Lakes of Harrison Park by Stony Point

• where:  Harriman state park near Stony Point, in Rockland and Orange Counties. 

• distance + climbing: There are two kinds of bike routes in Harriman State Park: hilly and hillier. Many variations possible, here's some options:

* Harriman Lakes starter (no loop) -- 12 miles, hilly (800 vertical feet, hill index 4.1) -- offers the most time lakeside riding for least work, but you ride each water-view section twice in different directions. [ cue sheet | map ]

* Lakes of Harriman Park (with loop) -- 23 miles, hillier (1850 vertical feet, hill index 5.0)  [ cue sheet | map ]

* Stony Point Lakes + River -- 35 miles, hilly  (3000 vertical feet, hill index 5.1) [ cue sheet | map ]

* Seven Lakes + Bear Mt to the River -- 27 miles (or more), very hilly (2800 vertical feet, hill index 6.7) [ cue sheet | map ]

* (other ideas see NYC to Bear Mt Adventure variations)

• mapping:  digital mapping resource + GPS . . .

* Harriman Lakes starter [ map on Bikely | download GPX ]

* Lakes of Harriman Park [ map on Bikely | download GPX ]

* Stony Point Lakes + River [ map on Bikely | download GPX ]

• highlights:  riding alongside pretty lakes with islands, forest with views under the trees, some fun descents. One route adds views alongside the Hudson River. Harriman Park has gotten popular with bicyclists.

• characteristics: 

Uphill climbing:  some steep and long hills -- see details below.

Traffic:  mostly avoids high-traffic roads, though at special times and seasons the Harriman Park roads might have substantial vehicle traffic.

• warning:  Riding a bicycle on roads has dangers and risks that need to be taken seriously.  For more on those, see our page on risks.

more . . . 

• directions to Start: 

by car: 

from south: I-287 to NY Thruway I-87 exit for Suffern (very near New Jersey border), then north on rt 17 to Sloatsburg, Right on Seven Lakes Drive into Harriman Park to Kanawauke Circle (parking area near west side)

or take Palisades Parkway to Willow Grove exit, then West on rt 98 / Willow Grove Rd up steep hill (later becomes rt 106) to Kanawauke Circle (parking area near west side)

from north: NY Thruway I-87 exit for Harriman + Bear Mt, then west on rt 6 to roundabout (Long Mt Circle), Right on Seven Lakes Drive to Tiorati Circle (parking area near west side) or continue to Kanawauke Circle (parking area near west side).

from east side of River: go west on Bear Mt Bridge over the Hudson River, at the roundabout take the 2nd exit for Palisades Parkway and go south, then take second exit for rt 6, which goes into a roundabout (Long Mt Circle). Take 2nd exit from roundabout onto Seven Lakes Drive and go southwest to Tiorati Circle or Kanawauke Circle.

GPS:

Kanawauke Circle [ map ] lat/long (approx) = (41.234139,-74.111302) = (N41.234139 W74.111302)

Tiorati Circle [ map ] lat/long (approx) = (41.275549,-74.087934) = (N41.275549 W74.087934)

Stony Point [ map ] (for the longer routes) : can look for legal parking somewhere around lat/long = (41.228895,-73.984036) = (N41.228895 W73.984036)

• maps:  You should have a detailed road map of Rockland County, NY to do the longer routes (see Road Maps). 

• climbing:

7 Lakes Dr: Kanawauke northeast to Tiorati Circle: about 250 vertical ft or climbing, including a section about 100 vertical ft at steepness around 5-7% grade.

7 Lakes Dr: from near Long Mt Circle southwest to Tiorati Circle: about 520 vertical ft, including a section about 70 vertical ft at steepness around 9-10% grade.  (used on Lakes of Harriman Park)

Tiorati Brook Rd: West from Lake Welch Dr: about 550 vertical ft, including a section of about 210 ft around 4-6%.  (not used in uphill direction in any route on this page)

Lake Welch Dr: southwest from Tiorati Brook:  about 625 vertical ft, including a section of 310 vertical ft at steepness around 7-9%.

rt 106: East from rt 17 / Ramapo River to Kanawauke Circle: about 565 vertical ft, inclu 275 vertical ft around 4-6% grade.  (not used in uphill direction in any route on this page)

Arden Valley Rd: East from rt 17 / Ramapo River to Tiorati Circle: about 675 vertical ft.  (used in West hills Variation of Lakes of Harriman Park)

rt 106: West from Cedar Flats Rd to Kanawauke Circle: about 1000 vertical ft, including a section of about 350 vertical ft at steepness around 6-7% grade.  (used in Stony Point Lakes + River)

Mott Farm Rd / route 118: about 275 vertical ft, including a section of 150 vertical ft around 8-10% grade.

Cedar Flats Rd west from Mott Farm Rd: about 130 vertical ft, including a section of 50 ft at steepness around 10-14% grade.