Orange County,
New York
Total Time: 2:30 hr
Estimated Distance: 4.6 miles
Level of Difficulty: Very Easy
Recommendation: Not Interesting or recommended
Points Of Interest: Scenic Lakes and Baileytown cemetery
Google Map of Parking:
View Twin Lakes and Baileytown in a larger map
The northernmost area of Harriman State Park around Route 6 has fewer trails then the rest of the park. I wanted to check the area of Baileytown, which is an old abandoned settlement that was swallowed up by the park. All that remains of Baileytown is the cemetery and a few foundations. I was disappointed to find the road paved much of the way and the area is just full of State-run summer camps. I went the week before these camps started, so its not a good idea to go here during July or August. It was a good day for this type of hike since the the weather was gloomy.
I started in the Parking area along Route 6 near Route 293 (this parking area is meant for fishermen fishing in the many lakes around here) and walked along Route 6 across the dam, and skirted down it to Lake Massawippa for pictures. I then climbed up again and took the camp road all the way down until Baileytown Road, which is an old path, towards the cemetery , and then continued further looking for any additional signs of prior habitation.
From there I turned around, and made a bushwack along the eastern part of Lower Twin Lake (not recommended!). I got caught in the thorns and in a swamp (I didn't include this bushwack part in the map above) and eventually made it to Route 6, which I followed back to the car.
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| Map of the Route |
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| Lake Massawippa from Route 6 Bridge/Dam. Facing north. |
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| Dam of Lake Te-Ata and Route 6 Bridge |
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| Water Pipe Bridge crossing outlet of Lower Twin Lake |
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| Sign for Twin Lakes Museum. This is an old stone single-room stone building atop the hill, and I took a peek inside and it is abandoned. If anyone knows what this building is, I would appreciate your comments. |
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| Monuments in the Baileytown Cemetery. |
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| Lower Twin Lake, photo from Bushwack. |
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| Lake Te-Ata from Route 6, facing southwest. |
