Island Pond and Valley of Boulders Loop in Harriman State Park, NY

Hike Island Pond and Valley of Boulders Loop Harriman State Park, NY

Class 1 10.6 miles 1700 gain 4-6 hrs Loop May 30, 2016
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Island Pond and Valley of Boulders Loop GPX Track

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I highly recommend you purchase the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference map here. There are a lot of trails in Harriman State Park and not only will this map not get you lost, you can also change my route and add/remove trails.

This is one of my favorite Harriman State Park hikes – it hits a bunch of pretty destinations and is an overall really nice loop. There are lots of trail intersections in this area of the park, so keep your eyes ready pretty much always as not to miss a turn.

Starting from the Lake Askoti Trailhead, follow the Arden – Surebridge Trail (red blaze) to Times Square, which is just a junction of a bunch of trails. You'll notice on the map that there's a dotted line toward the start – this was the trail's position when I did this hike, but that route is now closed and the red blaze trail skips the climb up to that hill labeled "Pine Swamp Mountain".

From Times Square, continue on the Arden – Surebridge Trail / Long Path past the Lemon Squeezer and onto the Appalachian Trail (white blaze), which passes Island Pond and leads to another trailhead if you go too far. Get back onto the Arden – Surebridge Trail (red blaze) for a short time until the Stahahe Brook Trail pops out on the right (also a red blaze and on an old forest road). This trail ends after a short time once bisecting the Nurian Trail (white blaze). This goes through the interesting "Valley of Boulders" before arriving at the Dunning Trail (yellow blaze), which merges with the White Bar Trail – stay on the Dunning / White Bar Trail shortly until White Bar heads north and the Dunning Trail continues east, passing "Bowling Rocks". you then pass Hogencamp Mine and join the Long Path (green blaze), which you take back to the trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Pine Swamp Mountain
1180 ft
100 rise

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Starting at Lake Skannatati.
Starting at Lake Skannatati.
Along the Arden - Surebridge Trail (red blaze).
Along the Arden - Surebridge Trail (red blaze).
Viewpoint, no longer accessible since the trail was re-routed.
Viewpoint, no longer accessible since the trail was re-routed.
Image 3 from gallery
I reached Times Square, a junction of multiple trails.
I reached Times Square, a junction of multiple trails.
Continuing along the Arden - Surebridge Trail (red blaze).
Continuing along the Arden - Surebridge Trail (red blaze).
Image 6 from gallery
Image 7 from gallery
You can take quick detour to Lemon Squeezer if you'd like, an interesting crack amongst some big boulders. I'd been there a bunch of times already and didn't take the detour on this loop.
You can take quick detour to Lemon Squeezer if you'd like, an interesting crack amongst some big boulders. I'd been there a bunch of times already and didn't take the detour on this loop.
Image 9 from gallery
Nearing Island Pond.
Nearing Island Pond.
Island Pond.
Island Pond.
Image 12 from gallery
Image 13 from gallery
Descending to another trailhead off the NY Thruway.
Descending to another trailhead off the NY Thruway.
Image 15 from gallery
Image 16 from gallery
Stahahe Brook Trail, which follows an old roadbed.
Stahahe Brook Trail, which follows an old roadbed.
Image 18 from gallery
A trickling falls along the way.
A trickling falls along the way.
Image 20 from gallery
The Nurian Trail (white blaze) is really pretty.
The Nurian Trail (white blaze) is really pretty.
Image 22 from gallery
Entering Valley of Boulders.
Entering Valley of Boulders.
Image 24 from gallery
Valley of Boulders.
Valley of Boulders.
Image 26 from gallery
A cute little pond past Valley of Boulders.
A cute little pond past Valley of Boulders.
Heading east toward Bowling Rocks along the Dunning Trail / White Bar Trail.
Heading east toward Bowling Rocks along the Dunning Trail / White Bar Trail.
Image 29 from gallery
Approaching Bowling Rocks.
Approaching Bowling Rocks.
Bowling Rocks.
Bowling Rocks.
Image 32 from gallery
Past Bowling Rocks, on my way back to the trailhead via the Long Path.
Past Bowling Rocks, on my way back to the trailhead via the Long Path.
Image 34 from gallery
Back to Lake Skannatati.
Back to Lake Skannatati.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!