Harriman State Park

Infobox_protected_area | name = Harriman State Park
iucn_category = II

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caption =
locator_x =
locator_y =
location = New York, USA
nearest_city = New York City
lat_degrees = 41
lat_minutes = 14
lat_seconds = 35
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 74
long_minutes = 06
long_seconds = 02
long_direction = W
area = 46,613 acres (186.4 km²)
established = 1910
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = Palisades Interstate Park CommissionAt 46,613 acres (186.4 km²), Harriman State Park is one of the largest state parks in New York. Located in Rockland and Orange counties 30 miles (48 km) north of New York City, it is a haven for hikers with over 200 miles (320 km) of hiking trails. The park is also known for its 31 lakes, multiple streams, public camping area, and great vistas. The park's hiking trails are currently maintained by volunteers from the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference. On its northeastern edge, Harriman State Park borders the smaller Bear Mountain State Park.

History

Edward Harriman and Mary Averell Harriman owned 30,000 acres (120 km²) in Arden, New York as part of their estate. They opposed the state's decision to build a prison at Bear Mountain and wanted to donate some of their land to the state in order to build a park. A year after the death of her husband in 1909, Mary Harriman proposed to Governor Charles Evans Hughes that she would donate 10,000 acres (40 km²) of land and $1 million for the creation of a new state park. As part of the deal, the state would do away with the plan to build the prison, appropriate an additional $2.5 million to acquire additional land and construct park facilities. The Palisades Interstate Park Commission would have its authority extended north into the Ramapo Mountains and the Hudson Highlands, and New Jersey would also contribute an amount of money deemed reasonable by the Commission. The state agreed and on October 29, 1910, William Averell Harriman presented a deed for the land and a million-dollar check to the Commission.

In 1913, Major William A. Welch started construction on the road from Bear Mountain to Sloatsburg, known today as the Seven Lakes Drive. In 1962 a new road from the Southfields section of Tuxedo to Kanawake Circle was opened. There were also numerous other roads completed around Bear Mountain and Dunderberg Mountain in order to make it easier for people to reach the new park. In addition, there was steamboat service from Manhattan offering round trip tickets for 85 cents for adults and 45 cents for children.

The park received a large influx of free labor during the Great Depression. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) offered thousands of young men work such as building roads, trails, camps and lakes. Projects completed by the CCC in the park included Pine Meadow, Wanoksink, Turkey Hill, Welch, Silvermine and Massawippa Lakes.

Trails in Harriman Park

There are more than forty marked hiking trails (225 miles total) in Harriman, and another 57 unmarked trails and woods road (103 miles, foot traffic "only"). Some of the better known trails include:

In addition to the hiking trails there are a number of horse trails in the southeastern portion of the park and a mountain bike trail at the Anthony Wayne Recreation Area in the northeast of the park. In winter some of the trails are open for cross-country skiing.

Lakes

There are 32 lakes and ponds in Harriman. Some of the larger ones are:
*Lake Sebago, convert|310|acre|km2, swimming beach, boat launch, cabin camping
*Lake Tiorati, convert|291|acre|km2, swimming beach
*Lake Welch, convert|216|acre|km2, swimming beach, camping
*Lake Kanawauke (lower, middle and upper), convert|186|acre|km2
*Lake Stahahe, 88 acres
*Silver Mine Lake, 84 acres
*Pine Meadow Lake, 77 acres
*Turkey Hill Lake, 58 acres
*Island Pond, 51 acres
*Lake Askoti, 41 acres
*Lake Skanatati, 38 acres
*Lake Wanosink, 38 acres
*Lake Skenonto, 37 acres
*Queensboro Lake, 35 acres
*Hessian Lake, 33 acres
*Summit Lake, 33 acres

helters

The Shelters of Harriman will be listed here...

ee also

*Bear Mountain State Park
*List of New York state parks

ources

Myles, William J., "Harriman Trails, A Guide and History", The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, New York, N.Y., 1999.

External links

* [http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkId=143 Harriman State Park Official Website]
* [http://www.abandonedmines.net Abandoned Mines of Harriman State Park]
* [http://www.harrimanhikers.org Harriman Hikers]
* [http://www.nynjtc.org New York - New Jersey Trail Conference]