Mountain, taking that trail to where it ends at Pine Meadow Trail. Both the Cranberry Mountain Trail and Pine Meadow Road are very wide trails.

We took Pine Meadow Road until an unmarked trail which comes out from Pine Meadow Road right past Cranberry Mountain. The trail goes along the ridge of Cranberry Mountain, then goes down and meets up with the Pond Loop Trail. We then took the Pond Loop Trail around the lake, going around the longer route along the southern part of the trail. We then continued back to the AMC Camp and back to our car.

Map of the Route

AMC Pond Loop Trail at the Breakneck Pond Outlet

Small Beach and Boat Launch at Breakneck Pond

Me on a Rock in Breakneck Pond at the Beach

Breakneck Pond by the Outlet

Signage on the AMC Pond Loop Trail

Breakneck Pond, Looking towards the AMC Camp

Rock Peninsula in Breakneck Pond

Water Storage Tanks Atop Conklin Mountain near Breakneck Pond

Shimmy Walking on the Cranberry Mountain Trail

Shimmy on the Unmarked Trail on Cranberry Mountain

Tents along the Rocky Flats Tent Sites Area

Signage at the Rocky Flats Tent Sites

Beaver Damage on the Trees along the AMC Pond Loop Trail 

Breakneck Pond from the Western Side

End of the AMC Pond Loop Trail at the AMC Camp

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.