Beech Trail - Hasenclever Mine

Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Trails:
Beech Trail: Blue blaze
Hasenclever Road: Not blazed
Red Cross Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:15 hr
Estimated Distance: 4.5 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Slightly ecommended
Points Of Interest: Quiet area, historic cemetary, and ancient iron mine

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

Google Maps of Parking:

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We parked on County Rt. 106 after Lake Welch, where the Beech Trail crosses the road, and headed north on the Beech Trail. We passed the old historic cemetary in the woods and continued to the intersection of the Hasenclever Road. We planned on turning on the road but Shimmy found a geocache nearby so we took a small detour on the foot of Nat House Mountain to find the geocache. We then climbed the short climb up Nat House Mountain, then bushwacked down back to the Hasenclever Road towards the Hasenclever Mine.

The Hasenclever Mine was an ancient iron mine from the 1700's, and it is one of the oldest mines in the park. It was mined for Magnetite and Pyrhottite which are iron ores. There is one large water-filled pit and one smaller one, and an extensive overgrown dump. From the mine we took the Red Cross Trail for a brief time towards the path to Lake Askoti, and from there to the unmarked Rockhouse Mountain Trail. We sort of got lost on the unmarked Rockhouse Mountain Trail and ended up having to bushwack to the top of Rockhouse Mountain and then over to the road, and we walked on the road for a short duration.

Map of the route

Old Tombstone in the Cemetary

More Tombstones in the Old Cemetary along the Beech Trail

Shimmy Searching for the Geocache on Nat House Mnt

Shimmy Finds the Geocache at this rock.

Main water-filled pit of the Hasenclever Mine

The mine dumps. Hasenclever Mountain in the Background.

Rockhouse Mountain, the tallest point of Rockland.
Along our bushwack.

Torne View

Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail: Red blaze
Reeves Brook Trail: White blaze
Seven Hills Trail: Blue blaze
Pine Meadow Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:40 hr
Estimated Distance: 4.75 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Points Of Interest: Torne View, Pristine Scenery

Google Maps of Parking:

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This was the first really cold hike of the season. It has been unseasonably warn until now, but I really had to bundle up for this hike. I parked at the Reeves Meadow hiker's trailhead, and took the Pine Meadow Trail for a very brief moment and veered off at the Reeves Brook Trail. This trail slowly climbs the mountain through a very scenic forest route on the side of the small Reeves Brook. I took the Reeve's Brook Trail to the Seven Hills Trail, which I then took south to the Torne View. The Torne view is an excellent one. From there continued along the notch right before the HTS Trail, and then descended the mountain on the Seven Hills Trail, and took this route al the way back to the Pine Meadow which is right by Reeves Brook.

Map of the Route.

People Descending the Scramble on the 7 Hills

View from Torne View. Facing northwest.

Another view from the Torne View. Facing West.

View From the Torne View, facing south
and High Torne Mountain.

View above the notch, facing the Torne View. Facing north.

View from mountain below High Torne.
Facing south towards the landfill.

View from mountain below High Torne.
Facing east at the Power Lines.

Kakiat to Pine Meadow Lake

Kakiat County Park /
Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York
Trails:
Kakiat Trail: White blaze
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze
Conklins Crossing Trail: --- blaze
Pine Meadow Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:50 hr
Estimated Distance: 6 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Points Of Interest: Upper Cobus Mountain Views, Pine Meadow Lake

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

Google Maps of Parking:
Start:

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Finish:

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This is the first time I am using GPS essentials on my Android phone, and I am using this to track my route and generate maps for me following my exact route.

This was a two car hike. We left one car at the Ramapo Equestrian Center, which is also the trailhead for the Pine Meadow Trail, and then took the other car to Kakiat. This was the first seasonal weather hike, and we required our winter coats for this long and strenuous hike. After parking at Kakiat, we took the Kakiat Trail up the mountain, past the power line, and then at the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail went north and continued along the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail to the Conklin's Crossing Trail. Took the Conklin's Crossing to the eastern terminus of Pine Meadow Lake, which was especially quiet and serene this time of year. Pine Meadow Lake has no nearby road access, so all its visitors are hikers. The eastern end is especially quiet.

From there we took the Pine Meadow Trail north, thru the forest and swamp, through its brief connection with the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail, and then down the mountain on the Pine Meadow. I usually take a shortcut where the trail bends out of the way, and judging by the cairns and chainsawed fallen trees, it appears the trailblazers are preparing to reroute the trail to my shorter route. I think this route was the original Pine Meadow Trail route. From there took the trail under the power lines and then along the gas route, and then back to the car.

Map of the Route.
Generated from GPS Essentials following our GPS track.

Lower Cobus Mountain from the Kakiat Trail by Power Lines

View from Cobus Mountain, facing south. On S-BM Trail.

Shimmy descending rocky notch on S-BM Trail.
Note the patchy snow which is on the shady side of the mountain.

View from Upper Cobus Mountain, on S-BM Trail.
Facing east.

View from Upper Cobus Mountain, on S-BM Trail.
Facing northeast, with the Tilcon Haverstraw Quarry in the distance.

Pine Meadow Lake, eastern shore.

Me at Pine Meadow Lake.

Shimmy near the end of the Pine Meadow Trail,
near the Power Lines. Note the new cairns.

Anthony Wayne Trail

Harriman State Park
Orange Co.,
New York

Trails:
1777 W Trail: Red blaze
Timp- Torne Trail: Blue blaze
Anthony Wayne Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 2:45 hr
Estimated Distance: 5.7 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Not Recommended
Points Of Interest: Turkey Hill Lake

Google Maps of Parking:

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I parked at the lower Bear Mountain Trailhead off of Seven Lakes Drive, and took the 1777 W Trail west paralleling the road. At its intersection with the Time Torn Trail, took the trail across the Palisades Parkway on the overpass, and then around the Queensboro Lake police shooting range, and then continued on the trail to the shoreline of Queensboro Lake. Continued along the trail across the brook, and right after the crossing there is a nice small waterfall cascade right below the outlet dam of the Turkey Hill Lake.

Turkey Hill Lake is one of the most remote and serene Lakes in Harriman, with no vehicular access so it always requires a hike to view. Continued along the path on the southern shore of the lake, and at the intersection of the Anthony Wayne Trail I veered south onto that trail. I took the Anthony Wayne Trail in its entirety from beginning to end. Continued on the trail to Route 6, crossed the busy road, and then went into the wet and swampy area until 7 Lakes Drive. I fell in the mud a few times here on the trail getting my boots and pants all muddy. Crossed 7 Lakes Drive at Queensboro Brook, and then continued along the trail past the Anthony Wayne Rec area and then all the way to the end of the trail at the intersection of the Timp Torne Trail. Much of the Anthony Wayne Trail is very close to the highway and you constantly hear the loud sounds of the cars on the highway, which disturb the sense of serenity. Took the Timp-Torne north for a very short distance to the 1777 W and then headed back to my car from there.

Map of the Route

I recommend staying on the trail as well.
Sign on trail near Queensboro Lake.

Queensboro Lake from 1777 W Trail. Facing southeast.

Another view of Queensboro Lake

Small waerfall near the Turkey Hill Lake outlet.

Turkey Hill Lake. Facing east.

Turkey Hill Lake. Facing east with Long Mountain in the background.

Turkey Hill Lake, facing east at Bear Mountain.

Plaque explaining the revolutionary trail markers at the beginning of the trail.