Harriman State Park, NJ - Stony Brook to Claudius Smith's Den

ABOUT THE PARK:
Harriman State Park - New York State Parks

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.17994, -74.16390

Johnsontown Road Parking

TRAIL MAP:
Southern Harriman Bear Mountain Trails Maps 118 and 119 - New York New Jersey Trail Conference

HIKE DISTANCE: 7.1 miles

THE HIKE: 

This hike turned out to be nothing like the plan.

Blue was the planned route, red is how the hike turned out.  The problem I ran into was heading south on the Kakiat Trail the other side of Seven Lakes Drive.  I knew that back in 2011 the bridge over Stony Brook had been destroyed but certainly it would have been rebuilt by now?  No, still no bridge so at this point I am guessing there probably never will be.  Had to turn back and come up with a new plan.

Walking back out Johnsontown Road ...

... to a right on the Blue Disc Trail.

At the end of this paved road ...

... the Blue Disc Trail continues left into the woods.

It was easy going here with the snow trampled down by the many, many footprints.

At the cairn, right on the white Kakiat Trail.

Fewer footprints on this trail.

The trail descends to rock hops over Spring Brook which were particularly challenging not being able to see what was under the snow.  Had to aim for rocks and not thin ice!

Crossing over Seven Lakes Drive.

The Kakiat Trail continues with only a set of cross country ski tracks for part of it and no footprints at all so it was very slow going breaking trail.

Then down at Stony Brook ...

... no bridge and no way to cross to continue on the trails.

Heading back.

The other side of Seven Lakes Drive I turned right on the White Bar Trail.

When the White Bar Trail turns right, left on unmarked.

There were some footprints going this way which made for a bit easier of a slog through the snow.

Again a slow going challenging rock hop over Spring Brook, doable with microspikes and testing under the snow with the trekking poles for rocks to step on.

Song Sparrow

At the White Cross Trail veering left to ...

... views from the top of Claudius Smith's den.

Following Blue Disc ....

... steeply down ...

... then right on red Tuxedo-Mt. Ivy a short distance ...

... along Claudius Smith's Den.  Coincidentally, it happened to be the anniversary of the hanging of Claudius Smith on January 22, 1779.

Heading back to Blue Disc.

Staying with Blue Disc the rest of the way.

Elbow Brush

Coming out of Elbow Brush.

Over Pound Mountain ...

... then another steep descent.

Dater Mountain views.

Descending Almost Perpendicular.

Picking up litter along the way.

Here is where I had turned onto the Kakiat Trail early on.  Now retracing on Blue Disc.

Pin It