AboutWounded Knee Expertise I can advise on anything having to do with hiking and backpacking skills and equipment, including map and compass and orienteering skills. I cannot advise on the use of GPS devices. I cannot advise on car camping or group camping (10 or more people). My primary geographic expertise is in the US Northeast, but I know how to find information on hiking and backpacking just about anywhere.
Experience I've been hiking and backpacking for about 40 years, including ongoing section hiking of the Appalachian Trail (almost 1300 miles so far). I have hiked extensively in the New York Metropolitan Area, as well as various other areas from Virginia north, including upstate New York, New England, and Eastern Canada.
Publications New York Walk Book, 7th Ed. New Jersey Walk Book, 2nd Ed.
Education/Credentials Not applicable to this area of expertise.
Question Hello,
I was just wanting to get your insight on a couple things. First off, are there any places that you would recommend to go in Bear Mountain for camping that is off the beaten path?(i.e. more secluded and not around other groups) I was looking on the map at bald rocks or times square, but from what i have read it has a lot of traffic. I saw that at pleasant valley/time pass is a good spot but i could not find it on the map. Also, if i try to camp away from the designated areas, are there rangers that go around and try to enforce the camping and fire issue. I am a responsible camper and believe in leaving no trace behind, but i just do not want trouble. Thanks in advance for any help!
-Jordan
Answer The problem with Harriman/Bear Mountain is that there really isn't much that doesn't have fairly heavy traffic. It is, after all, within a 50 mile radius of one of the most heavily populated metropolitan areas in the world. But here's something to consider: heavy traffic from the day hiker crowd does not necessarily equal crowded campsites at night. Some of the shelters see fewer campers than others. Big Hill and Stone Memorial shelters fall into this category, and to a lesser extent, so do the Dutch Doctor and Stockbridge shelters. The Stone Memorial shelter has an intermittent water source nearby, and the Dutch Doctor has a reliable stream. The other two shelters are bone dry, so you'll have to bring in your own water.
Your other possibility is to select some lake shore. Many of the lakes and ponds in Harriman have decent tent sites, although some of them can be quite popular. I would avoid Pine Meadow Lake for this reason, and Island Pond as well (it has a boater's access road). There's a group of reservoirs along the east central area of the park -- the Second and Third Reservoirs are accessible by trails or woods roads and I've seen a number of decent tent sites near each of them. Since they're reservoirs, you're really not supposed to camp by them, but if you're careful about your Leave No Trace technique, you should be OK -- just bury your waste at least 100 yards away from the water.
I have almost never seen any rangers out enforcing regulations, but that's no guarantee that it never happens. I'm not sure what you mean by "pleasant valley/time pass." Are you referring to the Timp Pass? If so, that's a possible camping area, but it's popular with the day hikers and there's no water that I can recall.
The above should give you enough info to get started, and you can follow up if you have additional questions.
