Get DirectionsFrom the parking area, follow the white blazes of the White Bar Trail (horizontal white rectangles, some of which may be marked with the letters "W-B"), which proceeds uphill, heading southwest. (Do not cross Route 106.) When you come to a fork at the top of a rise, bear left and follow the White Bar Trail as it descends rather steeply and then climbs a second hill, known as Carr Pond Mountain...
Hike Description:
From the parking area, follow the white blazes of the White Bar Trail (horizontal white rectangles, some of which may be marked with the letters "W-B"), which proceeds uphill, heading southwest. (Do not cross Route 106.) When you come to a fork at the top of a rise, bear left and follow the White Bar Trail as it descends rather steeply and then climbs a second hill, known as Carr Pond Mountain, on a steady grade. The trail goes just west of the summit. As the trail begins to descend, you will find a good viewpoint to the southwest from open rocks to the right of the trail.
Continue along the White Bar Trail as it descends to Parker Cabin Hollow, where it crosses a stream on a wooden bridge and joins an old woods road. The trail now begins a steady ascent. After about half a mile, it reaches a junction with the yellow-blazed Triangle Trail. Turn left and follow the joint White Bar/Triangle Trail for a short distance. When the two trails split, bear left and continue on the yellow-blazed Triangle Trail. In another half a mile, after a short climb, the Triangle Trail reaches an intersection with the red-on-white-blazed Ramapo-Dunderberg (R-D) Trail at the top of Parker Cabin Mountain. Turn left and follow the joint Triangle/R-D Trail along the ridge for about 150 feet. When the two trails split, turn right and follow the Triangle Trail for a short distance down to a viewpoint from a rock ledge. The lake visible in the distance is Lake Sebago. This is a good spot to take a break.
When you're ready to continue, retrace your steps to the Triangle/R-D junction and turn right, now following the red-on-white blazes of the R-D Trail heading north. The trail continues along the ridge and then descends over bare slabs of rock. In about half a mile, it reaches a low point where there is an old stone fireplace. Here, the R-D crosses the Victory Trail, marked with a blue "V" on white. Continue ahead on the R-D Trail, which now steeply ascends Tom Jones Mountain. At the summit, there are broad views to the east. The towers visible in the distance are on Jackie Jones Mountain. If you look carefully, you will see a fire tower to the right of the taller communications towers.
Follow the R-D Trail as it descends to the northeast, with more views along the trail as you descend. At the base of the descent, the trail crosses Route 106 at a parking area. It briefly turns right and parallels the road, then turns left and heads into the woods, soon beginning to climb Black Rock Mountain. In about half a mile, it reaches a junction with the white-blazed Nurian Trail at a broad viewpoint. Turn left at this junction and follow the Nurian Trail downhill to an intersection with the White Bar Trail. (Although both trails are blazed white, the distinctive horizontal shape of the White Bar blazes makes them easy to distinguish from the Nurian blazes.) Turn left onto the White Bar Trail and follow it back to Route 106, where the trail turns left, parallels the road for a short distance, and then crosses the road into the parking area where the hike began.
Publication: Submitted by Daniel Chazin on 09/12/2002 updated/verified on 11/13/2014
This loop hike climbs five peaks, with several good views, and much up-and-down hiking.
41.234516, -74.148972
Orange Co., NY
5 mi
3 hrs
Buy Book: Circuit Hikes in Harriman
Buy Map: Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails Map
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Hike Checklist:
Whether you are going for a day hike or backpacking overnight, it is good practice to carry what we call The Hiking Essentials. These essentials will help you enjoy your outing more and will provide basic safety gear if needed. There may also be more essentials, depending on the season and your needs.
The Essentials
Hiking Shoes or Boots
Water - Two quarts per person is recommended in every season. Keep in mind that fluid loss is heightened in winter as well as summer. Don't put yourself in the position of having to end your hike early because you have run out of water.
Map - Know where you are and where you are going. Many of our hiking areas feature interconnecting network of trails. Use a waterproof/tear-resistant Tyvek Trail Conference map if available or enclose your map in a Ziplock plastic bag. If you have a mobile device, download Avenza’s free PDF Maps app and grab some GPS-enhanced Trail Conference maps (a backup Tyvek or paper version of the map is good to have just in case your batteries die or you don't have service). Check out some map-reading basics here.
Food - Snacks/lunch will keep you going as you burn energy walking or climbing. Nuts, seeds, and chocolate are favorites on the trail.
Sunscreen and insect repellent
Rain Gear and Extra Clothing - Rain happens. So does cold. Be prepared for changing weather. Avoid cotton--it traps water against your skin and is slow to dry. If you are wearing wet cotton and must return to your starting point, you risk getting chills that may lead to a dangerous hypothermia. Choose synthetic shirts, sweaters and/or vests and dress in layers for easy on and off.
Compass - A simple compass is all you need to orient you and your map to magnetic north.
Light - A flashlight or small, lightweight headlamp will be welcome gear if you find yourself still on the trail when darkness falls. Check the batteries before you start out and have extras in your pack.
First Aid Kit - Keep it simple, compact, and weatherproof. Know how to use the basic components.
Firestarter and Matches - In an emergency, you may need to keep yourself or someone else warm until help arrives. A firestarter (this could be as simple as leftover birthday candles that are kept inside a waterproof container) and matches (again, make sure to keep them in a waterproof container) could save a life.
Knife or Multi-tool - You may need to cut a piece of moleskin to put over a blister, repair a piece of broken equipment, or solve some other unexpected problem.
Emergency Numbers - Know the emergency numbers for the area you're going to and realize that in many locations--especially mountainous ones, your phone will not get reception.
Common Sense - Pay attention to your environment, your energy, and the condition of your companions. Has the weather turned rainy? Is daylight fading? Did you drink all your water? Did your companion fail to bring rain gear? Are you getting tired? Keep in mind that until you turn around you are (typically) only half-way to completing your hike--you must still get back to where you started from! (Exceptions are loop hikes.)
Check the weather forecast before you head out. Know the rules and regulations of the area.
The Leave No Trace Seven Principles
Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you'll visit.
- Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
- Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
- Visit in small groups when possible. Consider splitting larger groups into smaller groups.
- Repackage food to minimize waste.
- Use a map and compass to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging.
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.
- Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
- Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary.
- In popular areas:
- Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.
- Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy.
- Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent.
- In pristine areas:
- Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and trails.
- Avoid places where impacts are just beginning.
- Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food and litter.
- Deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished.
- Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
- To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.
- Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
- Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
- Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
- Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.
- Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the backcountry. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light.
- Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
- Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
- Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes.
- Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
- Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
- Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
- Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
- Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
- Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
- Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail.
- Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering pack stock.
- Take breaks and camp away from trails and other visitors.
- Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises.
The Trail Conference is a 2015 Leave No Trace partner.
(c) Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org.
Directions to Trailhead
Public TransportationDirections to Trailhead :
Take N.Y. Route 17 north through Sloatsburg and Tuxedo. About 2.3 miles north of the Tuxedo railroad station, take the exit (on the left) for Route 17A. Turn right at the top of the ramp onto Kanawauke Road (formerly County Route 106) and continue for 2.2 miles to a Hikers' Trailhead Parking Area on the right, just beyond a sharp curve.
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Trip Reports
rate experience September 17, 2020
Back Three Years Later . . .
As I searched on September 13, 2020 for a moderate to strenuous hike in the 4-6 mile range, I ended up back here, looking at my own comments from exactly three years earlier. In the first half mile there were a lot of downed trees from the previous August storm that had not yet been cut by the sawyer crew. In most cases, hikers had already created spontaneous detours around the trail-blocks. I found most of the description accurate with the same exception: just after Parker Cabin Hollow and the wooden bridge, the trail joins an old woods road turning left, but you will also see orange blazes turning right that mark the start of the Parker Cabin Hollow Trail heading to the west - that made me think twice (again) before turning left/east on the White Bar trail. Late in the hike I was careful this time to anticipate the start of the Nurian trail from the R-D trail where one must turn left up and over the open rock viewpoint to continue on Nurian. I think this spot is one of my favorite viewpoints in Harriman. Heading down from the rock outcrop, watch carefully for blazes, as there are various offshoots of the trail in the first tenth of a mile. As always, I really enjoyed the open stretches of the R-D trail, following glacial striations and getting regular views. In this season of COVID-19, on a beautiful hiking day, there were a fair number of fellow hikers and a lot of campers near the Tom Jones shelter, all but a few following guidelines for masks and distance. I also verified the 5.0 mile distance with an AllTrails recording, and recorded a total ascent of about 1,400 feet.
September 11, 2017
Great 3-Hour Hike From Easier Parking
Took this loop in early September 2017, and found the description to be accurate. There are a number of ups and downs, but not that tough and ascents are not so long. A few comments on the description: just after Parker Cabin Hollow and the wood bridge the trail joins an old woods road but you will also see orange blazes that mark the start of the Parker Cabin Hollow Trail heading to the west - that made me think twice before turning left/east on the White Bar trail. Later, I had to search (like the previous reviewer) for the start of the Nurian trail from the R-D trail. The three three blazes of the start of Nurian are prominent, but one must turn left up and over the open rock viewpoint to continue on Nurian. Watch carefully for blazes, as there are various offshoots of the trail in the first tenth of a mile. As always, I really enjoyed the open stretches of the R-D trail, following glacial striations and getting regular views. Be careful crossing Route 106 in motorcycle season.
February 25, 2017
Tough one, but worth it
Enjoyed the hike on a way too early Spring day on 25 Feb. R106 was closed, but we took the chance drove past the barriers and found the road clear. I suspect they close it over the winter because they don't plow the snow. Unlike last weekend's slashy hike in Sterling, there was no sign of snow today.
There are lot of ups and downs and some are a decent climb. The views are worth it. Make sure you swing by the shelter which you will see to the right, .15 mile after you crossed the Victory trial.
Don't be tempted to head straight back to your car when you get to R106. Cross it a little lower to the right and enjoy the gradual climb to the top of Black Rock. Make sure you turn left when you see the blazes for the start of the White trail. I saw the Red blaze, that we were on, and three White blazes and for some reason ignored it. Hike about .25 mile until I realized that we're going in the wrong direction.
Would love to do it in the late summer again.