Lake Nawahunta Sunset and Snow

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Menomine Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 0:40 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.6 Miles

Pros: Quiet and scenic lake
Cons: None

I was off from work, but did not have a chance to get out for a hike until the end of the day. So I drive through Seven Lakes Drive at the end of the day, parked at Silvermine Lake, and took the Menomine Lake towards Lake Nawahunta. It was a cold winter day, with a fresh coating of snow from the small storm in the morning. Once at the inlet of the lake, I took an unmarked trail south along the west side of the lake, and then turned around and went back the same way.

Map of the Route

Black Mountain and Silvermine Lake

Ski Jumps and Sunset at Silvernmine Lake

Menomine Trail

Lake Nawahunta

Lake Nawahunta

Menomine Trail in a Large Pine Forest

Felled Tree with Snow in Lake Nawahunta

Lake Nawahunta

Lake Nawanunta

Lake Nawahunta

Lake Nawahunta, Sunset

Stockbridge Mountain

Harriman State Park
Orange County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Menomine Trail: Yellow blaze
Long Path: Green blaze
Lake Tiorati Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 1:45 hours
Estimated Distance: 4.2 miles
Level of Difficulty: Slightly Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Not Recommended
Points Of Interest: Very quiet part of the park

Hiking Partners:
S&M Rosenberg
Yehuda Koblick
Mordy Weiss

Google Maps of Parking:
Start:

View 2012 Hiking in a larger map

Finish:

View 2012 Hiking in a larger map

Stockbridge Mountain is a long mountain going across the northwest portion of Harriman State Park. It is a fairly quiet part of the park with few hikers visiting this area. This hike involves a good stretch of the Long Path which I had never hiked before, so I wanted to hike its length. However, I was a bit disappointed that despite its elevation there were no views. So while this trail is very tranquil, there are no views.

For the hike, we parked the first car at the Lake Tiorati picnic area by Tiorati Circle, and then all went further to the Silvermine Lake picnic area and parked there. (note: there is an $8 charge to park at both these places on Sunday's in the summer.) We hiked up the Menomine Trail, crossing Seven Lakes Drive and passing along the side of Lake Nawahunta. After this the trail climbs the mountain and intersects the Long Path. we headed south on the Long Path along the ridge of Stockbridge Mountain all the way down to Arden Valley Road, and then took the road to the short Lake Tiorati Trail back to the car.

Map of the Route

Lake Nawahunta, near the beginning of the hike

Our group of hikers, minus Shimmy the photographer

Typical forest scene above Stockbridge Mountain

Most of our group at the summit rock.

Stockbridge Mountain

Harriman State Park,
Orange County,
New York

Trails:
Menomine Trail (Yellow Blaze)
Appalachian Trail (White Blaze)

Total Time: 1:50 hr
Estimated Distance: 3.3 miles

Hiking Partner:
My Father-in-law Dr. Morris Schulgasser

Stockbridge Mountain is one of the lesser-traveled areas of Harriman. This hike is a little-known yet beatiful hike. The weather condition was very foggy which really restricted any views. We started in the Silvermine parking area off 7 Lakes Drive, and took the Menomine trail west. Near the beginning of the hike the trail is parallel to the road, and for the first time after being here many times actually noticed an old cemetary that the trail passes right through. There are some restore plaques stating that members of the Lewis Family are buried here.

Continued along the trail alongside Lake Nawahunta, and started the ascent up Stockbridge Mountain until the intersection with the Appalachian Trail. Headed north on the Appalachian and up the shelter, and then started descending to the "Cave Shelter". The Cave Shelter is a rock formation of massive boulders that are stacked and forming caves and passageways that you can actually squeeze through quite deeply. Its a highly recommended place to check out.

From the Cave Shelter took the unmarked trail which is shown on the Trail Conference Map, though I must say this trail is pretty worn out and hard to keep track of. After hitting the Menomine Trail again we continued the descent, and at the bottom veered off the path to check out the Lewis (Dunn) Mine and explore the pit. From there headed back on the Menomine and back to the car.

Map of the Route.

Plaque at the Lewis Cemetery along the Menomine Trail.
Note this cemetery is not mentioned on the maps.

Lake Nawahunta in the fog. North shore.

Lake Nawahunta in the fog. Stockbridge Mountain
rises from behind but is covered in the fog.

Ascending the AT before the shelter at the top
of Stockbridge Mountain.

Me at the final ascent before the shelter.

Stockbridge Mountain shelter.
The fog was even more thick at the top.

Think Passage in the Cave Shelter

Rock Formations at the Cave Shelter.

One of the exits at the Cave Shelter.
I crawled out from under the left, barely making it through.

Main shaft of the Lewis (Dunn) Mine.

Sterling Mine Ski Area/Lewis Mine

Harriman State Park
Orange County,
New York

Trails:
Ski Trail: Unmarked
Menomine Trail: Yellow blaze
Nawahunta Fire Road: Unmarked

Hiking Partner:
David Bernstein

Total Time: 2:00 hr
Estimated Distance: 3.25 Miles

I had scheduled to meet with David Bernstein and go explore the Lewis Mine (also known as the Dunn Mine). This is an old abandoned iron mine and it was a while since I was last there. I had gotten to the parking area a bit early so decided to climb the abandoned Ski Trail before David arrived. I climbed up the left Ski trail to the top of the mountain, and bushwacked down the side down towards the Menomine Trail on the shore of the lake, and then back to the parking area where I encountered David. From there David and I took the Menomine trail the other way, west, across 7 Lakes Drive and we veered off on the Nawahunta Fire Road.

The Lewis Mine is only about a 1000 feet from the start of the Nawahunta Fire Road, and its right off the trail on the right. We went in and explored a bit, then continued further along the Fire Road for a short while and then turned around and looked for the upper portion of the mine, which is a bit further off the trail and hard to find. From there we bushwacked up the top and then back down towards 7 Lakes Drive, and back to the parking area where we started.

Map of the route

The Ski Trail from the parking area.
There is about half inch of snow on the ground.

Looking down towards the parking area
while climbing the ski trail

Looking north towards Bear Mountain
from the Silvermine Summit

Descending Silvermine Mountain
bushwacking towards the lake

Silvermine Lake from the shore. The Lake is frozen.

Silvermine Lake from the Menomine Trail

The Lewis Mine

Strange Icicle Formations growing inside the mine.

The hidden upper part of the Lewis Mine.

Silver Mine Mountain

Harriman State Park,
Orange County
New York

Trails:
Silver Mine Ski Trail: Unmarked
Menomine Trail: Yellow Blaze

Total Time: 1.2 Hours
Total Distance: 2.2 Miles

Hiking Partner:
Sruli Rosenberg

It was a cold day but the sun was strong. Kept on driving on 7 Lakes Drive to see if any lakes were frozen, and when we got to Silver Mine Lake (the most northern on 7 Lakes Drive) and saw it too was not fully frozen, we abandoned the idea of a frozen lake hike and just decided to hike the old  abandoned ski lifts.

Hiked up the steep northern lift, which was difficult because of the ice on the trail. At the top I had attempted a short bushwack to the unmarked trail which leads back down south towards the unmarked road, but once I reached this trail it was hardly discernible and totally overgrown. The trail should really be removed from the maps as it is misleading. Bushwacked towards the woods road in the valley south of Silver Mine Mountain, and then headed east towards the Menomine Trail. Heading north on the Menomine Trail along the edge of Silver Mine Lake, and headed back to the car.

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Map of the route

Ascending the old Ski Trail

Sruli on the Ski Trail ascent

At the top looking northeast

toward Popolopen Torne

Sruli climbing an old pole near the top

At the top looking north across 7 Lakes Drive

At the top looking northeast

towards Bear Mountain

Sruli challenged on the ice-covered

Menomine Trail

Sruli sitting on frozen Silver Mine Lake

Me on frozen Silver Mine Lake

Me on a small rock island on the lake

Silver Mine Lake Loop

Harriman State Park,
Orange County
New York

Trails:
Menomine Trail: Yellow Blaze
Woods Road: Unblazed
Appalachian Trail (AT): White Blaze

Total Time: 2 Hours
Total Distance: 3 Miles

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg 

This hike takes the record as the most brutal hike in regards to the weather. This was the coldest day of the season with the combined windchills. The weather was in the teens, and the wind was continuously gusting to over 45 MPH, giving windchill values below 0. There was a Wind Advisory posted by the National Weather Service due to the punishing winds. In addition to the cold and wind, the snow was falling. It kept snowing throughout the hike and the wind picking up and blowing the snow was incredible. We had dressed extremely well for this hike, not letting any of body be exposed. I was even wearing a ski mask and ski goggles to keep everything warm and cozy. In fact, we hardly felt the brutality of the weather considering how we were dressed.

I had initially wanted to go hiking across a like, but the park service rangers had not yet allowed walking on the frozen lake. We started at the Silvermine Lake parking area, and hiked on the Menomine Trail along the side of the lake. Continued along till the intersection of the unmarked trail/Woods Road. Now we had intended to take the other unmarked trail sput to the top of the abandoned ski lift and hike down the ski lift trail, but due to the extremely poor visibility and snow covered ground we had entirely missed this trail and kept on going straight, until we hit the Appalachian Trail. Took the AT for just a short distance until we hit 7 Lakes Drive, and then went along 7 Lakes Drive northbound. The road was totally covered with snow and there were hardly any cars out, so this normally busy road felt more like a hiking trail then a road. Took the road until it intersected with the Menomine Trail, and then took the Menomine Trail east back towards the Silver Mine Lake Parking area and back to the car. Went home and had some HOT chicken soup.

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Map of the Route

Me at the beginning of the hike.

Abandoned ski lift in the background.

Me and Shimmy at beginning of hike

From the Menomine Trail

with Silver Lake in the Background

Me standing on the frozen Silver Lake

Taking off my ski mask for the pose.

The wind howling and snow blowing

across the lake

Menomine Trail in the woods

Me hiking the Menomine Trail

as it ascends the mountain

Walking along 7 Lakes Dr.

The old skiing parking lot

Back at the trailhead.

The sun is coming out just a little bit

and a few crazy folks are sledding down

the old ski slope