Chipmunk Mountain Snow

Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail: Red blaze
Stony Brook Trail: Orange blaze
Stony Brook/Pine Meadow Connector Trail: Unblazed
Hillburn-Torne-Sebago Trail: Orange blaze

Total Time: 2:20 minutes
Estimated Distance: 3.4 Mile

Pros: Good climb, good view, and scenic brook
Cons: Busy area
Hike Type: Candy Wrapper Loop
Level of Difficulty: Difficult in Snow

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/6F4j3uPgxkEGF1qx8

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick 

This was the first snow of the season. It snowed about 6 inches, and the snow was still coming down lightly during the hike. This was a real winter wonderland with the fresh snow, overflowing brook, and evergreen mountain laurel.

We parked at the Reeves Meadow trailhead, and took the Pine Meadow Trail and Stony Brook Trail along the side of the brook. We then took the Stony Brook/Pine Meadow Connector Trail up the mountain to the Pine Meadow Trail, which we took to the Hillburn-Torne-Sebago Trail up Chipmunk Mountain to the view. There wasn't much of a view do to the poor visibility with the snow and clouds. We then turned back and took the Hillburn-Torne-Sebago Trail back to the Pine Meadow Trail which we took back to the trailhead.

Map of the Route

Snowy Reeves Meadow Parking Lot

Beginning of the Hike

Trailhead at Reeves Meadow

Pine Meadow Trail at Reeves Brook

Stony Brook in the Snow

Gas Line

Stony Brook Trail

Yehudah on the Stony Brook Trail

Mountain Laurel Forest on the HTS Trail

Ascending the Chipmunk Mountain Summit

Heading Back Down on the HTS Trail

The Sun is Finally Coming Out after the Snow

Bridge Over Quartz Brook

Diamond Mountain and Lake Wanoksink

Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Tuxedo-Mt. Ivy Trail: Red Blaze
Hillburn Torne Sebago Trail: Orange Blaze
Pine Meadow Road: Unblazed
7 Hills Trail: Blue Blaze

Total Time: 3:10 hour
Estimated Distance: 5.4 miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly recommended
Points Of Interest: Diamond Mountain View, Lake Wanoksink
Pros: Good climb and view, Remote Lake
Cons: Beginning Park is busy and small road part

Hiking Partner:
Stuart Gensler

Google Map of Parking:

View 2014 Hiking Locations in a larger map

This late September hike featured warm weather, but it was cloudy and had drizzled in the morning. This is a nice area of the park with many paths and trails, pretty lakes, and a good climb. We parked at the Lake Sebago Boat Launch. The area has recently been refurbished with new paving and a grassy area with new trees planted there.

We walked along the old path on the side of Lake Sebago past the old beach, then walked on 7 Lakes Drive south for a short time, and then took the Tuxedo-Mt. Ivy Trail to the Hillburn Torne Sebago Trail. We took the Hillburn Torne Sebago Trail up the steep climb to Diamond Mountain, where there is a good view on top. We then took the Tuxedo-Mt. Ivy Trail to Pine Meadow Road, and hooked back on Pine Meadow Road to Lake Wanoksink.

We took a break at Lake Wanoksink near the dam by the area where the path goes right to the lake. We then turned around and took the woods road to the 7 Hills Trail towards Conklin Mountain, and then continued along this trail down the mountain and to the car.

Map of the Route.
Harriman/Bear Mountain State Parks Southern Map

Newly Refurbished Boat Launch Area at Lake Sebago

Lake Sebago Atop the HTS Scramble

Lake Sebago from the Viewpoint Atop Diamond Mountain.
Facing North.

Stuart at the Above View

Me at the Above View

Walking Along Pine Meadow Road, with Early Foliage

Lake Wanoksink. Note the Shrubs Changing Colors.

Lake Wanoksink

Stuart Sitting on a Log at Lake Wanoksink

The Recently Fixed Dam at Lake Wanoksink

Halfway Mountain Snowstorm

Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

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

Total Time: 1:50
Estimated Distance: 2.7 miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult in snow conditions
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Points Of Interest: Stony Brook and Halfway Mountain
Pros: Good hike for a fresh snowstorm
Cons: Been here many times

Google Map of Parking:

View 2013 Hiking Locations in a larger map

It had just snowed about 8 inches on Saturday/Saturday night, so there was a fresh layer of new snow. When I headed out some of the roads were still covered with snow, and I ended up driving through Harriman first only to see that there was no parking at many of the trailheads since they weren't plowed yet. I ended up driving to the Reeves Meadow area, which is the busiest trailhead in Harriman, and I knew it would be plowed there.

It was still surprisingly quiet along the hike, with only few cars in the usually busy parking lot. Once I had gotten to the Stony Brook Trail there was only one  pair of footsteps ahead of me, and when I took the HTS Trail I was the first one to take it since the snow. I turned around at the HTS views and went back down, and my plan was to cross the brook and go down via the Pine Meadow Trail. However, it was very hard to cross the show and ice-covered brook with all the new water and no bridge. Once I crossed I headed back down via the Pine Meadow Trail.

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

Snowy Bridge Near the Beginning of the Hike

Snow and Ice Covered Stony Brook

Thy Sky Starting to Clear at the Gas Line Crossing.

The Stony Brook in the Scenic Narrow Area After the Gas Line

Bridge Crossing the Pine Meadow Brook

Climbing Up Halfway Mountain on the HTS Trail,
Making the First Footsteps up the Mountain

View from Halfway Mountain, Looking Over the
Pine Meadow Brook Valley to Chipmunk Mnt

View from Halway Mountain, Looking West.

View From Halfway Mountain Looking West, Zoomed.

Evergreen Mountain Laurels Along the Pine Meadow Trail