Island Pond Loop (Moderate Hike)

Let's celebrate Labor Day with some enjoyable physical effort. This is a classic AMC summer hike, and we are happy to once again be able to offer it to you. We will follow the ups and downs of the trails around Island Pond in Harriman State Park. The hike is rated Moderate under the new system, and 3C8 under the old system. The pace will be moderate, and the total distance will be 7 - 10 miles. The basic hike will cover around 7 miles, but if you are up for adding some distance and giving yourself more of a workout, one of our co-leaders will be happy to do that with you. If we pass a legal swimming area, it may be possible to take a dip, so bring a swimsuit and towel if you are interested in doing that.

Please bring a lunch, snacks, and least 1-2 quarts of water to drink. Sunscreen and insect repellent are also recommended. Dress for a full day of hiking, and wear appropriate footwear - hiking boots or hiking shoes are best.

The group will meet up at the Elk Pen parking lot (41.26485855133299, -74.1543330331846) at 11:00 a.m., and proceed from there. If you can offer rides or need a ride, please post it in the chat.

A note on public transportation: it is possible to take the Short Line bus from New York City - you must buy a ticket for Tuxedo Park and ask the driver to let you off at the intersection of Route 17 and Arden Valley Road, at which point you walk east over to the Elk Pen. You could also take the NJ Transit train from Penn Station to Tuxedo Park, and then a taxi to Elk Pen. Unfortunately, there are no return buses at this location, so you would have to either hitch a ride or call a cab to take you to Tuxedo Park or Sloatsburg, and then catch the train back to the city.

Please register below. A bad weather forecast will cancel the hike, so please check before you leave. The group size is limited to 25 people. The hike is being co-led by Tim Burrows, Nicholas Reitter, and Jane Davis. Feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.

AMC website listing:
https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UUN000001bYtN2AU/act00015645