Pine Swamp Mountain and Lakes First Snow Hike

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

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

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

Pros: Good climb, nice view, scenic lakes
Cons: None
Hike Type: Loop

Map of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/RsrGtA7BJFJBiKRt9

This was the first snow season of the season. Although it wasn't all that much, a fast-moving Alberta Clipper brought about an inch of dry snow to the area. I took advantage being off from work to take a quick and scenic hike in Harriman. I parked in the Lake Skanatati Parking area, and took the Long Path for a short distance alongside the lake, then turned around and took the Arden-Surebridge Trail up. I veered off on the old Arden-Surebridge Trail before it was rerouted, and took it up to the view, where both Lake Skanatati and Kanawauke are in good view. I then turned back and went down along the eastern portion of the ridge back to the new Arden-Surebridge Trail, which I took to the Red Cross Trail. I took the Red Cross Trail down to Seven Lakes Drive, and then took Seven Lakes Drive south, alongside Lake Askoti, crossing the bridge at the stream outlet. I then took the Long Path back down to Lake Skanatati and back down to my car.

Map of the Route

Lake Skanatati

Long Path Alongside Lake Skanatati

Arden-Surebridge Trailhead

Ascending the Arden Surebridge Trail

View at Pine Swamp Mountain, with Lake Skanatati and Lake Askoti

Lake Askoti

Seven Lakes Drive

Lake Askoti

Lake Skanatati

Hogencamp Mountain Loop

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Hogencamp Road: Unblazed blaze
Dunning Trail: Yellow blaze
Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 3:00
Estimated Distance: 5.3 miles

Pros: Scenic lake, unique scenery, great views
Cons: None
Hike Type: Triple Eight Loop
Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Map of Route:
https://goo.gl/maps/TrU4ab7UGPGQygzi8

Hiking Partners:
Shimmy Rosenberg
Simcha Krongold

This was the coldest day of the season yet. In addition to temperatures in the 30's, there was a strong wind, which made itself especially apparent on the top of the ridge at the higher elevations that we were at. We parked at the Lake Kanawauke parking area, and walked along Kanawauke Road, which was closed, to the trail at Hogencamp Road. We took this path to the southern part of the Hogencamp Mine, and then crossed the Dunning Trail and bushwhacked to the top of the ridge at the southern part of Hogencamp Mountain. There is a nice view over here. We then bushwhacked down the western flank and met back up with the Dunning Trail.

At the bowling rocks, we took another bushwhack towards the top view at Hogencamp Mountain on the Ramapo-Dundberg Trail before it dips down to Times Square. This bushwhack was much more difficult than anticipated. I had thought it would be composed of exposed rock faces, but there were some dense brush areas we needed to literally bushwhack through! 

We enjoyed the amazing view on the giant rockface, and then went back towards the southwest on the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail, passed Ship Rock and along the exposed rock faces. After crossing the Dunning Trail again, we went to the Black Rocks Shelter, taking a coffee break where we brewed some fresh coffee. We then took the Dunning Trail back to Hogencamp Road, along the eastern spur this time, and then back along Kanawauke road back to our car.

Map of the Route

Lake Kanawauke

Shimmy & Simcha on Lake Kanawauke Road

Lake Kanawauke

Little Long Pond and Tom Jones Mountain

Hogencamp Road

Mine in the Hogencamp Mine Complex

Hogencamp Mine Rock Cut

Hogencamp Mountain View

Bowling Rocks on the Dunning Trail

Shimmy and Simcha

View at Hogencamp Mountain

Clever Cat on the Trail Markers

Water Crossing on the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail

Large Rockface on the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail

Bald Rocks Shelter

Fresh-Brewed Coffee at the Shelter

Hogencamp Mountain Lower View and Little Long Pond

Little Long Pond

Kakiat Upper View

Kakiat County Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Mountain Trail: Orange blaze

Total Time: 0:55
Estimated Distance: 1.5 miles

Pros: Good climb with a nice view
Cons: None
Hike Type: Up and out
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult

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

This was a nice day in December, and it was warmer than usual. I had to travel later in the morning, so had to keep this hike short. Kakiat is a perfect-sized, short and intense hike. It's close to my home, and goes up steeply to a good view, and then back down. I parked in the Kakiat parking lot, took the Mountain Trail up to the upper view, taking the shortcut bypassing the lower view. I took some pictures at the top and then headed back down the same way.

Map of the Route

Kakiat Mountain Upper View

Manhattan Skyline Visible from Kakiat