Parker Cabin & Black Ash Mnt

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Victory Trail: Blue blaze
Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze
Triangle Trail: Yellow blaze
Victory Trail: Blue blaze
White Bar Trail: White blaze
White Cross Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 2:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.9 Miles

Pros: Great views and quiet area
Cons: None

This hike goes through a very scenic area of Harriman, with great views, and features very quiet area of the park rarely traversed. The road to the trailhead of this hike is closed in the winter, and it's usually closed sometime in November. I figured I would catch one final hike in the area before the road is closed.

This was a very cold November day. The weather had been unseasonably cool this month, and although I was mostly dressed okay, I had not brought gloves, and had regretted that. I parked at the Victory Trail trailhead parking on Lake Kanawauke Road (County Route 106), and took the Victory Trail for a short distance to the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. I then took the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail as it slopes upwards toward the summit and views of Parker Cabin Mountain.

At the top at the intersection of the Triangle Trail, at the view, I took the triangle trail southwest down the mountain, past a nice evergreen Mountain Laurel forest, to the White Bar Trail. I took the White Bar Trail for a short distance to the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail, climbing up Black Ash Mountain, traversing the ridge, and then descending into the valley by the Black Ash Swamp. I  took the Victory Trail north there to the White Cross Trail.

There were park rangers at the Victory and White Cross Trails looking for a missing person last seen at the Dutch Doctor shelter. At the end of the White Cross Trail, I took the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail up the steep ascent to the main Parker Cabin view, which is an expansive view and one of the best in the park. I then continued north along the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail back down the mountain, back to the Victory Trail,and then back to my car.

Map of the Route

Open Bedrock while Ascending Parker Cabin Mountain

Lonesome Pine Tree 

Pine Tree Couple in front of Tom Jones Mountain

Parker Cabin Mountain Northern View

Lake Sebago View from Parker Cabin Mountain

Zoomed Out at Parker Cabin Mountain

New Growth of Mountain Laurels after the Forest Fire

Rock Formations on Black Ash Mountain

More Rock Formations on Black Ash Mountain

My Hiking Poles on Display

View on Black Ash Mountain

Another View of Black Ash Mountain

Natural Dam at the Black Ash Mountain Notch

Black Ash Swamp with Some Remainder Foliage

View Ascending Black Ash Mountain on the R-D Trail

Open Rockface on Parker Cabin Mountain

View Facing Southeast from Black Ash Mountain

Me at the Parker Cabin Mountain View

Group of Hikers at the Parker Cabin Mountain View

Parker Cabin Mountain Above the View

Parker Cabin Mnt-White Cross Loop

Harriman State Park,
Orange County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Victory Trail: Blue blaze
Ramapo Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze
White Cross Trail: White blaze
White Bar Trail: White blaze
Triangle Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 2:15 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.87 miles
Level of Difficulty: Slightly Difficult, although more difficult in the snow
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Very Scenic Area, Excellent Views

Hiking Partners:
Shimmy and Morty Rosenberg

Google Map of Parking:

View 2013 Hiking Locations in a larger map

This was a cold winter day, and the temperature was in the teens. The ground was covered with snow, and all the streams were frozen. We had attempted to hike on a frozen lake, but they were still not posted as safe despite the weather being frigid all week. We parked on County Rt. 106 after Tom Jones Mountain where the road bends. This is where the Victory Trail starts.

We took the Victory Trail for a short distance, as it passes through a beautiful Mountain Laurel Grove, to the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. We then took the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail up Parker Cabin, as it gradually descends up this scenic and rocky area. The summit of Parker Cabin Mountain affords two great views, one looking east and then a few hundred feet down facing south. We then climbed steeply down the mountain, and took the White Cross Trail alongside the swamp to the White Bar Trail. We then went along the White Bar Trail to the Triangle Trail, then back to the summit of Parker Cabin Mountain, and then retraced our steps back along the Ramapo-Dunderberg and Victory Trails.

Map of the Route

Mountain Laurel Forest on the Victory Trail

Morty on a Rock at the Intersection of the
Ramapo-Dunderberg and Victory Trail

Frozen Stream at the Intersection of the
Ramapo-Dunderberg and Victory Trail

Ascending Parker Cabin Mountain on the R-D Trail.
Looking Northeast to Tom Jones Mountain

View Atop Parker Cabin Mountain
Looking Southeast towards Lake Sebago

View Atop Parker Cabin Mountain
Looking East.

The Southern Edge of Parker Cabin Mountain.
Looking South.

The Southern Edge of Parker Cabin Mountain.
Looking South  Above the Cliff.

Morty Atop a Rock At The Southern Edge of Parker Cabin Mountain.

Me on  the Rock

Ditto.

Swamp Below Parker Cabin Mountain,
on the side of the White Cross Trail

On Our Return Back to the Parker Cabin Mnt Summit,
There was a Very Large Group of Hikers.

Black Ash Mine and Swamp to Claudius Smith Den

Harriman State Park,
Orange County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze
Victory Trail: Blue blaze
White Cross Trail: White blaze
Tuxedo-Mt Ivy Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 5.33 miles
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult, especially in the snow and mud
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Points Of Interest: Good views, old mine, waterfall in wet season, very tranquil

Google Map of Parking:

View 2013 Hiking Locations in a larger map

Much of the snow on the ground had already melted, and it was a relatively warm day for winter. Some parts of this hike had no snow at all, while some parts in the valleys still had full snow. The conditions for hiking were not good at all. There was a thick fog the entire time, and it was very muddy and wet. I had not brought my ski pants, and ended up coming home muddy and wet.

I parked at the parking area right under the Thruway in Tuxedo, near the Ramapo-Dunderberg trailhead. I went up the Ramapo-Dunderberg, and was surprised how poor the visibility was when the view was entirely obscured by the fog. I continued along past the Black Ash Mine, observing both the upper and lower pits and dumps. From there I continued to the outlet of the Black Ash Swamp, which is very interesting. There is a natural rock dam formation which drains the swamp in a most fascinating way, with a small hidden waterfall inside the rock. About 100 feet downstream from the outlet are also a series of beautiful waterfall cascades in the wet season. Being that everything was wet from all the melting snow, this afforded great waterfall viewing.

From the swamp outlet I took the Victory Trail, which is a wide and muddy trail which is mostly uninteresting, and the tire marks throughout took away from its serenity. All along this trail there are downed tress from Hurricane Sandy. I then took the White Cross trail south back towards the Claudius Smith Den. This trail is very remote and serene, and even a bit overgrown. It is rare to meet anyone else on this trail. From the Claudius Smith Den I took the Tuxedo-Mt. Ivy Trail back towards Tuxedo, and then back to the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail and back to my car.

Map of the Route

Dense Fog. At the beginning of the Hike right before the
Trail goes off the  road into the Mountain.

The View of Tuxedo.
Nothing to see Today.

The smaller pit of the Black Ash Mine

Larger Pit of the Black Ash Mine

Waterfalls near the outlet of the Black Ash Swamp.

A fuller view of the Waterfall Cascades

Another Waterfall about 30 feet Above the First One

Outlet of the Black Ash Swamp

Extensive Fallen Trees From Hurricane Sandy
Along the Victory Trail

Rhododendrons in the Snow and Fog on the
White Cross Trail

Rock Formation in the Claudius Smith Den