7. US Route 6 to Woodbury

Features: Harriman State Park, Howell, Brooks and Blackcap Mountains, and
the Torrey Memorial on Long Mountain
Distance: 11.35 miles
USGS Map Quads: Popolopen Lake
Trail Conference Maps: Trail Map 119 (Northern Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails)
and Trail Map 114 (West Hudson Trails)

General Description

This section is the last of the three within Harriman State Park, and is by far
the most rugged. The Long Path climbs four peaks, often on steep grades
both up and down. The exertion is worth the effort because of views of dramatic
geology, especially in the U-shaped valley between Howell and Brooks
Mountains. The trail frequently borders West Point Military Reservation. The
last part of this section is outside of Harriman State Park and generally follows
suburban and rural roads.

Access

Take the New York State Thruway to Exit 16, Harriman. Continue east on US
Route 6. Or take the Palisades Interstate Parkway to Exit 18, and continue
west on Route 6. The section starts at a parking area in a narrow, unmarked
loop on the north side of Route 6. Entry by car is one way from the east side
of the loop, about 1.2 miles west of the Long Mountain Circle.

Parking

0.00 Parking area off Route 6. (18T 579286E 4574266N)
3.70 There is parking along NY Route 293 near Barnes Lake (0.2 mi north of
US Rte 6), about 0.25 mi south of where the Long Path crosses the road.
(18T 576774E 4575418N)
11.35 Intersection of Evans Drive and NY Route 32, about 0.2 miles south
of the Long Path's crossing of Route 32. (18T 574643E 4579193N)

Trail Description

0.00 The Long Path leaves the pavement of the parking area loop road at the
interpretive kiosk honoring Raymond H. Torrey and the Long Path. It heads
north into the woods on a wide gravel road. The road becomes grassy as it
passes through oak forest with open, short and shrubby understory. The descent
into a hollow steepens as traffic noises fade.
0.30 Pass an old woods road going down to the left. Immediately thereafter,
the Popolopen Gorge Trail (red square on white) leaves to the right. The
Long Path turns left after this and begins to climb toward the summit of Long
Mountain, steepening rapidly.
0.50 The grade levels off as the trail approaches the summit and the vegetation
becomes sparse.
0.60 The Long Path reaches the summit of Long Mountain, the site of the
Torrey Memorial. There is a spectacular 360-degree view from the summit
with Bear Mountain visible to the east and Turkey Hill Lake directly below.
0.65 The Long Path continues past the Torrey Memorial and starts a gradual
descent from Long Mountain. In another 500 feet, the trail turns left and
descends through a series of long switchbacks.

Final ascent of Long Mountain [TODD SCHREIBMAN]
Torrey Memorial [TODD SCHREIBMAN]

1.10 The trail intersects an old woods road to the left and crosses Deep Hollow
Brook (the crossing can be difficult after a heavy rain). It then turns right
and continues on a path alongside the stream. Meet a second stream paralleling
the trail on the left. Shortly thereafter, the trail turns left at an opening in
the woods and crosses the stream on rocks. It then ascends and approaches a
cleared swath along the West Point boundary. The trail follows the boundary
line, with some detours to the left and back again, for about half a mile. The
trail eventually leaves the boundary permanently and heads left to top out at a
knoll with lots of blueberries.
2.15 Reach a viewpoint on Howell Mountain with Brooks Mountain visible
to the west and Blackcap Mountain beyond. Route 6 is visible straight ahead.
The trail briefly continues its gentle descent on a curve, slabbing a rise to the
right. Then, it abruptly turns left and begins a steep plunge into Brooks Hollow.
The Long Path traverses a flat terrace before another left turn over the
edge completes the descent, this time with switchbacks.
2.55 Cross the outlet stream from Lake Massawippa in the middle of Brooks
Hollow, a classic U-shaped post-glacial valley. Its broad, flat floor with several
intermittent streambeds, curves upward on both sides at a rapidly increasing
pitch. Once across the stream, the trail turns left and goes upstream for a
short distance before continuing across the valley floor. It reaches the valley
wall and the trail begins a steep ascent of Brooks Mountain, principally by two
long switchbacks. The second switchback becomes gentler in grade as it merges
with the southwest trending crest of Brooks Mountain. Once on the crest, the
grade is gently uphill with views of the steeply plunging valley to the left.
3.20 The ridge ends suddenly at a rocky knob. The Long Path turns to descend
steeply to the left at first and then curves to the right around the end of
the ridge. It reaches and climbs out of the small valley to views of Lake
Massawippa a few hundred feet downhill to the left. The trail next undulates
up and down through laurel and then blueberry, the dominant understory
plants.
3.70 Reach NY Route 293 near a stream. Cross the road at the end of the
guardrail and re-enter the woods. The trail now ascends, often steeply, up the
shoulder of Blackcap Mountain. Once attained, it follows the ridge crest southwest,
closely paralleling the West Point boundary, until the trail descends toward
Route 6.
5.05 The trail approaches US Route 6 and turns west along the highway. The
next blazes are about 30 feet inside the woods bordering the road, next to a
chain-link fence bordering the highway. (In the reverse direction, the trail enters
the woods about 30 feet west of the "Yield" sign for traffic entering US
Route 6 from Route 293.)
5.60 Just before a large grassy clearing with a power line on the north side of
the highway, the trail passes through a gap in the chain-link fence. It veers to
the right and crosses the clearing on a diagonal to the northwest. At the opposite
side of the clearing, there is a telephone pole at the end of an abandoned
paved road (the old Route 6). Turn right and follow this road.
6.20 Reach a barricade across the road with a small vehicle turnaround on the
opposite side. There is currently no parking allowed here. The trail continues
straight ahead on what is now known as Estrada Road, a quiet residential street,
past several houses. Thomas Estrada-Palma, the first president of Cuba (1902-
06), lived here from 1879 to 1902 while he headed a junta that financed the
Cuban Revolution.
6.65 The trail continues straight ahead as the road becomes paved where several
driveways join it.
7.15 Continue straight, staying on Estrada Road. In 200 feet, in sight of the
New York State Thruway, turn right onto Abrams Road. Pass Stone Gate Road
on the right.
7.95 At a T-intersection, go right on Smith Clove Road (Orange County Route
9) and head away from the Thruway.
8.45 Pass a golf course entrance on right.
8.55 Go left on Pine Hill Road.
9.15 Cross the Thruway and follow Pine Hill Road downhill as it curves.
9.45 Follow Pine Hill Road under the railroad.
9.55 Just before Pine Hill Road crosses Woodbury Creek, the Long Path
turns right on a gravel road and gas-pipeline right-of-way, which runs
between the railroad tracks and Woodbury Creek.
10.45 Cross a seasonal stream.
11.05 Pass underneath a railroad trestle (formerly the Graham Line of the
Erie Railroad, now the Metro-North Port Jervis Line). Cross a seasonal
stream, and climb uphill to reach a fence. Go around the fence and turn left
on a woods road close to the NY State Thruway.
11.20 Walk on the berme along the Thruway for about 200 ft, and turn left.
The trail follows the edge of a ravine with the Woodbury Creek below. You
are on private property, so please respect where you are.
11.30 The trail makes a switchback down a steep embankment, and reaches 
NY Route 32. Turn left after climbing over the guardrail. Be careful, Route 32
is a very busy highway.
11.35 The section ends across from a driveway, about 100 feet north of the
trestle, where the Long Path turns right and climbs an embankment.