Suffern To Kakiat

Harriman State Park/
Kakiat County Park,
Rockland Co,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail Trail: Yellow blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze
Old Mill Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 2:10 hours
Estimated Distance: 6.0 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Recommended

Points of Interest: Good views, Off Beaten Path
Cons: Lots of man-made obstructions such as built-up views, power lines, gas lines, etc.

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

The weather had been very hot, and this late summer day in September was probably in the 90's. It had been many years since I hiked along this lonely stretch of trail from Suffern to Kakiat along the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail. We took two cars on this hike. We parked the first one on Chestnut Street in Suffern, about a block from downtown, and we parked the second car in Kakiat.

We walked through Suffern and crossed under the wide Thruway overpass on Route 59. The Suffern-Bear Mountain Trailhead is here. We climbed up the steep climb where there is a great view on top of Suffern and the Manhattan skyline. We continued along the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail along its long and windy route past the power and gas lines which also afforded some views. At the intersection with the Kakiat Trail we headed down all the way to the bottom part of Kakiat Park and took the Old Mill Trail for a very short distance at the end. We then crossed the Mahwah River on the new bridge and found our car in the parking lot.

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

View of the Thruway/I-287 Crossover in Suffern

Looking South to the Sheraton Crossroads

View with Suffern in the Foreground and the Manhattan Skyline in the Distance

Me at the View

Beech Tree Showing Early Autumn Foliage Color Change

Leaves from the Above Tree

View of Suffern from the View

Zoom into Suffern and Mahwah.
Note the Manhattan Skyline in the Distance.

View from the Power Lines

The Trail at the Kitchen Stairs Formation

A View at the 2nd Power Lines of Ramapo Torne

View Facing East from the 2nd Power Lines

Grandpa & Grandma Rocks.
I wasn't sure Exactly Which Rocks were the Large Rocks Labelled as Such.
There are Several Rocks in this Rocky Area than may Qualify for this Designation.
I think These Fit the Best Description.

Irish Potato Harriman State Park

Rockland County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trai: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 0:35 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.2 miles
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Points Of Interest: Short hike in a tranquil area, interesting rock formation
Pros: Peaceful area with nice streams, nice rock formation
Cons: No good view

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

Google Map of Parking:

View 2013 Hiking Locations in a larger map

Though much of the snow from Friday had melted, there was still good coverage in the mountains, so I am happy to present yet another snow hike. Though this winter has been disappointing in that the lakes were never fully frozen and accessible for walking upon, there were so many snow events, even small ones, that allowed the mountains to be covered in  snow for almost the entire season.

I had a trade show to attend in New Jersey this Sunday, so I really had to do a short hike. I was a bit disappointed to do such a short hike considering the snow and the bright blue sky, which always create an amazing contrast together. But sometimes that's the reality, so I take what I can get.

We parked at the trailhead on County Route 106 right after the entrance to Harriman State Park. We took the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail north along the stream and then up the hill to the top where the Irish Potato sits. The Irish Potato is a very large glacial rock sitting atop the bedrock floor. There are sticks setup on the north side to climb it, but my attempt at this was dissuaded due to the icy conditions. After walking around the rock we turned around and headed back along the same route.

Map of the route

Hiking along the stream

SBM Trail before the ascent up Irish Mountain

The Irish Potato

The other side of the Irish Potato,
with me unsuccessfully attempting to climb it

View atop Irish Mountain where the Potato is

New Tuxedo-Mount Ivy Trail

New Tuxedo-Mount Ivy Trail
Harriman State Park
Rockland County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Tuxedo-Mount Ivy Trail: Red blaze
Red Arrow Trail: Red blaze
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 1:45 hours
Estimated Distance: 3.75 miles
Level of Difficulty: Slightly Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Slightly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Good climb and tranquil area of the park

Google Maps of Parking:

View 2012 Hiking in a larger map

I had not realized that almost the entire Tuxedo-Mount Ivy Trail climbing up the Ramapo Mountain Ridge was recently rerouted when starting this hike. The original route went through the deep notch on the side of the brook climbing the mountain. The trail was rocky and eroded, and presumably this was the reason for the rerouting. Or perhaps it was washed away in Hurricane Irene. Anyone who has information on the new trail reroute should please share this information in the comments below.

We parked at the Diltzes Road trailhead, and went through the power lines and then left the woods to start climbing the trail. The new trail starts about 250 feet after the trail enters the woods from the power lines, and climbs the mountain on the south side of the notch. The trail climbs all the way up the ridge, and then joins the newly extended Red Arrow Trail. We took the short Red Arrow trail past some blueberry groves to its terminus at the high ridge of the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail. We took the Suffern-Bear Mountain trail south back to the Tuxedo-Mount Ivy Trail and back down the same way we came up on the new trail.

Map of the Route

New intersection of the Red Arrow and TMI Trail.
The Red Arrow here is routed along the old path
of the TMI Trail.

Shimmy Picking Blueberries off the Large Bush,
by the Swamp on the Red Arrow Trail.

Semi-View from the highest point of the hike
on the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail.

Jackie Jones Mountain

Harriman State Park
Rockland County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 1:45 hours
Estimated Distance: 3.3 miles
Level of Difficulty: Slightly Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Points Of Interest: Old ruins, excellent view from Fire Tower

Hiking Partner:
Rachel Friedman


Google Maps of Parking:

View 2012 Hiking in a larger map

This hike goes up and around Jackie Jones Mountain. I started on the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail, on the route up to the fire tower. We passed the ORAK ruin, which was the old estate of the owner of Karo Syrup. From there continued along past the excessively tall Jackie Jones communications tower to the fire tower. I keep on finding the tower to be more and more rickety, with some of the wooden footboards totally loose. It is a real safety hazard if you are not careful, and I think it is only a short manner of time before they close it off entirely or demolish it. I climbed up to get the amazing view it affords, and Lake Welch which is pretty close nearby was buzzing with swimming activity being a nice and warm Sunday afternoon right before the summer.

Continued along past the tower on the Suffern-Bear Mountain trail, and then down the mountain to the intersection of the old Jeep Road, which we took east and then took a different unmarked yet maintained old woods road back to the Suffern-Bear Mountain trail, intersecting it, and then continuing down the paved road the goes to the communications tower. We took this road back down instead of the path because the hour was getting late.

Map of the Route

Old Gatehouse Ruin of the ORAK Ruins

Another ruin at ORAK

Fire Tower

A Busy Lake Welch Beach from the Fire Tower

Looking north towards Bear Mountain from the Fire Tower

Facing Jackie Jones Communication Tower from the Fire Tower