Harriman Hiker: Harriman State Park and Beyond: Timp Torne

Sunday, January 1, 2023

A New Approach to the Timp

Bear Mountain State Park /
Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Beaver Meadow Nature Trail: White blaze
Timp Connector Trail: Beige blaze
Red Timp Trail: Red blaze
Timp Torne Trail: Blue blaze
Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze
1777 Trail: Red blaze
Blue Dot Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 2:35 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.4 Miles

Pros: Quiet area, good climb, great views
Cons: Trails and markings somewhat confusing
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/GAE1ZnZ5QWMxZJUy9

I had discovered a new and shorter way to get to the Timp, a prominent mountain next to West Mountain with exceptional views. The traditional hiking trails to the summit are long to get there and not easy to get to. However, this new approach is a much shorter route, but it's not on the trail maps. The last time I too the route, my hike was to the West Mountain Shelter, not to the Timp summit. This time, I went to the Timp Summit and along the ridge. The weather was great for this time of year, with blue skies and weather in the upper 40's.

I parked on Mott Farm Road, and took the Beaver Meadow Nature Trail to the Timp Connector Trail, to the Red Timp Trail which I took up the mountain to the Timp Torne Trail intersection. I then took the Timp Torne Trail east along the ridge to the 1777 Trail north to the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail to the west to the view. I then turned around and then took the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail back up along the ridge, and then hit the first south-facing view. I then went to the main summit, which was really windy and I couldn't stay there very long. I captured some good photos at the summit, and then headed down to the north-facing view with the Bear Mountain bridge and Hudson River Valley.

I descended the mountain to the Timp Pass in the deep valley, and then took the old Blue Dot Trail to the Red Timp Trail, which I then took along the ridge over the swamp. Realizing it was taking me further east rather than south, I bushwhacked down towards the swamp to the Beaver Meadow Nature Trail, which I took back to the end of the trail and then back to my car.

Map of the Route

Brook at the Beginning of the Hike

Abandoned Picnic Area

Beaver Meadow Nature Trail Sign

Beaver Meadow Nature Trail Boardwalk

Start of the Timp Connector Trail

First View on the Timp

Zoomed into Manhattan, in the Distance

Red Timp Trail Worn Out Trail Marker

View of Bald Mountain from the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail

Buckberg Mountain from the Timp View

Haverstraw Bay on the Hudson River

Buckberg Mountain in the Distance

Timp Summit, Facing West Mountain

Timp Summit, Facing South

Timp Summit, Facing Northwest

Timp Summit, Facing Southwest

West Mountain Shelter in the Distance

Timp Summit, Northern View of Hudson River and Bear Mnt Bridge

Arching Rock

Back to the Boardwalk

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Popolopen Late Winter Hike

Bear Mountain State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Timp Torne Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 0:55 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.1 Miles

Pros: Great climb and excellent views
Cons: Hike is short

Hiking Partner:
Rayzi Friedman

Popolopen is one of my favorite hikes in Harriman/Bear Mountain. Its a great scramble over large rocks, with an excellent 360 degree view at the summit of a very scenic area. However, it is a very short hike, forming a quick loop. I would love to see the trail expanded north to the newly added park area north and northwest of the trail. Since we were short on time, this was a good choice for a short and quick yet intense hike.

This hike was in late March. March has been well-below average, with several snowstorms and lingering snow. Although much of the snow from the large storm had already melted, there was still plenty of snow in the areas on the north-facing slopes that had less exposure to the sun.

We parked at the trailhead for Popolopen Torne, and walked along the road a short distance to the western side of the loop, which features a better and more direct climb up to the summit. We took the Timp-Torne trail up to the relatively low but expansive summit, and then continued around the loop and back down the mountain to the trailhead by the road where our car was parked.