Sunday, July 10, 2016

Kakiat to Pine Meadow Lake Loop

Kakiat County Park/
Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Kakiat Trail: White blaze
Racoon Brook Hill Trail: Black blaze
Poached Egg Trail: Yellow blaze
Pine Meadow Lake Road: Unblazed
Pine Meadow Lake Southern Portion Path: Unblazed
Conklins Crossing: White blaze
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze
Mountain Trail: Orange blaze

Total Time: 4:40 Hours
Estimated Distance: 8.2 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Very Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended

Points of Interest: Rough hike through Harriman, Good Views, and Scenic Lake
Cons: Pine Meadow Lake very busy on weekends

It's been a while since I hiked from Kakiat Park to Pine Meadow Lake. I also hadn't taken the unmarked trail around the southern part of Pine Meadow Lake in a very long time, and wanted to do that as well.

I parked at the Kakiat parking lot, crossed the Mahwah River, and took the Kakiat Trail at its trailhead. I climbed the Ramapo Escarpment up about 700 feet along the Kakiat Trail, and then up and down along several of the ridgelines, until the Raccoon Brook Hill Trail. I then climbed up the steep ascent to Raccoon Brook Hill, which has several good views along the way. Upon descending, I took the short Poached Egg in its entirety to Pine Meadow Lake Road, which I took to the west, approaching the Conklin Cemetery area, and then took the unmarked path until the Conklins Crossing Trail.

At this point, I went down to the eastern inlet of the lake and took some pictures, and over here got a terrible muscle cramp that required me to rest for about 20 minutes. I then continued along the Conklins Crossing Trail to the Suffern Bear Mountain Trail. I took the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail south, along several excellent views of Rockland County and the New York City Skyline, meeting up again with the Kakiat Trail. I then took the Kakiat Trail down towards the Mountain Trail, which I took past the power lines to the upper Kakiat View. I then went down the Mountain Trail along this steep portion at the bottom at the entrance of the park and the parking area.

Map of the Route.
Harriman/Bear Mountain Trails, Southern Map

Caution Sign at the Top Urging Non-Experienced Visitors to Turn Around
and Avoid Getting Lost

View on the Kakiat Trail Towards Ramapo Torne

Large Rock on the Kakiat Trail Overlooking Ramapo Torne

Praying Mantis Crawling on the Above Rock

View on Kakiat Trail Towards Ramapo Torne

View from Kakiat Trail Looking South

Strange Rock Formation Along the Raccoon Brook Hills Trail

Bedrock Exposures Along the Raccoon Brook Hills Trail

Ladder Along the Raccoon Brook Hills Climb

View Along Raccoon Brook Hills

Another View Along Raccoon Brook Hills

And One More View Along Raccoon Brook Hills

View at the Descent of  Raccoon Brook Hills

Pine Meadow Lake, from the Eastern Tip

Pine Meadow Lake, from the Eastern Tip

And One Last View of Pine Meadow Lake, from the Eastern Tip

Manhattan Skyline from the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail
at Cobus Mountain

Zoomed Out to the Above View

Another View from Cobus Mountain

Another View from Cobus Mountain

View from Cobus Mountain Facing the Palisades

Another Warning Sign Cautioning Inexperienced Hikers

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