The Timp Loop, Harriman State Park

Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
1779 Trail: White blaze
Red Cross: Red blaze
Ramapo-Dunberberg Trail: Red blaze
Timp Torne Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 3:20 hour
Estimated Distance: 5.7 Miles

Pros: Scenic area, Very quiet, great views at Timp
Cons: Trail Rerouting

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick

The Timp is one of the more dramatic peaks of the area, with a good climb and excellent view, and a distinct cliff face that can be seen for many miles away. It had been some time since I was last at the Timp, especially down from the 1777 Trailhead.

We parked down below by the trailhead parking, on Mott Farm Road right after Cedar Flats Road. There is no direct trailhead parking, and you have to park about 1000 feet down below the trailhead on the side of the road. We took the 1779 Trail, as it climbs steadily on a wide path, until the Red Cross Trail, which we took north towards The Timp. After climbing steadily here as well, we made it to the Timp Pass. I had intentended upon taking the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail up the Timp, but I could not find that trail there anymore and eventually hit the Timp-Torne Trail, which I saw was now combined with the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail ascending to the Timp. So it appears they eliminated the original Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail and instead combined it with the Timp-Torne, leaving only trail ascending the mountain from the western flank, unlike the two trails that were there before previously.

I never liked the Ramapo-Dunderberg up The Timp. I felt it was too circutous and went around too much and was not necessary to route it of the way. Actually the original Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail used to be a much shorter route, directly ascenting the mountain from its southwest point. However, it was very steep and dangerous, and had become very eroded. Now as much as I didn't like that particular trail, I find it even more annoying when a trail is rerouted.

At the top of the Timp, which afforded us great views, we attempted to take the old rerouted Ramapo-Dunberberg Trail down. But we had trouble finining it in the present conditions without the blazes. We took it for a little bit and then lost the trail, so we ended up bushwacking back to the Red Cross Trail, meeting it near Camp Addisone Boyce, a girls scout camp. We then continued south on the Red Cross Trail, and veering off the trail at the woods road. I had intened to tke this as a reroute back to the 1777, but ended up veering too much to the east, and eneded up in the water pumping property, which is off Call Hollow Road.

Map of the Route

Bear Mountain Bridge from the Northern View of the Timp

Zoomed out to from the Above View

Me at the Northern Timp View

Me, Zoomed In

West Mountain, from the Timp

West Mountain, Northern End of the Mountain

Looking South from the Timp

Looking Southwest

View from the Timp, Looking South

Yehudah at the Timp, in Front of West Mountain

Me Overlooking West Mountain

View of the Hudson River and Haverstraw, from the Timp