Pine Meadow Brook Loop and Falls

Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail: Red blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze
Stony Brook Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 1:45 hours
Estimated Distance: 3.1 miles

Pros: Scenic area along creek
Cons: Busy area, bridge out
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Slightly Difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/81bVKvTKRakW7peq7

There was a lot of rain the past week, so figured this scenic area along the Stony Brook and Pine Meadow Brook would be very pretty, and I was correct. It was rainy in the morning but not actively raining, keeping away the often-busy crowds that are usually here. I parked at Reeves Meadow, and took the Pine Meadow Trail up all the way to the intersection of the 7 Hills Trail, and then took the bridge crossing Pine Meadow Brook to the Kakiat Trail and headed back down. I then continued past the Cascade of Slid Waterfalls, which was flowing very strongly, and then had do cross the brook where the trail was out by the Kakiat and Stony Brook Trail, hopping along the rocks on the overflowing brook. I then took the Stony Brook Trail to the Pine Meadow Trail back to my car.

Map of the Route

Information Station at the Beginning of the Hike

New Trail Map Posted at the Beginning of the Hike

Beautiful Cardinal Flower on the Pine Meadow Trail

Stony Brook

Pine Meadow Trail

Quartz Brook

Trail Intersection

Crossing Pine Meadow Brook

Large Rock with Small Cave Formation Underneath

Pine Meadow Brook Above the Falls

Cascade of Slid Waterfalls

Crossing the Brook Where the Bridge is Out

Halfway Mountain & Diamond Mountain

Harriman State Park,
Rockland Co.
New York

Hiking Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail: Red blaze
Stony Brook Trail: Yellow blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze
Hillburn Tone Sebago (HTS) Trail: Orange blaze
7 Hills Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 2:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.9 Miles

Pros: Scenic area, good climb, great views, and blueberries
Cons: Lots of people at beginning part of hike on weekends

Hiking Partners:
Josef Friedman
Shimmy Rosenberg

This area is one of my most favorite area in Harriman State Park. It features incredible views with nice climbs and scrambles. The weather had been quite hot, and this was no exception.

We parked at Reeves Meadow, which was already quite busy despite being the morning, and took the Pine Meadow Trail to the Stony Brook Trail along the brook. The bridge across Pine Meadow Brook at the junction of the Kakiat Trail was broken and out of commission, with a sign by the pile of wood from the bridge that we will be rebuilding it soon. The water level was low enough to easily cross the brook on foot.

We continued along the Kakiat Trail to the Cascade of Slid waterfall, and then took the HTS Trail up to the view. This view is becoming quite overgrown with less to see. We then continued up the steep rock to the top of Diamond Mountain, at the intersection of the 7 Hills Trail.

There is a great view here, and it remains impressive along the 7 Hills Trail all the way to its descent back to the deep valley of Pine Meadow Brook. We continued along the 7 Hills Trail, crossing the brook, and then taking the Pine Meadow Trail all the way back to the parking area.

Map of the Route

Destroyed Bridge Across Pine Meadow Brook
at the Kakiat and Stony Brook Trail

Shimmy at the Bridge Crossing Site

Cascade of Slid Waterfall

Overgrown View at Halfway Mountain

Continuing our Ascent over Halfway Mountain

Climb up Diamond Mountain from Halfway Mountain

Me on Diamond Mountain

Top of Diamond Mountain, Facing South

Top of Diamond Mountain, Facing Southwest

Another View Facing More West

Shimmy Along the Ridge of  Diamond Mountain

Me on the Diamond Mountain Ridge

View on the 7 Hills Trail on Diamond Mountain

Diamond Mountain View Before the Descent into the Valley

Me at the Last View Before the Descent

Halfway Mountain Last Season Snow Harriman State Park

Rockland County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail Trail: Red blaze
Stony Brook Trail: Yellow blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze
Hillburn-Torne-Sebago Trail: Orange blaze

Total Time: 1:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.65 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Points Of Interest: Scenic brook, waterfall, and view
Pros: Very scenic area, especially after the gas pipeline
Cons: Often many people present on weekends

Hiking Partner:
Rachel Friedman

Google Map of Parking:

View 2013 Hiking Locations in a larger map

This was really the last hike in the snow. It was already late March and most of the snow had melted from the storm the prior week, but here in this deep valley the sun hadn't been able to reach the snow and melt it, so there was plenty around. I do this trail often, so apologize for all of you seeing this hike again, but this is a really pretty area and looks different in every season.

We parked at the Reeves Meadow area, and took the Pine Meadow Trail to the Stony Brook Trail, to the Kakiat Trail, and then to the Cascade of Slid waterfall. We then climbed up the short climb on the Hillburn-Torne-Sebago Trail to the Halfway Mountain lookout, and then climbed back down, crossed the brook on the washed-out bridge, and then too the Pine Meadow Trail all the way back.

Map of the Route

Intersection of the Pine Meadow and Stony Brook Trails

Cascade of Slid Waterfall

Along the side of the Gorge after the pipeline.
This part of the hike is very scenic.

View from Halfway Mountain looking at North Hill.

View from Halfway Mountain looking northwest

Me at the Halfway Mountain View

Me at the Halfway Mountain View

Cascade of Slid and Halfway Mountain,Harriman State Park

Rockland County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail Trail: Red blaze
Stony Brook Trail: Yellow blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze
Hillburn-Torne-Sebago Trail: Orange blaze

Total Time:  1:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.7 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Points Of Interest: Scenic brook, waterfall, and view

Google Map of Parking:

View 2012 Hiking in a larger map

This was my first hike after Hurricane Sandy. Sandy brought major destruction to the New York area. Although the coastal regions were pounded by a terrible storm surge, further inland including Harriman only received strong wind damage in the form of downed trees. Though there were downed trees everywhere, the part of the park was spared, and was open and available to hiking. There was still minor fall foliage left, but for the most part the trees were already bare.

I parked at the Reeves Meadow area, took the Pine Meadow Trail to the Stony Brook Trail, to the Kakiat Trail, and then to the Cascade of Slid waterfall. The waterfall had a healthy amount of water, which made for nice photographs. I climbed up the short climb on the Hillburn-Torne-Sebago Trail to the Halfway Mountain lookout, and then climbed back down, crossed the brook on the washed-out bridge, and then too the Pine Meadow Trail all the way back.

Map of the Route

Remainder Foliage Along the Trail

More Foliage

Approaching the Cascade of Slid on the Rocky Part of the  Kakiat Trail

Cascade of Slid Waterfall

Cascade of Slid Waterfall

Cascade of Slid Waterfall - Main Waterfall

Spring with Water Coming Out of Rock

Halfway Mountain View

Foliage While Descending Halfway Mountain