Silvermine Lake Fall Hike

Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.
New York

Hiking Trails:
Menomine Trail: Yellow blaze
Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze
Appalachian Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 2:30 hours
Estimated Distance: 4.4 miles
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended

Points of Interest: Excellent Views, remote area
Cons: None

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick

This hike was at the peak of the fall foliage. I had been here several years ago at the end of October, and decided to give it a revisit now. I was joined on this hike by Yehudah Koblick, a former hiking partner of mine who used to go hiking with me regularly. Yehudah took up road biking the past several years instead of hiking so it's been a long time since we've gone together. Yehudah wanted to take a break from biking to get to Harriman for the foliage, so he joined me. The weather was beautiful for late October, and was in the upper 60's.

We parked at the Silvermine Lake parking area, a former ski area many years. There is a large parking area here, and it doesn't fill up quickly on October weekends like other areas in Harriman with all the foliage seekers. We took the Menomine Trail along the side of the lake, and then as it ascended Letterrock Mountain to the park shelter. The shelter is at the junction of the Menomine trail with the Appalachian and Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. We continued from this point along the combined Appalachian and Ramapo-Dunderberg Trails along the northern part of Letterrock Mountain, then down the mountain, crossing the woods road, and then climbing steeply up Black Mountain to the view. There is a really nice view here of Silvermine Lake.

We then continued along the trail eastward, arriving at the summit view of Black Mountain several minutes later. The summit of Black Mountain contains an excellent view as well, with different vantage points to view. We then turned around and went back down back mountain along the same trail, and then took the woods road in the valley all the way down back to Silvermine Lake. We crossed the stream at the lake outlet, which was very low and easy to cross due to the lack of rains. We then went along the path past the dam back to the parking area.

Kakiat Old Mill Lower View Loop

Kakiat Old Mill Lower View Loop
Kakiat County Park
Rockland Co.
New York

Hiking Trails:
Old Mill Trail: Blue blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze
Mountain Trail: Orange blaze

Total Time: 1:00 Hours
Estimated Distance: 1.8 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended

Points of Interest: Scenic area, good climb with good views
Cons: Busy area

I was very short on time this Sunday, with no hiking opportunity all week. But I figured I had to get in a hike on this beautiful peak of foliage autumn day. I parked in the Kakiat parking lot, and walked up the hill behind the parking lot, to get a good picture of the mountains in full color. I then walked behind the dog park pen, and to the path on the east side of the Mahwah River. I took the path down the embankment, and crossed the Mahwah River on a rocky shallow area (the water level was very low) to the Old Mill Trail.

I took the Old Mill Trail past the old mill, looping around to the Kakiat Trail, and then along the Kakiat Trail to a spur trail which goes to the Mountain Trail. I took the Mountain Trail up partially, then bushwacked up the rock outcrop to the right of the Mountain Trail to the lower Kakiat summit. I took some pictures here at the tap, where a very visible Manhattan skyline was in the distance. I then took the Mountain Trail back down, and past the gas pipeline by the bend, veered off down the hill on another unmarked Kakiat Path. At the bend of this path I cut across the bushes into the large meadow where the Kakiat gazebo is. I then took the path parallel to the Mahwah River, to the Kakiat Bridge, and then back to my car.

Kakiat Mountain from Behind Parking Area

Old Mill

Kakiat Trail

Kakiat Lower Summit View

Mahwah River

Mahwah River

Parker Cabin Mountain Loop Fall Hike

Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.
New York

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

Total Time: 1:30 Hours
Estimated Distance: 2.9 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended

Points of Interest: Excellent Views, remote area
Cons: None

This trail is classical Harriman. It's in a remote part of the park, and no man-made structures or inhabited areas are visible from the views. This area is also very pretty in the fall.

The weather had been colder than usual the past several days, but this day there was a big warm up. I started the hike in the low 40's, and it got to the 60's by the time I was done. Unfortunately the morning started off rather cloudy, which is not good for foliage photos, and it wasn't until I was nearly done that the sun came out with a bright blue sky.

I parked at the Victory Trail trailhead roadside parking, before the bend on Lake Kanawauke Rd. I took the Victory Trail briefly to Ramapo Dunderberg Trail, which I made a right on and slowly climbed up Parker Cabin Mountain. This is a very gradual climb. At the top of the mountain, at the intersection with the Triangle Trail, there is an excellent view facing east, and then continuing further along the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail is an outstanding view facing south, one of the best views in all of Harriman in my opinion.

After the view I climbed down the steep part of the mountain continuing along the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail, until the White Bar Trail, which I took north, briefly, until the Triangle Trail. I took the Triangle Trail north as well climbing back up to the Parker Cabin Summit, and then headed back down to the parking area along the same route that I came.