Kakiat Spring Hike

Kakiat County Park
Rockland County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Kakiat Trail: White blaze
Mountain Trail: Orange blaze

Total Time: 1:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.2 miles
Level of Difficulty: Slightly Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points Of Interest: View on top
Pros: Excellent view, good climb
Cons: None

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

Google Map of Parking:

View 2013 Hiking Locations in a larger map

Kakiat is a great hiking area. Though a separate park from Harriman, it is adjacent on all three sides and shares the same mountain range and some of the same trails. The trees had just started to turn green, and this was really the first hike with everything in full bloom. We parked in the Kakiat Trailhead parking area, crossed the bridge over the Mahwah River, and took the Kakiat trail up the mountain. Near the end of its ascent we veered off to the Mountain Trail, which we took to the upper view, and then took continued along the Mountain Trail down in its entirety back to the entrance of the park and our car.

Map of the Route

Bridge Crossing the Mahwah River, from the parking area

Crossing the Bridge

Freshly Sprouted Plants on a rock with a trail marker

View from the top. Facing southeast.

View from the top, facing southeast.

View from the top facing east.
Grandview Ave is the line in the middle.

View facing northeast, towards South Mountain

Zoomed in towards lower Manhattan with the
new Freedom Tower in the haze

View Starting the Descent

Sprouting Plants on the Mountain  Trail near the bottom

Carr Pond Mountain to Parker Cabin Mountain, Harriman State Park

Orange County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
White Bar Trail: White blaze
Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze
Victory Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 2:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.85 miles
Level of Difficulty: Slightly Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Two important Harriman peaks, scramble up Parker Cabin Mnt
Pros: Two excellent views, quiet area of park, fun scramble
Cons: Last part of hike is walking along road

Google Map of Parking:

View 2013 Hiking Locations in a larger map

During my previous hike I realized that I wanted to explore the surrounding area some more, namely take the White Bar Trail in a remote area up Parker Cabin Mountain, which I had never done before. I had already climbed Carr Pond Mountain the previous week, and while this hike was an entirely different hike, it did involve the same view and route down Carr Pond Mountain as the previous hike. However, this time all the trees were starting to bloom and everything was much greener, and the contrast was well-noted, including in my photographs.

I started at the parking trailhead around the bend of Kanawauke Road (County Route 106), and took the White Bar Trail south, up the mountain to the shelter, through the valley, and then up to the Carr Pond Mountain view. I then continued along the trail steeply down to the Parker Cabin Hollow, and then up the gradual rise on the White Bar Trail up Parker Cabin Mountain until meeting up with the Triangle Trail. I continued along to the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail, and then took this trail north. Before climbing to the view of Parker Cabin Mountain, there is a very good scramble ascending to the view. This view is outstanding and is one of the best in Harriman. Continued along the Ramapo-Dunderberg gradually down to the intersection of the Victory Trail, and then took the Victory Trail to its terminus at the road. I continued along road for the rest of the hike to the trailhead.

Map of the Route

 

Shelter at Carr Pond Mountain with
Lake Stahahe in the Background

 

View from Carr Pond Mountain

Another View from Carr Pond Mountain

Bridge at Parker Cabin Hollow.
Note how much greener this exact spot is than in the previous hike

View Ascending the Parker Cabin Scramble.
Lake Sebago is in the distance.

Parker Cabin Mountain Summit View

View from Parker Cabin Mountain.
Facing south  toward Blauvelt Mountain

View from Parker Cabin Mountain.
Facing West.

Stunted Pine Trees along the smooth, rocky northern
part of Parker Cabin Mountain

Parker Cabin Hollow to Carr Pond Mountain Harriman State Park

Orange County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Parker Cabin Hollow: Orange blaze
White Bar Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 1:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.75 miles
Level of Difficulty: Slightly Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Scenic, tranquil area, beaver dam, nice view
Pros: Very remote and tranquil area of park, very scenic, good view at the end
Cons: Beginning of hike starts close to the Thruway and you can hear highway for first few minutes

Google Map of Parking:

View 2013 Hiking Locations in a larger map

The Parker Cabin Hollow Trail is a relatively new trail that starts  right near the Thruway and goes through a scenic valley called Parker Cabin Hollow. I parked at the trailhead on County 106 right near the Thruway, and took the trail east from its beginning. The trail goes through a nice evergreen grove near the beginning. I continued along the trail, where it flanks a large swamp on the north which has lots of beaver activity, including felled trees, a beaver dam, and beaver home in the middle of the swamp. I continued to the end of the trail at the White Bar Trail, where there is a nice meadow where the trail crosses the brook over a shaky bridge. I took the White Bar north to the steep but short ascent to the view of Carr Pond Mountain. Carr Pond Mountain has a nice view towards the east. I then turned around and returned the same way back.

Map of the Route

Beginning of the Parker Cabin Hollow Trail

Evergreen Hemlock Forest the Trail Passes Through

The Brook Through Parker Cabin Hollow

Swamp with a Beaver Dam and Felled Trees.
Carr Pond Mountain is in the Background.

A Closer Look at the Beaver Dam

The Swamp Again with Carr Pond Mountain

Tree Taken Down By A Beaver

The Bridge at the end of the Parker Cabin Hollow

View Atop Parker Cabin Hollow. Facing West.

The Same View Zoomed In