Decided to head over to Harriman on a gorgeous nice day (mid 60’s, partly sunny in November!). Just picked a parking area and slapped together a route on the drive up; Harriman is great for that.
This route include Tom Jones Mountain, Parker Cabin Mountain, Claudius Smith Den, Sebago Lake and Skenonta Lake.
8.4 miles. Moderate-difficult with some steep rocky ups/downs along Ramapo-Dunderberg. Nice views along this section. After Claudius Smith Den the trail is more even, with an easy woods road near Lake Skenonta.
Map: #118 of the Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails map set is highly recommended – there is such an extensive network of trails in Harriman that you really should have this map with you. Note: many of the trails here use shapes as well as colors: WHITE BAR, a RED DOT on WHITE, a BLUE V, etc. The trail colors are listed on the map, but just as RED or BLUE. The trails themselves are well marked, but you do need to pay attention at intersections because there can be multiple routes to chose from.
The associated guidebook, Harriman Trails: A Guide and History, is also very useful in determining trail distances when putting routes together. Each trail in the park is listed in GREAT detail.
Parking: Parkway North to Rt. 87 (NY Thruway), to exit for 17.Take 17 north through Tuxedo. Follow signs to take Rt. 106 east (need to make a left onto the overpass).
This hike starts at the 4th parking area along 106, and is on the left. The lots along 106 are small and fill up, this parking area had room for maybe 10-15 cars. Have a “plan b” in case you can’t park at the trailhead you intended (also why it’s good to have the map).Coordinates: N41 13.823 W74 08.391
Lake Sebago:
Route: Starts across the road from the lot:
- South on Ramapo-Dunderberg (RED CIRCLE on WHITE). Steeply up Tom Jones Mountain from the start. The trail is moderate-difficult with some steep rocky ups/downs.
- Continue on Ramapo-Dunderberg (RED CIRCLE on WHITE) to Parker Cabin Mountain.
- Cross Victory (BLUE V on WHITE), YELLOW TRIANGLE, WHITE CROSS, WHITE BAR.
- Stay on Ramapo-Dunderberg (RED CIRCLE on WHITE) at the junction where BLUE DISC and Victory (BLUE V on WHITE) start.
- Turn LEFT/East on Tuxedo-Mt. Ivy (RED BAR on WHITE). Head uphill.
- HUGE rock formation to your left with Claudius Smith Den. Look for an area in the rock you can climb into.
- The path curves to left up the rocks, continue towards the RIGHT on Tuxedo-Mt. Ivy (RED BAR on WHITE), Passing BLUE DISC, pass WHITE CROSS. Trail is more level from here on out.
- Near the Dutch Doctor Shelter, turn LEFT onto WHITE BAR.
- At the fork, bear RIGHT onto YELLOW TRIANGLE. (lots of mountain laurel here) (WHITE BAR heads left)
- Skirt the shores of Lake Sebago, then Lake Skenonta. Continue YELLOW TRIANGLE.
- At the fork, bear RIGHT onto Victory (BLUE V on WHITE) – an easy woods road along Lake Skenonta
- Continue Victory. It’s a bit unclear where the woods road curves and the BLUE V markers have you looping off to the right off the woods road – either way you end up the same place.
- The path forks near the marshy area, look for the BLUE V on WHITE on the left fork. After the path passes the marsh and veers right, we chose to check out an unmarked trail on the map, that headed off to the left of Victory. The road was obvious at first, then unclear with all the fallen leaves. You may want to just stick on the marked BLUE V on WHITE trail.
- Continue BLUE V on WHITE
- Back at the intersection with Ramapo-Dunderberg (RED CIRCLE on WHITE), turn RIGHT onto that and retrace your route to the lot.
Wildlife spotted: About 5 minutes up Ramapo-Dunderberg we spotted a large buck that just stood there staring at us as we got some photos. When we looked at our photos at home, we saw a wound in his back we didn’t see when we were there, and perhaps that is why he didn’t run off.
