Catamount Mountain LoopHarriman State Park

Rockland County,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail: Red blaze
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze
Sherwood Path: Unblazed

Total Time: 2:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.2 miles
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Points Of Interest: Catamount Mountain View
Pros: Quiet area of the park, good climb, good view
Cons: Power line and gas line detract from natural setting

Google Map of Parking:

View 2013 Hiking Locations in a larger map

The weather on this hike was quite a contrast to last week. It was in the 90's and oppresingly humid, though I figured I would be in the shade for the most part and there would be a breeze. I parked at the Horse Stables at Ramapo Equestrian Center off Route 202, and took the Pine Meadow Trail as it climbs the mountain through a notch with a stream. At the junction with the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail I took a right and headed on the joint Pine Meadow and Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail. From there I split off to the Suffern-Bear Mountain trail to the excellent view here. Note that this view is missing from the NY/NJ Trail conference maps). I then headed towards the Sherwood Path, which is an unmarked trail road, and I took this trail back down the mountain. From there I followed the trail of the Gas Line back to my car.

Map of the Route

The Pine Meadow Trail near the beginning, near the Power Line

Small Cascade along the edge of the Pine Meadow Trail

Ant Eating a Caterpillar.

Pittsbollow Hollow Brook.
This is where the yellow trail and red trail split.

View from the viewpoint. Facing east.

Another view from viewpoint. Facing South

Another view shot, facing south.

Facing south towards Cobus Mountain

At the view, facing northwest

Shelter at Sherwood Path  and SBM Trail.

Halfway Mountain/Diamond Mountain

Harriman State Park,
Rockland County, NY

Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail: Red Blaze
Stony Brook Trail: Yellow Blaze
Kakiat Trail: White Blaze
Hillburn Torne Sebago (HTS) Trail: Orange Blaze
Seven Hills Trail: Black Blaze

Total Time: 3:00 hour (took longer due to snow)
Estimated Distance: 4.5 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult, especially in the snow
Level of Recommendation: Highly recommended. One of the best in Harriman.
Points Of Interest: Excellent climb and views, and very scenic along brook.

Hiking Partners:
Mordy Neuman
Sruly Rosenberg

Google Maps of Parking:

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We have finally gotten a snowstorm. Although there have been a few frigid days here and there, generally this winter has been very warm with no snow. It had finally snowed a real snowstorm, with about 6 inches the day before. We started at the Reeves Measow Parking area on Seven Lakes Drive in Sloatsburg, and headed up along the path along the brook, from the Pine Meadow Trail to the Stony Brook Trail to the Kakiat Trail, past the frozen Cascase of Slid, and from there we took the HTS Trail up Halfway Mountain. We took a break and some pictures here, and then continued to the intersection of the 7 Hills Trail, where there is a very good view. From here going down was really crazy in the snow, and more than once we didn't know how we would make it. Part of the area down required us literally sliding down the side of the rock. Once we got down we crossed the brook and took the Pine Meadow Trail all the way back to the trailhead.

Map of the Route

Mordy & Sruly at the Pine Meadow Brook

Cascade of Slide Waterfall,
Almost Entirely Frozen Over

Frozen Cascade of Slid

Me at the Halfway Mountain Viewpoint.
Facing southwest.

Sruly & Mordy at the Diamond Mountain view.
Facing south.

Diamond Mnt View.
Facing Southwest.

Me and Sruly, Diamond Mnt

Me at rock ad Diamond Mountain

Sliding down the Mountain.
That rock is the same one as above.

View at the Lower part of Diamond Mnt, before descending.
Facing west, towards the Pine Meadow Brook Valley.

Same view as above, facing east-southeast.

Mordy maneuvering down the scramble

Torne View

Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail: Red blaze
Reeves Brook Trail: White blaze
Seven Hills Trail: Blue blaze
Pine Meadow Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:40 hr
Estimated Distance: 4.75 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Points Of Interest: Torne View, Pristine Scenery

Google Maps of Parking:

View Hiking Blog Localities in a larger map


This was the first really cold hike of the season. It has been unseasonably warn until now, but I really had to bundle up for this hike. I parked at the Reeves Meadow hiker's trailhead, and took the Pine Meadow Trail for a very brief moment and veered off at the Reeves Brook Trail. This trail slowly climbs the mountain through a very scenic forest route on the side of the small Reeves Brook. I took the Reeve's Brook Trail to the Seven Hills Trail, which I then took south to the Torne View. The Torne view is an excellent one. From there continued along the notch right before the HTS Trail, and then descended the mountain on the Seven Hills Trail, and took this route al the way back to the Pine Meadow which is right by Reeves Brook.

Map of the Route.

People Descending the Scramble on the 7 Hills

View from Torne View. Facing northwest.

Another view from the Torne View. Facing West.

View From the Torne View, facing south
and High Torne Mountain.

View above the notch, facing the Torne View. Facing north.

View from mountain below High Torne.
Facing south towards the landfill.

View from mountain below High Torne.
Facing east at the Power Lines.

Pine Meadow / Stony Brook After Hurricane Irene

Harriman State Park
Rockland County,
New York

Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail: Red Blaze
Stony Brook Trail: Orange Blaze
Kakiat Trail: White Blaze
Hillburn Torne Sebago (HTS) Trail: Orange Blaze

Total Time: 1:15 hr
Estimated Distance: 2.5 Miles

Level of Difficulty: Moderate to Slightly Difficult
Level of Interest: Beautiful hike along a roaring brook
Points Of Interest: Deep Scenic Valley after Power Lines, Cascade of Slid Waterfall

Google Maps of Parking:

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Hurricane Irene left a tremedous amount of rain in Harriman as well as significant damage. I took this hike three days after the hurricane to see the water level in the brook and observe the damage caused by the storm. Seven Lakes Drive was closed and apparently the bridge crossing the Ramapo River had been severely damaged by the rivers sheer force. I had to take an alternate route using Washington Ave, where I encountered serveral National Guard Troops helping with the rebuilding efforts. There was a bridge in Sloatsburg that was entirely washed away leaving several homes stranded, and the National Guardsmen were assisting with the reconstruction. Once I got to the hike, I found the Stony brook was roaring, and it was at the highest level I have ever seen it. The first bridge across the Stony Brook (Kakiat Trail) was entirely washed away. The second bridge across the Pine Meadow Brook (Kakiat and Stony Brook Trail) was very damaged and pretty much unusable (this bridge was very recently rebuilt so it was brand new at the time of its destruction). The third bridge across the Pine Meadow Brook (HTS Trail) was entirely washed away.

I parked at the Reeves Meadow Visitor Center off 7 Lakes Drive near Sloatsburg. Hiked the Pine Meadow Trail along the brook to the Stony Brook Trail. I crossed the brook at the broken bridge which was barely usable, but I was able to balance across. Then I went along the the Kakiat Trail past the Cascade of Slid waterfall. The HTS Trail bridge was washed away, so I went just a bit further upstream to cross the brook over the rocks, which turned out to be incredibly challenging due to the high water volume. Once I crossed I took the Pine Meadow Trail back towards the return and back to my car.

Map of the Route.

Kakiat Trail Bridge Washed Away

The Only "Standing" Bridge:
The Bridge of the Kakiat and Stony Brook Trail.
This bridge was new - I think it was built in 2009.

Close up on the only standing bridge.

Cascase of Slid Waterfall. Overflowing.

Location of where the HTS Bridge Once Stood.
There is one pole of the bridge remaining.

National Guardsman in Sloatsburg at Work.

Pine Meadow Brook

Harriman State Park,
Rockland County,
New York
Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail: Red Blaze
Stony Brook Trail: Orange Blaze
Kakiat Trail: White Blaze
Hillburn Torne Sebago (HTS) Trail: Orange Blaze

Total Time: 1.0 Hours
Total Distance: 2.5 Miles


It had been really hot and muggy, and the weather had just turned beautiful, so I took some time off of work to take this short and easy hike. I started at the Reeves Meadow Visitor Center off 7 Lakes Drive near Sloatsburg. Hiked parallel to the stream on the Pine Meadow Trail, to the Stony Brook Trail, and then along the Kakiat Trail past the Cascade of Slid, which is a small waterfall along the trail. When I hit the HTS Trail, took it south for a brief moment across the brook, and then hit the Pine Meadow Trail, which I took back to the trailhead. As this hike was spontaneous, I did not bring my camera with me. Since there aren't any lookouts, just a beautiful walk, I didn't bother taking pictures with my low-quality cell phone camera. Hence, the lack of pictures on this posting.

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Map of the Route

North Hill

Harriman State Park,
Rockland County,
New York

Total Time: 2 Hours
Total Distance: About 4 miles

This was another gorgeous late summer day. The weather was about 75 degrees with little humidity. I finally had my camera back. I parked at the Reeves Meadow Visitor Center off 7 Lakes Drive in Sloatsburg, and took the Reeves Brook Trail up until the intersection of the 7 Hills Trail. Then took the 7 Hills Trail up the scramble which leads to an excellent view. This scramble, although short, is one of the best in the park. Took the 7 Hills up to the top of the North Hill, where there is a really good Panorama through the brush. Much of North Hill along this trail is not forested and just contains brush and short shrubs - this is presumably the result of a significant forest fire many years ago. Continued along the 7 Hills Trail down to the valley where I picked up the Pine Meadow Trail, and went down the Pine Meadow Trail, switched along the new trail to the Stony Brook Trail, and back to the Pine Meadow Trail and back to the car.

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Map of the route.

Steep scramble up 7 Hills Trail

View while ascending the scramble.
Looking southwest.


Continuing up the scramble


Towards the top of the scramble

View at the top. Facing southwest.


Facing north towards "Almost perpendicular".
("Almost Perpendicular" is the exposed cliff in the middle)


Open Brush area ascending the summit
of North Hill.


At the summit. Facing North.


View towards "Almost Perpendicular"
from the summit.


Starting the descent from the summit.
Facing northeast towards Diamond Mnt.
Jackie Jones Tower can be seen in the
far distance on the right of the photo.

Panorama from the summit.