West Mountain Southern Portion

Harriman/Bear Mountain State Parks
Rockland Co.,
New York
Hiking Trails:
Ski Path: Unblazed
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze
Timp-Torne Trail: Blue blaze
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 2:40 hours
Estimated Distance: 4.6 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended

Points of Interest: Good climb and many excellent views
Cons: None

Hiking Partners:
Jacob Baldinger
Shimmy Rosenberg

This was yet another foliage hike, and I was surprised that so many leaves were still on the trees already in November. Although peak foliage had already passed, there were still some very scenic colors to behold on this hike. We were honored to be joined by Jacob Baldinger, an old-time hiking partner of mine who recently moved back in to the area.

The week prior our hike was on West Mountain, and I during that hike, I decided I would do the southern part of West Mountain the following week. We parked in the Anthony Wayne Parking area at the southern-most lot, and went along the Ski/Bike Path the to Appalachian Trail. We took the Appalachian Trail up West Mountain, and veered off the trail through the valley to meet up with the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail. We took the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail north to the intersection of the Timp-Torne Trail, and then took the Timp-Torne Trail to the shelter, where we were the prior week.

After the shelter we continued down the Timp-Torne Trail to the The Timp valley, and debated if we should climb up The Timp or not. In the end we didn't, and just veered off by the Timp Valley to the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail, climbing the southern slope of the southern portion of West Mountain. We took this trail all the way to the intersection of the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail, which we climbed down on an extremely difficult scramble down. We then cut across from the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail back to the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail, which we took down the mountain to the ski/biking trail, and then back to our car.

Map of the Route.
Harriman/Bear Mountain State Parks Northern Map

Foliage and Leaf Cover along Beechy Bottom Road

Me at the Intersection of the AT and Beechy Bottom Road

Jacob on the Timp-Torne Trail

Our First View on the Ascent on the Timp-Torne Trail

Viewof the Timp and the Hudson from the West Mnt Shelter

Foliage Colors from the West Mountain Shelter

The Timp from the Shelter

Approaching Towards the Timp on the Timp-Torne Trail

View Along the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail

View from the Ramapo Dunderberg Trail

Shimmy Ascending the Mountain

Along the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail

Bright Red Trees Along Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail

Beautiful Red Colors

Jacob at the Suffern-Bear Mountain/Ramapo Dunderberg View
Above Cat's Elbow

Me at the Same View

Ditto

Popolopen Gorge Loop And Brooks Lake

Fort Montgomery,
Bear Mountain State Park,
Orange County,
New York
Hiking Trails:
Timp-Torne Trail: Blue blaze
combined together with the:
1777-1779 Trails: Red blaze
Brooks Lake Trail: Red blaze
Popolopen Gorge Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:15 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.2 miles
Level of Difficulty: Slightly Difficult
Points Of Interest: Beautiful gorge and lake in historic area
Pros: Beautiful terrain, deep scenic gorge, pretty lake
Cons: Close to homes and right near highway, making hike loud and not as natural

Google Map of Parking:

View 2013 Hiking Locations in a larger map

This hike is in the deepest gorge in the area. Unfortunately it is right near the busy Palisades Parkway and goes along the road and behind houses for part of the hike, which takes away from the scenic nature. However, the area is indeed beautiful and worthwhile of an excellent hike.

I parked in the Fort Montgomery Historical Site parking area off Route 9W, right after the Bear Mountain Traffic Circle. The Timp-Torne Trail and historic 1777-1779 Trails start here, and  go in conjunction for much of the way eastward on this hike. The trail goes underneath the Route 9W bridge that spans across the gorge. It then hits Mine Road, crosses it, and meets up with the Brooks Lake Path.

The Brooks Lake Path is a small trail fully encircling the natural and scenic Brooks Lake. I took the loop around the lake, and then back to the Timp-Torne Trail and 1777-1779 Trails. I took this until the Timp-Torne Trail veers up to climb Popolopen Torne, and the comes right back down a few hundred feet down the trail. At this point trail crosses the brook on a brand new bridge. From here I took the Popoplopen Brook Trail all the way back, and cross the brook over Route 9W.

Map of the Route

Bear Mountain Bridge and Anthony's Nose
at the Fort Montgomery Parking  Area

Beginning of the Timp-Torne and 1777-79 Trails

 

Route  9W Bridge over Popolopen Creek

The hiking trail going underneath the bridge

Abandoned Structure near Brooks Lake

Brooks Lake, facing west.

Brooks Lake, facing south with Bear Mountain  Rising in the Rear

Boardwalk at the inlet of Brooks Lake

Sturdy bridge over Popolopen Creek

Large Waterfall over the dam at the end of Popolopen Creek
This waterfall is much more impressive than it appears in the picture

At the end of the hike, view on top of the Popolopen Bridge on Rt. 9W.
Facing  east where the Popoplopen Brook enters the Hudson River.
The Bear Mountain Bridge and Anthony's Nose are in the distance,
with the active railroad bridge and Twin Forts trail bridge.

The Timp Loop

Bear Mountain State Park
and Harriman State Park
Rockland County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
1777 Trail: Red blaze
Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze
Timp-Torne Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 2:45 hours
Estimated Distance: 6.1 miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly recommended
Points Of Interest: Excellent Views and Tough Climb

Google Maps of Parking:

View 2012 Hiking in a larger map

This is a an excellent, yet long and difficult hike. Although it was already September, the weather was hot and muggy, adding to the difficulty in this hike. The main destination on this hike is a rocky, almost vertical mountaintop known as "The Timp". This mountain affords one of the best views in the area.

I parked on Route 9W/202 on the southern trailhead of Dunderberg Mountain, by the 1777 trailhead. Took this historic trail which traces the revolutionary war route (there is a plaque at the beginning of the trail explaining this), and took it up the mountain until the intersection of the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. Went east on the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail and crossed over to the Timp-Torne Trail at the intersection before The Timp. From there went ahead to The Timp, and took a break to take in the great views and snap some good photos.

 From The Timp summit, I headed down on the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail, steeply down into the Timp Pass, passing along interesting boulders and rock formations along the way. I got off the trail in the deep notch and took the Timp Pass Road south briefly until the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. This trail skirts around the bottom of the Timp, descencing slightly, before turning back up to a very difficult ascent of the mountain, where it eventually meets up with the Timp-Torne Trail. I took the Timp-Torne Trail east, back to the 1777 trail, where I headed back down the mountain and the way I had come.

Map of the Route

View Approaching The Timp, Looking South.
Note the Pretty Yellow Flowers

View From The Timp Looking South.

A View of the Rocky Timp Summit,
Facing West to West Mountain

Another View from The Timp of West Mountain

Looking Northwest to Bear Mountain

Facing Southeast, with the Hudson River Behind the Trees

View of West Mountain Across The Timp Pass

View North to the Hudson River and the Hudson River

Same View, Zoomed Out

Interesting Rock Resting on Tree, Approaching The Timp Pass

West Mountain Loop

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

Trails:
1777 W Trail: Red blaze
Appalachian Trail: White blazed
Timp-Torne Trail: Blue blaze
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 2:15 hr
Estimated Distance: 4.3 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Good climb and Many excellent views

Hiking Partners:
Debbie and Raphael Koegel

Google Maps of Parking:

View 2012 Winter in a larger map

This was another unseasonably warm day. It was so warm that we didn't even need to wear our coats. We parked at the hiker's trailhead off 7 Lakes Drive near Perkins Drive, took the 1777 W Trail briefly to the Appalachian Trail, and then took the Appalachian up West Mountain. As you are nearing the top there is an excellent view here facing north directly towards Bear Mountain which is opposite. This part of the Appalachain Trail has recently been renovated and slightly rerouted in a few areas.

Continued along to the intersection with the Timp-Torne Trail, and then took the concurrent Appalachian and Timp-Torne trails along the West Mountain Ridge, which continuously passes along excellent views. After the trail split, continued on the Timp Torne, until the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail. We then took the Suffern Bear Mountain Trail slightly down and up again, and then steeply down and then alongside the brook, back to the 177W Trail, and then back to the car.

Map of the Route

View along the Appalachian while ascending West Mountain.
Facing east towards the Hudson and Dunderberg

View of Bear Mountain from the above view. Facing northeast.
Note the Bear Mountain Tower near the left side.

Me and Raphael with Bear Mountain behind us.

Me posing at the same view.

Another pose.

View from West Mountain view over Anthony Wayne.
Facing west with the Palisades Parkway directly below and
Lindley Mountain in the background.

Another view from West Mountain.
Facing South.

Me and Raphael over the Anthony Wayne parking lot.

Raphael on top of a rock formation on West Mountain.