Pole Brook Mountain and Barnes Mine

Harriman State Park
Rockland County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Beech Trail: Blue blaze
Long Path: Green blaze

Total Time: 1:45 hours
Estimated Distance: 3.8 miles
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Level of Recommendation: Not Recommended
Points Of Interest: Interesting mine, historical area

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg 

Google Maps of Parking:
 
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We parked on Kanawauke Road (Co. Route 106) at the Beech Trail trailhead, where the trail crosses the road a little bit past the Lake Welch Parkway underpass. We took the Beech Trail southwest past some large blueberry groves, which were in their final seasonal stages, along the north side of the Green Swamp. We took the trail to its terminus at the Long Path, and then took the Long Path across Lake Welch Parkway, and then took the unmarked trail after that back into Johnsontown.

We walked a little bit on Johnsontown Road and took an old path through a ruined foundation, and past some other ruins in the deep grass. We then crossed Lake Welch Parkway again going up the hill and then turning towards the Barnes Mine. The Mine is on a hill called Pole Brook Mountain. The trail conference map shows an unmarked path here to the mine, but it is totally overgrown and requires a bushwack. This old mine was an iron mine and features some cuts with a larger, water-filled hole that now has quite a few frogs calling it their home. From there went a short distance to the Long Path, and then traced this back the same way we came returning to the Beech Path and back to our car.

Map of the Route

Interesting Rock Formation on the Beech Trail.

A Ruined Foundation on the Long Path on Pole Brook Mountain

Shimmy on the Long Path, At the Veer Off Towards Johnsontown

Me Bushwacking Towards a Ruin in Johnsontown

Barnes Mine Cross Cut

Barnes Mine Water Filled Shaft

New Tuxedo-Mount Ivy Trail

New Tuxedo-Mount Ivy Trail
Harriman State Park
Rockland County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Tuxedo-Mount Ivy Trail: Red blaze
Red Arrow Trail: Red blaze
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 1:45 hours
Estimated Distance: 3.75 miles
Level of Difficulty: Slightly Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Slightly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Good climb and tranquil area of the park

Google Maps of Parking:

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I had not realized that almost the entire Tuxedo-Mount Ivy Trail climbing up the Ramapo Mountain Ridge was recently rerouted when starting this hike. The original route went through the deep notch on the side of the brook climbing the mountain. The trail was rocky and eroded, and presumably this was the reason for the rerouting. Or perhaps it was washed away in Hurricane Irene. Anyone who has information on the new trail reroute should please share this information in the comments below.

We parked at the Diltzes Road trailhead, and went through the power lines and then left the woods to start climbing the trail. The new trail starts about 250 feet after the trail enters the woods from the power lines, and climbs the mountain on the south side of the notch. The trail climbs all the way up the ridge, and then joins the newly extended Red Arrow Trail. We took the short Red Arrow trail past some blueberry groves to its terminus at the high ridge of the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail. We took the Suffern-Bear Mountain trail south back to the Tuxedo-Mount Ivy Trail and back down the same way we came up on the new trail.

Map of the Route

New intersection of the Red Arrow and TMI Trail.
The Red Arrow here is routed along the old path
of the TMI Trail.

Shimmy Picking Blueberries off the Large Bush,
by the Swamp on the Red Arrow Trail.

Semi-View from the highest point of the hike
on the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail.

North Hill View

Harriman State Park
Rockland County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Pine Meadow trail: Red blaze
Stony Brook Trail: Yellow blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze
7 Hills Trail: Black blaze
Hillburn-Torne-Sebago (HTS) Trail: Orange blaze

Total Time: 2:00 hours
Estimated Distance: 3.8 miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Hike through brook, good climb, excellent view, amazing blueberries

Google Maps of Parking:

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North Hill is a high point with a great view in the southern portion of Harriman. The hike starts at the Reeves Meadow trailhead on 7 Lakes Drive near Sloatsburg. There are many different trails branching off this area, and the main trail, the Pine Meadow Trail, is usually very busy and is the most visited trail in Harriman State Park. I hiked on this trail along the side of the Pine Meadow Brook on the Pine Meadow Trail, and then along the Stony Brook Trail and Kakiat Trails along the side of the brook, and then veered right at the 7 Hills Trail junction to climb up the mountain. This part is a steady climb up. Near the top there are lots of blueberry bushes, and being mid-June there were lots of blueberries to pick. There was one larger blueberry tree that I found that had a tremendous yield of blueberries, and within about ten minutes I was able to fill a large Gatorade bottle with big juicy blueberries.

At the top is an amazing view to the west and to the north. The view west is very expansive. From this point I tool the HTS Trail down back to the Pine Meadow Trail, and continued along the Pine Meadow Trail back to the trailhead.

Map of the Route

Me at the Very Prolific Blueberry Bush,
with a Gatorade Bottle Full of Berries

View Atop North Hill. Facing Northwest

View from North Hill Viewpoint. Facing West.

The Same View as Above Zoomed In

View of Halfway Mountain from the North Hill Viewpoint.
Facing North.

Shrubs Atop the Mountain. Facing North.

Claudius Smith Den to Lake Sebago

Harriman State Park
Rockland County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Ramapo-Dunderberg trail: Red blaze
Tuxedo-Mount Ivy Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:00 hours
Estimated Distance: 3.4 miles
Level of Difficulty: Slightly Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Nice cave and scramble with an excellent view

Hiking Partners:
David and Debbie Koegel
Yehuda Koblick

Google Maps of Parking:

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Claudius Smith Den is a famous landmark in Harriman that is very well-known. It is a cave and long crack in the rock, with an amazing view on the top. Claudius Smith was supposedly a thief who would use the cave as his hideout den. This is a highly recommended hike for its interesting formations, beatiful view, and historical significance.

We parked at the trailhead in Tuxedo right before the Thruway. We walked along the blazed road underneath the busy highway to the tranquil trail climbing the mountain. We continued past the Gas Line and red trail intersections, and then to the Claudius Smith Den. We spent a few minutes exploring and taking pictures, and then went to the top where the view is and feasted on some ripe blueberries soaking in the sun.

From the claudius Smith Den, half our group went back the same route to the car, and the other half including myself continued along the Tuxedo-Mount Ivy Trail west and took. We eventually got to Lake Sebago and Seven Lakes Drive, where they picked us up on the side of the road by the dam.

Map of the Route

View of Tuxedo from Smith Rock

Yehuda Approching the Claudius Smith Den

David and myself inside the crevice in the den

Me inside the crevice

View atop Claudius Smith Den. Facing Southwest.

Top of Claudius Smith Den. Facing West.

Me on the top of the den.

Yehuda on the top of the den.

The clear waters of Lake Sebago, near the end of the hike.

Breakneck Ridge

Hudson Highlands State Park
Putnam County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Breakneck Ridge Trail: White blaze
Notch Trail: Blue blaze
Brook Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 3:00 hours
Estimated Distance: 4.4 miles
Level of Difficulty: Very Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Very Challenged Climb full of scrambles and continuos amazing views, historic ruins

Hiking Partners:
Shimmy & Mordy Rosenberg

Google Maps of Parking:

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If I had to rate the best hike in the Highlands region, Breakneck Ridge would be it. It has an incredible scramble which climbs at a very steep angle up over 1200 feet, and amazing views abound continuosly. I try doing this hike at least once a year. This day was extremely hot, and was probably the mid 90's and humid. Nevertheless we set out early, used lots of sunblock, and took a large amount of cold water. We started at the Breakneck Ridge trailhead parking right past the tunnel on Route 9D, and climbed straight up and went to the Notch Trail. The first part of the trail was extremely busy as usual, despite the weather which I though would have deterred alot of people.

We took the Notch Trail down, and this part of the hike is much more tranquil, serene, and mild. I don't think we passed anyone once we took the Notch Trail onwards. We passed the pond right before the Cornish Estate, and I was surprised to see the dam breached and the pond entirely drained! (If anyone has any knowledge about the breached dam and drained pond, please comment!) We then walked through the Cornish Estate ruins, did a little exploring, and then continued along the Brook Trail, which goes alongside the Breakneck Brook in middle of the valley, back through Route 9D. Once we hit the road we took it north through the tunnel and back through our car. Besides for providing well-needed shade, the tunnel provide a strong wind which really cooled us off!

I had taken my camera, but unfortunately the battery was dead, so I was stuck with my cell phone camera. So I apologize for the lower quality of the photos below.

Map of the Route

Scramble Near the Beginning.
Mordy Rosenberg Climbing the Rock.

Mordy at the First View with the Flag

Facing West Across the Hudson to Storm King Mnt

Me at the View

The View From the Summit, Facing northwest towards Newburgh.

The Breached Dam At the Pond with the Drained Pond

The Rosenberg Brothers at the Cornish Estate Ruin

More Buildings At the Cornish Estate Ruin

View of the Rocky Face of Breakneck Ridge,
From Route 9D Right after the Brook Trail terminus.

Inside the Tunnel Under Breakneck Ridge.