This realistic List of Bear Mountain State Park Hikes helps you plan your next adventure in this New York park.

Bear Mountain is a state park in Upstate New York. It is known for strenuous hikes and great views of the Hudson River and the Bear Mountain Bridge.

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Sights & Places of Interest

There are a few different ways to explore Bear Mountain State Park. You could choose to drive Perkins Memorial Drive to an observation tower. You could visit its pool, museum, or pool.

But there is hardly a better way to experience this park than taking a hiking trail. You could choose from 14 trails that go for almost 40 miles (64 km).

This Bear Mountain State Park Hikes List describes the best 7 trails you could take in the park. It starts with the Appalachian Trail and finishes with the Timp-Torne Trail. Both are the longest routes in the park.

1. Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is the first of 7 main hikes you could take in Bear Mountain State Park. This trail is among the longest thru-hikes in the United States.

You would need a few months to hike its 2,190 miles (3,524 km). The trail starts in Chattahoochee National Forest in Georgia. It goes through Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina.

The Appalachian Trail then follows the Blue Ridge Parkway and Shenandoah in Virginia. It passes through Delaware Water Gap in Pennsylvania and New Jersey before reaching Bear Mountain.

A small section of the Appalachian Trail goes through the park. But it happens to bring you to the main sights in Bear Mountain.

• Length: 6 mi (10 km) each way
• Trailhead(s): Suffern Bear Mountain Trail Trailhead, Perkins Memorial Drive Pullout
• Elevation gain: 705 ft (215 m)
• Difficulty: Hard

Hiking a section of the Appalachian Trail is a great way to experience Bear Mountain. You will enjoy forest paths and exposed rock, mountain vistas and river views, a stone tower and a metal bridge.

1.1. Perkins Tower

Perkins Tower is the first major attraction on the northbound Appalachian Trail in Bear Mountain State Park. You could reach it in 30 minutes from the Perkins Memorial Drive Trailhead.

Visitors who come to Bear Mountain to enjoy Perkins Memorial Drive have an easier way. They could just drive to the top of the mountain and park next to the tower.

Perkins Tower looks a bit similar to Ramapo Water Tower in New Jersey. But unlike its look-alike structure in “The Garden State”, this tower has an observation deck.

It makes Perkins Tower most similar to Yokahu Tower and Britton Tower in El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico. You could climb the towers in both the national forest and the state park for free.

This 40-ft (12-m) tall stone tower dates back to 1934. It commemorates George Walbridge Perkins. Mister Perkins was the driving force behind the creation of this park some 100 years ago.

Bear Mountain State Park is his legacy. Every time you visit this park you could thank George Perkins for his dedication and beliefs.

The tower gives you an opportunity to learn more about the history of the park. A metal plaque above the entrance to the tower is just the beginning. Head inside for great views and more exhibits.

The park took an interesting approach to information displays at Perkins Tower. Instead of the usual boards or metal prints, all information is on the wall tiles.

You could go from floor to floor of the tower reading about the park founders, philosophy, and history. You might notice as your walk up the stairs goes by in a second.

The top floor of the tower has large windows. They are perfect for enjoying panoramic views of the park and its surroundings.

1.2. Iona Island

You are certain to see the Hudson River and Jones Point when you look east. The river makes a sharp bend and disappears from sight as it flows downstream towards New York Harbor.

You could turn your attention towards the closer sights. Iona Island will be on full display. It is one of the largest islands on the Hudson River.

You could see Snake Hole Creek and Salisbury Meadow on Iona Island. They look just like Kings Creek and Upper Meadow in Lassen Volcanic in California.

There are buildings and railroad tracks on the island. They date back to the times when the island was a naval ammunition depot.

The island is now part of Bear Mountain State Park. But it is a birds sanctuary. As a result, this area is still off limits to visitors.

There are no hiking trails on Iona Island. The Bike Path comes closest to this island. It continues next to Salisbury Meadow for a few hundred feet (meters).

But you do not have to get close the island to see its main inhabitants. Bald eagles use it as a nesting place in the winter. You could often see them right from Perkins Tower as they fly above the mountain.

1.3. Bear Mountain Bridge

You would need to continue on the Appalachian Trail to see the next attraction of Bear Mountain State Park. The Bear Mountain Bridge is visible from a viewpoint further west.

Like most bridges over the Hudson River, the Bear Mountain Bridge is an engineering masterpiece. This suspension bridge is nearly 100 years old. It opened in 1924.

It is one of the few ways to cross the river for tens of miles (km) each way. The Appalachian Trail also uses its pedestrian walkway to get hikers to the other side of the Hudson River.

The trail proceeds in Hudson Highlands State Park on the east bank. It continues for another 500+ miles (800+ km) before finishing in Baxter State Park in Maine.

2. Major Welch Trail

The Appalachian Trail is not the only way to the top of Bear Mountain if you are looking to hike. You could also take the Major Welch Trail.

• Length: 2.5 mi (4 km) each way
• Trailhead(s): Suffern Bear Mountain Trail Trailhead
• Elevation gain: 1,177 ft (359 m)
• Difficulty: Hard

This trail brings you from Bear Mountain Inn to the top if you hike it all the way. The hike goes from Hessian Lake to the summit of Bear Mountain. You could continue downhill to Perkins Memorial Drive.

You are looking at a sizable elevation change if you hike the trail in this direction. Hiking this trail could take the majority of your time in Bear Mountain State Park.

But there might not be reason to take the entire path. You might find a 1-mi (1.6-km) out-and-back section to Perkins Tower a viable route. You will only gain 328 ft (100 m) in elevation.

3. Twin Forks Trail

You might think that Bear State Park has some hikes close to the Hudson River. You have all the reasons to believe it.

In the end, the river marks the eastern boundary of the park. The same name bridge is the main way to cross the river for miles (km).

But there is only one hiking trail that brings you close to the Hudson River. It is also one of the shortest hikes in Bear Mountain State Park.

• Length: 0.4 mi (0.6 km) each way
• Trailhead(s): Fort Montgomery Museum, Fort Clinton Lot
• Elevation gain: minimal
• Difficulty: Easy

Whatever this trail lacks in length and elevation, it gains in scenic views. The Twin Forks Trail brings you from Fort Clinton to Fort Montgomery. You will be hiking on the Popolopen Suspension Bridge.

This pedestrian only bridge gives you amazing views of the Bear Mountain Bridge over the Hudson River. You will also see the Popolopen Arch Bridge over the same name creek.

If you choose to continue northbound on this trail, you will reach Brooks Lake. This lake is the starting point of a longer hiking journey on the Timp-Torne Trail.

4. Suffern Bear Mountain Trail

The Twin Forks Trail is an exception among the Bear Mountain State Park Hikes. All other trails that start near Bear Mountain Inn take 2 miles (3 km) or more each way.

Take the Suffern Bear Mountain Trail. This trail connects Bear Mountain State Park with a town of Suffern near New Jersey state line. This thru-hike is an alternative to a section of the Appalachian Trail.

• Length: 23.2 mi (37.3 km) each way or 2.7 mi (4.3 km) through the park
• Trailhead(s): Suffern Bear Mountain Trail North and South Trailheads
• Elevation gain: 5,183 ft (1,580 m)
• Difficulty: Hard

You do not need to take the whole Suffern Bear Mountain Trail to enjoy Bear Mountain. Just hike a few miles of this trail that go through the park. This might be one of the best routes in the park.

This trail brings you through a beautiful forest at lower elevations. It makes Suffern Bear Mountain an excellent place to see fall foliage. You could enjoy all the fall colors on this trail.

5. Cornell Mine Trail

You will also have other hiking options once you reach Hessian Lake and Bear Mountain Inn. The 1777 East Trail and Cornell Mine Trail will bring you to south part of the park.

Both of these trails follow similar paths until the Doodletown Trailhead. But the paths go to different places after the trailhead. The 1777 East Trail goes west towards June and Herbert Cemeteries.

The Cornell Mine Trail continues south instead. It could be a faster option if you are looking to reach Bald Mountain.

• Length: 4 mi (6.4 km) out and back or 3.3 mi (5.3 km) for the main section
• Trailhead(s): Doodletown Trailhead, Suffern Bear Mountain Trail Trailhead
• Elevation gain: 1,122 ft (342 m)
• Difficulty: Hard

Get ready to hike uphill for the whole time to Bald Mountain. As you are gaining elevation do not forget to stop and catch your breath. This trail will give you plenty of opportunities to do so.

You should stop and see Edison Mine. It appears as a small cave, not unlike Lava Beds in Northern California. But there are a lot more differences between these underground chambers.

You should not attempt to cave in this mine. It is closed to public due to the safety concerns. As a result, you could only admire its opening from the outside.

You need to get ready for the final section. The path to Bald Mountain and Cornell Mine is a gruesome uphill hike. You will be quickly gaining elevation.

But the views atop of the mountain are worth this effort. You will get a clear view of Bear Mountain and the Bear Mountain Bridge.

6. Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail

The Bald Mountain Viewpoint is at the intersection of the Cornell Mine and Ramapo-Dunderberg trails. The latter trail is a 21.5-mi (34.6-km) thru-hike from Harriman to Jones Point.

A shorter section of this trail goes through Bear Mountain State Park. You could choose to hike it to Jones Point. Great views of the Hudson River will be your reward.

• Length: 4.4 mi (7 km) each way
• Trailhead(s): Timp Torne & Jones Point Path Trailhead
• Elevation gain: 2000+ ft (600+ m)
• Difficulty: Hard

You might need to take the same path back. The Bike Path is the only alternative route. But you have to hike on a shoulder of Highway US-202 between the Path endpoint and the nearest trailhead.

7. Timp-Torne Trail

One other trail is worth a mention when discussing Bear Mountain State Park Hikes. The Timp-Torne Trail is the longest trail in the park. It starts from the same trailhead as the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail.

• Length: 6.5 mi (10.5 km) each way
• Trailhead(s): Timp Torne & Jones Point Path Trailhead, Brooks Lake Trailhead
• Elevation gain: 3,000+ ft (900+ m)
• Difficulty: Hard

This thru-trail starts near the easternmost point of Bear Mountain. It goes around the western park boundary all the way to Brooks Lake.

About half of the Timp-Thorne Trail goes outside of Bear Mountain State Park. You will pass through nearby Harriman State Park if you take the whole trail.

Get ready to hike a section of the Appalachian Trail and cross Palisades Interstate Parkway. You will be climbing up and down different mountains: Dunderberg, West Mountain and Popolopen Torne.

You could even turn this hike in a loop around Bear Mountain. In this case, take the Cornel Mine Trail to the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail.

A few shortcuts will give you a chance to get back on the Timp-Thorne Trail. In this case, you will be at the original trailhead soon after.

Hiking the Timp-Torne Trail or making it a full loop is an adventurous undertaking. You are looking at a sizable elevation gain. It will likely take you close to a full day to hike it.

Continue with this Bear Mountain State Park Hikes List. You will learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Bear Mountain State Park

Bear Mountain is a state park in New York. The park is on the west bank of the Hudson River in the Hudson Valley / Capital District.

Bear Mountain State Park is just over an hour from NYC by car. It is even closer to a few towns in New Jersey and Connecticut. The park is about the same distance to either state.

If you visit Bear Mountain from other states, you might have to fly. New York Stewart (SWF) is the nearest airport to this park. You can be hiking Bear Mountain trails in 30 minutes from the airport building.

Stewart is far from being a hub. But it has a handful of direct flight from low cost airlines. In fact, you could even fly to Iceland directly from there.

Westchester County Airport (HPN) is 50 minutes away. But it has even fewer flights and direct connections. You could look into NYC area airports to visit Bear Mountain.

While the park is in New York, Newark Liberty (EWR) airport in New Jersey is often the closest major hub. Both are on the west bank of the Hudson River, which helps with traffic.

LaGuardia (LGA) and John F. Kennedy (JFK) airports are in Queens borough of New York City. You could spend 2+ hours traveling to the park from either airport.

A rental car works best when visiting Bear Mountain. You would have more flexibility around the trailheads you reach.

But you are in luck if you prefer public transport. Take ShortLine Hudson bus from Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC. This bus brings you to Bear Mountain Inn in 1.5 hours.

You can start hiking the Bear Mountain trails right from the bus stop. There is one bus a day each way. A ride costs $14.8 per adult.

Where to Stay near Bear Mountain

You hit a jackpot if you are looking to spend the night in Bear Mountain State Park. It might come as a surprise but camping is not even an option. Instead, there are three places to stay in the park.

You could choose from Bear Mountain Inn and Overlook Lodge and Stone Cottages at Bear Mountain. These places to stay are within a walking distance from the trailheads.

The Appalachian Trail goes next to all of them. You could reach Overlook Lodge and Stone Cottages at Bear Mountain from the Major Welch Trail. These hotels work best if you visit the park by bus.

But there are even more choices if you are ok taking a short drive. Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites West Point-Fort Montgomery, an IHG Hotel is less than 10 minutes from Bear Mountain.

Most other places to stay require a longer drive. Look into Peekskill and Woodbury. The former is home to The Abbey Inn & Spa, a boutique hotel in a former church.

Take a look at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Peekskill-Lower Hudson Valley, an IHG Hotel if you prefer a chain experience. The drive to the park is about 15 minutes. And you could take a train back to NYC.

Woodbury is home to Hampton Inn Harriman Woodbury and Sleep Inn & Suites Monroe – Woodbury. There are other options if none of these places work out.

Consider places to stay in Goshen, Middletown, Mahwah, and Nyack. You could reach all of them in 40 minutes or less from the park.

Paramus, Hackensack, and Newark could be good options if you are driving to Bear Mountain. Manhattan would work best if you are taking a bus to hike the park trails.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

Bear Mountain State Park is open from sunrise to sunset throughout the year. It means that you could hike the Bear Mountain trails almost year round.

But some sights and trailheads close in winter. You will have trouble accessing the trailheads on Perkins Memorial Drive between December 1st and March 31st.

The tower and drive are closed to visitors during this time. The park often closes the drive sooner if there is a lot of snow. You would need to hike much longer to reach a few trailheads during that time.

But winter brings other challenges to a hiking trip to Bear Mountain. Most hikes in Bear Mountain will have snow and ice.

You should wear sturdy shoes, take it slow, and know your limits. This way, you could reduce your chances of a serious injury. But the risks are still present in the winter no matter the gear you have.

Bear Mountain State Park charges use fees of $10 per car. These fee applies on weekends and holidays year round.

You could visit the park by car free of charge on weekdays in the winter. But you have to pay a fee to drive to Bear Mountain on summer weekdays.

As a hiker who visits Bear Mountain on public transport, you will not have to pay a fee. This could be a reason to look into taking a bus to the park.

Takeaways: Bear Mountain State Park Hikes

Bear Mountain State Park is a great day trip destination from New York City. This park has a scenic drive, an observation tower, and a suspension bridge.

Avid hikers will like the trails in Bear Mountain. They have a good balance between forest and rocky sections. The hikes are the only way to see the mines and reach a few other sights.

But Bear Mountain State Park Hikes are too hard for beginner hikers. Most of the trails in the park are out-and-back or thru-hikes. It means that you have to multiple your distance by at least 2.

The elevation gain does not make hiking in Bear Mountain any easier. All trails but the Major Welch and Twin Forks Trails have 700+ ft (213 m) in elevation. Elevation gains of 1,100+ ft (335 m) are also common.

Wear sturdy hiking boots, bring a jacket, and pack water and snacks. This way, you could make the most from your hiking trip to Bear Mountain. The better prepared you are, the longer you could enjoy the trails.

Consider using the location of the park to your advantage. You could also enjoy nearby sights like Ringwood Manor and Ramapo Mountain in New Jersey.

Roosevelt, Vanderbilt, and Mills Mansions near Hyde Park, New York are also close. You could even visit Delaware Water Gap and Grey Towers in Pennsylvania if you do not mind a longer drive.

Attractions in and near New York City like Statue of Liberty and Fort Lee are also within reach. They are all a short drive, bus, or train ride south of Bear Mountain.

Take a look at this Video List of Bear Mountain State Park Hikes. And visit the YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!