ABOUT THE PARK:
Harriman State Park
Kakiak County Park
TRAIL MAP: NY/NJ Trail Conference Harriman Bear Mountain Trail Map #118
PARKING DIRECTIONS: US 202 north of Suffern, NY
DISTANCE: 13 miles (many shorter options possible)
HIKE DIRECTIONS:
As you pull into Kakiak County park you will notice a gate blocking off the road to the left. This is the road you will walk after parking to access the trail heads.
Walk over the bridge and straight ahead to the orange-blazed Mountain trail:
At .6 miles take a short unmarked trail to the right to a scenic overlook:
Backtrack and continue on the orange-blazed trail.
At 1.5 miles turn left on the white-blazed trail.
At 3.2 miles turn left on the black dot on white-blazed trail.
At 4 miles turn left on the orange-blazed trail. I went to the first overlook, which was disappointing as the scenery is marred by huge buildings and power facilities (I am guessing that is what all of that is...)
Backtrack and turn left on the the black dot on white-blazed trail at 4.7 miles.
View from the black dot trail: (It was a hazy morning so the pictures are not the best.)
At 5.4 miles turn right on the blue-blazed trail. There is a very steep and long rock scramble section on this trail that my dog had some difficulty with but I managed to get her up. After that point, great panoramic views.
At 6.8 miles the orange-blazed trail joins the blue-blazed trail briefly but I only saw orange blazes, which was confusing. Do stay straight anyway and the orange trail will veer off shortly and you will still be on the blue trail.
At 7.4 miles turn right on the white trail.
At 7.7 miles turn left on the black trail.
At 8.2 miles turn left on the yellow trail.
At 8.3 miles turn right on an unmarked woods road.
You will be able to see Pine Meadow Lake
At 8.6 miles keep to the left at the fork in the woods road.
You will start to notice old concrete foundations to the right. Shortly past that there will be a stone wall with a cairn on the top close to the woods road. Turn right on that unmarked trail at 8.8 miles. Initially, the trail will be quite ugly and you have to walk along rusty old pipes:
Eventually you do leave those awful pipes behind and the trail becomes quite pretty with views of the lake.
At 9.4 miles turn right on the white-blazed trail.
At 9.9 miles turn right on the yellow-blazed trail.
Along the yellow-blazed trail you will be able to see the New York City skyline:
At 11.2 miles turn left on the white-blazed trail.
This will take you back through Kakiak County park to the parking lot at 13 miles.
LITTER REPORT: Not too bad except for tons of white tissues scattered all along the trails which I simply will not pick up. (YUK!)
HIKE DIRECTIONS:
As you pull into Kakiak County park you will notice a gate blocking off the road to the left. This is the road you will walk after parking to access the trail heads.
Walk over the bridge and straight ahead to the orange-blazed Mountain trail:
At .6 miles take a short unmarked trail to the right to a scenic overlook:
Backtrack and continue on the orange-blazed trail.
At 1.5 miles turn left on the white-blazed trail.
At 3.2 miles turn left on the black dot on white-blazed trail.
At 4 miles turn left on the orange-blazed trail. I went to the first overlook, which was disappointing as the scenery is marred by huge buildings and power facilities (I am guessing that is what all of that is...)
Backtrack and turn left on the the black dot on white-blazed trail at 4.7 miles.
View from the black dot trail: (It was a hazy morning so the pictures are not the best.)
At 5.4 miles turn right on the blue-blazed trail. There is a very steep and long rock scramble section on this trail that my dog had some difficulty with but I managed to get her up. After that point, great panoramic views.
At 6.8 miles the orange-blazed trail joins the blue-blazed trail briefly but I only saw orange blazes, which was confusing. Do stay straight anyway and the orange trail will veer off shortly and you will still be on the blue trail.
At 7.4 miles turn right on the white trail.
At 7.7 miles turn left on the black trail.
At 8.2 miles turn left on the yellow trail.
At 8.3 miles turn right on an unmarked woods road.
You will be able to see Pine Meadow Lake
At 8.6 miles keep to the left at the fork in the woods road.
You will start to notice old concrete foundations to the right. Shortly past that there will be a stone wall with a cairn on the top close to the woods road. Turn right on that unmarked trail at 8.8 miles. Initially, the trail will be quite ugly and you have to walk along rusty old pipes:
Eventually you do leave those awful pipes behind and the trail becomes quite pretty with views of the lake.
At 9.4 miles turn right on the white-blazed trail.
At 9.9 miles turn right on the yellow-blazed trail.
Along the yellow-blazed trail you will be able to see the New York City skyline:
At 11.2 miles turn left on the white-blazed trail.
This will take you back through Kakiak County park to the parking lot at 13 miles.
LITTER REPORT: Not too bad except for tons of white tissues scattered all along the trails which I simply will not pick up. (YUK!)
