Bear Mountain State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York
Hiking Trails:
Cornell Mine Trail: Blue blaze
Ski Trail: Unblazed
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze
1777 Trail: White blaze
Total Time: 1:40 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.0 Miles
Pros: Scenic area
Cons: Trail damage
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Difficult (due to conditions)
Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/S1bkCpXMJn7PLdzQ8
Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick
When I was at Bear Mountain previously, I noticed the Suffern-Bear Mountain had been rerouted at the bottom of Bear Mountain near the Inn and wanted to check it out at a future date. This was that opportunity.
We parked at the Cornell Mine Trail trailhead on Route 9W. We noticed the Cornell Mine Trail was closed due to storm damage, so we took the southern part of the trail, which was a bit overgrown. We headed towards the edge of Doodletown, and then took the Ski Trail to the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail. We crossed 7 Lakes Drive and then went over the southern hump of Bear Mountain, and then headed down on the trail.
The new trail is on the descent right before the old intersection of the Appalachian Trail. The trail bypasses the stream crossing that seems to have gotten eroded. We then went into the Bear Mountain field, on the 1777 Trail, and then continued back to the Cornell Mine Trail back to our car. This part of the trail was very difficult due the damage.
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| Map of the route |
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| Iona Island and Dunderberg Mountain from the Parking Area |
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| Trail Closed |
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| Timp Brook |
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| Doodletown Trailheads |
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| Bear Mountain Bridge from the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail |
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| New Part of the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail |
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| Bear Mountain Inn & Field and Anthony's Nose |
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| 1777 Trail Plaque |
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| View of Dunderberg |
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| Overgrown and Damaged 1777 Trail |
