Black Rock Mountain Loop from White Bar Trailhead – Harriman State Park

Might 13, 2023 – Southfields, NY

Problem: Average (A number of steep ascents, some climbing over rocks)

Size: Roughly 4 miles

Max elevation: 1,367 ft.– complete elevation achieve roughly 550 ft.

Route sort: Circuit

Purchase Map (Paper & Avenza): Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails Map #119

Free Map (Paper & Avenza): Bear Mountain State Park Trail Map

Trailhead parking: 1369 Kanawauke Rd, Southfields, NY, 10975

Gravel car parking zone – no bogs on website

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Overview:

At 47,527 acres, Harriman State Park, positioned in Rockland and Orange counties, is the second-largest park within the NYS parks system. It has 31 lakes and reservoirs, over 200 miles of mountain climbing trails, two seashores, two public tenting areas, a community of group camps, miles of streams and scenic roads, and scores of wildlife species, vistas and vantage factors. Harriman State Park’s main amenities embody Lakes Welch, Tiorati and Silvermine, the Anthony Wayne Recreation Space, Sebago Cabins and Beaver Pond Campgrounds.

Black Rock Mountain, at an elevation of 1,382 toes above sea stage, is the best level in Harriman State Park. The Ramapo-Dunderberg (R-D) Path traverses the ridge and passes over a spectacular space with naked rock ledges that’s dotted with boulders.

The Bald Rocks Shelter was in-built 1933. In early October 2020, the Lengthy Distance Trails Crew erected a food-hanging system on the Bald Rocks Shelter, primarily based on a design from crew member Erik Garnjost. The metal cables had been put in to hopefully discourage bears from trying to find meals on this well-liked backpacking spot.

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Trails Overview:

• White Bar Path ~ (0.35 mile) is marked with horizontal white bars. You might even see “W-B” written on a few of the blazes. This path passes via the car parking zone. For this hike, you have to to CROSS the highway. The path is nicely blazed on this space and simple to observe. It follows a footpath at first then joins a woods highway earlier than reaching a junction with the Nurian Path.

• Nurian Path ~ (0.45 mile) can also be blazed white, however the rectangular blazes of the Nurian Path are vertical, quite than horizontal. Among the blazes have an “N” on them. The Nurian Path heads southeast then turns north after gaining the ridge, ending at a junction with the Ramapo-Dunderberg Path.

• Ramapo-Dunderberg (R-D) Path ~ (1 mile) is marked with red-dot-on-white blazes. It runs in a northerly course throughout the ridge of Black Rock Mountain. It passes via a big flat space of naked rock ledges, often known as Bald Rocks. To the left of the path is a rock outcrop that marks the best spot in Harriman State Park (elevation 1,382 toes). After passing the Bald Rocks Shelter, the R-D Path involves a 4-way intersection with the Dunning Path.

• Dunning Path ~ (0.6 mile) the yellow-blazed path runs in a westerly course from the junction with the R-D Path. After 0.3 mile, it turns left, heading southwest because it joins the White Bar Path, which is available in from the correct. After one other 0.2 mile, the Dunning Path leaves to the correct because the White Bar Path (which you’ll be following) continues forward.

• White Bar Path ~ (1 mile) marked with horizontal white bars, is coaligned with the Dunning Path for 0.2 mile because it heads southwest going gently upward via a large valley that’s dotted with straight, tall timber. In one other 0.55 mile, the Nurian Path (white) is available in from the correct and in one other 530 yards, the Nurian Path leaves to the left. For many of its route (on this hike), it runs alongside a large woods highway. In one other 0.2 mile, the White Bar Path joins Island Pond Highway and shortly approaches Route 106. It turns left and parallels the highway for about 500 toes, then crosses the highway to the parking space, the place the hike started.

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Parking:

The gravel lot is a good dimension, however I’ve seen it jam packed previously as I returned from my hike. I’d recommend that you just again into an area, in any other case you will have hassle backing out in your return if the lot is full.

This car parking zone gives entry to a number of completely different trails, and the White Bar Path runs proper via the lot. For this hike you’ll have to cross the highway to start your hike.

I’m undecided if they’ve points with theft right here, however I’ve parked right here quite a few occasions and haven’t had any issues. Nonetheless, use widespread sense when parking wherever that you just’ll go away your automobile unattended.

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Hike Overview:

I’ve performed a variety of the paths on this space, however have by no means hiked Black Rock Mountain. Seeing a Harriman Shelter Problem on Fb, made me rely the shelters that I’ve visited previously and I counted seven shelters that I’ve been to. That left me with three shelters left to earn a patch. I made a decision to kind a loop to knock one off the listing. This turned out to be a extremely good hike. Though the views are respectable, the principle focal point on this hike is the world of Bald Rocks alongside the ridge of Black Rock Mountain, traversed by the Ramapo-Dunderberg (R-D) Path. On a lovely Saturday morning in Might, I used to be stunned that there weren’t extra individuals on the paths. We solely ran right into a handful of individuals and had a really fulfilling hike.

This hike is rated reasonable, however the half mile or so on the Nurian Path, is probably the most tough a part of the hike. The majority of the elevation achieve for the whole hike is finished throughout this stretch. The remainder of the hike includes some minor ups and downs, however is comparatively simple. This lollipop loop was performed counterclockwise from the White Bar Trailhead on CR 106 (Kanawauke Highway).

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The Hike:

From the parking space, cross the highway and bear left onto the White Bar Path, blazed with white horizontal rectangles. The path parallels the highway for about 500 toes, then turns proper, crosses a stream on a metallic culvert, and continues on a woods highway. A brief distance past, it bears proper at a fork, crosses a stream on rocks, and continues alongside a grassy woods highway.

In one other quarter of a mile, you’ll attain a junction with the Nurian Path. Each trails are blazed white, however the rectangular blazes of the Nurian Path are vertical, quite than horizontal. Flip proper and observe the Nurian Path, which descends to cross a stream on rocks. After briefly paralleling the stream, the path bears left and ascends quite steeply. A number of steep pitches alternate with extra reasonable sections.

Because the path approaches the ridge of Black Rock Mountain, it bears left beneath an enormous boulder, then climbs via a slender cleft within the rock to succeed in an expansive west-facing viewpoint from open rock ledges.

Simply past, the Nurian Path ends at a junction with the red-dot-on-white-blazed Ramapo-Dunderberg (R-D) Path. Proceed forward (north) and observe the red-and-white-blazes alongside the ridge of Black Rock Mountain, marked by naked rock ledges. After passing one other west-facing viewpoint, the path descends right into a hole, then climbs to regain the ridge.

Quickly after popping out once more alongside the ridge, you’ll attain a big flat space of naked rock ledges, often known as Bald Rocks. To the left of the path is a rock outcrop that marks the best spot in Harriman State Park (elevation 1,382 toes). The path itself (marked by paint blazes on the rocks) bears proper and continues northeast alongside the principle ridge, however it’s worthwhile to take a brief detour to the excessive level, which affords panoramic views to the west and north.

After reentering the woods, you’ll discover the Bald Rocks Shelter to the correct. This shelter – constructed out of big granite slabs – was constructed in 1933, and it’s price a go to even in case you don’t intend to remain there in a single day.

Trailside tenting in Harriman State Park is barely permitted in or inside 300 yards of a chosen path shelter.

In early October 2020, the Lengthy Distance Trails Crew erected a food-hanging system at Bald Rocks Shelter, primarily based on a design from crew member Erik Garnjost. The metal cables had been put in to hopefully discourage bears from trying to find meals on this well-liked backpacking spot.

A brief distance past, on the base of a brief descent, the R-D Path reaches a junction with the yellow-blazed Dunning Path.

This junction, which is on the crest of the ridge, is definitely missed. Flip left on the Dunning Path (specified by 1933 by Dr. James M. Dunning, a volunteer with the Appalachian Mountain Membership), which descends via Mountain Laurel thickets earlier than leveling off because it passes via open woods.

The yellow-blazed path runs in a westerly course from the junction with the R-D Path.

After 0.3 mile, the Dunning Path turns left, heading southwest because it joins the White Bar Path, which is available in from the correct. In one other 0.2 mile, the Dunning Path leaves to the correct because the White Bar Path (which you’ll be following) continues forward.

The White Bar Path quickly crosses a stream (dry on this present day) and continues on a considerably overgrown, slender footpath.

After crossing one other stream, the White Bar Path bears left and joins a woods highway. The Nurian Path joins from the correct, then departs right down to the left after 0.1 mile.

Proceed forward on the White Bar Path, now retracing your steps from the start of the hike.

In a brief distance, the White Bar Path crosses a small stream on rocks because it continues southwest, quickly joined by Island Pond Highway, which is available in from the correct. Observe the White Bar Path again to CR 106, the place the path turns left, parallels the highway for a brief distance, after which crosses the highway into the parking space the place the hike started.

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Overview:

A superb hike via a particularly scenic space. This hike far exceeded my expectations. The views are respectable, however there are a lot better views in Harriman. The complete size of the Ramapo-Dunderberg Path that was traversed on this hike, was the spotlight of the day. The naked rock slabs, dotted with boulders, makes for an attention-grabbing panorama. This lesser traveled space of Harriman, is a hidden gem. Apart from the ridge, the paths supply a variety of tree cowl for these heat sunny days.

Execs:

Very scenic space, Bald Rocks, Bald Rocks Shelter, nicely marked trails, shaded trails, not a lot foot visitors.

Cons:

Dunning and White Bar trails may use slightly trimming.

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Take a hike!

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