1779 Trailhead to Burnt House

Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
1779 Trail: White blaze
Red Cross Trail: Red low blaze

Total Time: 2:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.7 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Not recommended
Points of Interest: Burnt House, Swamp
Pros: Very quiet and remote area of park
Cons: No views or interesting sites to see, parking far from trailhead

Hiking Partner:
Dr. Morris Schulgasser

Google Map of Parking:

View 2014 Hiking Locations in a larger map

This was my most challenging hike yet since my injury. It was a little shy of five miles with about a 500 foot elevation gain. Although the climb was good, it was gradual and manageable on a wide trail, which worked to my advantage using my dual sticks. The way up was actually fine; it was down that was a bit challenging for me.

We parked in the parking area off Mott Farm Road by the brook, and walked up the hill on Queensboro Road, which is a dead end and ends by the trailhead. (The park system should really have a small parking lot here at the trailhead instead of requiring you to walk the length of the road.) We took the 1779 Trail from its terminus to the intersection of the Red Cross Trail, and then took the Red Cross Trail across the Palisades Parkway down to the swamp by the Stillwater Brook. We continued to the Burnt House site where took a break and turned around. The Burnt House is no longer there, and there is just a hole with rocks where the site once stood.

Map of the Route
Harriman/Bear Mountain Trails Northern Map

Nice Rock Formation on the 1779 Trail

Me at the 3-Trail Conflunce
(Suffern-Bear Mnt, 1779, and Rec Cross

Tree with all 3 Trail Markes

Red Cross Trail Crossing Over the Palisades Pkwy

Swamp Feeding Stillwater Brook

The Foundation of the Burnt House

Large Toad on the Trail on the Way Back