Description

From the southern entrance to the parking area, proceed west, crossing the park entrance road. You'll notice three yellow blazes and three blue blazes on a utility pole to the right of a chained-off gravel road. These blazes mark the start of the Indian Trail (yellow) and the Rocky Ridge Trail (blue).

The Rocky Ridge Trail immediately goes off to the left, but you should continue ahead along the gravel road, following the yellow blazes of the Indian Trail. You'll soon cross under high-voltage power lines and go around a yellow steel gate.

About 500 feet from the start, you'll notice three red-on-white blazes on either side of the trail, which mark the start and end of the Old Cedar Trail. Turn left, leaving the gravel road, and follow the red-on-white blazes. The Old Cedar Trail now proceeds through an oak-beech forest, passing a park building to the left. It soon crosses the wide route of the blue-blazed Rocky Ridge Trail, continues through a low area with abundant surface roots, and recrosses under the power lines.

After crossing the park entrance road diagonally to the right, the Old Cedar Trail follows a rocky path between the park entrance road on the right and I-287 on the left. It crosses an old stone wall, then turns right and goes by a picnic area. Half a mile from the start, just before a cul-de-sac parking area on the left (where the Silver Trail begins), the red-on-white blazed trail recrosses the paved road and goes over an intermittent stream on a wooden footbridge. After a short climb, it bears right, then turns left and again passes under the power lines.

Just beyond, the green-blazed Beeches Trail proceeds straight ahead, but you should turn sharply left, following the red-on-white blazes of the Old Cedar Trail. You've now left the developed portion of the park, and the trail begins a steady, gradual ascent. It bears right to cross a stream and then turns left to parallel it. Soon, the trail bears right, away from the stream, and continues its winding, gentle ascent.

As you reach the crest of the ridge, the blue-blazed Rocky Ridge Trail joins from the right. When the two trails diverge in another 25 feet, proceed straight ahead, now following the blue blazes of the Rocky Ridge Trail, which continues along the ridgeline on a rocky footpath, descending slightly. The trail goes by several tees and yellow-rimmed metal baskets for disc golf, one of the activities offered in the park.

After passing through an area with many cedar trees, the yellow-blazed Indian Trail joins from the right. Just beyond, an unmarked path on the right leads to an open area, but you should proceed ahead, continuing to follow the blue and yellow blazes along the edge of the woods.

In another 250 feet, you'll reach a tree with three blue and two yellow blazes (which signify the terminus of the Rocky Ridge Trail and a sharp left turn on the Indian Trail). Turn right, leaving the marked trails, and cross the open area to reach an expansive east-facing viewpoint at the top of the ski slope. To the left are the hills of Harriman Park, and in the center is northern Bergen County, with Mahwah in the foreground. The Palisades can be seen on the horizon, and the Manhattan skyline is visible to the right on a clear day. This is a good place to take a break.

After you've rested a little and enjoyed the view, return to the trail on the west side of the clearing (a triple-blue blaze is visible from the viewpoint). Turn right and continue along the yellow-blazed Indian Trail, which heads northwest.

In another 300 feet, after crossing a woods road, the Indian Trail ends at a junction with the red-on-white-blazed Old Cedar Trail. Turn right, and rejoin the Old Cedar Trail, which curves to the east and descends gradually. In about half a mile, it reaches the northwest corner of the large parking lot for the ski area. The trail turns left and follows the stone curbing along the edge of the parking lot and the entrance road.

Near the merge of the exit road from the parking lot, the trail bears left, reenters the woods, and descends along the hillside. It turns left and crosses Fyke Brook on a wooden bridge. The Old Cedar Trail then curves left, bears right, and gradually ascends to reach a junction with the white-blazed Dogwood Lane Trail.

Turn left at this junction and follow the white-blazed Dogwood Lane Trail for about 500 feet to its terminus, near the intersection of some old stone walls. Now bear right and continue ahead on the pink-blazed Gray Birch Trail, which follows a level path through the woods. It crosses the park entrance road and briefly parallels another stone wall. In about a third of a mile, it reaches the northern end of the main parking area. Follow the pink blazes around the parking area to the trail's terminus at the southern end of the parking area, where the hike began.