Ramapo Torne/Raccoon Brook Hills Trail Loop from Reeves...

Harriman-Bear Mountain State Parks

Ramapo Torne/Raccoon Brook Hills Trail Loop from Reeves Meadow. Photo by Daniel Chazin Ramapo Torne/Raccoon Brook Hills Trail Loop from Reeves Meadow. Photo by Daniel Chazin
41.173916, -74.168658

On the southwest side of the parking lot (right when facing the woods; the opposite side from the visitor center), you will find the red-on-white blazes of the Pine Meadow Trail. Follow the Pine Meadow Trail as it heads southwest, parallel to Seven Lakes Drive. Soon, the trail bears left and heads uphill on a rocky path. After a short level stretch, you'll reach a junction where the Pine...

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Trip Reports

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June 11, 2012
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Great Hike; Beware of Snakes on Sunny Days; Thick Laurel
<p>My husband and I did this hike the afternoon of 6/10/2012. This is the second time we’ve taken this route. We’ve been hiking in the Harriman State Park for the past 4 years and we always use the online hiking trail finder guide. Thank you very much for providing such detailed and user-friendly directions!!!</p> <p>We both loved the terrain of this hike. We chose to make it more of a strenuous workout so we walked pretty fast this time and didn’t make stops apart from quickly catching our breath here and there. As such, we manage to complete the hike in 2.5hrs. We chose not to do the quick detour to the Ramapo Torne summit (where you get the view over Torne Valley and Hillburn with the NY Thruway below) which further cut on the time and about a little over half a mile from the hike.</p> <p>Two things to keep in mind:</p> <p>1. We saw 2 pretty big black snakes – both on the orange-blazed HTS trail section of the hike, top of the mountain area. I am not an expert in snakes but from what I’ve read about Harriman, they must have been black rat snakes and hopefully not rattler snakes. As this trail passes through several open area mountain tops and areas of dense laurel it provides perfect places for snakes to surprise you. So be aware of that particularly on sunny summer days. Wear high hiking boots and long pants. It might also not be a bad idea to have a hiking pole with which to clear your path. Making some noise for snakes to get out of the trail might also help.</p> <p>2. The laurel is pretty thick this time of the year. In my opinion it needs some trimming as the trail is extremely tight at places but I am not sure what the park’s policy is on that. So if you are not comfortable with hiking in areas where you do not know what might be hiding under the thick laurel, reserve this trail for the fall, winter, or early spring time when there should be less vegetation or just choose one of the more traveled trails (e.g. such as the ones along the Stony Brook). If you want more of a seclusion (until we reached the red-on-white Pine Meadow Trail we passed only 2 people) and wildlife encounters (apart from the snakes we saw a whole bunch of chipmunks, predatory birds, a wild hare, and a frog) then this hike is for you.</p>
stoyanil
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