We were poking around our GPS data for Harriman State Park, looking for an area that we hadn’t done and ended up doing a loop from Lake Skannatati. We’d done another route from this trail head in 2006, and oddly, it was on August 13th as well. (Yes, yes, we know, it’s geeky to have years worth of hike data – but it can be handy as a trail journal).
The highlights of this loop are: a nice viewpoint of Lake Skannatati (right in the beginning), view of Lake Askoti from some rock slabs, the Hasenclever Mine (large deep hole filled with water), and a small cemetery with graves from the 1800s and of Civil War veterans. There is a waterfall a bit off the Red Cross trail, and another area with cascades near the road.
The rest of the trail is just nice hiking, typical of Harriman (there really isn’t a bad trail choice in this park). Because it crosses park roads several times, there is some road noise but it’s not bad.
8.8 miles. Moderate. One steep uphill and a small scramble right in the beginning, then just moderate after that. A decent amount of this trail was tight with bushes and dense undergrowth, and some blind curves – be sure to be talking, making noise, clapping etc to alert any bears in the area that you are comin’ through. Read more…
A hike in Doodletown had been on our list for awhile. Years ago we had ended up around that area during one of our pick-a-trail-as-we-go wanderings around Bear Mountain, and realized later we just had skirted the edge of the town. This time we were armed with maps that showed Doodletown in more detail than on the trail map.
Doodletown was a small town from the 1700s until the 1960′s. Most of the buildings were demolished then, so there actually isn’t all that much left in Doodletown to see, and the path through it is not that scenic. In the Herbert Cemetery, the graves date back to the 1800′s, and there is also June Cemetery which we did not visit (one old cemetery is enough per day!) It is interesting to see how quickly an area can be so quickly overcome by nature, however. For more history, photos, and a guided tour w/map is included in Harriman Trails: A Guide and History.
The first part of the route has lots-n-lots of viewpoints – of Bear Mountain and Perkins Tower, west of the park, and the Hudson River and NY to the east. There are plenty of hills and rocks on the first part, while 1777 through Doodletown is a wide, level, path with crumbling blacktop. Read more…
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 Trails map set is highly recommended – there is such an extensive network of trails in Harriman that you really should have the Trail Conference 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.
Complete hike details, photos, and video on our Lemon Squeezer page.
The Lemon Squeezer is a rock formation on the Appalachian Trail in Harriman State Park, NY. It’s a really interesting and fun section of the trail: The AT goes through an opening created by rocks, then you need to squeeze through a narrow section about 8-10′ long. After the Squeezer, you can scramble up a rock face, or you skirt off to the left and follow the “easy way” sign.
The scramble up is harder than it appears – or at least it was harder than I recalled. (it’s been a few years, but a guy with a backpack going before us yelled out a few choice words as he went up it so…)
This loop passes by Island Pond, then gets to the Lemon Squeezer. Continue on the AT then loop back on the Long Path near a low, swampy area. The Lichen trail was really overgrown but leads you to a wide rocky face with views to the west. Plenty of boulders to sit and take a break on, and one with a tree providing shade. The trail ends at Ramapo-Dundenberg and continues over these open rock slabs with lots of blueberry bushes. The terrain reminded us a little of being out West. Read more…
For detailed hike directions, maps, photos and GPS coordinates, visit ourHarriman page.
Headed to Harriman because it was Saturday during hunting season. (No hunting at Harriman at all). Parked at the visitor center and was surprised to see it packed since it was raining out.
Trail conditions were really slippery so we chose a mostly level trail and did a 7.2 mile loop around Pine Meadow Lake. RED to WHITE to Unmarked Trail to Woods Road to RED to WHITE/BLUE-WHITE to WHITE/YEL to YEL to RED…
We were poking around our GPS data for Harriman State Park, looking for an area that we hadn’t done and ended up doing a loop from Lake Skannatati. We’d done another route from this trail head in 2006, and oddly, it was on August 13th as well. (Yes, yes, we know, it’s geeky to have years worth of hike data – but it can be handy as a trail journal).
.
map set is highly recommended – there is such an extensive network of trails in Harriman that you really should have the Trail Conference 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.
, is also very useful in determining trail distances when putting routes together. Each trail in the park is listed in GREAT detail.
