Nurian Trail

The Nurian Trail is a marked trail in Harriman State Park. It was created in 1929 by Kerson Nurian. Calling it the "Short Trail", the Nurian Trail goes for 3.4 miles and is blazed white. Notable places along the way are non-existant except for one landmark, Green Pond Mountain.

Mileposts 0.0 - 1.65
The Nurian Tral begins at the Red Apple Rest, where the Short Line Bus stops in Southfields, New York. Walk next to the tracks for about .25 of a mile, and you'll see a triple white blaze on a utility pole. The Nurian Trail continues with the tracks for about 1/10 of a mile and turns right onto a woods road. At a 1/4 mile, you cross over the Ramapo River and at .35 of a mile, over the New York State Thruway. From that point, the Nurian Trail continues on Old Arden Road, turning right and uphill at .65 of a mile. The Nurian Trail climbs 320 feet to the summit of Green Pond Mountain and slowly begins to descend. During the way down, a cement box-like structure can be found at 1.2 miles. At 1.4 miles, the Nurian Trail reaches a park road that is paved. Just before the paved road, the trail crosses a woods road. If you follow down this trail you'll reach the Appalachian and Arden-Surebridge Trails. Also down this road is the Elk's Pen. The Elk's Pen is a meadow where a bunch of elks were caged up until 1942. The Nurian Trail turns left onto the paved road and follows the outlet brook of Lake Stahahe. The trail leaves the paved road near a septic tank and ascends at 1.65 miles.

Mileposts 1.66 - 3.4
From this point, Milepost 1.66, the trail continues ascend near Island Pond Brook and at 1.9 miles, reaches a vague, unmarked trail that takes you to the Appalachian Trail. At 2.05 miles, the Nurian Trail meets up with the start of the Dunning Trail (yellow-blaze). After bending to the left, the Nurian and Dunning Trails meet again, this time joining together. The two trails run together for 125 feet, the trails split again. The Nurian Trail turns right onto Island Pond Road and turns off about 125 feet later. The Nurian Trail meets up with the white-rectangular blazed White Bar Trail at 2.85. The two trails join together for about 1/10 of a mile and split again. The Nurian Trail begins to climb Black Rock Mountain. On the way up, the Nurian Trail ends at the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail, 3.4 miles from the start.

History
The Nurian Trail was established in 1929 by Kerson Nurian. In 1934, the new Dunning Trail, named after James Dunning, had used part of the Nurian Trail, something Kerson would not tolerate. He painted out the new red markers from Stahahe Brook to Island Pond Road. Dunning re-routed his trail and the problems resolved.