Rockland Co.,
New York
Hiking Trails:
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze
1779 Trail: White blaze
Total Time: 2:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.6 miles
Level of Difficulty: Very difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly recommended
Points of Interest: Pyngyp Mountain Scramble and View
Pros: Excellent climbing and great views
Cons: Walk on Road at Beginning, Proximity to Palisades Parkway gives highway noise, beginning part of hike requires roads
Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg
Pyngyp Mountain is one of the best climbs in Harriman. Its steep and rocky making a tough scramble, and affords and excellent view on top. There is no direct parking which is annoying, so you have to park on Lake Tiorati Road on the pull off and walk on the road for a bit to get to the foot of the mountain. We parked and walked along the stream due east down the mountain, and went back along the road until it met up with the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail. We took the trail across the Palisades Parkway.
Immediately upon crossing the highway, the trail begins a the steep, rocky ascent up Pyngyp. The rocky face allows constant views as you climb. We took many pictures at the summit, and then continued down the mountain on its northern flank, and then climbed a hill called "The Pines". The trail was recently refurbished up this hill. On top of The Pines there is a view of Black Mountain Facing North.
We then descended The Pines, and took the 1779 Trail due east upon meeting up with it. At the end of the trail we walked along the road down the hill where we left the other car (this was a two car hike.)
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Map of the Route
Harriman/Bear Mountain Trails Northern Map |
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| Turkey Vulture Eating a Dead Skunk or Cat at the Beginning of the Hike |
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| Looking Up the Pyngyp Mountain Before the Ascent |
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| The Highway Overpass Above the Palisades Parkway |
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| Shimmy Crossing the Highway Along the Trail Route |
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| Shimmy Ascending a Steep Scramble |
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| Me Ascending a Scramble |
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| Me at Pyngyp Mountain |
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| Shimmy Climbing up a Rock Face |
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| Shimmy on Pyngyp |
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| Me at the First View at Pyngyp |
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| Me at the Scutt Memorial |
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| View at Pyngyp Mountain at the Trail Turn |
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| View at Pyngyp Facing Southeast. |
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| A Scenic View |
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View of the Palisades as it Enters the Gap Between
Pound Swamp and Pyngyp Mountains |
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| Two Vultures Soaring the Mountain Updrift |
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| Facing Southwest |
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Me at the Pyngyp Summit.
Haverstraw and Hi Tor Mountain are Behind Me. |
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| Facing East Towards the Hudson River |
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| Manhattan Skyline in the Distance. Facing South. |
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| Firefly on a Flower |
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| View of Black Mountain from the Pines |
