“Let me live where I will, on this side is the city, on that the wilderness, and ever I am leaving the city more and more, and withdrawing into the wilderness.”
-Henry David Thoreau
“Once in awhile, climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash you spirit clean.”
-John Muir
“Life is better in hiking boots.”
-Every hiker
Located about 2 miles on Seven Lakes Drive, Silvermine Lake is currently a fishing, picnicking and hiking area in Harriman State Park. Back in the late 70’s and early 80’s, it used to be a pretty popular area for families to go for the day to just hang out and have a good time. As a child I have fond memories of going to this lake and running through the woods, skipping rocks on the water and eating many hot dogs!
A sign on the Menomine Trail next to Silvermine Lake.
After leaving your car, head towards the lake and you will see a yellow blaze on a rock. This is the Menomine Trail, the one that you will follow until you reach the William Brien Shelter where you will then begin hiking on the dually blazed Appalachian/Ramapo Dunderberg Trail.
Silvermine Lake at the beginning of the hike.
As you enter the woods and wind around the lake, the trail has its fair share of ups and downs on some very rocky terrain.
The trail before a steady steep climb.
As the trail veers off to the left, you begin a steady and then very steep climb until you reach the shelter.
The start of what turned out to be a killer climb!
The second section of the climb. I thought once I reached the top where it curves left, the climb would be over.
I was wrong. It only got worse…This is the last section of the climb.
Once you get to the top, the William Brien Memorial Shelter is on your left.
The William Brien Memorial Shelter
As I mentioned earlier, once you get to the shelter you would leave the Menomine Trail and continue hiking on the Appalachian/Ramapo Dunderberg Trail. Turning left, you immediately begin another steep climb, this time pretty short.
Appalachian/Ramapo Dunderberg Trail
You will follow the AT until you reach a woods road. Turning left, you begin a steady descent until you reach the lake.
After returning to Silvermine Lake, I had some extra time so I decided to follow the Menomine Trail in the opposite direction.
A strange looking tree…
The trail covered in pine needles.
HAPPY HIKING!!!!!
Summer 2017 Mileage:
7/6/17-5.5-25.32
The Zen Hiker 
“As you enter the woods and wind around the lake, the trail has its fair share of ups and downs on some very rocky terrain.” = Barb, the woman who falls with some regularity in her living room, will never hike there. And I love your “Life is Better in Hiking Boots” – Every Hiker. You could also say ” You don’t really need hiking boots. Said no hiker ever.”
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