Harriman Hiker: Harriman State Park and Beyond

Sunday, March 14, 2021

Catamount Mountain to Sherwood Path

Harriman State Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail: Red blaze
Suffern-Bear Mountain (SBM) Trail: Yellow blaze
Sherwood Path: Unblazed

Total Time: 1:55 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.3 Miles

Pros: Good climb and scenic view
Cons: Parking is a bit difficult
Hike Type: Loop hike
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult

Map of Route:
https://goo.gl/maps/tJWyEbAb4Lg7UVSx8

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick

This hike is very close to home. It's a very good climb with an excellent view, so makes for a great location especially when I am short on time. We parked at the Ramapo Equestrian Center, where we noticed a sign that said "No Hiker Parking" in the area where we would park in the past. I asked a person who worked there what the story is, and he said many people parked near the horses and disturbed them. He said it would be ok to park behind the sigh facing the woods. We parked there, and I also noticed many people parking at the entrance to the driveway near Route 202 as well when we were finished with the hike.

UPDATE: As of late April and May 2021, I have received several complaints of people not able to park in the parking area at all, with the "No Hiker" sign moved all the way up the driveway. I will be making a formal complaint to the town supervisor, as I understand the equestrian center is owned by the Town of Ramapo. It's not okay to change the status quo.

We took the Pine Meadow Trail from the start, and climbed up and walked along the concurrent trail and gas line. We then crossed power line and the brook, and did a small shortcut cutting alongside the brook. We took the trail through the notch up, where there were several small waterfalls and cascades due to the excess water from all the snowmelt.

At the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail intersection, we took the trail south further climbing up the mountain, and then took the trail until the lower Catamount Mountain view. We turned around and then took the unblazed trail down along the notch towards the Sherwood Path. At the Sherwood Path, we went back towards the Horse Stable, and then took the Gas Line back towards the Pine Meadow Trail back to our car.

Map of the Route

Sign about the Parking at the Beginning of the Hike

Trailhead of the Pine Meadow Trail

Small Cascade Along the Brook

Another Waterfall While Ascending

Last Vestiges of the Winter Snow in the Side of the Valley

Ascending Catamount Mountain on the Concurrent Pine Meadow/SBM Trails

Approaching the View

View from Catamount Mountain

Manhattan Skyline in the Distance from Catamount Mountain

More Views Atop Catamount

View from Catamount Looking South

View from Catamount Looking East

Yehudah Koblick on Catamount Mountain

Me on Catamount Mountain

Catamount Mountain Looking Over the Valley

Rock and Wood On Catamount

View Looking Towards Horse Stable Mountain

Yehudah at the Catamount View

Bright Blue Sky and Contrasting Clouds at Catamount

Abandoned Pick Up Truck at the Bottom of the Mountain Off the Sherwood Path

Sunday, March 7, 2021

Appalachian Trail at Canopus Lake

Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park
Putnam Co.,New York

Hiking Trails:
3 Lakes Trail: Blue blaze
Appalachian Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 1:50 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.4 Miles

Pros: Quiet and scenic area
Cons: No good mountain views
Hike Type: Up and Down Same Route
Level of Difficulty: Moderate, but difficult in snowy conditions

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/KLNM1ejxXNWBEwqU9

Continuing further on my northern fringe of the Appalachian Trail in my region, this hike involved this trail north of Canopus Lake. The weather was very cold for March, with full snow cover in the area and the lake fully frozen.

I parked on Route 301 at the parking area near the Canopus Lake Dam, at the 3 Lakes Trail trailhead. I took th3 3 Lakes Trail briefly to the connector trail to the Appalachian Trail. (This trail follows the old road prior to its rerouting.) I then took the Appalachian Trail, crossing the road to the southern side of the lake and climbing up the step to the ridge. The trail was well worn on the snow for the first part of the hike, but then became increasingly difficult as the trail became less used. I hiked up until the northern part of the lake past the divider, and at a small view with a large rockface I turned around at took the same route back.

Map of the Route

Frozen Canopus Lake

Canopus Lake Looking Across the Lake

Canopus Lake Looking to the Southern Part of the Lake

Three Lakes Trail Trailhead

Waterfalls at the Dam and Outlet of the Three Lakes Trail

Appalachian Trail Crossing Route 301 at Canopus Lake

Information Kiosk at the Appalachian Trail at Canopus Lake

Hiking along the Appalachian Trail

Looking Towards Canopus Lake from the Appalachian Trail

Ascending the Mountain on Snow Covered Steps on the AT

AT Through an Evergreen Mountain Laurel Forest

Small Frozen Pond on the Appalachian Trail

Canopus Lake from the AT on the Ridge

Looking Towards Canopus Lake

Intersection of the Fahnestock Trail on the Appalachian Trail

Frozen Canpus Lake at the Return

People Walking on the Frozen Lake in the Distance

Sunday, February 28, 2021

Anthonys Nose Southern Approach Winter Hike

Hudson Highlands State Park,
Westchester Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Camp Smith Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 2:25 Hours
Estimated Distance: 2.6 miles

Pros: Good climb, excellent views
Cons: Difficulty parking, trail may be busy
Hike Type: Up and Down Same Route
Level of Difficulty: Difficult, especially in snowy and icy conditions

Map of Route:
https://goo.gl/maps/zhEdDRtzdr5992YRA

Hiking Partners:
Joseph Friedman
Elisha Friedman

The end of the previous week had warmed up, and although much of the snow had melted, there was still plenty of soft snow on the ground. The weather was seasonably cold, slightly above freezing, with a prediction for rain in the afternoon. It was cloudy and a bit windy, but there were several wet and muddy parts of the hike on the south-facing flanks of the mountain where the sun shone strongly.

We parked in the parking area in the bend on Routes 6/202. There isn't much parking here so on busy weekends it's recommended to come here early. On this day with snow covering the ground and rain in the forecast there weren't many cars here so plenty of parking space.

We took the Camp Smith Trail up, past the first view, where I broke my camera lens while accidentally dropping one. We continued up the trail, with the steep part up being very difficult with a combination of ice, snow, water, and mud. I took some pictures at the peak (with my phone camera at this point), and then headed back down along the same route back to my car.