[Journal entry for September 22, 2014; Barnes Lake, Harriman State Park, New York]. Though most of the trees are still Summer green, today cool, dry air reminds me that its officially the first day of Fall. I park at the hiker’s lot that is on the north side of Route 6, just east of the Route 293 intersection. Barnes is a small lake located a hundred yards north of the lot. It’s fed by Popolopen Creek, which drains out of Summit Lake to the south, and is impounded by a low dam on its north end.

I bushwhack down to the south end of the lake. The water level is low – several feet low, judging by the water marks on some of the large boulders that decorate the lake shore. The shallow water at this end is choked with Water Lilies and Pickerelweed. The point at which Popolopen Creek enters the lake is not distinct; the whole southern end is marshy and crossed by small rivulets. I stood on a flat section that, judging from the lily pads still growing on the ground, had recently been lake shore. In addition to the ubiquitous marsh grass and low-bush blueberries, the lake shore is decorated by clumps of small yellow flowers. The water at the north end of the lake is deeper and less overgrown. The north shore has a few trees already in their fall colors and several enormous boulders. A small rocky island ringed by now fall-red blueberry bushes and with just a few tall trees is located just off the north shore. A Group Camp dock, painted bright red, floats in the northeastern corner of the lake.

I walk north along the lakeshore, passing a beaver lodge built right on the lake shore, and joining a woods road that began to parallel the lake shore. I pass a colony of yellow coral fungi, growing by a log. The road leads to the dam, which consists of two concrete walls set ten feet apart, with earth fill between. I cross the dam and climbed up to Route 293, which runs above the western shore of the lake. Some opening in the trees offer the nice view of the island and several huge boulders, one fifteen feet high, set along the lake shore.

I pass the stairs down to the floating dock and then bushwhack down to the lakeshore. The view of the lake is exceptional. The bushes and vines along the east side, now fall red, are lit up by the late afternoon sun. I continue south along the lakeshore, following an informal path, evidently used by anglers, for I pass the occasional discarded bait container. I pass another beaver lodge, similar to the one on the eastern side. Both seem old; I think that the beavers have moved on. Finally, I wander through the marsh at the south side end, trying to keep to the drier ground so as not to wet my feet. It’s mostly low grass crossed by small rivulets, but has a small stand of Cattail and Phragmites, too. I cross a trough that I guess is the main course of Popolopen Creek, but it is dry. I then bushwhack the hundred yards of so back to the Hiker’s lot, passing the ruins of an old camp house on the way. Its wooden roof has collapsed and its wooden walls have tilted, but its brick chimney is still intact. It will endure.

About an hour.