Harriman Hiker: Harriman State Park and Beyond: Manitou Point Preserve

Manitou
Putname Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Uplands Trail: Green blaze
Manitou Rd. Bypass Trail: Red blaze
River Trail: Blue blaze
Old Carriage Road Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 1:30 Hours
Estimated Distance: 3 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Level of Recommendation: Recommended

Points of Interest: Beautiful river views
Cons: Some wide trails and non-mountainous area

I had not been feeling well in the morning, but by late evening was feeling better and able to go on a non-strenuous hike. I have seen this area from the Northern Harriman maps, and had never been here before, so decided to check it out. Indeed although its a small area, there is alot of nice scenery here and hiking trails right up along the Hudson River.

I parked at the parking area off Route 9D, and took the Uplands Forest Trail all the way to the end. This is the longest trail in the park, and although it does have some small ups and downs, it is mostly uninteresting. It ends at a dirt road which goes alongside the Manitou Marsh, which I took north to the Manitou Rd. Bypass Trail.

This trail ends by the driveway that goes towards the abandoned mansion, crossing the railroad first. From the map, it shows the blue trail going around the side of the mansion, but if you look at the map at the entrance to the park it skirts the mansion to avoid it. In any event, I wasn't aware of this and was just following the map, and found the mansion with ivy growing around it highly scenic. I don't know what the status of the mansion is but there was a dumpster in front of it, so perhaps they are restoring it. I took the River Trail alongside the eastern shore of the Hudson River, and took it all the way to where it ends as a dead end.

I then turned around, and then went on the Old Carriage Road back to the River Trail, and then took the newly re-routed River Trail near the railroad track back to the driveway, walking up past the small cascades and back to the parking area.