The Long Path through Harriman State Park. April 22 and 23, 2026. Once again, I found myself on the Long Path for a National Recreation Trail hike.
This segment was designated in 1971, and the NRT database listed 16 miles but had only a written description of one specific 1.8-mile loop over Long Mountain. Many thanks to Mike Burlington, NRT’s web developer and content manager, for sending me the original application so I could figure out if the designated bit is indeed the longer stretch or just the little loop. Turns out it’s the longer stretch.
Did the southernmost 15-16 miles yesterday…and it kicked my butt. The terrain wasn’t difficult and elevation gain was only 2300-ish feet, but I guess my body isn’t used to that kind of mileage anymore. Took tons of CBD last night. This morning’s hike was easier and consisted of the northern bits of trail. Nice views from Long Mountain toward Bear Mountain State Park.
The photos show the overall terrain and include a couple pictures of Flight 6231’s crash site. The plane was en route to Buffalo from JFK in 1974 to pick up the Buffalo Colt’s team, and it ran into trouble shortly after take-off due to iced-over pitot tubes. The three crew members, John Lagorio, Gerald White, and Donald Fogel, did not survive.
