Tom Jones Mountain Short Loop

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze
Tom Jones Shelter Spur Trail: White blaze
Victory Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 1:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.6 Miles 

Pros: Good climb with nice views
Cons: Walk on road at the end
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Map of Route:
https://goo.gl/maps/fSL8o9aBFJSfrpD17

This was another beautiful September day. This is a short hike but one of my favorites in Harriman. I was going to park at the Ramapo Dunderberg Trailhead in the valley on County Route 106/Kanawauke Road. The small roadside parking area was already full, so I drove further up and parked on the side of the road near the marsh. I took the road down for a little bit, and then took the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail steeply up the mountain. I took the spur to the Tom Jones, and then descended the mountain. At the Victor Trail intersection, I took that trail back to the road which I walked on, next to the marsh, until getting to my car.

Map of the Route

Overlooking Jackie Jones Tower

Lake Sebago in the Distance

Day-Shining Moon

Trail Shelter Spur

Lake Sebago in Distance

Jackie Jones Fire Tower and Minisceongo Falls

Harriman State Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 1:35 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.6 Miles

Pros: Great view on tower, impressive waterfalls
Cons: Communication tower mars pristine view
Hike Type: Out and back
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Hiking Partners:
Elisha Friedman

Map of Route:
https://goo.gl/maps/FfKqJasfhXcQ52tC6

This was a beautiful September day, and the air was clear with bright blue skies after getting several inches of rain the previous day. This was a great hike for a nice view as well as a good waterfall. We parked at the parking trailhead at the entrance to Harriman State Park at the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail, and took the trail up the mountain through the ORAK ruins. We climbed passed the Jackie Jones communication tower and then to the Fire Tower, and climbed to the top and took a small break at the top and took some pictures there. The sky was exceptionally clear and the 360 degree view from the top of the tower was remarkable.

We then turned around and took the trail down, and we took the unmarked trail parallel to the Minisceongo Brook down to the waterfalls. This waterfalls is, in my opinion, the largest and most impressive in Rockland County, and is really unknown, with no official trail and not being on the map. I hope it stays this way! With the large amount of rain, the waterfalls were quite impressive, with several small cascades and the main drop which has an upper and lower section. After descending to the bottom of the waterfalls we returned back to our car.

Map of the Route

ORAK Ruin Gate House

Ruins at ORAK

Ruins at ORAK

Jackie Jones Communications Tower

Fire Tower

Jackie Jones Communication Tower from the Fire Tower

Lake Welch and Beach

NYC Skyline

Hi-Tor and Hudson River

Looking North to Bear Mountain and Northern Highlands

Me in the Fire Tower

Lake Welch Beach

Me on the Fire Tower

Minisceongo Brook

Minisceongo Brook Small Cascade

Minisceongo Falls, Upper

Minisceongo Falls, Upper

Me at Minisceongo Falls, Upper

Minisceongo Falls

Minisceongo Falls

Minisceongo Falls

Me at Minisceongo Falls

Silvermine Lake Tent Spots and Black Mountain

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

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

Total Time: 2:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 4 Miles

Pros: Scenic lake, good climb and excellent views
Cons: Difficult bushwack
Hike Type: Reverse Lollipop Loop
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult

Hiking Partners:
Joseph and Elisha Friedman

Map of Route:
https://goo.gl/maps/Vbsi652KsjwYRWzo9

I had heard that a tenting area was put up at Silvermine Lake. I went to check them out and make a nice hike out the experience. We parked the car at the Silvermine Lake parking area, and took the woods road on the north side of the lake to the tents. We noticed several Tentrr tents along the lakefront area. Tentrr provides the tents and basic ameneties for camping without the need for a tent. We then crossed the outlet of the lake near the dam at Queensboro Brook, and took the unblazed Silvermine Road up the mountain.

Upon reaching the combined Appalachian Trail/Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail, we took this trail confluence steeply up the newly refurbished view to the first view at Black Mountain. This view looks over Silvermine Lake in the distance below. We then continued further to the main view along the side of the ridge which overlooks the southern portion of Harriman State Park as well as Haverstraw and the Hudson River. We then turned around and took the trail back down the mountain, and back down Silvremine road, and then bushwacked along the southern area of Silvermine Lake to connect to the Menomine Trail. This bushwack is difficult and not so easy to follow. We took the Menomine Trail to the parking area and back to our car.

Silvermine Lake

Silvermine Lake Outlet

Silvermine Lake from Black Mountain

Black Mountain Summit

Manhattan Skyline in the Distance

Silvermine Lake on the Return Route

Frog at Silvermine Lake