Green Pond/Boston Mine Shorter Loop from Route 106
Directions to trailhead
Take N.Y. Route 17 north through Sloatsburg and Tuxedo. About 2.3 miles north of the Tuxedo railroad station, take the exit (on the left) for Route 17A. Turn right at the top of the ramp onto Kanawauke Road (formerly County Route 106) and continue for 2.2 miles to a Hikers' Trailhead Parking Area on the right, just beyond a sharp curve.. (If coming from the north, the exit for Route 17A is on the right, about one mile south of the intersection with Orange Turnpike in Southfields.)
Hike Description
From the parking area, cross the road and bear left onto the White Bar Trail, blazed with white horizontal rectangles. The trail parallels the road for about 500 feet, then turns right, crosses a stream on a metal culvert, and continues on a woods road. A short distance beyond, it bears right at a fork, crosses a stream on rocks, and continues along a grassy woods road.
In a quarter mile, the white-blazed Nurian Trail joins from the right (both trails are blazed white, but the Nurian blazes are vertical, rather than horizontal). Continue ahead on the woods road for about 500 feet, but when the two trails diverge, bear left and follow the Nurian Trail.
The Nurian Trail ascends gently on a footpath, soon crossing a narrow ridge in a stand of hemlocks. It continues through a dense thicket of mountain laurel and hemlock and, in half a mile, it turns right onto the grassy Island Pond Road, a woods road.
When the Nurian Trail turns left and departs from the road, continue ahead along Island Pond Road, now unmarked. In 200 feet, the yellow-blazed Dunning Trail joins from the left. Proceed ahead along the road, now heading uphill. When the Dunning Trail turns right at the crest of the rise, leave the road and follow the yellow blazes.
In 200 feet, the yellow blazes turn right, but you should continue ahead to the entrance of the Boston Mine. (see photo). This mine, last worked in 1880, is cut into the hillside, with a water-filled pit at the northern end. The mine entrance is usually quite wet, and caution should be exercised if you wish to explore the open mine cut. The water near the mine entrance is often a light brown color due to the presence of iron ore in the area.
After observing this interesting feature, retrace your steps and follow the yellow blazes back to Island Pond Road. Turn left onto the road, but when the Dunning Trail turns right, leave the road and follow the yellow blazes. You’ll briefly join the white-blazed Nurian Trail, but continue along the yellow-blazed Dunning Trail, which soon reaches the shore of pristine Green Pond, surrounded by reeds. Green Pond is one of the very few bodies of water in Harriman State Park that remains in its natural state, not having been enlarged by the construction of a dam.
The Dunning Trail follows a winding route along the northern end of Green Pond, crossing some rocky areas. At several places, it approaches the white-blazed Nurian Trail, so be careful to follow only the yellow blazes. After passing beneath an overhanging rock (see photo), the Dunning Trail climbs to a ledge overlooking the pond, then turns right, away from the pond. A short distance beyond, the Dunning Trail ends at another junction with the white-blazed Nurian Trail.
Turn right and follow the Nurian Trail back to Island Pond Road (crossing the Dunning Trail along the way). Although the two trails run roughly parallel to each other, they are very different, with the Nurian Trail following a more direct route further from the pond.
When you reach Island Pond Road, turn right, and continue following the unmarked road when the white blazes depart to the left. In three-quarters of a mile, the White Bar Trail joins from the left. Follow the White Bar Trail back to the parking area where the hike began.