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.

 

Jeff Senterman's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/29/2012 - 10:52am
The Platte Clove Mountain Road between the base of the mountains in West Saugerties to the top of the mountains in the town of Hunter is officially closed between November 15th and April 15th and the roadway is not maintained during that time period.  There are periods when the road may be used unofficially, however the conditions may be dangerous and it is best to avoid this road when it is officially closed. The towns use these closed periods to do work on the road without traffic, which could prevent use of the road.  Also, West Saugerties has recently installed a gate at their end of the road, which may or may not be closed when the road is officially closed.   The best route to the Prediger Road Trailhead for the Devil's Path during the months when the Platte Clove Mountain Road is closed is to use Route 23A between Palenville and Haines Falls and then follow County Route 16 from Tannersville back to Prediger Road.   Jeff Senterman Catskill Region Program Coordinator for the Trail Conference [email protected]
neil's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/29/2012 - 11:04am
perfect - thanks a lot
LindaC's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/22/2012 - 10:06pm
It seems a bit strange to restrict people from the wood roads in Harriman.  I could understand restricting bushwacking or off trail travel because of safety and erosion but the woods roads were established ways for decades?  And sometimes in icy or unexpected weather conditions or hiker injury they are the safer way to exit from a hike.  What am I missing?
thetentman's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/10/2012 - 2:40pm
Excerpts from - New York State Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation Rules & Regulations The following rules and regulations govern the conduct of the public on property under the jurisdiction of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation STATE OF NEW YORK NYS OFFICE OF PARKS, RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Agency (f) Disorderly conduct. No person shall do any of the following: use abusive or obscene language or make an obscene gesture; throw stones or other objects or missiles which may inflict bodily injury or damage to property; climb upon any wall, fence, structure or monument; spit upon grounds or other surfaces; Use of established ways. No person shall use other than trails, overlooks, roads and other ways established and provided for public use by the office. No liability shall attach to the State, its officers, employees or agents for injuries to persons resulting from the use of other than such established trails, overlooks, roads or ways. No person shall introduce, possess or use any machete or cutting tool other than an axe, hatchet or sheath knife for the purpose of preparing wood for a cooking fire. PART 377. REGULATED ACTIVITIES Section 377.1 Regulated activities. The following activities are prohibited on property under the jurisdic¬tion, custody and control of the office, except in areas specifically designated therefor, during such hours or seasonal periods specifically authorized and subject to such conditions as may be contained herein. The throwing, striking, kicking or catching of any ball, horseshoe or other object or the conduct of any game or athletic activity, or the use of any device or equipment used in any such game or athletic activity. (b) The engaging in toy or model boating or automobiling (f) Roller skating and skateboarding. (g) Kite flying. Source - http://nysparks.com/publications/documents/NYSParksRulesRegulations.pdf
PVPatrick's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/01/2012 - 10:19am
Maybe the park wants to avoid having hikers run down by ATV riders? Maybe hikers interfere with park rangers driving on the woods roads? Maybe West Point has decided to usurp the woods roads for their war training? It would be nice to have clarification from the trail conference otherwise people may wildly speculate!
PVPatrick's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/03/2012 - 8:28am
I chatted with a park ranger who confirmed that hikers, according to the park rules are allowed only on marked trails, and that this is not a new regulation. Apparently the recent resurrection of this rule is the result of the numbers of people lost and injured calling for assistance not on marked trails and therefore unable to help pinpoint their location to rescuers. Clearly, if public safety is the main issue, the woods roads and ski trails could be blazed. Minimally, the NYSOPRHP should stop advertising cross country ski trails at Bear Mt and Harriman if it is a violation to be on those trails. Same for historic Doodletown.
Michael K7's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/05/2012 - 11:07am
So the bottom line is that we all have to pay for the idiocy of the few. 
flyguy's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/04/2012 - 11:15am
Well if that's truely the case / the State has a lot of work to do / and a starting point would be all the Day Camps throughout the park .................. There's tons of unmarked trails/roads that lead to & from those camps As for doing SAR / maybe it's time for the state to start charging those who get lost or injured, it's done everwhere else .................. Enter the woods at your Risk & Know the Code if you should get lost or Injured  ............. There are six tenets of the code: 1) Be prepared with appropriate knowledge and gear; 2) Let someone else know your plans; 3) Hiking groups should stick together, and not let themselves become separated; 4) Hikers should always be ready to turn back if circumstances, such as changing weather, dictate; 5) Hikers should be ready for emergencies, and, ideally, be set to effect "self rescue"; and 6) Those who know the code should share its lessons with others.      
Georgette Weir's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/23/2012 - 9:26am
Our intention is simply to alert trail users to reports that we have been getting from others.  Namely, that park enforcement officers are asking people to stay off of unmarked trails and woods roads. The park does not consider unmarked roads or trails to be open to the public.
flyguy's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/30/2012 - 11:17am
  I've been Hiking / Backpacking Harriman for over 40 years and have never heard of this & have never had an issue. I would have to think, now that more clubs with groups that are TO LARGE hiking together is one of the main reasons / looking at some of club hikes on-line / They even have it in writing that they'll be going off trial .................... in addition people posting pics of Illegal campsites is another .................. [content deleted by forum editor] The reasons go on and on -     If you want Harriman to stay FREE................... The Clubs & Park Commission need to stand up and clean the place up, it's a shame to find trash everywhere you go !!!  - Enforce "Leave No Trace" Hire some Walking Rangers for the summer or ask for Volunteers to do the Job ............ The Clubs are able to get Trail maintenance people   Just my .02 for what it's worth  
Michael K7's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/23/2012 - 7:25am
None of this makes any sense. Georgette says below that the only answer they can give is "vague", so then why was something said at all in the e-walker message? Were there specific incidents that led to this message being sent out? Unless we have facts, cryptic blurbs in e-walker don't help at all. Can't someone from the TC just get in touch with a park official, and find out the actual rules?
Purple Octopus's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/22/2012 - 9:01pm
We're doing our very first backpack overnighter probably next weekend. We've got tent, pads, sleeping bags, the works. Don't need to be in a shelter but I know we have to be NEAR a shelter. Looking to do around 4-5 miles in and 4-5 miles back out again. Recommendations?
BrianSnat's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/01/2012 - 9:16am
Might be a little late, but for future reference, the West Mountain shelter is a nice spot to camp, with a great view of the Hudson Valley. It's about a 5 mile hike round trip.
neil's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/23/2012 - 10:10pm
you could park at elk pen off arden valley road then hike the AT to Fingerboard shelter - then maybe take a little bit of a different path back to the car - or the same path out and back - i think that would be about that distance
Purple Octopus's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/24/2012 - 9:58am
I may have even been at the shelter in the past.  Looks good.
smithg2010's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/18/2012 - 10:10am
The latest version of e-Walker states that "rules restricting access only to marked trails in Harr/Bear Mtn are being enforced".   What does this mean?   Is the issue with the woods roads that lead to private camps (which I normally avoid) or do they even mean major connectors like Island Pond Road, Nawahunta Fire Road, Beechy Bottom, etc?   It should be noted that some of the posted hikes here make use of the unmarked woods roads.
Michael K7's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/19/2012 - 11:28am
I'm interested in this as well, since i do a lot of running on the woods roads in Harriman. 
Georgette Weir's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/21/2012 - 12:18pm
The best answer we can offer at this moment is, admittedly, a little vague. The regulations are not ours to interpret or explain. What we say on the maps is this: "Park regulations provide that 'no person shall use other than trails, roads, and other ways established and provided for public use [by the Park].' The majority of these unmarked routes are not considered established ways." What we have heard from hikers is that park enforcement officers are asking people to stay off of unmarked trails and woods roads.
noel.benford's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/13/2012 - 11:31pm
Hiking in Harriman last weekend, I noticed the following confusing points:   1. The southbound connection of the AT at Seven Lakes Drive. I did not see a clear indication of where the AT was the south side of the road. It was easy to turn onto 1777 W and keep going.  2. The Intersection of the AT and the BW trails on West Montain. Where the BW trail meets the wooden sign with distances to the West Mountain shelter (.6 mi), going southbound, there is no indication that the AT makes a turn and goes up a ridge to the right. It was easy to miss.   Things to keep in mind when hiking along the AT southbound.
PVPatrick's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/14/2012 - 8:51am
1) The AT was re-routed and turns right coaligned with the 1777w trail shortly after crossing 7 Lakes Drive just past the gate, maybe that was what confused you? 2)BW refers to the colors of the coaligned Timp Torn (Blue) and the AT (White) trails on West Mt. At the sign juncture, the blue TT trail turns left and the AT continues straight. Typically, there is a single blaze when a trail follows a basically straight course. Also, it is helpful on so many trails in harriman, unfortunately, to just look down and follow the herd path.