Appalachian Trail to Island Pond

Harriman State Park
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Island Pond Road: Unblazed
Arden-Surebridge Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:20 hours
Estimated Distance: 4.3 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Island Pond
Pros: Scenic remote natural lake, viewpoint
Cons: Hike up Applachian Trail not very dramatic

Hiking Partners:
Moshe Reich
Eli Shulman

Google Map of Parking:

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It was a beautiful fall day and the foliage was beginning to peak. We parked at the Elk Pen by Arden Valley Road, and I was surprised to see that the parking area had been paved. We had intended to take the Arden-Surebridge Trail up, but noticed that the Appalachian had been re-routed off of Arden Valley Road instead through the meadow parallel to the road. So we had started out on the road looking for the trail when I noticed what had been done. We then took the Appalachian Trail up the mountain, and along the way encountered NY/NJ Trail Conference Members doing trail maintenance. We continued along past Island Pond Road to the northern view of Island Pond which has a beautiful lake lookout where you can also climb down to the lake. The scenery with the foliage was very impressive.

Island Pond is one of the few natural lakes in the park, and its outlet is not dammed. Much of its sides are surrounded by swamp, but its northern flank abuts into the water and is its nicest vantage point. We then turned around and made a slight detour from the Appalachian Trail to Island Pond Road, and took Island Pond Road south to the Arden-Surebridge Trail. We then took the Arden Surebridge Trail to the view which looks across the Ramapo River Valley, and then climbed down this steep part of the mountain until the Elk Pen open area and then back to our car.

Map of the Route. Harriman/Bear Mnt State Parks Northern Map

Impressive Maple Tree Along the Appalachian Trail

Volunteer Trail Workers Fixing Up the Appalachian Trail

Old Structure Diverting the Flow of Water Near the Inlet of Island Pond

Approaching the Island Pond Lookout

Island Pond Lookout, Facing South

Ditto

Ditto

Island Pond Lookout, Facing West

Ditto

Eli Shulman at the Island Pond Lookout

Me at the Island Pond Lookout

Moshe Reich at the Island Pond Lookout

View at the Arden-Surebridge Trail Prior to Descending. Facing North.

View at the Arden-Surebridge Trail Facing East
Across the Ramapo River Valley

Large Meadow at the bottom of the Mountain on the A-SB Trail

Intersection and Signposts of the Appalachian Trail

Elk Pen at the End  of the Hike

Sterling Lake Loop

Sterling Forest State Park
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Sterling Lake Loop Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 1:40 hours
Estimated Distance: 4.2 miles
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended great lake and foliage views
Points Of Interest: Beautiful lake, historical mine
Pros: Very scenic, quiet area, well-marked trails
Cons: Part of trail (near trailers) is freaky, too many woods road as opposed to trails, and end goes on road

Google Map of Parking:

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Sterling Lake is a large lake with a nice loop trail around it. The weather had been rainy and foggy, and although it was not raining hard, the rain came down all day and the visibility was very poor in the fog. Nevertheless I wanted to get some good fall foliage, and despite the gloom I got some very good photos. I partially picked this trail because there is no lookout view, but only a lakeside view which can be effective despite the weather.

I parked at the Sterling Forest Visitor Center by Lakeville, and started the Sterling Lake Loop Trail from the north. The trail crosses the road, and then goes alongside some odd-looking factory and then beside a few eerie trailers on the side of the trail. It then goes alongside an old railroad bed elevated above the swamp below. The trail then veers again towards the lake and climbs up a little bit. It passes some more trails along the way, and then loops around by the northern part of the lake, causing over a causeway. After this, the trail turns into a wide woods road for much of the rest of the way. At the end, the trail goes alongside with the road, and passes the old iron mine relics along the way. The trail then goes into a forest thicket and then back to the parking area.

Map of the Route.
Sterling Forest Trails

Foggy View of Sterling Lake from the Visitor Center

Early Fall Foliage Scenes Along the Trail

More Foliage Scenes

Northern End of Sterling Lake from the Causeway

Looking Southwest from the Causeway

Looking North from the Causeway

Bright Red Blueberry Bush

Another View Looking North from the Causeway

Another Lake Foliage Scene

Lily Pads in the Lake

Path Near the Edge of the Water

Sterling Lake, looking South

Woods Road Along the West Side of Sterling Lake

Monksville Reservoir View

Monksville Reservoir,
Long Pond Ironworks State Park
Passaic Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Monks Trail: White blaze
Monks Trail Lookout: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 0:40 hours
Estimated Distance: 1 mile
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended for a short hike
Points Of Interest: Beautiful Viewpoint, Cactus Grove
Pros: Very scenic
Cons: Power lines are a slight view spoiler

Google Map of Parking:

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This was a very short hike. Although the trail goes further, due to my limited time I only took it up to the viewpoint and then back. I parked the car at the southern parking area of Monksville Reservoir, near the trail, and took the trail west up the mountain. You have to go in just a little bit off the parking area to find the  trail. I climbed up to the top where I took the spur trail to the view. The early autumn view was excellent, with the cactus grove on top producing prickly pear fruit (I tried tasting it but it didnt have much flavor). I then turned around and took the same way back down the mountain.

Map of the Route

View From the Parking Area. Facing Southwest.

Early Foliage on the Side of the Reservoir.
Facing West.

Amazing Picture From the Shore Facing Southwest.

Approaching the View at the end of the Climb.

End of the Spur Trail. Facing South.

Facing South from the View

Another View Facing South

Prickly Pear Cactus Grove At the View

Prickly Pear Fruits. I tried tasting one of these but it wasn't too tasty.

Early Foliage At the End of the Hike.

Bright Red Tree at the Reservoir.

White Bar-Lake Sebago Loop

Harriman State Park
Rockland County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
White Bar Trail: White blaze
Tuxedo-Mt Ivy Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 1:30 hours
Estimated Distance: 3.8 miles
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Level of Recommendation: Slightly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Lake Sebago
Pros: Very quiet area of park, beautiful lake
Cons: No views, Unmarked trail part is overgrown

Google Map of Parking:

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The weather has been beatiful for much of September, with bright blue skies and temperatures in the 70's. This day was no exception, though the morning started out cold, and I started the hike in the upper 40's and needed a light jacket. I parked at the Johnstown Road dead end, and took the White Bar Trail north from its southern terminus. This part of the trail follows the old Johnstown Road path, and it is therefore a wide trail. The Kakiat Trail intersects and comes in and then leaves. I continued up the White Bar Trail past the swamp on the left until the Tuxedo-Mt Ivy Trail intersection. I veered easy on the Tuxedo-Mt Ivy Trail, climbing up the mountain and through the notch. Then went down and headed towards Lake Sebago, where I went to a rock in the lake to take some pictures. I then veered off south prior to Seven Lakes Drive, where I picked up the trail back to the White Bar Trail. This part of the trail is ver overgrown but not recommended. I then took the White Bar Trail back to my car.

Map of the Route.
Harriman/Bear Mountain State Parks Southern Map

Bright blue Sky and Start of Foliage at the Trailhead
at Johnstown Road Cul-de-sac

Tuxedo-Mt Ivy Trail Going Through the Notch
Before Descending to Lake Sebago

Lake Sebago, at the Southern End of the Lake.
Facing East.

Lake Sebago. Facing Northeast.

Zoomed into the Above View

Lake Sebago, Facing East

Bright Red Early Ivy Foliage Along the White Bar Trail