Mine Kill a hidden gem among state parks
BLENHEIM, N.Y. » Saratoga Spa State Park is quite often referred to as a crown jewel in the park system.
Perhaps, but Mine Kill is without doubt a hidden gem.
Tucked away in the rural Schoharie Valley, the 500-acre site boasts an olympic-size swimming pool, picnic facilities, a large lake for boating, paddling and fishing, and an extensive trail network that includes a 3.5-mile section of the Long Path.
But one of the most impressive features is 80-foot Mine Kill Falls, which rushes through a narrow gorge. Visitors can hike 15 minutes to the very bottom, or enjoy other vantage points reached by a long flight of wooden steps down a steep embankment. Either way, the rewards are worth the effort.
In addition to its natural and manmade attractions, Mine Kill State Park has another great attribute. It’s absolutely free.
Beginning three years ago, admission fees were waived under an agreement with the New York Power Authority, which operates a nearby pumped storage hydroelectric power plant, with a more than 1,100-megawatt generating capacity. All electricity is sent to New York City.
The Power Authority pays the state parks system $20,000 per year to cover the cost of anticipated admission fees.
Considering the park’s beauty, peaceful setting and cost, we were surprised at how few people took advantage of these attractions during a recent Sunday afternoon visit.
Granted, this part of the northern Catskills doesn’t have much population, and Mine Kill is somewhat off the beaten path, but we were more than pleased to make the visit.
Those who could, but didn’t, had no idea what they were missing.
The drive alone on Route 30, along the fast-flowing Schoharie Creek, surrounded by lush green farm country and billowing white clouds overhead, was worth the trip.
In 2011, this part of the state was inundated by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, whose torrential floodwaters ravaged the landscape and small communities in its path.
Thankfully, the area has made a solid comeback, evidenced by projects such as restoration of the historic Blenheim Bridge, the longest single-span wooden bridge in the world. It’s so unique that the New York State Covered Bridge Society paid a special visit to see the structure, which was totally destroyed by storms seven years ago.
Mine Kill is one of 20 state parks, campgrounds and historic sites in the CapitalSaratoga Region, which includes Max V. Shaul campground, just a few miles from Mine Kill. Both spots offer a great way to escape daily hustle and bustle, and with autumn just around the corner, they should be high on any leaf-peeper’s list for must-see day trip destinations.