Harriman Hiker: Harriman State Park and Beyond

Sunday, March 17, 2019

Appalachian Trail at Fitzgerald Falls and Sterling Mountain

Appalachian National Scenic Trail Area and Sterling Forest State Park
Orange Co.
New York

Hiking Trails:
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Allis Trail: Blue blaze
Doris Duke Trail: Yellow blaze
Appalachian Bypass Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 2:10 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.8 Miles

Pros: Nice waterfall, good climb, good views
Cons: None

Fitzgerald Falls is one of the more impressive waterfalls in the Highlands area. It is better after the rainy season when there is more flow on the cascade. It had been a particularly wet winter, so there was an impressive water flow over the waterfalls.

I parked at Lakes Road pullout at the side of the road at the Appalachian Trail. I took the Appalachian Trail east for about 5 minutes until Fitzgerald Falls. The trail crosses the stream at the outlet of the falls on rocks, and being below freezing, the rocks were icy from the frozen mist and flowing water over the rocks. This caused me to slip in the water, getting all wet and ripping my pants.

I dried out pretty quickly and took the Appalachian Trail up the hill to the Allis Trail. At the Allis Trail there is a nice view facing west, and where the Allis Trail reaches the Doris Duke Trail there is another good view facing east. Took the Allis Trail to the second view, and then bushwacked the short distance back to the Appalachian Trail. I took the Appalachian Trail back the other way and back to my car.

Map of the Route

Fitzgerald Falls with a Strong Flow

Fitzgerald Falls, Zoomed Out

Landscape View of Fitzgerald Falls

Small Cascade Above Fitzgerald Falls

View from Above Fitzgerald Falls

The Last Remaining Pockets of Snow on the North-Facing Slopes

Junction of the Appalachian Trail and Allis Trail

View on the Allis Trail

Another View of the View at the Allis Trail

Same View, Zoomed In

Selfie at the Above View

Junction of the Allis/Doris Duke, and Combined Highlands Trail

Cairn and Marker at the Junction of the Allis/Doris Duke,
and Combined Highlands Trail

View at the Junction of the Allis/Doris Duke,
and Combined Highlands Trail

Another Angle of the Above View

Frozen Pond on the Appalachian Trail

Bridge Crossing the Trout Brook at the End of the Hike

Sunday, March 10, 2019

Brooks Lake Loop

Bear Mountain State Park
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trail:
Brooks Lake Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 0:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.1 Miles

Pros: Scenic lake
Cons: None

Brooks Lake is a very scenic lake on the northern fringes of Bear Mountain State Park. Visible from the top of Bear Mountain, at the northern view, Brooks Lake has a loop trail around it.

The weather had been interesting, with the day starting off with snow and then turning into a cold rain. The snow had not melted from the rain, and it has just slowed down by the time I started this hike. Because of the poor weather conditions, I chose to do a short and easy hike, and dressed for the occasion. It was drizzling and very foggy with poor visibility during the hike.

I parked at the Brooks Lake parking area, and took the trail south, to the outlet, where I crossed the bridge and intersected the other park trails. I then walked along the the west side and then the north side of the lake, and then back to my car.

Map of the Route

Brooks Lake at the Beginning of the Hike

Looking South from the Beginning of the Hike

Information Map at the Beginning of the Brooks Lake Trail

Snowy Lake Scene

Evergreens and Snow Contrast

Looking North from the Woods at Brooks Lake

Abandoned Structure near the Brooks Lake Outlet

My Most Monotone Picture Ever Taken

Trail Markers at the Outlet Bridge at Brooks Lake

Snowy Ice-Covered Brooks Lake from the Outlet

Another View of the Outlet

Brooks Lake from the Western Side

Brooks Lake and Anthony's Nose in the Distance

From the North Side of Brooks Lake, Facing South Towards Bear Mountain

Brooks Lake Outlet and Bear Mountain in the Distance

Bear Mountain from Brooks Lake

Sunday, March 3, 2019

Turkey Hill Lake Queensboro Lake Loop

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.
New York

Hiking Trails:
Anthony Wayne Trail: White blaze
1779 Trail: Red blaze
Popolopen Gorge Trail: Red blaze
Timp-Torne Trail: Blue blaze
Fawn Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.4 Miles

Pros: Scenic lake and minimal
Cons: Proximity to highway and roads

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

It has snowed a couple of inches of snow two days prior, and there was a large snowstorm predicted for the evening. The snow cover wasn't deep, but nevertheless created a pretty layer for the hike.

I had not been to this area in some time. It is at the far northern region of Harriman, an area not popularly traveled and often quiet. Turkey Hill Lake is one of the least-visited lakes in the park.

We parked at Anthony Wayne Recreation area, and crossed the Palisades Parkway on the overpass, taking the Anthony Wayne Trail to the 1779 Trail. We took the 1779 Trail to the outlet trail of the Queensboro Trail, where we then met the Popolopen Gorge Trail. We crossed the dam, which was overflowing, and took the path on the northern side of the lake and outlet stream to the Popolopen Gorge Trail.

We took the combined 1779 and Popoplopen Gorge Trail to Queensboro Lake, adjacent to the Police test shooting range, then crossing the Palisades at the Seven Lakes Drive overpass. We then took the Timp-Torne trail up the northern flank of West Mountain, and then went down the Fawn Trail, to the Anthony Wayne Trail, back to our car at the trailhead.