Kakiat First Season Snowstorm

Kakiat County Park /
Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.
New York

Hiking Trails:
Mountain Trail: Orange blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 2:10 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.4 Miles

Pros: Scenic area, nice climb
Cons: None
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Very Difficult in Snow

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/SZdPJdTimieU7iEVA

This was the first significant snow of the season. It was still snowing when we went hiking but was already tapering down. We parked at the Kakiat parking area and took the Mountain Trail up to the first view. We then continued to the upper view at Kakiat, and then continued along the trail past the power lines to the Kakiat Trail. We took the Kakiat Trail all the way down the mountain and then along the foot back to the trailhead and back to our car.

Start of the Hike

Map of the Route at the Trailhead

Mahwah River from the Bridge

Mountain Trail

Kakiat Lower View

Ascending to the Upper View, with a Break in the Snow and Clouds

Kakiat Upper View

Jackie Jones Mountain Snowstorm

Harriman State Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 1:25 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.2 Miles

Pros: Quiet area, interesting structures
Cons: Awful hiking conditions

I had just gotten back from a trip to Arizona, and I came back after a significant snowstorm. There was about 8 inches of fresh snow, and then three days later was another snowstorm. The storm started out as snow but changed over to sleet and freezing rain, but up in the mountains where I was hiking, it was all snow, and coming down very hard. I had not expected such harsh conditions, and the hike got increasingly difficult as I progressed, with snow, wind, and poor visibility. This was my first hike using my new snowshoes this season.

I parked at the parking area on Gate Hill Road at the top of the hill, at the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trailhead. I put on my snowshoes and snowgear, and headed up the trail past the ORAK ruins and up to the view near Jackie Jones fire tower. I then headed to the fire tower, which surprisingly had the bottom steps cut off! I presume this is for safety reasons as the steps had been getting very rickety. I just wish they would have repaired the tower rather than closing it off!

At this point I went to take the unmarked trail near the power lines down the mountain to the road near the Lake Welch dam. However, due to snow conditions and poor visibility, I had a hard time finding the way, and had to do a bit of a roundabout bushwack till I got to a more recognizable trail. By the time I got to the road, it was hardly recognizable due to the snow cover. I went to the Lake Welch shore by the dam for a picture, and then went back along the road to my car. The road was completely covered, and I was able to walk along the road with my snowshoes. I did not pass a single car while walking along the road.

Kakiat Park During Snowstorm

Kakiat County Park,
near Suffern, NY

Hiked at the foot of Kakiat Mountain during snowstorm. This was a brief hike just to get out in the snow. Took the Old Mill Trail along the Mahwah River around and back to the Kakiat Trail, back to parking lot. Photos taken from my cell phone camera.

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At beginning before bridge crossing Mahwah R.

Mahwah River on the Old Mill Trail

Kakiat Trail trailhead