Harriman Hiker: Harriman State Park and Beyond

Sunday, December 13, 2020

Cobus Mountain in the Fog

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

Hiking Trails:
Old Mill Trail: Blue blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 1:20 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.4 Miles

Pros: Scenic area with a great view
Cons: View marred by power lines
Hike Type: Eight loop hike
Level of Difficulty: Difficult (Bushwack and steep incline)

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/m9vUUiUpJaZ8a4pD6

This hike is short and sweet. It's close to where I live, and is a short but still with a good climb and great view. There is no direct trail to the top, so it's not a popular hike, and unknown except for expert hiker. It's across the valley from the much more popular Kakiat Mountain.

This hike was on a very warm December day. It was 60 degrees and I was wearing short sleeves. Not bad for December! The morning featured very dense fog, but when I climbed to the top of the mountain it was above the fog level on the ground and bright and sunny. By the time I climbed down, most of the fog had already burned up.

I parked at the Kakiat Park parking area, and crossed the Mahwah River, taking the Old Mill Trail to it's end at the Kakiat Trail. I then took the Kakiat Trail up the mountain, past the Gas Line, and at the trail bend, I bushwacked up the mountain to the view at the Lower Peak of Cobus Mountain. At the view, I went down along the ridge, bushwacking down to the Gas Line, and crossing the Gas Line to waterfalls. The waterfalls was in full force from the recent rains. I then crossed the brook back to the Kakiat Trail, climbing down the trail and then cutting across a shortcut back again to the Kakiat Trail, which I took to the terminus and then crossed the bridge back to my car.

Map of the Route

Mahwah River in the Fog

Bridge Across Kakiat at the Entrance of the Park

Another Foggy View of the Mahwah River

Gear at the Old Mill

Bridge Across the Kakiat Brook at the end of the Old Mill Trail

Foggy Moment along the Kakiat Trail

Another Foggy View at the Kakiat Trail

View Above the Foggy Clouds at the Cobus Mountain Ascent

View from Cobus Mountain, Facing South

Rocky Area at Cobus Mountain

View from Cobus Mountain, Facing Southeast

View of Kakiat Mountain from Cobus Mountain

Fog Lifting Below the Mountain

Me at Cobus Mountain

Another View on Cobus Mountain, With Fog Below

Rock Summit on Cobus

Kakiat Waterfalls

Sunday, December 6, 2020

Canopus Lake Appalachian Trail, 3 Lakes Trail, Pelton Pond Loop

Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park
Putnam Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
3 Lakes Trail: Blue blaze
Pelton Pond Loop Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 2:15 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.2 Miles

Pros: First part very quiet and tranquil, Second part very scenic
Cons: No mountaintop vista views
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Google Map of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/WRxsFMcWhymudtdF6

This was a very cold day, and in fact my first day wearing a winter coat. The sky was bright and sunny, and as I continued hiking it warmed up somewhat. I parked on Route 301 at the Appalachian Trail at Canopus Lake. I took the Appalachian Trail south on the side of the ridge to the 3 Lakes Trail. I then took the 3 Lakes Trail across the brook and back north along the side of several beaver-dammed ponds.

I then went along the side of the Phillips Mine, inspecting some of the cuts and dumps. It's not a significant mine but still of historical interest. Upon reaching Route 301, I walked north along Route 301 for a short distance, and then took an old unmarked trail that cuts a shortcut to the Pelton Pond Loop Trail at its southern terminus at the dam.

The short unmarked trail is on the map, but is a but worn out and hard to follow. It goes along the outlet stream to Pelton Pond. There is a rock cut with no trespassing signs at the Canada Mine on the side of the ascent up. At the top of the trail, I reached the dam of Pelton Pond, and took the scenic loop trail along the eastern side of the lake, past the campground, around the top, and back down along the western side and through the picnic area.

I then continued south and inspected the peninsula where the map lists the Canada Mine. This is incorrectly listed on the map as the mine is not located on the peninsula. After reaching the south end of the lake, I cut across down the hill to Route 301, and discovered the main quarry cut of the Canada Mine at the bottom off Route 301. It's an impressive rock cut with a water-filled pit, cordoned off by a gate. I continued along Route 301 back towards my car, and took the old road path parallel to Route 301 between the 3 Lakes Trail and the Appalachian Trail, which I then took back to my car.

Map of the Route

Canopus Lake at the Beginning of the Hike, Looking North

Canopus Lake, Looking Across the River

Entrance to the Appalachian Trail from Route 301

Along the Appalachian Trail at the Beginning of the Hike

Plaque Near the Beginning of the Hike

Appalachian Trail Along the Route, on a Raised Embankment

Downed Tree Above the Appalachian Trail

Intersection of the Appalachian Trail and the 3 Lakes Trail

Small Pond Outlet on the 3 Lakes Trail

Trail Crossing of the Overflowing Brook on the 3 Lakes Trail

Intersection of the 3 Lakes Trail and the Scout Reservation Trail

Plaque on the Tree at the Scout Trail

Another Small Pond with a Beaver Dam at the Outlet and Felled Trees

Overgrown Mine Quarry Cut at the Phillips Mine

Phillips Mine Dump

LongCut in the Philips Mine

New Boardwalk and Steps at the Three Lakes Trail Terminus

Canopus Lake from Route 301

Pelton Pond from the South End at the Dam

Me at Pelton Pond

Another View of Me at Pelton Pond

Dam Outlet and Control at Pelton Pond

Another View of Pelton Pond

Pelton Pond from the Northern End

Pelton Pond from the Peninsula

Canada Pond Deep Water-Filled Quarry Cut

Waterfalls at the Outlet Dam of the Canopus Pond

Sunday, November 29, 2020

Appalachian Trail to Cascade Lake Park

Appalachian Trail Natural Scenic Area /
Cascade Lake Park /
Passaic Co., New Jersey &
Orange Co., New York

Hiking Trails:
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Red Trail: Red blaze
Green Trail: Green blaze
Blue Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 2:10 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.6 Miles
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop

Pros: Quiet area with nice scenery
Cons: Cascade Lake Park trails are not well marked

Google Map of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/cr7CvvqnHgSjdano6

Two weeks prior was my first visit to Cascade Lake Park. I wanted to reach the westernmost contiguous end of the my Appalachian Trail visit, and it involved Cascade Lake Park and the beautiful area of Prospect Rock along Bellvale/Bearfort Mountain. On my trip two weeks prior I determined to come back and explore the area more. So this trip involved a further west approach on the Appalachian Trail, and then exploring more trails in Cascade Lake Park.

I parked on Longhouse Drive, in New Jersey, just a short distance from from the New York State Line. I took the Appalachian Trail from the roadside parking east, heading along some small ridges and then alongside the marsh at Long House Creek. I crossed the creek on the bridge, then climbed the hill to the connector trail to the Red Trail of Cascade Lake Park. This trail is not on the map, but is a wide unmarked trail that connects the Cascade Lake Park Red Trail to the Appalachian Trail.

I took this trail to the Red Trail, taking it north alongside the western side of Cascade Lake. There is a vast range of wide trails in Cascade Lake Park, some marked and many unmarked, and it can be confusing. I veered off the Green Trail at an intersection, and took this trail to the Blue Trail. I did not see any markers on the Green Trail, but it is listed on the map as such.

I then walked past the lake dam, which is quite an impressive cascade, and then climbed up to the northern end of the dam, walking along an unmarked trail alongside the trail and up the hill, and then intersecting another trail which I took which goes alongside the creek back to the Red Trail. I then took the Connector Trail back to the Appalachian Trail, and went back along the Appalachian Trail on the same route as I came heading back to my car.