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WARNING/DISCLAIMER: Hiking can be dangerous and the information furnished below may contain errors! |
Hiking
in Harriman State Park
Pine Meadow Lake
Total Distance: approximately 5.6 miles, 750' altitude gain
Difficulty: medium (moderate hills)
Estimated hiking time: 3+ hours - individual
Take the Pine Meadow Trail (red blazes) which starts at the far end of the parking lot of the visitor center northward (actually northeast). At about 0.4 miles bear left onto Stony Brook Trail (yellow blazes). In about 0.5 miles, the trail joins the Kakiat Trail (white blazes). Continue straight (do not turn left) on the combined Stony Brook / Kakiat Trail. Stay on the Kakiat Trail when it splits from the Stony Brook trail (the Stony Brook trail will veer off to the left). For a short while the trail will go along the same path as the Hillburn-Torne-Sebago trail (orange blazes).
At 4-way intersection continue straight on the Kakiat Trail as the Seven Hills trail (blue blazes) intersects it and at the next intersection go straight onto the Pine Meadow Trail (red blazes) heading north (straight/left - do not cross the bridge to the right).
Continue on Pine Meadow Trail (passing Ga-Nus-Quah Rock on the right - a nice place to stop) as it intersects a yellow trail on the left and then make a right onto Pine Meadow Road and walk south along the lakeshore. In about 0.3 miles look carefully for a yellow blazed connector trail and then make a right onto it. The intersection of the road and the yellow connector trail is poorly marked! If you get to a fork in the road then you have gone too far.
Make a left onto the Raccoon Brooks Trail (black blazes) and take it to the top of the hill for the (limited) viewpoints on top. After taking in the views reverse direction, walk straight past the yellow connector trail to the end of the Raccoon Brooks trail and make a right at the intersection onto the Kakiat Trail. In another 0.3 miles go straight/leftward (do not turn right!) onto the Pine Meadow Trail (red blazes) and take this trail back to the parking lot. Drink some more water.
NOTES: Hiking boots are highly recommended as the trailbed is rocky at times. The Kakiat and Pine Meadow trails are not well marked at times.
References: NY-NJ Trail Conference Map #3, adapted from a similar hike published in Backpacker magazine in April 2005.
Driving Directions from New York City
Take the George Washington Bridge to the Palisades Interstate Highway heading North. In about 19 miles exit the parkway at exit 9W onto the Thruway (Route 87/287) which heads west. About 10 miles later, exit the Thruway at exit 15A. At the exit turn left onto Route 17 North. After about 2.5 miles, just north of the main street area in Sloatsburg, make a right onto Seven Lakes Drive. In less than 2 miles you will see the "Reeves Meadow Visitor Center" on the right. Park in the parking lot (N 41.17419, W 074.16872) next to it. The entire trip should take less than an hour.
Other Useful Information
We are meeting, promptly, at 8:00am in front of TBA. Drivers should double park their cars in front of the building (please gas up BEFORE coming). All passengers are expected to contribute their fair share towards gas, parking fees, and tolls! We will return to the city in mid to late afternoon. Rain cancels the trip.
Questions: Michael Brochstein
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| "Welcome to Reeves Meadow Visitor Center" (April 2005) | Reeves Meadow Visitor Center and parking area (August 2001) | |
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| Bathrooms in front, Visitor Center in back. (August 2001) | Sign near Pine Meadow Lake. (April 2005) | |
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Pine Meadow Lake (April 2005) |
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| This small pile of rocks (see red arrow) are the only visible marker of the turnoff for the yellow connector trail near Pine Meadow Lake. They are very easily missed. (July 2006) | Once you see the very poorly marked turnoff (left red arrow pointing to small pile of rocks) for the yellow connector trail near Pine Meadow Lake, you will also see the yellow blazes (red arrow on right side of photo) for the trail. (July 2006) | |
Last updated: 7/2006