Lemon Squeezer Trail

The Lemon Squeezer is Harriman State Park's most celebrated geological curiosity—a narrow slot canyon carved through Precambrian granite where hikers must turn sideways and squeeze through walls of rock barely 18 inches apart. Located along the Island Pond Mountain massif, this short but demanding out-and-back route gains 800 feet through relentless boulder scrambling before funneling into the famous squeeze at roughly the 1.5-mile mark. The passage requires removing daypacks and passing them through separately; dogs and large framed packs cannot navigate the slot. Above the Lemon Squeezer the trail emerges onto open rock slabs with sweeping views across the Seven Lakes District and the Ramapo Valley. The route follows a section of the Long Path, marked in aqua blue blazes, connecting to the broader Harriman trail network. Hikers frequently combine this trail with the adjacent Appalachian Trail for a longer loop. The rocks are dangerously slippery when wet, and the slot itself can accumulate ice into late April. Bring sturdy footwear with ankle support; the footing is consistently technical from trailhead to summit.