Nordkop Mountain Rock Hop

Harriman State Park
Suffern
Orange Co.,
New York

Total Time: 0:50 hours
Estimated Distance: 1.3 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Points of Interest: Rock Scrambling and Nice Views
Pros: Good climb with view on top
Cons: View is very populated and busy
Hiking Trails: Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: White blaze

Google Map of Parking:

View 2014 Hiking Locations in a larger map

This was a short hike as my time was short. I have been to Nordkop Mountain many times, and always enjoyed climbing the large rocks going up. The rocks go to towards the north although the trail veers towards to the east. So I decided to explore a little bit around the area of the large rocks.

I parked in the village of Suffern, on Chestnut St (where parking is legal) and walked on Route 202 to 59, underneath the wide Thruway underpass, to the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trailhead, on Route 59. I climbed up the first short part, and by the rocky area, I scrambled to the north a little bit. I then turned around and went back along the large rocks further south towards the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail near its terminus, and took the same route back.

The larger summit of Nordkop is further north from where I was, and I would like to return there someday in the near future to do a bushwack to the summit.

Map of the Route

Looking South Towards the I-287 Overpass and Sheraton Crossroads

Looking South Towards I-287

Looking South Towards the Sheraton Crossroads and Suffern

Looking Northwest Towards Hillburn

Looking Northwest Towards Mt. Fuji Above Hillburn

Looking North Towards the Summit of Nordkop

Rock Crevice Along Nordkop

Large Commuter Trail Below While Descending the Rocky Part

Looking North at the Trails while Descending

Somebody Camping Out in a Tent While Descending

Nordkop Mountain,Suffern,

Harriman State Park,
Rockland County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 0:45 hours
Estimated Distance: 1.7 miles
Level of Difficulty: Slightly Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Recommended for a short but solid hike with good views, but views are urban with built up villages and highways
Points Of Interest: Short but strenuous hike, nice view

Google Maps of Parking:

View 2012 Hiking in a larger map

This hike was within a few days of the disappearance of murderer Eugene Palmer in the wilderness of Harriman. This fugitive had killed his daughter-in-law and then fled into hiding in the vast Harriman State Park, and as I write this blog entry three weeks later, he is still missing. Parts of Harriman State Park were closed because of this - specifically the area where they found his car near Lake Welch. In order to stay safe, I had to hike in a totally different area of the park where I would be. I figured that the beginning if the Suffern-Bear Mountain trail is far enough and feels distant enough for Palmer not to interfere with my hike.

I was short on time, and this makes for a good and short hike - walking up the mountain for a relatively short distance. There are two views, a lower view on a rock outcrop that faces east, and another view several hundred feet further facing south. I parked at the end of Chestnut Street right near 202, as this is the closest public parking area from the hike. (I once parked in the Commutor Lot underneath the highway overpass, and received a ticket.) In order to dot his hike, you need to do a little bit of walking through Suffern on 202, for about 10 minutes. I climbed up to the top, snapped pictures, and then came down the same way.

Map of the Route

Steep Ascent Part Heading Toward the First View

Rocky Area at the First View

Looking South from the First View,
Toward the Interstate 287 Ramp Bridge and Sheraton Crossroads.

Another View Facing Southwest. A view of both Highway Ram Bridges.
The mountain behind the ramp is "Hoodge Kop".

View Facing West from the First View.
Note the Early Fall Foliage.

View From the Second View.
Facing South to Suffern.

View South to Sheraton Crossroads.

View South Past Suffern Zoomed Into the Manhattan Skyline.
The right side is Lower Manhattan with the Word Trade Center dominating,
and the left is Midtown with the Empire State Building Dominating.