Frozen Silvermine Lake, Harriman State Park,

Orange Co.,
New York

Total Time: 1:15 hours
Estimated Distance: 2.0 miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult snow conditions
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Points of Interest: Frozen lake
Pros: Hike on a lake
Cons: None

Hiking Partner:
Eli Shulman

Google Map of Parking:

View 2014 Hiking Locations in a larger map


I had gone hiking in this area on January 1st when I was off for New Years, and although the lake was frozen back then, it was still not thick enough and not safe to walk upon. I decided I would return when the lake fully freezes. Well, this was my return, with all the lakes fully frozen over after four weeks of pretty much consistent below-freezing temperatures (with the exception of the previous weekend).

We started at the Silvermine parking area, and headed along the lake in a southeast direction. When we hit the east shore of the lake we took the fire road towards the Appalachian trail. We had intended to hike across the lake and up the fire road to the Appalachian Trail to Black Mountain, but due to the very difficult conditions we turned around halfway up and went back to the lake. There were two big snowstorms that dropped about eight inches each in the past week, and the second storm put a thick layer of ice atop the snow which made climbing really difficult. So we trudged back down the mountain cutting across by the fire road bend to the southern shore of the lake. We then headed on the lake near the southern shore and then western shore across the lake and back to the parking area.

Map of the Route. Harriman-Bear Mnt State Parks Northern Map

At the Beginning Parking Area with the Old Ski Slope.
This Area is now used by Sledders

Approaching the Frozen Lake

Menomine Trail Marker Peeking Out of an Exposed Rock

Me at the Beginning of the Lake

Silvermine Lake Looking Towards Black Mountain

Silvermine Lake Looking East

Eli in the Deep Snow and Ice on the Lake

Me  on a Rock Island

Ditto

Eli on the Rock Island With a Snowy Piece of Ice

Mountain-Shaped Snow Covering Rocks Approaching the Lake Again

Silvernine Lake from the North Shore

Silvermine Lake Looking South

Silvermine Lake Looking West Towards Seven Lakes Drive

Approaching the Ranger Buildings at the end of the Lake
Near the Parking Area