Harriman State Park Backpacking

Take NJ Transit from Penn Station, NY to Tuxedo Park, NY. Walk North to the end of the platform at Tuxedo Station and make a right onto East Village Road. Follow under 87 and make a left onto Grove Drive and enter Harriman about 100 yards on the right. You can access three trails at this entrance: Triangle which goes North, Ramapo Dunderberg which goes North East (it connects with the Tuxedo-Mt.Ivy trail which goes East), and Kakiat which goes South.

Trekking poles are good for taking weight off the knees and aid in descents. Wear the right footwear. Trails can be rocky and steep; hiking boots or good hiking shoes a must. 

Bring a trail map and compass. Download a PDF map to your phone to track your movements along the trails. Trails are marked by blazes painted on trees; red rectangle in white rectangle is Tuxedo-Mt Ivy trail, white bar is White Bar trail, blue circle is Blue Disc trail, etc. Above: meeting of the White Bar trail and the Tuxedo-Mt Ivy trail, notice the blazes on the tree on the right. Below: Tuxedo- Mt Ivy blaze.

What you'll need to carry-

Shelter: a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and camp pillow. 

Hydration: a water filter, water bottles, and back-up water purification tablets.

 Food: dehydrated meals, jerky, energy bars, candy, etc.

Light: headlamp and extra batteries.

 Clothing: synthetic or wool. Add a rain jacket, insulating layer (puffy or fleece), gloves and hat.

Fire: lighter, waterproof matches, and fire starter (I like a container with cotton balls dipped in petroleum jelly).

Personal Care: toiletries, sunscreen, insect repellent, toilet paper, and trowel. 

Kitchen: small canister stove and fuel. Also, cutlery, mug, camp soap, and small camp towel.

Survival: knife, first aid kit, and para cord.

Camp near shelters, they are marked on maps. Shelters are usually near water, and have numerous tents sites with fire rings. Obviously, you can camp in shelter on a first come first serve basis. Below- Dutch Doctor shelter.

Hang a bear bag, I had to talk a bear out of entering the shelter area I was camping at October 2015.

Bring garbage bags, park is pack in pack out. Hang your garbage bag to prevent animals from accessing.
Below: Claudius Smith's Den.

Above: moss covered rocks from Tuxedo-Mt Ivy trail near Claudius Smith's Den.
Below; photo one- Fall colors. Photo two- swamp just south of Dutch Doctor Shelter. Photo three- ascending back towards Tuxedo Park on Tuxedo-Mt. Ivy trail

 Below Lake Sebago Harriman State Park.

Fall colors Harriman State Park.