Bear Mountain State Park
Rockland Co
Orange Co
Westchester Co
NY
Hiking Trails:
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Appalachian Trail Bypass: Blue blaze
Total Time: 1:50 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.9 Miles
Pros: Very scenic area
Cons: Road travel
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Very easy
Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/gr7B1hpBw36gG6NFA
The weather was rainy, and although it wasn't actively raining, I had already slipped earlier in the summer in wet conditions and did a bad fall. So I opted for a very easy hike which was more like a walk where the conditions were easy.
I parked at the boat launch area of Bear Mountain, near the pool, and walked up the path and then met the Appalachian Trail by the zoo. I walked through the Bear Mountain Zoo on the Appalachian Trail, and then walked across the southern pedestrian sidewalk on the Bear Mountain Bridge.
After crossing the bridge into the Westchester side, I crossed the road and walked along the north side of the bridge. After crossing back into Rockland, I crossed the road and took the Appalachian Trail Bypass of the zoo and then crossed under Route 9W to Hessian Lake. I then walked around the lake on the path and then went back underneath Route 9W to the pool area and then back towards my car.
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| Map of the Route |
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| Brook of Hessian Lake Output |
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| Deer Antler Statue Overlooking the Hudson River |
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| Overlook of the Bear Mountain Bridge |
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| Bear Enclosure in the Bear Mountain Zoo. (This is the lowest portion of the Appalachian Trail.) |
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| Lazy Bear in the Bear Mountain Zoo |
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| Appalachian Trail through the Bear Mountain Zoo |
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| Wild Deer in the Bear Mountain Zoo |
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| Bear Mountain Bridge |
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| Trail Entrance to Ft. Montgomery Trail |
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| Hudson River Facing South from the Bear Mountain Bridge |
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| Anthonys' Nose from Bear Mountain Bridge |
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| Westchester Side of the Bear Mountain Bridge |
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| View from the Bear Mountain Bridge from the North Part of the Bridge |
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| Popolopen Gorge Bridge |
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| Appalachian Trail Bypass Around the Zoo |
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| Hessian Lake at Bear Mountain |
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| Appalachian Trail Information |
