Tag: Hiking in Orange County NY
Harriman State Park - Harriman Outdoor Center, Limekiln Mountain, Panther Mountain
August 13, 2022
9.1 Mi • 1,877 Ft Gain • 29 Photos
My first 3-day weekend trip to the Stephen & Betsy Corman AMC Harriman Outdoor Center was amazing! Our 16-person cabin was clean and modern. The meals were delicious and plentiful. A handful of us went on a Saturday hike through an eastern area of the park, including stops at a couple lookout spots and a bear sighting. The rest of the weekend, we played games around the campfire and went swimming, canoeing, and kayaking in Breakneck Pond. It was truly an enjoyable weekend in nature.
Read MoreHarriman State Park - Harriman Outdoor Center, Breakneck Pond, Pine Meadow Lake
July 10, 2021
8.8 Mi • 1,024 Ft Gain • 78 Photos • 3 Videos
I met up with group of six friends who rented a weekend cabin at the Stephen & Betsy Corman AMC Harriman Outdoor Center. I was impressed with how modern and clean the cabin was, with two bedrooms, six beds, and electricity for lights, a microwave, and a refrigerator. We started the day with an almost 9-mile hike from Breakneck Pond to Pine Meadow Lake and back. Then we grabbed dinner in the dining hall before heading out to kayak and canoe across Breakneck Pond. We finished the night sitting around the campfire, chatting and playing games.
Read MoreHarriman State Park - Turkey Hill, Stockbridge Mountain, Black Mountain, AT, Long Path
June 6, 2021
13.5 Mi • 2,339 Ft Gain • 179 Photos • 5 Videos
I came out of this hike completely soaked in sweat. This is the first time I really pushed through the heat for such a long distance. I was initially worried if I brought enough water, but I monitored my intake and sipped at a consistent pace throughout the day. I knew going in this would be more of a forest hike than a view hike and I was okay with that. Due to the intense sun, I didn't want to spend too much time on mountain tops and I was happy to stay in the shade as much as possible. Even without the views, it was an awesome hike! I enjoyed exploring a new section of Harriman.
Read MoreSchunnemunk State Park - Schunnemunk Mtn, Trestle, Megoliths, Sweet Clover, Otterkill
May 8, 2021
9.0 Mi • 1,736 Ft Gain • 237 Photos • 6 Videos
This is a beautiful park with varied terrain and excellent views of the Hudson Valley and Hudson River. I can only imagine how much more I could have seen without the rain and fog. The temperatures in the mid-40s, combined with the rain, made parts of the hike unpleasant and slippery, but not unbearable. The calming sound of a few surprise waterfalls brightened the afternoon. Walking alongside the train tracks and up to the train trestle was a unique experience. I only wish I was able to record a train passing by.
Read MoreHarriman State Park - Lake Skenonto, Tom Jones Mountain, Black Rock Mountain
May 1, 2021
13.7 Mi • 2,536 Ft Gain • 349 Photos • 16 Videos
Harriman is abundant with water sources, as I encountered over a dozen streams on this hike alone. Lake Skenonto provided a great backdrop to enjoy during lunch. The small rock scramble up to Tom Jones Mountain was well worth the
views of the Hudson Valley once up there. Campers were abundant, as well as at least one black snake I encountered on my way up Black Rock mountain. The view of Lake Stahahe from the top of Car Pond mountain was a bit obstructed, but allowed me to find another shelter.
My longest hike to date did not disappoint.
Read MoreHarriman State Park - South Hill, Ramapo Torne, Russian Bear, Racoon Brook Hills
March 13, 2021
9.1 Mi • 1,673 Ft Gain • 182 Photos • 10 Videos
After a 2 week hiatus, I jumped back in with a killer hike that left me sore and also rejuvenated! I was really impressed with the variety of terrain on this hike. A good amount of climbs and descents with plenty of flat areas in between, hilltop views, rock formations,
varying flora, and an abundance of streams. I stopped several times to take videos of the sound of the streams, having such a soothing and calming effect, especially hiking along Stony Brook at the end of the day. I would gladly do this hike again any day!
Read MoreSterling Forest State Park - Greenwood Lake, Fire Tower, Jennings Creek, Bare Rock
November 7, 2020
12 Mi • 1,942 Ft Gain • 161 Photos • 4 Videos
The Bare Rock lookout offered amazing views of Greenwood Lake and I'm so glad I took this detour. Climbing the Fire Tower was the highlight of the day; I only wish I took better photos. The area around Jennings Creek and the rest of the park did not disappoint. As usual, I could spend days here taking in all the various areas of the park. I especially want to visit the old mine areas the next time around. Trails were blazed well, with signs at the major intersections giving trail names, trail lengths, and POIs.
Read MoreHarriman State Park - Pine Meadow Trail, Third Reservoir, Breakneck Pond, Lake Wanoksink
October 10, 2020
12.1 Mi • 2,044 Ft Gain • 183 Photos • 1 Video
Wow, what a gorgeous day for a hike! The weather was a little warmer than normal, peaking in the high 70's in the afternoon.
Harriman State Park is huge and it would take weeks to explore it all, so I chose an eastern part of the park that looked promising on the maps and would take me past three bodies of water.
Every time I hike in Harriman State Park, I appreciate it more! There's so much to see and do here that I can't wait until the season opens next year so I can take advantage of some of the camping and swimming options.
Read MoreHarriman State Park - Elk Pen, Island Pond, Lemon Squeezer, Bald Rocks, Appalachian Trail
October 3, 2020
11.1 Mi • 1,909 Ft Gain • 178 Photos • 2 Videos
I'm falling in love with fall hikes! The changing of the leaves and the cooler weather make for a great hiking environment. From logging a few more miles Appalachian Trail, visiting Island Pond, the Lemon Squeezer, the mine areas, the Bald Rocks, and more, this was a fantastic hike! Aside from a few moderate ascends and descents, but most of my path was pretty easy and flat. It was also my longest hike so far, at 11 miles. I really enjoyed Harriman State Park, and with over 200 miles of trails to explore, I can see myself coming back.
Read MoreBear Mountain State Park - Hessian Lake, Major Welch Trail, Perkins Tower, 1777W Trail, 1777E Trail
September 6, 2020
7.5 Mi • 1,484 Ft Gain • 116 Photos
Overall, I really enjoyed the hike and the company of my friend! The first part of the day was challenging getting up the mountain, but the rewarding views and panoramas make it well worth the climb. Most the rest of the hike was moderate to easy, with many sections on paved or packed gravel pathways. If the mountain is too much, there are plenty of other trails to the south that don't require as much work.
I plan to come back and explore the Doodletown area of the park more, as there's some really rich history here.
Read MoreWinding Hills Park - Diamond Lake
June 28, 2020
4 Mi • 385 Ft Gain • 8 Photos
With its beautiful pond views and elevation, Winding Hills Park is a great place for beginners and experienced hikers alike. As a Boy Scout, I think I've camped in this park at least once and probably hiked it several times, but I don't recall any of those details. It was fun returning with a childhood friend and I enjoyed the conversation that followed. I also got to take a break from being the solitary leader to just following and taking in the scenery. Winding Hills has a lot to offer and there is a section the trail we missed that I'd enjoy returning to in the future.
Read MoreBear Mountain State Park - Cornell Mine, Major Welch, Hessian Lake
August 4, 2013
1 Photo
On a beautiful Sunday afternoon in August, my neighbor, his girlfriend at the time, and I set out for a stroll through Bear Mountain State Park. We started in the main parking lot, near Bear Mountain Inn. I believe we took Cornell Mine (CM) until it connected with Major Welch (MW) around the west side of Hessian Lake. From there, we took the unmarked trail to the north and east of Hessian Lake back to the parking lot. I only snapped one photo that day from the trail overlooking the lake.
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