Sunday, February 8, 2015

Silvermine Ski Hill and Frozen Lake

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Ski Trails: Unblazed
Menomine Trail: Yellow blaze

Total time: 0:55 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.6 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended in the winter
Points of Interest: Ski trails, frozen lakes
Pros: Interesting spot, scenic lake
Cons: Lots of people here on weekends

The weather had been freezing cold and all the lakes in Harriman remained frozen. This was again one of those few days where the temperature reached about 30 degrees. There was a lot of snow on the ground from all the storms, and towards the end of this hike it started snowing pretty heavily in the area.

I parked at the Silvermine Lake Parking area off of 7 Lakes Drive, and noticed this lake was much better off than Lake Welch, with lots of fisherman on the lake. So I felt more confident and crossed the road and walked across the length of Lake Askoti. There were also alot of people sledding down the old ski slopes. I climbed up the right slope, passing through all the sledders, and then at the top cut across to the left slope and climbed down. From there I took the Menomine Trail along the side of the lake, and then after the bend at a wide area of the lake, I cut across on the frozen lake and hiked back to the inlet of the lake before returning to my car.

Map of the Route. Harriman/Bear Mountain State Park
Northern Map

The large group of people sledding on the old ski trails

Ascending the old Ski Trails with the Sledders

Climbing up the Old Ski Trail

Sledders Climbing the Trail Behind Me

Hiker Near the Top of One of the Ski Trails

At the Beginning of the Menomine Trail

Beech Forest with Trees that Haven't Fully Lost Their Leaves
on the Menomine Trail

People Walking on Silvermine Lake,
Picture Taken from Menomine Trail

Silvermine Lake Looking Towards Black Mountain

Silvermine Lake Looking Towards the Mountain of the Ski Trails


Panorama in Middle of Silvermine Lake

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