Sterling Mine and Fire Tower

Sterling Forest State Park,
Orange County
New York

Trails:
Sterling Lake Trail - Blue Blaze
Bare Rock Trail - Orange Blaze
Sterling Ridge Trail - Blue Blaze
Fire Tower Trail - Red Blaze
Fire Tower Connector Trail - Blue Blaze
Iron Mine Trail - Yellow Blaze

Total Time: 2 Hours
Total Distance: 4 Miles

Started at the Sterling Lake Visitor Center, and took the Sterling Lake Trail alongside the southern edge of the lake to the Bare Rock Trail, where I started asceding the mountain. Climbed up to the intersection of the Sterling Ridge Trail, and went south along the Sterling Ridge Trail until the Fire Tower. The Fire Tower was closed for the season - it is only open during the summer, usually only on nice days. There is a ranger station right next to the tower and a ranger oversees the visitors who climb the tower. I did contemplate jumping the fence that blocks the tower steps, as the people in front of me had just done, but I decided against it. Part of the reason was that the weather was cloudy and foggy anyways, so my view would have been limited.

From the Fire Tower, descended along the Fire Tower Trail, which is actually more like a dirt road, to the Fire Tower Connector Trail, which took me back to the south shore of Sterling Lake and the Sterling Lake Trail. Took a turn off the Sterling Lake Trail to the Iron Mine Trail, which walks through all the ancient workings of the massive Sterling Mine. It walks next to the mine pits and dumps, and goes next to the old abandoned mine buildings. It then goes through to the old Sterling Furnace where the Iron Ore was smelted. From here took the road back to the parking lot to return to my car.

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Map of the route.

Southern shore of Sterling Lake

Sterling Lake with Mountains in background.

Looking north.

Same picture as above zoomed out.

View from the Sterling Ridge Trail.

Looking north toward Sterling Lake.

Approaching the Fire Tower in the distance

in the cloudy haze.

The Fire Tower with the ranger station.

Looking up under the Fire Tower

The Ruins at the Sterling Mine

More Ruins at Sterling Mine.
The further building in the cable hoist.

One of the mine adits.
Entrance is sealed off by a gate.

The Sterling Furnace, where the iron ore was smelted.

Descriptive sign in front of the furnace

Mianus River Gorge

Mianus River Gorge Wildlife Refuge,
Bedford,
Westchester County
New York

Trails:
Brink of Gorge Trail - Red Blaze
Fringe of Forest Trail - Blue Blaze
Bank of River Trail - Green Blaze

Total Time: 2.5 Hours
Total Distance: 4 Miles

This was a really nice and warm day in late fall. All the leaves had already fallen, with justa few remaining colorful trees, and the temperature was in the 60's. Started the hike at the beginning parking lot, and for the most part hiked along the river path the way down and hiked on the upper path on the return route. I was not familar with the trail names and their markings so I can't tell you which trail I hiked at each point - I just followed the closest one to the river there and the upper one the way back.

I took the offshoot to the Hobby Hill Quarry, which is a pegmatite quarry in the cliff of the
gorge. It contains shiny muscovite, crystallized feldspar, and large hunks of quartz including
rose quartz. I thought the trail continues here but it's a dead end, so I had to turn around
to get back to the trail. Continued along to the Resivoir view spur and then headed down to
the Havemeyer falls. Took some pictures by the falls and continued to the foot of the river where it empties into the Mianus Reservoir. Then turned around and went back, this time on the upper trail passing through many stone walls and old farmland.

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Map of the route

Map at the trailhead

The Mianus River at the beginning of the hike

Along the river trail

The Hobby Hill Quarry

Rose Quartz wall in the Quarry

Autumn leaves on the trail

A random shot in the middle of the hike

The reservoir view. Looking south.

Havemeyer Falls.

Another view of the waterfall.

At the beginning of the reservoir. Facing south.

 Ditto.

Ditto. Facing southeast.

Reeves Brook to Kakiat

Harriman State Park,
Rockland County
New York

Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail - Red Blaze
Stony Brook Trail - Orange Blaze
Raccoon Brook Hills Trail (RBH) - Black Blaze

Hiking Partner:
Feige Koegel (My sister)

Total Time: 3 Hours
Total Distance: 5.5 Miles

This was a two-car hike. It was a nice but chilly day in the late fall, and most of the leaves had already fallen. We parked a car by Kakiat County Park off Route 202 near Suffern, and then drove the other car to the Reeves Meadow Parking area off of Seven Lakes Drive near Sloatsburg. We started at the Pine Meadow Trail, and went along the side of the brook to the Stony Brook Trail, and to the Kakiat Trail.

Followed along the Kakiat Trail all the way up to the intersection of the RBH Trail, and then climbed the Raccoon Brook Hill for an excellent view of Pine Meadow Lake and the eastern ridge of the Ramapo Mountains. Continued to the end of the RBH Trail back to the Kakiat Trail, and continued along the Kakiat Trail all the way back to Kakiat Park where we picked up the second car.

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Map of the route

Beginning of Raccoon Brook Hill.
Facing west.

On top of Raccoon Brook Hill.
Facing north towards Diamond Mountain.

Same view as above, zoomed in.

Me at the top of Raccoon Brook Hill facing Diamond Mnt.

Pine Meadow Lake from Raccoon Brook Hill.

Facing Northeast.

 Looking towards the Ramapo Escarpment.

Facing east from Raccoon Brook Hill.

 
Same as above.

 

Same view as above facing North.

Above descent of Raccoon Brook Hill.

Facing South towards the Torne Valley.

Same view as above, with different lighting.

Descending Raccoon Brook Hill on ladder

Feige descending Raccoon Brook Hill

Russian Bear from Kakiat Trail and Gas Line

Lake Askoti - Hasenclever Mountain

Harriman State Park,
Orange County
(and a small bit of Rockland County)
New York

Trails:
Arden Surebridge (ASB) - Red Triange Blaze
Red Cross (RC) - Red Cross Blaze
Long Path (LP) - Green Blaze

Hiking Partner:
Marc Kushner

Total Time: 3 Hours
Total Distance: 2.5 Miles

This was another enjoyable fall day with beautiful foliage and a beautiful sky. Went a little slower on this hike to enjoy nature and take pictures. Started at the parking area at Lake Skanatati off of Seven Lakes Drive. Climbed up the ASB Trail to the view atop Pine Swamp Mountain, where an excellent view of Lake Skanatati and Lake Kanauwake are afforded. From the view spurred off on the RC Trail, back down the mountain, across Seven Lakes Drive, and onto the shore of Lake Askoti.

This part of the Lake is very serene with boulder jagging into the crystal clear water. We spent some time here just taking photos and enjoying the setting. Then continued up the trail as it climbed the eastern part of Hasenclever Mountain. There is a great view here, which isn't shown on the Trail Conference Map, where you can see all the way to Hogencamp Mountain very clearly. Continued along the RC Trail past the Telephone Wires and to intersection with the dirt road near Hasenclever Road.

Our original plan was to spur off to the Hasenclever Mine, but due to time constraints we took this road back towards the shore of Lake Askoti. Because of all the leaves on trail, we accidentally ventured off the road and ended up bushwacking near the shore of the lake until 7 Lakes Drive, and then took a tiny portion of the Long Path back to the car.

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Map of the route

Lake Skannatati from the parking area.

Ascending Pine Swamp Mountain on the ASB

On top of Pine Swamp Mountain.

Facing south towards Lake Skannatati and Kanawauke

Pine Swamp Mountain view facing southwest.

Zoom into Little Long Pond and Black Rock Mnt.

Facing southeast.

Me at the view of Pine Swamp Mountain

Marc and I atop Pine Swamp Mnt.

Facing south.

Same location facing west,

towards Hogencamp Mnt.

Marc took a picture of me showing him the map.

Crossing 7 Lakes Drive on the Red Cross

Lake Askoti near the northern shore

 Me on a rock on the north shore of Lake Askoti

A man boating in Lake Askoti

View from the lookout on eastern

part of Hasenclever Mountain.

Facing west towards Hogencamp Mountain.

Zoomed on Hogencamp Mountain from above view.

Black Vulture.

Me walking on the Red Cross Trail

 The Telephone Lines crossing the Red Cross Trail

A Tree along the Red Cross Trail

Lake Askoti from the eastern shore.

Lake Askoti from Seven Lakes Drive.

Facing northeast.