Frozen Lake Tiorati Dam and Islands

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.
New York

Total Time: 1:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.0 Miles

Pros: Scenic islands and large frozen lake
Cons: None

Hiking Partners:
David Engel
Morty Rosenberg

This was the first frozen lake hike of the season. Due to the freezing temperatures all week, including sub-zero temperatures, the lakes were frozen with ice 10 inches thick. We had decided to go to Lake Tiorati, and parked at the parking area for ice fisherman on Seven Lakes Drive that is only open during the icy season.

We climbed over the hill behind the parking lot, walking through the picnic area, and headed over along the frozen lake towards the southern island, the smaller of the two major islands on the lake. Along the way we encountered many ice fisherman, and most were catching small yellow perch in abundance.

After reaching the southern island, we walked through it from its southern point, and exited near the end on the western side. We found a thick rope there attached to a tree, which we swung across. We then headed towards the northern island, and walked along the path in the middle of the island, exiting at its northern end in a thick evergreen forest of rhododendron and mountain laurel.

We then headed north near the northern end of the lake, and then headed east towards the short by the dock area of the camp. We exited the lake and walked along in the camp area for a short distance before heading back to the lake. We then walked to the eastern end fo the lake, exiting by the dam, and walked across the closed road by the dam, and then going back into the frozen lake, heading west back towards the parking area and our car.

Map of the Route

Me and David in the Picnic Area near the Parking Area

Me and David on a Chair on the Lakeshore

Morty Jumping into the Lake

Frozen Lake Tiorati

David at a Fishing Hole with a Fisherman

Lake Tiorati, Facing North

Fisherman in the Distance on Lake Tiorati

Fisherman with a Freshly Caught Yellow Perch

David Inspecting the Yellow Perch

Me on the Southern Island

Morty Swinging on the Island Rope 

David Swinging on the Island Rope 

Morty Getting More Comfortable Swinging on the Island Rope 

View of the North Island from the South Island

Lake Tiorati from the Middle of the Lake

Lush Greenery on the Northern Island

Morty and David in the Rhododendron Forest

Isolated Pine Tree on the Northern Edge of the Northern Island

Morty Doing Push Ups on the Frozen Lake

Morty and David

Rocky Hills along the Eastern Side of Lake Tiorati

Dock Area at the Camp

Facing West from the Eastern Seashore of Lake Tiorati

Morty Doing More Excercise

David and Morty

Frozen Lake Tiorati Dam

Me and Morty on Tiorati Brook Drive

Icy Slide on the Southern End of the Lake

Me on Lake Tiorati

Beech Trail Hasenclever Red Cross Loop

Harriman State Park
Rockland and Orange Counties,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Beech Trail: Blue blaze
Red Cross Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 1:50 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.3 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Slightly recommended
Points Of Interest: Waterfalls, historical mine
Pros: Very quiet area of the park
Cons: Lack of view, Muddy Areas in the rain

Google Map of Parking:

View 2013 Hiking Locations in a larger map

This was the first Sunday that it was raining in a long time. It was a soft steady rain all day long, so I decided to go hiking despite the weather in my waterproof rain gear.

I parked on Lake Tiorati Road at Beech Trail Trailhead. I took the Beech Trail southbound, where it passes alongside a stream. Due to the rain, the stream was very swelled, and had several pretty waterfalls and cascades. At the intersection of the Hogencamp Road I turned off the trail and took this woods road to the Hogencamp Mine, which is one of the earliest iron mines in the region. At the mine the Red Cross Trail intersects, and I took that trail, crossed the road, and took the trail along to the Beech Trail. This section contains numerous large blueberry bushes, so I will make an attempt to come back here in July. I took the Beech Trail back to the trailhead where I had parked.

Map of the Route

Greenery and wetness in the forest along the Beech Trail

Small Waterfall set off the Beech Trail

The Sliver Cascade in the Above Picture

Another Waterfall off the Beech Trail

SameWaterfall Different Angle

Newt Crawling Along the Trail.
There were lots of these out because of the rain.

Intense Green Along the Hogencamp Road

Water-filled Pit at the Hogencamp Mine

Red Cross Trail Crossing Tiorati Brook

Bradley Mine/Bradley Mountain

Harriman State Park
Orange County,
New York

Trails:
Lake Tiorati Trail: Blue blaze
Long Path: Green blaze
Appalachian Trail: White blaze

Hiking Partners:
Feige Koegel
Shimmy Rosenberg

Total Time: 2:00 hr
Estimated Distance: 3.4 Miles

The National Weather Service had issued a blizzard warning for Sunday, so we need to get most of this hiking done before the snow started. This was the first significant snow of the season, and they said it was going to be a big one. At the end of the storm there was 2 feet of snow in the area. It was cold and chilly in the beginning, and then started flurrying about half hour into the hike. For the last twenty minutes the snow really started picking up and we are glad we left when we did.

We parked at Tiorati circle, and took the short Tiorati Lake trail up the hill towards the water tower, and then from there we bushwacked along the water pipeline to the Long Path. From there we crossed Arden Valley Road and went up the steep incline through the mine tailing to the Bradley Mine. The Bradley Mine is one of the best mine exploration point, with a deep crevice of cut rock you walk through before getting to the main tunnel, which is very large and impressive.

From the Bradley Mine we bushwacked up to the top of Bradley Mountain, and then bushwacked down to the Long Path for a brief track, and then took the unmarked road trail to the Appalachain Trail. We headed north on the Appalachian towards the viewpoint on Fingerboard Mountain, and then bushwacked down the stream which had a beautful frozen waterfall. At this point the snow started falling at a steady pace. From there we went through the frozen swampy area to 7 Lakes Drive, and headed along 7 Lakes Drive walking along the side of the road back towards where we started.

Map of the route.

The ascent along mine tailings off
Arden Valley Rd.

The crevice in the rock at the beginning of the mine

Walking through the crevice

The entrance to the mine from the crevice

Inside the mine tunnel.
Lighting is thanks to my camera's night vision option.

Looking out the mine entrance from inside the mine.

Another view inside the mine with a vent shaft on the left.

View from atop Bradley Mountain. Looking south.

View from Fingerboard Mountain view on the AT.
Looking South.

Frozen Waterfall off the AT

Shimmy with a Deer Skull with Antlers.

Walking along 7 Lakes drive, with the snow just
started to come down steady.