Pine Meadow Trail

The Pine Meadow trail (red dash on white marker) traverses the southern section of Harriman State Park.  The west  section from Seven Lakes Drive to Pine Meadow Lake is very populated and parking at the west trailhead is limited and many use the shoulder of Sevens Lakes Drive for overflow. The east section from Pine Meadow Lake to Catamount Mountain sees very little traffic.

I did this as a through hike, left a shuttle car at the Reeves Meadow Visitor Center and started the hike from the east side.  Parking on the east side must now be at just before the small bridge that leads to the Ramapo Equestrian Center which is now a private facility.  Currently, hikers are permitted to pass through the center to access the trails.

From the back of the facility follow a white fence on the left, turning the corner to follow the fence the trail begins about 100 yards in.  The trail climbs steeply to a power line track, then turns left to climb the gap between Catamount Mountain and Panther Mountain.  When you reach the trail junction with a yellow trail, turn left.  The yellow trail and Pine Meadow trail follow the same path for .5 miles until the Pine Meadow breaks off right.  In about 1.5 miles, the trail reaches the east side of Pine Meadow Lake.

The trail follows the northern shoreline of the lake for .8 miles.  There are several great campsites and the views are really nice.  As you near the west side of the lake, there will be more people.  The lake is a popular destination to hike from the Reeves Meadows visitor center.  The trail is wide as you leave the lake then narrows to cross a stream via a small bridge.  Turn left after the bridge.  The trail remains wide most of the way from here.

There is another well built bridge crossing about .65 miles down stream.  Another 1.5 miles and the trail reaches Reeves Meadow visitor center where most people end up parking.  However, the trail continues another 1 mile along and above Seven Lakes Drive and exits the forest at the park boundary.  There is limited unmarked parking here and it is difficult to tell what is private property or social parking along the road.  If you do this last section, plan for a walk back on the road toward Reeves Meadow for your shuttle car.