Harriman Hiker: Harriman State Park and Beyond: July 2014

Harriman State Park
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Long Trail: Green blaze

Total Time: 3:15 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.8 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Slightly recommended
Points of Interest: Brooks Mountain, Lake Massawippa
Pros: Quiet area, View of Lake
Cons: Road Walking, Beginning part of Long Path boring, bushwack at end overgrown

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

Google Map of Parking:

View 2014 Hiking Locations in a larger map

This hike is on the northernmost fringes of the park, and one of the quietest areas. We parked in the parking area off Route 6, right before Route 293. This is the official fishing parking area for Barnes Lake and Lake Massawippa. We took Route 6 west towards the Long Path, where it meets route 6 at the intersection of Op Charlie Road, which is part of the property of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

We took the Long Path heading east, and for this part of the hike it follows parallel to Route 6 coming the same direction. It also straddles the side of a long fence which eventually ends. We continued along the trail as it turns north on to the side of Blackcap Mountain. At this point of the hike we got stuck in a thunderstorm. We had heard the thunder in the distance, and we realized we would be stuck in the storm. We hunkered down under a large rock with a slight overhang. Though we did get wet, this prevented us from getting totally soaked. It rained very hard for about 10 minutes.

Once the storm passed on, we continued on the Long Path, went down the mountain and crossed over Route 293, and climbed up to Brooks Mountain. The Long Path goes along the narrow ridge and then climbs down north of the Lake Massawippa. At this point we bushwacked along the side of the brook to the dam at Lake Massawippa. We then took the unmarked trail along the western side of the lake back to Route 6. This trail has become overgrown since the last time I was here, with many downed trees presumably from Hurricane Sandy. We then hiked the short distance along Route 6 back to the car.

Map of the Route

Posted Signs To Stay off West Point Military Academy

Hunkering Down During Thunderstorm

Crossing Over the Power Lines

Rock Scramble on Blackcap Mountain

View Atop Blackcap Mountain

Long Path on the Brooks Mountain Ridge

View Atop Brooks Mountain

Me Atop Brooks Mountain

Lake Massawippa from the Dam

Sapphire Trail
Harriman State Park /
Sterling Forest State Park
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Sapphire Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 2:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.6 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Not recommended
Points of Interest: Rock Formation on top
Pros: Remote part of the park off the beaten path
Cons: No views or interesting sites to see, far out from other Harriman trails

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

Google Map of Parking:

View 2014 Hiking Locations in a larger map

This was my first hike since surgery. I have been doing light biking over the last few weeks, but after several weeks of physical therapy was finally ready for a hike. This trail ended up being longer than I expected, but the gradual climb up and down was very doable.

The Sapphire Trail is probably the most isolated trail in Harriman, in the northwestern corner of Harriman State Park near Monroe and Sterling Forest. Its also a very quiet trail with very little traffic. A small part of the trail goes into Sterling Forest State Park.

We parked in the Park and Ride parking lot on Route 17, south of Monroe, which acts as overflow parking for Woodbury Commons on weekends. Parking for hikers is only available at this lot on weekends and Holidays. We took the Sapphire Trail up the gradual climb until its intersection with the Appalachian Trail at the top. At the top we took a break at the interesting rock formation, and then returned down the same route.