Claudius Smith Den Fall Hike

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze: Red blaze
Tuxedo-Mt Ivy (TMI) Trail: Red blaze
Blue Disc Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 1:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.8 Miles

Pros: Scenic area with excellent views and interesting rock formation
Cons: None

The forecast for Sunday called for a very stormy day, with torrential rain and strong winds. I decided to leave work on Friday, which was a beatiful and warm autumn day, at the peak of the fall foliage season, to hike, and make up the work on Sunday.

I prepared in the morning by bringing my hiking clothes with me in the car. After leaving the office and parking at the trailhead, I changed into my outdoor gear, and headed up the mountain. I parked in Tuxedo at the Ramapo-Dunderberg trailhead, walking underneath the Thruway overpass and alongside the road to the woods. I took the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail to the first view overlooking Tuxedo, and then continued to the intersection with the TMI Trail. I took the Blue Disc Trail up the Claudius Smith rock formation, being afforded with an excellent view of Harriman in full foliage colors from the top. I turned around and took the same route back to my car.

Map of the Route.

View of Tuxedo from Smith Rock

Zoomed in to Tuxedo

Smith Rock, Looking East

View of the Thruway, Facing South

From Smith Rock, Looking North

Smith Rock, Looking North

Trees Above Smith Rock

Me at Smith Rock

At the Above View Zoomed In

Gas Pipeline on the Ramapo Dunderberg Trail

Rock Cliff of Claudius Smith Den

Rock Formation at Claudius Smith Den

Blue Disc Trail at Claudius Smith Glen

View from Claudius Smith Den, Facing Southwest

View from Claudius Smith Den,Facing South

The Same View, Zoomed In

Claudius Smith Den Rock

Rock Slab above Claudius Smith Den

Claudius Smith Den, Facing West

Claudius Smith Den, Facing East

Claudius Smith Den View, Facing South

Fall Foliage Above Claudius Smith Den

Zoomed in Above View

Stonetown Circular Trail at Lake Riconda

Norvin Green State Forest
Passaic Co,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
HT Connector Trail: Blue blaze
Stonetown Circular Trail: Red blaze
Highlands Trail: Aqua blaze

Total Time: 1:35 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.4 Miles

Pros: Nice views
Cons: Power Lines are Very Interfering

I had gone to the area around the Wanaque Reservoir a few weeks prior, and was intrigued at the Stonetown Circular Trail area, and decided to check out the area a bit more. I parked on Lake Riconda Drive, at the dead end where there was parking on the side of the street. The lake is a small but pretty private lake owned by the residents of the surrounding area.

I took the Highlands Connector Trail up Harrison Mountain, walking past the power lines and then up to the view. The view is a very good one, though the power lines are quite visible and in the way from many vantage points. I then connected to the combined Stonetown Circular Trail and Highlands Trail, climbing down the mountain towards the Monksville Reservoir near the dam. I took the trail until Stonetown Road, and then turned around and took an unmarked woods road parallel to the trail, and then a connecting woods road partially up the mountain back up to Lake Riconda and the parking area.

Map of the Route. North Jersey Highlands.

Lake Riconda Sign

Lake Riconda Private Dock and Picnic Area

Power Lines While Ascending the Path

Looking Towards Monksville Reservoir

Looking up the Hill

Climbing Up Haarison Mountain at the Power Lines 

Looking Down Towards the Monksville Dam

View of Wyanokie High Point from Harrison Mountain View

Zoomed in to Wyanokie High Point

View Facing North from Harrison Mountain

Another view of Wyankoie High Point

Trail Markers of the Highlands Trail and Stonetown Circular Trail

Wanaque Reservoir

Zoomed Out

Monksville Reservoir near the Dam

Peaceful Waters at the Monksville Reservoir

Looking Across Monksville Reservoir at the Dam

Monksville Reservoir near the Dam

Pine Swamp Mountain Fall Hike

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Long Path: Green Trail
Arden-Surebridge Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 0:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 0.9 Miles

Pros: Nice view and scenic lake
Cons: None
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

I only had time for a short hike, and it was a beautiful warm fall day with the foliage color really starting to come out. I parked at the parking lot at Lake Skanatati off Seven Lakes Drive, and took the Long Path along the side of the lake. At the valley where the trail turns south, I went along the side of the valley, climbing moderately until meeting the old Arden Surebridge Trial that had been rerouted. I then went to view above Lake Skanatati, and then along the old rerouted trail and then toward the new Arden-Surebridge Trail. I then took the Arden Surebridge Trail down the mountain back to the parking area.

Map of the Route

Lake Skanatati from the Parking Area

Lake Skanatati from the Long Path

Felled Tree from a Beaver in Lake Skanatati

Lake Skanatati from Long Path

Long Path with Fallen Leaves

Approaching the Pine Swamp Mountain View

Red Maple at the View

Lake Skanatati and Lake Kanawauke

Vertical Perspective of the View

Board Mountain at Wanaque Reservoir

North Jersey District Water Supply Commission
Passaic Co,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
HT Connector Trail: Blue blaze
Stonetown Circular Trail: Red blaze
Highlands Trail: Aqua blaze

Total Time: 0:55 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.7 Miles

Pros: Good climb, nice reservoir view
Cons: Was expecting a more impressive view

Hiking Partner:
Josef Friedman

This was a beautiful and warm early fall day. The trees had not yet changed any color, and the reservoir level was very low due to the lack of recent rains. We parked at the trailhead parking at the end of White Road, a small dead-end off Stonetown Road. We took the HT Connector trail, which connects to the Highlands Trail, down the valley and to the combined Highlands and Stonetown Circular Trail. We then climbed up steeply to the top of Board Mountain, which affords a view of the Monksville and Wanaque Reservoirs and the Monksville Dam. We then turned around and returned the same route that we came on.

Map of the Route. North Jersey Highlands.

Monksville Reservoir and Wanaque Reservoir, Zoomed Out 

Monksville Reservoir and Wanaque Reservoir, Zoomed Out

Monksville Reservoir and Wanaque Reservoir, and Monksville Dam

View from Board Mountain, Facing North/Northwest

Me atop Board Mountain

Monksville and Wanaque Reservoirs

Zoomed into Monksville Reservoir and the Dam

View from Board Mountain Facing East

View While Descending the Mountain

Highlands/Stonetown Circular Loop Trail Markers