Beaver Pond Campground and Irish Potato

Harriman State Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 0:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.9 Miles

Pros: End of hike is peaceful
Cons: Busy area of park

I was off for Labor Day, and was very busy doing household chores much of the day. The temperature was unseasonably warm, in the 90's, with high humidity. I decided to do a short hike that wasn't too strenuous. I parked at the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trailhead at the entrance of Harriman on Gate Hill Road, and took it north for a short distance alongside the Minnesceongo Brook. Where the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail veers north, I continued straight along the woods road, which ends up at the Beaver Pond Campground. Although this woods road is on the hiking map, its entrance from the campground and not visible. I walked through the campground area, to the end, and then took the unmarked trail from the campground that connects to the Irish Potato, a very large rock formation along the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail. I then took the Suffern-Bear Mountain down Irish Mountain and back to my car at the trailhead.

Map of the Route

Pond Behind Lake Welch at the Beaver Pond Campground

Walking through Beaver Pond Campground

Deeper into the Beaver Pond Campground

At the Intersection of the Beaver Pond
Campground Trail and Irish Potato Trail

Irish Potato Rock Formation upon Irish Mountain

Pound Swamp Mountain Loop

Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 2:05 Hours
Estimated Distance: 4.6 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Not recommended

Points of Interest: Remote area of park

I had been out of town in Baltimore for the weekend, and returned Sunday afternoon. With a few hours left to daylight, I decided to do a hike nearby. I wanted to complete the entire stretch of trails in Harriman State Park to be included within the blog. Though I had done this complete hike back in 2007, I didn't do it since my blogging and wanted to get it included on the blog. This is not a very interesting hike without any points of interest or views. However, it is a quiet area, and I didn't see anyone despite it being a Sunday and very nice weather.

I parked at the trailhead at the Suffern-Mountain Trail on Gate Hill Road. I took the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail north to the Irish Potato, and continued past Upper Pound Swamp, and then descended down the mountain to Lake Welch Parkway. Thinking the road was closed, I walked up Lake Welch Parkway to the cut for the old Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail and took the trail back. I did see a few cars along the road, so apparently they opened the road early due to lack of snow over the winter. I took the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail southbound along the same route from here back to the trailhead.

Map of the Route
Harriman/Bear Mountain Trails - North and South Maps

Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail near Irish Potato

Irish Potato: A Huge Isolated Rock

Rickety Logs to Climb up the Irish Potato

View from the Irish Potato Area

Another Interesting Rock Along the S-BM Trail Descending
Towards Upper Pound Swamp

View of Upper Pound Swamp Through the Woods

Spring Plants in Bloom

Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail Through the Sprouting Brush

Tiorati Brook

Pound Swamp Mountain, Harriman State Park

Rockland County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 1:30
Estimated Distance: 2.9 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Points Of Interest: Irish Potato Rock Formation, Pound Swamp
Pros: Scenic, quiet hike, features one of the few natural and remote ponds in the park
Cons: Pound Swamp Mountain has no view at the summit

Hiking Partner:
Yehuda Koblick

Google Map of Parking:

View 2013 Hiking Locations in a larger map

This was a quick hike which we did during the week. We parked at the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trailhead on County Route 106, right after the Harriman State Park sign, and took the trail up the Irish Potato. We continued along the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail down Irish Mountain and then up again to Pound Swamp Mountain. There is no view here at the summit - its full of trees and shrubbery all around. We turned around and took a detour to the Pound Swamp, and then cut back to the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail and took the same route back.

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

Large Toad at the Beginning of the Hike

Yehuda at the Irish Potato,
a large Rock Sitting Atop Irish Mountain

Yehuda near the Summit of Pound Swamp Mountain

Looking Down from Near the Summit of Pound Swamp Mountain.
Not Much of a View Here!

Upper Pound Swamp.
A beautiful, serene, and natural pond.

Upper Pound Swamp

Beaver Chomps on the Tree on the Shore of Upper Pound Swamp

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