Russian Bear

Harriman State Park
Rockland County,
New York

Total Time: 2:45 hours
Total Distance: 5 miles

Hiking Partner:
Yehuda Koblick

Trails:
Reeves Brook: White Blaze
Racoon Brook Hills (RBH): Black Blaze
Hillburn Torne Sebago (HTS): Orange Blaze
Seven Hills Trail: Blue Blaze

This was another beautiful late spring day with perfect weather. We started at the Reeves Brook
Visitors Center off 7 Lakes Drive near Sloatsburg. Took the Reeves Brook Trail all the way from beginning to end up the mountain along the Reeve's Brook, which the trail is named after. From there took the RBH east where it makes a very steep climb up the Pulpit, and where there is a good view. From the Pulpit continued along till the HTS Trail, where we went south towards the Russian Bear.

The Russian Bear is a sold cliff wall along the ridge, and the trail skirts around descending on the side of the cliff face. Continued along the HTS past where it meets the Seven Hills Trail, and then veered off continuing with the Seven Hills. From there took a connector path back to the Reeves Brook and back to the trailhead.

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Map of the route

Me ascending the cliff by the Pulpit

Yehuda at the Pulpit

Pulpit viewpoint - facing southwest.

Beautiful flowering Mountain Laurels on the RBH

Manhattan skyline in the distance (zoomed)

From the viewpoint above the Russian Bear.

Facing south-southeast.

View at Russian Bear looking towards the

Torne Valley complex. Facing south.

The Russian Bear cliff face from below

on the HTS Trail.

Reeves Brook to Kakiat

Harriman State Park,
Rockland County
New York

Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail - Red Blaze
Stony Brook Trail - Orange Blaze
Raccoon Brook Hills Trail (RBH) - Black Blaze

Hiking Partner:
Feige Koegel (My sister)

Total Time: 3 Hours
Total Distance: 5.5 Miles

This was a two-car hike. It was a nice but chilly day in the late fall, and most of the leaves had already fallen. We parked a car by Kakiat County Park off Route 202 near Suffern, and then drove the other car to the Reeves Meadow Parking area off of Seven Lakes Drive near Sloatsburg. We started at the Pine Meadow Trail, and went along the side of the brook to the Stony Brook Trail, and to the Kakiat Trail.

Followed along the Kakiat Trail all the way up to the intersection of the RBH Trail, and then climbed the Raccoon Brook Hill for an excellent view of Pine Meadow Lake and the eastern ridge of the Ramapo Mountains. Continued to the end of the RBH Trail back to the Kakiat Trail, and continued along the Kakiat Trail all the way back to Kakiat Park where we picked up the second car.

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Map of the route

Beginning of Raccoon Brook Hill.
Facing west.

On top of Raccoon Brook Hill.
Facing north towards Diamond Mountain.

Same view as above, zoomed in.

Me at the top of Raccoon Brook Hill facing Diamond Mnt.

Pine Meadow Lake from Raccoon Brook Hill.

Facing Northeast.

 Looking towards the Ramapo Escarpment.

Facing east from Raccoon Brook Hill.

 
Same as above.

 

Same view as above facing North.

Above descent of Raccoon Brook Hill.

Facing South towards the Torne Valley.

Same view as above, with different lighting.

Descending Raccoon Brook Hill on ladder

Feige descending Raccoon Brook Hill

Russian Bear from Kakiat Trail and Gas Line