Lake Frozen Lake Skanatati / Lake Askoti Pine Swamp Loop

Harriman State Park
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Long Path: Green Blaze
Dunning Trail: Yellow Blaze
Arden-Surebridge Trail: Red blaze
Red Cross Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.8 Miles

Pros: Scenic Frozen Lakes, Pretty area
Cons: None
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Difficult in snowy conditions

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/Lfu9Mivix81tYe7S7

Several of the Harriman Lakes were frozen after a prolonged period of freezing temperatures. The weather was particularly cold this Sunday, which required me to really bundle up. I wanted to combine a frozen lake hike with some trails and easy climbing, so this was a good choice.

There were several inches of snow on the ground, and I was well dressed for the ocassion. I parked at the Lake Skanatati / Lake Askoti parking area on Seven Lakes Drive, and walked across the frozen lake to the dam. I then walked in the middle of the lake to the end at the Long Path, and took the long path up and down some ridges to the Dunning Trail. I took the Dunning Trail past the Pine Swamp and Pine Swamp Mine, and then took the Arden-Surebridge Trail, and then climbing down the Red Cross Trail. I crossed over Seven Lakes Drive, and then went along Lake Askoti from its north point to south point. I took the Long Path down along the stream and then back to my car.

Map of the Route

Lake Skanatati

Lake Skanatati Dam

Mountain Laurel Forest on the Long Path

Pine Swamp

Dunning Trail Greenery

Pine Swamp Mine

Lake Askoti

Kakiat Snow Old Mill Loop

Kakiat County Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Old Mill Trail: Blue blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze
Mountain Trail: Orange blaze

Total Time: 25 minutes
Estimated Distance: 0.9 miles

Pros: Scenic in fresh snow
Cons: None
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/ioEyMegS497PSDz57

This hike was in the midst of a snow, with a light, wet snow. I took the opportunity to get out on a short hike and enjoy the scenery. I parked at the Kakiat parking area, took the Old Mill Trail to the Old Mill, and then took the Kakiat Trail to the Mountain Trail which I took back to my car.

Map of the Route

Mahwah River Bridge

Mahwah River

Mountain Trail

Old Mill Trail

Old Mill

Long Pond Ironworks State Park /
Tranquility Ridge County Park,
Passaic Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Sterling Ridge Trail: Blue Blaze
Hasenclever Iron Trail: Yellow Blaze

Total Time: 1:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.9 Miles

Pros: Scenic Frozen Lake, Historic District
Cons: Confusing Trail Marker at north end of Monksville Reservoir
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/E7Am9F3K2FMZgJSs8

The past week had been very cold. I had checked the Harriman office if the lakes there were listed as safe to walk on, but non were open. I drove towards Wawayanda, and noticed that the northern part of the Monksville Reservoir had many people on it, mostly ice fisherman but also a group of people playing hockey.

It was frozen without any snow, making conditions very slippery. I had ice crampons, otherwise this walk on the lake would have been nearly impossible. I parked at the parking area/boat launch area on Beech Road, and walked across the lake to the Long Pond Ironworks main area, passing many of the abandoned historical houses along the way. I visited the iron furnaces, and then crossed the new bridge, taking the Hasenclever Iron Trail up the ridge and then back down to the reservoir. I hiked around the northern end of the Monksville Reservoir, and then took Beech Road back to my car.

Map of the Route. Note the map is prior to the Reservoir.

Hockey Team on the Frozen Lake