Looking for backcountry camping opportunity near waterfalls.

[nevermore]

Hey folks!

I am from Manhattan and looking to go camping on the weekend. We moved from Utah a little while ago so not very familiar with this region. I was hoping this community can help me find a good hike for the weekend.

I was trying to find a backcountry camping spot near a waterfall, the more remote, the better it is. We don't mind walking, hiking at all.

- Thanks in Advance

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

Hey folks!

I am from Manhattan and looking to go camping on the weekend. We moved from Utah a little while ago so not very familiar with this region. I was hoping this community can help me find a good hike for the weekend.

I was trying to find a backcountry camping spot near a waterfall, the more remote, the better it is. We don't mind walking, hiking at all.

- Thanks in Advance

Ethan Pond lean-to is 2.5 miles in from Rte 302 in Crawford Notch, with a 2.5-mile hike to Thoreau Falls. Bring your snowshoes!

 

[nevermore]

Ethan Pond lean-to is 2.5 miles in from Rte 302 in Crawford Notch, with a 2.5-mile hike to Thoreau Falls. Bring your snowshoes!

Thanks a lot for that. I would definitely check this one out!
But for this weekend I am not planning to drive 5 hours. (I know I should have mentioned this earlier..)
Do you have any suggestion which are a bit closer to NYC?

 

[hikeritz]

https://www.greatnortherncatskills.com/outdoors/hiking/waterfalls

 

[nevermore]

https://www.greatnortherncatskills.com/outdoors/hiking/waterfalls

Thanks for this, I have read through this link before, but couldn't figure out if any of these are good for camping (near the waterfall)

 

[hikeritz]

Another possibility is the Appalachian Trail just north of the CT/MA border. The Sages Ravine and Laurel Ridge campsites are both near beautiful falls.

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

Thanks a lot for that. I would definitely check this one out!
But for this weekend I am not planning to drive 5 hours. (I know I should have mentioned this earlier..)
Do you have any suggestion which are a bit closer to NYC?

Oops, my fault, I did not realize that I was replying in the New York Backcountry section. Looks like you now have some great suggestions closer to home.

Welcome to VftT!

 

[Bushwacked]

Another possibility is the Appalachian Trail just north of the CT/MA border. The Sages Ravine and Laurel Ridge campsites are both near beautiful falls.

This is a good one. I believe it's called Bear Rock Falls. Another cool thing is as you hike north from the campsite/falls, you're on a ridge eastward looking a valley. I've stayed here 3 times and have had a beautiful undercast every time.

The falls aren't huge but it's so cool having stream and falls basically going right through the campsite. Would expect it to be pretty quiet this weekend.

 

[Dana]

I can't think of any significant waterfalls, but there's lots of nice hiking in Harriman State Park, less than an hour from Manhattan. Not terribly remote, but you can avoid the crowds if you avoid the more popular areas.

 

[JoshandBaron]

This is a good one. I believe it's called Bear Rock Falls. Another cool thing is as you hike north from the campsite/falls, you're on a ridge eastward looking a valley. I've stayed here 3 times and have had a beautiful undercast every time.

The falls aren't huge but it's so cool having stream and falls basically going right through the campsite. Would expect it to be pretty quiet this weekend.

An out and back from Race Brook Falls to Sage's Ravine is my favorite overnight hike in MA. 3 waterfalls and Mt Race has great views. Sage's ravine has the best camping options, Laurel Ridge will probably be less crowded but the sites are pretty small save for one. No fires.

 

[DayTrip]

An out and back from Race Brook Falls to Sage's Ravine is my favorite overnight hike in MA. 3 waterfalls and Mt Race has great views. Sage's ravine has the best camping options, Laurel Ridge will probably be less crowded but the sites are pretty small save for one. No fires.

Totally agree. Was the first thing that I thought of when the OP asked the question. Mt Race is one of my favorite small summits in the Northeast. Heading up from the Race Brook Falls Trailhead it is a pretty comfortable 3-3.25 mile hike to the cliffs South of the summit with a wide variety of terrain to enjoy in all seasons.

 

[DayTrip]

I can't think of any significant waterfalls, but there's lots of nice hiking in Harriman State Park, less than an hour from Manhattan. Not terribly remote, but you can avoid the crowds if you avoid the more popular areas.

Any suggestions? May be heading down to that general area for work in a few weeks and don't really know a lot about the park, where the busy spots are, etc. I like/generally prefer ridge walks, open views, etc. Looks like a lot of possibilities on the satellite view but that can be deceiving. Appreciate any thoughts you might have.

 

[Dana]

Any suggestions? May be heading down to that general area for work in a few weeks and don't really know a lot about the park, where the busy spots are, etc. I like/generally prefer ridge walks, open views, etc. Looks like a lot of possibilities on the satellite view but that can be deceiving. Appreciate any thoughts you might have.

Best to get a copy of the NY/NJ Trail Conference maps, they show all the trails and viewpoints. There's not a lot of extended ridge walking like there is farther north in the Whites, but there are some nice hikes. Avoid the area around the Visitor's Center parking on Seven Lakes Drive on weekends, ditto for the trails around Bear Mountain. The Suffern-Bear Mountain trail along the southeast side of the park has nice views all the way to NYC, not bare rock ridges but relatively open grassy summits. There are also good views from the trails around Bear Mt. The R-D trail over Bald Rocks also has nice views, though it too can get crowded and parking is limited. But Harriman's really about the forests and lakes. Note that camping is technically allowed only in the designated areas around the leantos (which, again, can get crowded), but there are a lot of good places for stealth camping.

 

[Daniel Eagan]

Telephone Pioneers Shelter near Pawling, NY, is right next to a waterfall. It's about 60 miles north of Manhattan, reachable by Metro North railroad on weekends. It's also on the Appalachian Trail, so it is usually crowded and not the most, uh, hygienic place to sleep. However, you can camp nearby instead of in the shelter.

 

[Daniel Eagan]

Any suggestions? May be heading down to that general area for work in a few weeks and don't really know a lot about the park, where the busy spots are, etc. I like/generally prefer ridge walks, open views, etc. Looks like a lot of possibilities on the satellite view but that can be deceiving. Appreciate any thoughts you might have.

In Harriman, Lichen Trail from Elk Pen parking lot is a beautiful ridge trail you can combine with several other trails to form a 7- or 8-mile loop. Or you can continue across Tom Jones Mt. to Tuxedo where there is a train station.

I prefer Schunemunk Mountain a little north of Harriman. If you start at the parking lot on Otterkill Road, you can climb two open ridges for an 8-mile loop. Views of NYC, the Hudson, Storm King, Breakneck Ridge. Usually not too crowded.

Breakneck Ridge also has long, open ridges, but it is usually prohibitively crowded.

 

[DayTrip]

Best to get a copy of the NY/NJ Trail Conference maps, they show all the trails and viewpoints. There's not a lot of extended ridge walking like there is farther north in the Whites, but there are some nice hikes. Avoid the area around the Visitor's Center parking on Seven Lakes Drive on weekends, ditto for the trails around Bear Mountain. The Suffern-Bear Mountain trail along the southeast side of the park has nice views all the way to NYC, not bare rock ridges but relatively open grassy summits. There are also good views from the trails around Bear Mt. The R-D trail over Bald Rocks also has nice views, though it too can get crowded and parking is limited. But Harriman's really about the forests and lakes. Note that camping is technically allowed only in the designated areas around the leantos (which, again, can get crowded), but there are a lot of good places for stealth camping.

Thanks for the suggestions. They have a decent online PDF map and you've mentioned a few areas that caught my attention, at least going off the topography, so I'll probably research those further and hopefully have time to get in there. Been on "the list" for awhile.

 

[BillyGr]

Telephone Pioneers Shelter near Pawling, NY, is right next to a waterfall. It's about 60 miles north of Manhattan, reachable by Metro North railroad on weekends. It's also on the Appalachian Trail, so it is usually crowded and not the most, uh, hygienic place to sleep. However, you can camp nearby instead of in the shelter.

Do note this one can be small if the weather is drier, but if you manage to hike in and then have a downpour overnight, you will definitely notice the difference crossing it to leave in the morning!

 

[DayTrip]

I prefer Schunemunk Mountain a little north of Harriman. If you start at the parking lot on Otterkill Road, you can climb two open ridges for an 8-mile loop. Views of NYC, the Hudson, Storm King, Breakneck Ridge. Usually not too crowded.

I finally got down there SAT and did Schunnemunk. What an awesome hike that is! A real gem. With the leaves down it was pretty much awesome views for virtually the entire hike. I parked on Otter Kill Rd as you suggested under the train trestle, went up the White trail, took the Orange Trail all the way down to the end where it joins the Yellow Trail and took that all the way back up to the Red Connector back to the White. Clocked in at 9.16 miles and 1,964 ft of vertical for loop. I absolutely love that type of terrain. That was about as close to a perfect hike as I can think of (other than the lack of real moutains nearby to look at of course).

I didn't realize it was opening day for rifle season though. I got a late start on purpose so the rain would clear out so I only met 4-5 hunters fortunately. The orange trail had a lot of posted land areas and I saw at least 4-5 hunting blinds not far off trail. Had no orange with me either. Fortunately no issues.

If you know of any other awesome ridge hikes like that let me know! I plan to hit Harriman next and do some loops in there.

 

[Daniel Eagan]

My wife and I have hiked Schunnemunk for over twenty-five years and it's never let us down.

In Harriman we like the Dunderberg Mt.–Timp Torne loop that starts at a parking lot on Rte. 9, just north of the big ship anchors. Go right on the Ramapo–Dunderberg trail over to Bald Mt. and then over to the Timp. From there we take the blue Timp Torne trail back to the parking lot. Not as open as Schunnemunk but good views, a plane wreck, and old mining tunnels.

Another loop starts west of there at the Anthony Wayne recreation area. We park at the farthermost lot, take the ski trail to the Ramapo–Dunderberg trail, follow it past Cat's Elbow and over to the Timp pass. (Up to the Timp and back from there is easy.) Then the Timp–Torne trail west up to the West Mt. lean-to with its view of Manhattan. The trail continues a long way across the West Mt. ridge with good views. The Fawn trail will take you down to the Anthony Wayne lot.

There's also an excellent loop around Pine Meadows Lake in southern Harriman starting at Kakiat Park off Rte. 202, but there are only two relatively short ridge sections.