Doodletown Bear Mountain Loop

Bear Mountain State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Cornell Mine Trail: Blue blaze
1777 E Trail: White blaze
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze
Appalachian Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 2:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.8 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Highly recommended
Points Of Interest: Historic ghost town, scenic location, Bear Mountain
Pros: Historically significant hike, pretty scenery
Cons: Bear Mountain area is very busy with lots of people

Hiking Parter:
Rachel Friedman

Google Map of Parking:

View 2014 Hiking Locations in a larger map

This was a nice day with comfortable temperatures at the peak of the autumn foliage. We parked at the Doodletown Trailhead by the Cornell Mine Trail opposite Iona Island, and took the Cornell Mine Trail south to the "10 Footer" waterfall. We then crossed the stream and forked on to to the 1777 E Trail. We continued on this trail past the reservoir and through some of the Doodletown historic sites, and continued along the 1777 E Trail until the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail.

We took the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail north, along its concurrency with the ski trail, and then climbed up the hill on the trail to Seven Lakes Drive, where a very nice view facing south is afforded. We continued along the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail until Bear Mountain, where we took the Appalachian Trail along a paved path on the side of Hessian Lake, to the Oktoberfest.

Bear Mountain has an Oktoberfest every year, and this was the last week of it. Thousands of people come and drink beer in huge mugs that there is no way they can finish. The trail goes right through the Oktoberfest so I decided to check it out. The amount of people that come for this event is very impressive. Cars were backed up for quite a while on Seven Lakes Drive all the way back. A word to the wise: If you intend to go hiking in autumn, make sure to come early so that you get a good parking spot. We continued on the 1777 E Trail back to the car.

Map of the Route.
Harriman/Bear Mountain Trails Northern Route

Plaque at the Cornell Mine Trail

Beautiful Sugar Maple Along the Cornell Mine Trail

The "10 Footer" Waterfall

A Closer Up Perspective of the "10 Footer".

Plaque at the Trail Above the 10 Footer

One of the Many Abandoned Structures in Doodletown,
With a Plaque Explaining what this was

Autumn Colors in Doodletown, with Bald Mountain
(the Western Part of Dunderberg) Looming Overhead

Another Nice View at the Doodletown Reservoir

Doodletown Reservoir, with the June Cemetery Behind the Water

Doodletown Plaques on the 1777 E Trail

The 1777 E Trail in Doodletown

Fall Colors on the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail

Beautiful View Where the S-BM Trail Hits 7 Lakes Drive.
Facing South to Dunderberg Mountain and West Mountain

At the Same View Facing Southwest Towards West Mountain

Bear Mountain Inn at the End of the S-BM Trail,
with Anthony's Nose in the Background

Fall Foliage from the South Shore of Hessian Lake

South Shore of Hession Lake, Looking North.
Note the Sun on the Trees on the Foreground but not the Background

Oktoberfest at Bear Mountain