Pine Meadow Lake Loop

The Pine Meadow Lake Loop is one of Harriman State Park's finest full-day wilderness experiences, threading through the heart of the Seven Lakes area on a demanding 9.5-mile circuit that gains 1,500 feet of rolling elevation. The route departs from Tiorati Circle and climbs through oak forest to Rockhouse Mountain before descending to Pine Meadow Lake, a glacially scoured tarn ringed by pitch pines and granite outcrops where swimming is permitted in summer. The trail continues along the lake's north shore past Cascade of Slid, a series of small waterfalls and carved granite channels beloved by local swimmers. From the cascade the loop ascends Conklin Mountain, one of the park's less-visited summits, offering eastward views toward the Hudson River. The descent follows the Red Cross Trail back to the trailhead through mixed hardwood forest and seasonal wetlands. Route-finding requires attention as multiple trail junctions intersect throughout; carry a Harriman Trails map from the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. The loop rewards hikers with varied terrain, reliable water sources, and the sense of true backcountry remoteness despite being in America's most densely populated metro region.