Pine Swamp Stony Brook Loop

Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.
New York

Hiking Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail: Red blaze
Stony Brook Trail: Orange blaze
Connector Trail: Unblazed

Total Time: 1:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.1 Miles

Pros: Scenic brook
Cons: Busy area
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/CeRNb51puCkAJqe67

It was a rainy March day, and weather was unseasonably warm. It wasn't raining at the moment, so I took the opportunity to hike during the lull in the rain. I parked at the Reeves Meadow area, the busiest area in Harriman, but due to the rainy weather it was exceptionally quiet. 

I took the Pine Meadow Trail to the Stony Brook Trail, and then took the Connector Trail up the hill to the Pine Meadow Trail. I then took the Pine Meadow Trail back to my car.

Map of the Route

Stony Brook at the Beginning of the Trail

Reeves Brook Bridge

Reeves Brook

Stony Brook

Stony Brook and Pine Meadow Brook Junction

Pine Meadow Trail and Mountain Laurel Greenery

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

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