Harriman State Park – Hogencamp Mountain and Pine Swamp

Trail Map: official (?), I used the New York New Jersey Trail Conference maps (119)

Miles: 5.68 miles

Trails: Long Path (aqua), Dunning (yellow), Ramapo – Dunderberg (red dot on white), Arden – Surebridge (red triangle on white)

Mountain: Hogencamp Mountain

My map:

[TL;DR – Here’s the Reader’s Digest version for those that just want to scroll through pictures. This was a little shorter than I would normally hike. But it was phenomenal. I saw not one, but two Danger Noodles. No bears. Hiking on a Friday, there were a handful of people at the parking lot fishing. I saw one person on the trail. And, I was actually able to pull into a parking spot a the Reeves Meadow Visitor Center when I got iced tea. That NEVER happens.]

I went on a Friday instead of the usual Saturday due to the weather forecast. And as I type this up, I’m second guessing myself. It was 84 when I did this, it’s 68 now. The forecast for the weekend has been all over the place. In hindsight..the day was perfect. And there was no one around.

Park in the Lake Askoti parking lot, the road down is a little steep, but the lot is large (and empty on this day. I can’t say for weekends.)

At the trailhead there are two trails, I chose left, and to do the loop clockwise. The trailhead picture does not show it, but there a lot of dragonflies flying around. I started on the Long Path.

I missed the Mountain Laurel Bloom by a day or two. I suspect the weekend will be in full bloom.

At the junction with the Dunning Trail you can find the Hogencamp Mine. Thinking of the ticks last week, I didn’t want to venture too far off trail. However, I probably should have as the mine area is impressive. I could see big piles of rock from the trail, but not much else. Next time, I’ll explore a little more.

Nope Rope 1 – harmless – Black Rat snake

Just off the Dunning Trail is a nice view looking south. The body of water is Little Long Pond.

And, I did finally get lucky and find some Mountain Laurel blooms.

I turned onto the Ramapo – Dunderberg trail which I have hiked in various sections all over the park. The trail is one of the longest in the park. This section will take you over Hogencamp mountain; much of this part is hiking on HUGE slabs of rock.

There wasn’t much water to cross on this hike, it hasn’t rained in a while. This crossing was much easier than it looked.

At the top of Hogencamp Mountain, the trail turns left and there is a great viewpoint. Because the day was so clear, I could see all over.

There are plenty of rocks to sit on and enjoy a snack. I don’t know what tower is off on the distance, I could not find the tower marked on my map. The picture is looking East, maybe a little North.

Eventually the RD trail will junction with Times Square.

There are a bunch of trails junctioning here: Ramapo-Dunderber, Arden-Surebridge, and the Long Path. It can be a little confusing. I made a right onto Arden-Surebridge.

Part way down the trail I encountered this:

Nope Rope 2 – Venemous – Northern Copperhead

The Arden-Surebridge junctions with the beginning of the Dunning Trail. I took a quick detour down the Dunning to see what I could of Pine Swamp. Unfortunately, with all the foliage, I couldn’t see much. If you zoom in, you just make out the swamp between the leaves.

Cross the (dry) stream and you will immediately come to one of the Pine Swamp Mine openings. There are a bunch of openings, and some ruined buildings – but you will have to venture off trail to find them. This mine opening can’t be missed though. I believe it is one of six. You really can’t walk back into it due to all the water in the mine.