West Mountain Hike B'Yachad

Harriman State Park /
Bear Mountain State Park
Rockland / Orange Co, NY

Hiking Trails:
Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze
Beechy Bottom Road
West Mountain Trail (former AT): Orange blaze
Timp-Torne Trail: Blue blaze
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Anthony Wayne Trail: White blaze
Fawn Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:50
Estimated Distance: 4.3 miles

Pros: Great hike with good climb and many scenic views
Cons: None
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/FBvord7sG8j9HVSH7

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick

I had assisted Zev Freundlich, a teamwork coach and event organizer, to coordinate the hiking routes in Harriman for Hike B'yachad's hike from Monroe to Monsey to raise funds for Chai Lifeline. Hike B’Yachad is a project of Chai Lifeline’s Achim B’Yachad division, supporting children and families facing serious illness.

This incredible event brought the community together to hike from Monroe to Monsey in support of children battling cancer and serious illness, turning “every mile into hope. West Mountain has always been one of my favorite hikes in the area, and is right in between Monsey and Monroe.

It was great seeing the operation in full swing at the staging area at West Mountain, and then meeting the hikers as they made their way across the ridge atop West Mountain as I traveled in the other direction, greeting each of them that were on this leg of the route.

We parked at Anthony Wayne Recreation area, and took the rerouted Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail at its temporary concurrency with Beechy Bottom Road. We then took the West Mountain Trail (former Appalachian Trail) up West Mountain from the southern flank, to the concurrency with the Timp-Torne Trail along the ridge at West Mountain. We then took the Appalachian Trail down and then took the Fawn Trail to the Anthony Wayne Trail back to our car.

Map of the Route

With Zev Freundlach at the Staging

Greenery Making Way to Beechy Bottom Road

Overgrown Mica Mine

Overgrown Mica Mine Near Beechy Bottom Road

Above the Mica Mine

Beechy Bottom Road

West Mountain Trail (Former Appalachian Trail)

View Ascending West Mountain

Hike B'yachad Hikers

Yehudah Koblick

West Mountain Spring Hike

Harriman State Park /
Bear Mountain State Park
Orange Co, NY

Hiking Trails:
Anthony Wayne Trail: White blaze
Fawn Trail: Red blaze
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Timp-Torne Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 1:05
Estimated Distance: 1.9 miles

Pros: Great hike and scenic view
Cons: None
Hike Type: Out and back
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/FBvord7sG8j9HVSH7

This was a beautiful spring day and all the trees were beginning to sprout. I went on this short hike up and down West Mountain after work on Friday afternoon at the start of the weekend. I parked at the Anthony Wayne Recreation Area, and took the Anthony Wayne Trail up to the Fawn Trail, which I took to the Timp-Torne Trail up the mountain. (The trail is temporarily concurrent with the Appalachian Trail as they are worked on a new reroute.) I then turned around at the view from above the ridge after the Appalachian Trail and Timp-Torne Trail originally joined. I turned around and took the same route back, with a short spur at the end to the parking lot.

Map of the Route

Information Map at the Trailhead with the Appalachian Trail Reroute

Climbing Up West Mountain

View of Anthony Wayne Near the Top

Views Along the West Mountain Ridge