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Summary: This makes a great day hike, or a nice, short overnight backpack if you stay at the West Mtn shelter. Catch the trailhead in in parking lot. Trail becomes the white blazed Appalachain Trail (AT), continue south and begin steep climb. Near top, AT joins the blue blazed Timp-Torne Trl and follows ridgeline south, with outstanding views along the way. AT leaves to right, stay on Timp-Torne Trl. It soon passes a shelter with outstanding views of Hudson Valley and NYC in the distance. Trail then descends steeply to a valley. The Timp Torne Trl turns right, stay left on unblazed woods road. Road soon joins the 1777 trail, turn left onto it and pass through Doodletown. Shortly after pavement starts, turn left at intersection onto unpaved and unblazed woods road. Follow to yellow blazed SBM Trl and turn right on it. It soon joins the 1777W, turn left here and follow back to parking. Trailhead: Palisades Interstate Parkway to exit 19 (Just after Anthony Wayne Rec area). East on 7 Lakes/Perkins Memorial Dr. Parking is on right about 1/2 mile after exit. (Lat:41.30408 Lon:-74.0163) Trail Guides for Harriman State Park West Mountain: New York Walk Book by NY/NJ Trail Conference (NY/NJ Trail con) Harriman Trails A Guide & History by William Myles (New York New Jersey Trail Conference) Best Seasons: Year-Round User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Ranger Contact: Palisades Interstate Park Commission (845) 786-2701 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Brian Sniatkowski, who has posted 44 other hikes on this site Trail Reviews Page 1 of 2 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by RobO on 3/21/2010 I chose this as my first solo overnighter and am very happy about it - I'm certain that I'll actually do it again. Advice I will repeat - bring a map. I was planning on camping at or near the West Mountain Shelter, but with the wonderful weather the entire area was quite busy with folks. After the steep descent, I ended up staying the night at an unmarked shelter at the intersection of the "unblazed woods road" (rocky almost stream like path) and the 1777 (found out later that it is at the edge of the southernmost Doodletown house "remains"). The second unblazed path is right after the Doodletown historical house markers. Great hike. 
Reviewed by Owen Giannangel on 1/6/2010 This hike was the best me and a few of my scouting friend went on a hike here at first if was flat land then assending. it was really fun and motivating. kids in the 10 yearand older age should do it. really fun hope to do the indian trail 
Reviewed by LW on 11/21/2009 The directions above are VERY misleading and ambiguous. They don't tell you correctly how to start out from the parking lot. The trail leading away from the parking lot does NOT "become" the Appalachian Trail. Instead, hike east about 200 yards up 7 Lakes/Perkins Mem Drive from the parking lot exit to reach where the AT crosses the road. Or take the 1777 trail going east parallel to the road from the parking lot to pick up the AT, but you will go misleadingly downhill and east a long way before you reach the AT and head south uphill toward the ridge.
Reviewed by Etjan on 9/26/2009 Real nice hike. All the tough stuff is right at the beginning- also the best views. After you get off the ridge and into the valley, it's a lot of easy rambling through the woods. Might be a fun to do in reverse. The camping up by the shelter is really to notch. Thinking about coming back to camp there. Instructions are pretty easy and accurate. The only spots we had any doubts were the unblazed woods road started at the end of the Timp Tome Trl - you go all the way down into the valley and cut back- it then opens out into a stone road about 100m past the cut back. The 2nd was the yellow SBM. You're on it on a wide double track- the SBM makes a hard right up a single lane over the ridge, while the road keeps straight. Our tim
Reviewed by mitch on 2/26/2009 I have enjoyed hiking in Harriman for about 50 years. The shelters are open to anyone 24x7x 365 (it’s a wonderful thing) One observation, there is a distinction made between backpacking and camping, you generally will have no problem backpacking anywhere in the park, but campers are frequently rousted by the authorities, the difference is in how you do it. If you hike in and party by the fire, expect some trouble, if your hiking through and spend the night somewhere along the way, you generally wont have trouble. I have sat by my stove waiting for the boil while listening to the campers in the next grove being busted. the rangers walked right by my "leave no trace" site. Its a beautiful place that gets some very heavy use, just be eth
Reviewed by Mr. Pumpy on 7/17/2008 Let me clear something up here. I hiked the entire AT in 2003 and every single shelter (250+) is open to thru-hikers and over-nighters alike. This is a fact. You are not supposed to camp out there for days, but anyone can stay the night. I walked the walk...so I feel I can talk the talk. No elitism in the woods!
Reviewed by Mike M. on 7/3/2008 This peak is best looped with Bear mt.(10 mile loop). Great early season workout, view from West toward Bear nice. Rock outcrops on backside of Bear toward West also nice. Can also get to West via Pyngyp Mt. (nice scramble)
Reviewed by MJM on 11/12/2007 Just a word of warning: Do not attempt this hike without a trail map and a map of local roads (a good rule of thumb of course but essential for this hike). Also, the directions to the trail head are incomplete or out-of-date. They should say the parking lot is a 1/2 mile after exit 19, not exit 18. I spent about an hour trying to find the parking lot from exit 18. Also it should be noted that other than the AT part of the hike and some of the Timp-Torne Trl, the trails are not terribly well marked and there are unmarked intersecting trails that make everything confusing. I'm used to hiking around PATC-maintained trails in Shenandoah where things are marked much better. Great hike, but definitely take a map! Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: New York Hiking, New York Trails, New York Hikes, Rockland County Hiking, Rockland County Trails, Rockland County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||