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Johnsontown Road - Diamond Mountain Circular

Total Distance: 6 miles
Difficulty: moderate (900'+ total elevation gain)
Estimated hiking time: 4+ hours

From the parking area take the White Bar trail (white blazes) until you reach a right hand turn onto the Kakiat trail (also white blazes). Make a right onto the Kakiat trail. Take the Kakiat trail until you reach the Hillburn-Torne Sebago trail (orange blazes, go past the yellow blazed Stony Brook trail).

Make a left onto the HTS trail and take it until its terminus where you will intersect the Tuxedo-Mount Ivy trail (red blazes). Make a left onto the TMI trail and take it until you intersect the White Bar trail. On the TMI trail you will skirt the southern edge of Lake Sebago and there is a short narrow unmarked trail on the right from the TMI that goes a small rock outcropping by the lake that is a nice lunch spot (the Dutch Doctor Shelter, see below, is another place one might eat lunch).

Veer right onto the White Bar trail and take it until you see the Dutch Doctor Shelter on your right. Check out the shelter and then reverse direction on the on the White Bar trail and take it 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 and finishes 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 Dutch Doctor Shelter located on the White Bar trail just north of its intersection with the Tuxedo-Mount Ivy trail. (September 2009)    
     
Lake Sebago, at the recommended lunch spot. (November 2009)
     

Questions: Michael Brochstein

 Last updated: 7/2010

Copyright © 2009-2010 Michael Brochstein. All rights reserved.