Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York
Hiking Trails:
Menomine Trail: Yellow blaze
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze
Silvermine Road: Unblazed
Total Time: 2:35
Estimated Distance: 4.5 miles
Pros: Great views, scenic lake, good climb
Cons: None
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Map of Route:
https://goo.gl/maps/GEk4bcvDwwPcvUCb6
Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick
This was a cold January day, and were surprised to see snow cover on the ground once we entered the higher elevation of Harriman State Park. We parked in the Silvermine parking area, and crossed the bridge towards the old ski hills. We took the Menomine Trail alongside Silvermine Lake, and then continued on the trail as it climbed up Letterock Mountain. We then took the combined Appalachian/Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail up the steep climb past the Letterock Shelter. We continued on the combined trail along the ridge and the descended to the valley where Silvermine Road was.
We crossed Silvermine Road and took the trail up the new stairs to the Black Mountain view. This area was recently refurbished with new stone steps. On my hike the week prior, I met a hiker on Storm King who told me about the newly refurbished trail, so I had wanted to check it out. It was indeed as he said, and in fact I met him there atop the Black Mountain view. We continued east past the view overlooking Silvermine Lake, ascending along the ridge to the summit of Black Mountain, where there is another great view.
We then turned around and went back down Black Mountain along the new steps, and then took Silvermine Road further down alongside the eastern side of Silvermine Lake. We then crossed the Queensboro Brook past the dam, and took the path the northern side of the lake and back to the parking area.
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| Map of the Route |
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| Old Ski Hills at the Beginning of the Hike |
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| Snow Covered Area at the Beginning of the Hike |
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| Silvermine Lake at the Beginning |
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| Trail Sign at the Menomine Trail |
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| Beautiful View of Silvermine Lake |
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| Fallen Tree in Silvermine Lake |
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| Ascending the Mountain on the Snowy Menomine Trail |
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| Mountain Laurel Evergreens and Snow |
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| Tents at the Letterrock Shelter |
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| Me at the Letterrock Shelter on the Appalachian Trail |
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| Me at the new Steps on the Appalachian Trail up Black Mountain |
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| View of the Step up Black Mountain |
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| Yehudah Ascending Black Mountain |
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| More Newly Hewn Rock Steps |
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| Snow at the top of Black Mountain |
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| Black Mountain View Looking Towards Silvermine Lake |
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| Silvermine Lake |
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| Black Mountain View |
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| Me at the First Black Mountain View |
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| Yehudah at the First Black Mountain View |
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| Lone Pine Tree at the First Black Mountain View |
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| View from the Black Mountain Ridge, Facing South Towards Silvermine Road |
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| View of Haverstraw and Palisades from Black Mountain |
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| Scenery Atop Black Mountain |
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| View from the Black Mountain Summit, Facing Southeast |
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| View from the Black Mountain Summit, With the Manhattan Skyline in the Distance |
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| View from the Black Mountain Summit |
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| Me at the Black Mountain Summit |
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| View Facing East/Southeast to the Hudson River |
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| Yehudah at the Black Mountain Summit |
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| Zoomed in Towards Haverstraw from Black Mountain |
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| Pine Trees at the Black Mountain View |
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| Small Waterfall Below the Silvermine Lake Dam |
Hey Heshy,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post, did you have trouble crossing the Queenboro brook? Is there a plank there now or you had to cross through the water?
It's somewhat difficult when the water level is high. The flow of water was strong but there were enough rocks making it crossable. Though I have been here in a rainy season where crossing was more difficult.
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