Trail Conditions Forum

Mud? Ice? High water at stream crossings?

This is the place to let the trail community know what you encountered, where and when (be as precise as possible). Suggestion: Make the trail or park name your subject.

To report serious trail problems that need Trail Conference attention, including illegal trail use issues, visit our Contact Us page. Problems reported through our Contact Us page get to the maintainers fast and reliably. Problems reported on the forum below may help fellow trail users avoid problem areas until they get fixed, but not all maintainers read this regularly.

 

tnprime's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 11/09/2022 - 12:56am
I was entering the park on the Pine Meadow Trail from it's trail head on Seven Lakes Dr. About .15mi in from the road I followed a clear path blazed with ribbons in the SE direction going uphill to find a large area around and north of South Hill heavily developed into mountain bike trails. Features including split stones, embankments, numerous areas with significant modification of the landscape, wooden ladders and ramps, labeled with amateur signage. Two people with tools and pick axes dropped their implements and walked away into the woods as I approached. Clearly this course is not permitted on state property. I walked over 2 miles of new trail with GPS on and there was still plenty of trail left to explore. The area was largely contained to about 100 acres from Pine Grove Lake neighborhood to Seven Hills Trail, and South Hill.
johndavitt's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 10/05/2022 - 6:30pm
Beware: According to comments in the Far Out(Guthooks)app. Since mid-July an emotional disturbed man has been targeting hikers at the Wild Cat shelter on the Appalachian trail on a regular basis. The most recent report occurred this past weekend(9/25). I have not been in Wild Cat shelter area in about 10 months and have no 1st hand knowledge of these incidents. The comments in the app tell of verbal abuse, loud music at 2-5am, shining flashlights into tents, banging on the shelter with sticks and intimidation. The comments paint the person as a troubled individual that has issues with hikers. Please be careful in this region. Hopefully, this post will spur action to eliminate this seemingly known danger that has been occurring for months.
NYHIKER60's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/29/2021 - 7:17pm
I checked with the PIPC. The center is now taken over by the AMC as many other spots in the park as well. The woman told me that they should be open soon but I'll take a wait and see.
Daniel Chazin's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 08/04/2021 - 12:39pm
The Reeves Meadow Visitor Center, as well as the Visitor Center/Bookstore along the Parkway, are now being operated by the Appalachian Mountain Club. The visitor center, as well as the bathrooms, is usually open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. However, on the Saturday in question, an employee called out sick and another had to drive 65 miles to cover. Also, there have been some mechanical issues with the bathrooms that sometimes require the bathrooms to be temporarily closed.
mikefmbklyn@verizon.net's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/26/2021 - 1:26pm
I was at the center over the weekend and it was closed tight. INo water or bathrooms available either. Is it due to Covid? When will it open again?
lancetm21's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/03/2021 - 9:53am
Hello. Is there a connection/turn-off on the Slide-Cornell trail to approach Friday mountain? It seems like there would be and I'm planning a through hike and this would be a great short cut. Thanks!
Daniel Chazin's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/04/2021 - 4:56pm
From the map, it appears that the mile-long route between Friday and the Cornell-Wittenberg-Slide Trail is an easy bushwhack, as it is nearly flat. Although I have not done this traverse in 30 years, when I hiked it in 1991, it was one of the very toughest hikes I've ever done. At least then, the terrain was covered with thick spruce, and it took us about two hours to cover this distance of one mile. I have not been been back since, but would highly doubt that any kind of a herd path or trail exists to connect Friday with the Wittenberg-Slide-Cornell Trail. Unless you're looking for a real adventure, I would not recommend this "great short cut."
mikefmbklyn@verizon.net's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/08/2021 - 12:02pm
I have had some problems as well. One car actually changed lanes right into where I was crossing and actually sped up! I decided from now on to walk down and try to cross near the bookstore. This however can be a .5 to 1 mile out of the way to keep from playing frogger.
scottghiz's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 11/11/2020 - 11:35am
Semi-rant here. I believe there are four trail crossings of the Palisades Parkway (SBM, AT, 1779, Red Cross) that force the hiker to actually run across the high-speed roadway; the SBM only traversing the north bound lanes. I have done all of these except for the 1779 crossing, which I am doing this weekend with my wife and it has me a bit anxious. I've had a couple of close calls as the driving is quite aggressive along that road. And the SBM and Red Cross trails cross at hills or turns making the crossing rather unnerving. A couple of questions: 1. Has any hiker been hit while crossing the Palisades Parkway? 2. Has there ever been consideration of building pedestrian walkovers like for the Nurian Trail over the NY State Thruway? Thanks
johndavitt's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 10/30/2020 - 10:05am
Hey, Anybody know if there is parking on the weekends at the Tuxedo Train Station ? A few years back, I tried and there was a Saturday Farmers market. Thanks
Daniel Chazin's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 10/30/2020 - 1:33pm
It is not clear whether weekend parking is allowed in the lot in front of the Tuxedo railroad station. However, Metro-North's website indicates that parking is free on weekends in the commuter parking lot located just north of the station.
scottghiz's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 10/12/2020 - 8:17am
Does anyone know the details or updates on what is going on with the Ramapo Equestrian Center Parking? I went there in August and was told that parking is no longer allowed for hikers. We went across Rt 202 and parked on a residential street, but this can't be a permanent solution. It's only a matter of time before the local residents shut that down. Thanks!
scottghiz's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 10/10/2020 - 5:10pm
My 2016 map shows a 0.95 RD trail segment below the Timp. However, today, I planned to utilize that RD section below the Timp for a loop hike but it seemed that the RD trail in that section is concurrent with the blue blazed Timp-Torne trail and goes over the Timp. Did I miss something?
Daniel Chazin's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 10/11/2020 - 8:17pm
This section of the R-D Trail below the Timp was abandoned soon after the 2016 edition of the Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails map set was published. This was a very steep, poorly constructed trail, and it was decided to consolidate the R-D Trail east of Timp Pass with the Timp-Torne Trail, which follows a much better route. The current route of the R-D and T-T Trails in this area is shown on the new 2020 edition of the Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails map set.
scottghiz's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 10/12/2020 - 8:03am
I appreciate the details on the trail!
plippert's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 09/29/2020 - 7:50pm
Thank you for the detailed information. I will look into the N/S Lake Campground, or just pack water into the other sites. It seems like an area full of beautiful features.
plippert's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 09/12/2020 - 7:24pm
Is backcountry camping permitted in Section 22 of the Long Path, Platte Clove Road to Palenville? Does anyone know of any campsites along the route?
plippert's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 09/10/2020 - 6:12pm
Does the Batavia Kill Shelter have water close by? Is it on the kill?
plippert's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 09/10/2020 - 6:04pm
Section 23 of the Long Trail, which passes North Lake, seems beautiful, but I’m wondering what alternatives there are to the commercial campsite on the Lake. Does anyone know about the one near the junction of the Horse Trail and the Schutt Road Trail? Does the one near the Palenville Overlook have water available? Is the commercial campground set in a pleasant spot?
skihiker's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 09/16/2020 - 3:56pm
I am the NYNJTC trails supervisor for this area. I believe that the spot near the horse trail & Schutt Rd. trail intersection is ok to camp at, though I've never seen anyone do it. Last time I checked it, there was a fire pit and a privy there. There is even a horse mounting ramp there, from when there was a crazy idea of creating a handicap horse riders campground there. No close water source, unless the drainage ditch along side the SC trail has water running from recent rain. I haven't seen anyone camp near Palenville overlook in many years. Picnic table was destroyed and burned many years ago. Fire pit is practically destroyed. No water source near there. The North/South Lake Campground is a very nice place. You would have to get a reservation, and this year they are down to 50% occupancy due to the virus. Running water and restrooms there. I imagine that you would have to walk out to the gatehouse to check in. Good luck. Cal