Harriman Hiker: Harriman State Park and Beyond: Parker Cabin & Black Ash Mnt

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Parker Cabin & Black Ash Mnt

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

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

Total Time: 2:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.9 Miles

Pros: Great views and quiet area
Cons: None

This hike goes through a very scenic area of Harriman, with great views, and features very quiet area of the park rarely traversed. The road to the trailhead of this hike is closed in the winter, and it's usually closed sometime in November. I figured I would catch one final hike in the area before the road is closed.

This was a very cold November day. The weather had been unseasonably cool this month, and although I was mostly dressed okay, I had not brought gloves, and had regretted that. I parked at the Victory Trail trailhead parking on Lake Kanawauke Road (County Route 106), and took the Victory Trail for a short distance to the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. I then took the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail as it slopes upwards toward the summit and views of Parker Cabin Mountain.

At the top at the intersection of the Triangle Trail, at the view, I took the triangle trail southwest down the mountain, past a nice evergreen Mountain Laurel forest, to the White Bar Trail. I took the White Bar Trail for a short distance to the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail, climbing up Black Ash Mountain, traversing the ridge, and then descending into the valley by the Black Ash Swamp. I took the Victory Trail north there to the White Cross Trail.

There were park rangers at the Victory and White Cross Trails looking for a missing person last seen at the Dutch Doctor shelter. At the end of the White Cross Trail, I took the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail up the steep ascent to the main Parker Cabin view, which is an expansive view and one of the best in the park. I then continued north along the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail back down the mountain, back to the Victory Trail,and then back to my car.