Harriman Hiker: Harriman State Park and Beyond: Long Mountain And Turkey Hill Lake

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Long Mountain And Turkey Hill Lake

Harriman State Park
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Long Path: Green blaze
Popolopen Gorge Trail: Red blaze
1779 Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 2:20 hours
Estimated Distance: 4.5 miles
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Sweeping view atop Long Mountain, Turkey Hill Lake
Pros: Good climb, excellent view, and scenic lake
Cons: Path at the nd end of route overgrown

Hiking Partners:
Moshe Reich
Eli Shulman

Google Map of Parking:

View 2013 Hiking Locations in a larger map

This hike was at the peak of the autumn foliage. I made sure to do a hike with both good views and a pretty lake. We parked at the trailhead parking crescent on Route 6 where it meets the Long Path. We took the Long Path down to the valley, and at the intersection with the Gorge Trail, made a left on the woods road in the valley. Where that road hits the Long Path, we climbed up the mountain to the top, where the Torrey Memorial is. This part is a good climb. We then continued and climbed down the mountain on the other side, and at that same intersection we were at before, we took the Popolopen Gorge Trail all the way down to Turkey Hill Lake. The trail follows the southern part of the lake. After the dam we went on the woods road that connects to the 1779 Trail, and then took this trail past the public works area and then along a different woods road parallel to Route 6 but in the woods. This path has recently become very overgrown and is hard to follow. It is not recommended due to this. The woods road steadily climbs until it is right near the parking lot of Route 6.