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Dater Mountain Nature County Park Hike

Total Distance: 4.75 miles
Difficulty: moderate (600'+ total elevation gain)
Estimated hiking time: 3+ hours

From the parking area take the White Bar trail (white blazes) until you reach a left hand turn onto the Kakiat trail (also white blazes). Make a left onto the Kakiat trail. Take the Kakiat trail until you reach the beginning of an (unnamed) orange blazed trail. Go straight onto the orange blazed trail and take it until you reach a (unnamed) blue blazed trail. Go straight (veer slightly right) onto the blue blazed trail.

Take the blue trail until you reach the marked end of the blue trail. About 30'+ further on the (now unmarked) trail you will reach a "T" intersection with the orange trail. Make a left onto the orange blazed trail when you intersect it. At the end of orange blazed trail go straight (no left turn) onto the Kakiat trail and take it until you the Blue Disc trail (blue blazes, could be better marked at key points!). When (soon!) the Blue Disc and Kakiat trails diverge veer right to stay on the Blue Disc trail and take the Blue Disc trail back to the parking area.

References: New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Map #118 (Southern Harriman Bear Mountain Trails)

Driving Directions from New York City

Take the George Washington Bridge to the Palisades Interstate Parkway heading north. In about 19 miles exit the parkway at exit 9W onto the Thruway (Route 87/287) which heads west. About 10 miles later, exit the Thruway at exit 15A. At the exit turn left onto Route 17 North. After about 2.5 miles, just north of the main street area in Sloatsburg, make a right onto Seven Lakes Drive.

In a little more than half a mile make a left turn onto Johnsontown Road. There are actually two places to turn left from Seven Lakes Drive on to Johnsontown Road, either one is fine. If you make the first possible left turn then proceed straight after the turn (to the circular dead end). If you miss the first opportunity to turn left then take the second and then make a right at the "T" which you will shortly come to. In a little over a mile until you reach a circular dead end where you should park (N 41.18003, W 74.16350). The entire trip is about 41 miles and should take less than an hour.

Public Transportation

N/A

Click here for What to Bring on a Hike

Click here for Information for Group Hikes

 
The circular dead-end of Johnsontown Road (park here). The hike starts with the White Bar trail located on the far side of the circle. (September 2009)   The trail head for the White Bar trail is above. Note the three white blazes in a triangular pattern on the tree at right.  These blazes signify the start/end of the White Bar trail. (September 2009)
 
The beginning/end of the Blue Disc trail and the endpoint of this hike, note the three trail markers on the tree at right in a triangular formation. (November 2009)   The hike (and the Blue Disc trail) ends on the left just before the parking area at the far end of the road. (November 2009)
     

Questions: Michael Brochstein

 Last updated: 11/2009

Copyright © 2009 Michael Brochstein. All rights reserved.