Iron Mines Short Loop, Harriman

August 25, 2012
Distance: 3.7 miles
Time: 2 hours 20 minutes (including a stop for swimming)
Map: Harriman - Bear Mountain Trails
Parking: Seven Lakes Drive, parking lot next to Lake Skannatati
Restrooms: none
Post hike dinner: Pizza and Pasta, Yorktown Heights
Directions: Iron Mines Short Looop

In the parking lot if you are facing the lake, go to the right side of the parking lot and look for the turquoise blazed Long Path trail which skirts the lake. Take the Long Path to the Times Square intersection. Turn back a few feet and then turn left onto the Arden-Surebridge trail (red hearts on white) to return to the parking lot.

This hike begins between two lakes. We've found that easy access to lakes attracts a lot of non-hikers. As a result, the beginning and end of this hike have a lot of trash & broken glass. We stopped and picked up a gallon worth of glass & garbage near the end of the hike. We saw another man also picking up trash. There are a lot of people fishing on the lake as well. Once the trail leaves the lake, the trash & broken glass go away. It's just the first and last quarter of a mile where you need to be careful of your dogs. The rest of the hike was pleasant, and had some pretty areas. It is considered easy/moderate, and doesn't have much elevation gain.

There were two stream crossings, but one stream was dry.

Year to date miles: 269.9

This is Moxie's new harness. It is RuffWear, like her prior harness, but a different design.

Intersection of Long Path and Dunning trail. Stay on the turquoise blazed Long Path.

Shaft fot the Hogencamp iron mine

Passing the Arden-Surebridge trail - just briefly before arriving at Times Square. After reaching Times Square,
return here and take the red heart on white blazed A-SB trail.

Times Square - an intersection of many trails

The A-SB trail passes the yellow blazed Dunning trail. Stay on the A-SB trail.

Part of the Pine Swamp Mine.

Umm...dogs are supposed to be in a down stay while I check out the mine.
Trek, what are you doing?

Approaching an overlook of the lakes - this is when we start seeing broken glass again.

Overlooking Lake Skannatati, Kanawauke, and Little Long Pond

Turn right here - this intersection gave us trouble in previous years

We turned right before hitting the parking lot, and stopped at the lake to let the dogs swim.
While Glen threw sticks for the dogs, I picked up trash and broken glass.

Lake parking lot - there are a lot of non-hiking visitors fishing at the lake.