It is the Gorge Trail that’s closed for the cold months, November through April. The Rim Trail remains open for those who dare icy, steep paths Unlike Gorge Trail, Rim Trail climbs above the dangerous cliffs from which rocks are wedged free by ice to fall on the trail. On an early spring day, after a sudden frost, we walked the Rim Trail to capture the moment.
Here is the steep start, climbing up from the Upper Park where a footbridge crosses Fish Kill. Kill is the old Dutch word for creek. Fish Kill mergers with Enfield Creek a few hundred feet downstream.
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Rim Trail Ascent
This north facing slope stays frozen into May. Here layers of the sedimentary rock shale, laid down in a shallow warm sea over 350 million years ago, are slowly pried apart. Hemlock tree roots wedge between rock layers, slowly growing. The action of ice, water expands in volume at the point of freezing, aids the process.
In places the rock face appears to be a hastily made dry stone wall, the rock layers are so disrupted by plant and frost.
Rim Trail icicles
These shots were hand held. I used a Sony Alpha 700 dslr with a variable “zoom” lens, great for framing compositions.
Robert H. Treman New York State Park.
Click for a slideshow of this Waterfall of the Old Mill sequence
Falls by the Old Mill, early spring 
The falls run free of ice. On an early spring day, after a sudden frost, we walked the Rim Trail to capture the moment. 
The falls run free of ice. On an early spring day, after a sudden frost, we walked the Rim Trail to capture the moment. 
New icicles formed overnight from seeps through the sedimentary walls around the Waterfall by the Old Mill. On an early spring day, after a sudden frost, we walked the Rim Trail to capture the moment. 
Rim Trail icicles
Looks to be a rather treacherous and yet adventurous terrain.
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It can be, one time a corner was roped off by the police. A person, dead, was found on the cliff below.
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Not surprised to hear such news. Such terrain can be treacherous. Yet, that didn’t deter your intrepid nature.
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Thanks for the good words.
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Looks beautiful and very treacherous!
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It can be though, lately, even walking in the cellar has its dangers.
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Michael, your post has been thinking ahead to experiencing nature even more when the icy fingers of winter loosen up.
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Exactly…..thinking spring.
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