Harriman Hiker: Harriman State Park and Beyond: Ramapo Dunderberg

Sunday, November 17, 2024

Claudius Smith Den and Black Ash Mountain

Harriman State Park
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze
Tuxedo-Mt. Ivy Trail: Red blaze
Blue Disc Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 2:15
Estimated Distance: 4.2 Miles

Pros: Cool formations and nice views
Cons: None
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/TP8za439RDLqwM3L7

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick

I've been to Claudius Smith Den many times but hadn't extended the hike to Black Ash Mountain, which is also very scenic with good views and a nice climb. We parked at the Ramapo River fishing access and walked along the road, under the Thruway, and then up the mountain from the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trailhead. We climbed up to the Tuxedo view, and then continued to Claudius Smith Den. On the top of the mountain we saw the Jennings Creek Fire near Greenwood Lake in the distance making a large plume of smoke.

We continued along the Blue Disc Trail on Black Ash Mountain and then headed down the mountain. The swamp below was all dry due to the drought conditions. We then took the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail along the side of the mountain, past the Black Ash Mine, and then back to the trailhead and back to our car.

Map of the Route

View of Tuxedo at Smith Rock. Note the smoke in the distance.

View at the Gas Line

Claudius Smith Den Rock Formation

Claudius Smith Den View, and Jennings Creek Fire

Zoomed into the Fire

Black Ash Mountain

Black Ash Mine

Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Claudius Smith Den and Black Ash Mine Mountain

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Ramapo-Dunderberg (R-D) Trail: Red blaze: Red blaze
Tuxedo-Mt Ivy (TMI) Trail: Red blaze
Blue Disc Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 2:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.9 Miles

Pros: Scenic area, great views, and interesting rock formations
Cons: None

Hiking Partners:
Shimmy Rosenberg
Morty Rosenberg

As I was off for July 4, I naturally took the oppurtunity for a hike. The weather had been extremely hot all week, with the previous Sunday being over 100 degrees earlier in the week. There was a heat advisory in the area, and in addition to being very hot was also oppresingly humid. We parked at the R-D Trailhead right before the Thruway underpass, and walked along the road for a short distance to the trailhead. We took the trail up the climb to Smith Rock, a prominent overlook above Tuxedo, and then continued along to the TMI Trail to the Claudius Smith Den.

We took the Blue Disc Trail up the Claudius Smith rock formation, although Morty climbed up through the cave formation. After the view, we continued along the Blue Disc Trail up to the top of Black Ash Mine Mountain, and then descended the mountain to the Black Ash Swamp across the natural rock dam at the outlet of the swamp. We then took the TMI Trail back around to the R-D Trail. Instead of going back to Smith Rock, we took the old trail back and then bushwacked to the phone line trail, which we took back took the R-D Trail and back down the mountain and back to the trailhead. As we were finishing the hike, we heard the rumbles of thunder, with a strong thunderstorm approaching from the west. We made it in time though before the rain came.