Harriman State Park NY - Popolopen Torne Hike
Apr 23, 2018 15:03:24 GMT -5
Post by hoosier on Apr 23, 2018 15:03:24 GMT -5
Harriman State Park, NY
Circumvention of Bear Mountain (Saturday April 21, 2018)
Did a ten mile +/- loop hike around the base of Bear Mountain at Harriman State Park, NY this past Saturday. Harriman State Park consist of 47,527 acres of lands with over 200 miles of marked hiking trails. Including 18.8 miles of the Appalachian Trail.
Started off at a small parking area along Seven Lakes Drive approximately .75 miles south of the Palisades Interstate Parkway. The 1777W trail passes through the parking area and would be my starting point for the counter clockwise loop.
Used the following trails on the loop hike: 1777W, Suffern-Bear Mountain; Appalachian Trail; Blue Blazed Bypass (AT Trailside Zoo was closed); Twin Forts; 1777W/1779; Brooks Lake; 1777W/1779; Timp-Torne; and the 1777W trail to complete the loop
Highlight were Hessian lake at eastern base of Bear Mountain. The views from the recently built trail bridge that the Twin Forts trail uses to cross Popolopen Creek and its views of the Bear Mountain Bridge. Which also happens to be the lowest point on the Appalachian Trail. The steep climb up to the open summit of Popolopne-Torne with its sweeping views of the Hudson river, and the memorial to fallen soldiers (Popolopen-Torne is adjacent to West Point Military Acadamy). And then the even steeper descent down the open ledges and cliffs of Popolopen-Tornes South side. The always impressive Popolopen Creek and Gorge, just wish the 1777W trail would be closer to the creek, so one could get a better look at the impressive cascades.
Only drawback was the Blue Blazed bypass trail that I had to use. As the AT through the trailside Zoo is not open till the Zoo opens (10:00 am on the day of my hike).
Another great hike I Harriman State Park
A few pictures from the day:
Hessian Lake
Popolopen Creek trail Bridge
Bear Mtn Bridge and Anthony's Nose
Heading uo the steep trail to the summit of Popolopen-Torne
Pitch Pines and Cliffs on the Torne
Memorial to fallen soldiers atop the summit of the Torne
Torne summit views of the Hudson River
Looking back at the Torne summit
Hikers heading up the very steep south side of the Torne
Popolopen gorge bridge
Circumvention of Bear Mountain (Saturday April 21, 2018)
Did a ten mile +/- loop hike around the base of Bear Mountain at Harriman State Park, NY this past Saturday. Harriman State Park consist of 47,527 acres of lands with over 200 miles of marked hiking trails. Including 18.8 miles of the Appalachian Trail.
Started off at a small parking area along Seven Lakes Drive approximately .75 miles south of the Palisades Interstate Parkway. The 1777W trail passes through the parking area and would be my starting point for the counter clockwise loop.
Used the following trails on the loop hike: 1777W, Suffern-Bear Mountain; Appalachian Trail; Blue Blazed Bypass (AT Trailside Zoo was closed); Twin Forts; 1777W/1779; Brooks Lake; 1777W/1779; Timp-Torne; and the 1777W trail to complete the loop
Highlight were Hessian lake at eastern base of Bear Mountain. The views from the recently built trail bridge that the Twin Forts trail uses to cross Popolopen Creek and its views of the Bear Mountain Bridge. Which also happens to be the lowest point on the Appalachian Trail. The steep climb up to the open summit of Popolopne-Torne with its sweeping views of the Hudson river, and the memorial to fallen soldiers (Popolopen-Torne is adjacent to West Point Military Acadamy). And then the even steeper descent down the open ledges and cliffs of Popolopen-Tornes South side. The always impressive Popolopen Creek and Gorge, just wish the 1777W trail would be closer to the creek, so one could get a better look at the impressive cascades.
Only drawback was the Blue Blazed bypass trail that I had to use. As the AT through the trailside Zoo is not open till the Zoo opens (10:00 am on the day of my hike).
Another great hike I Harriman State Park
A few pictures from the day:
Hessian Lake
Popolopen Creek trail Bridge
Bear Mtn Bridge and Anthony's Nose
Heading uo the steep trail to the summit of Popolopen-Torne
Pitch Pines and Cliffs on the Torne
Memorial to fallen soldiers atop the summit of the Torne
Torne summit views of the Hudson River
Looking back at the Torne summit
Hikers heading up the very steep south side of the Torne
Popolopen gorge bridge