Hudson River Bear Mountain Bridge Bear Mountain Zoo Hessian Lake

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.

Map of the Route

Brook of Hessian Lake Output

Deer Antler Statue Overlooking the Hudson River

Overlook of the Bear Mountain Bridge

Bear Enclosure in the Bear Mountain Zoo.
(This is the lowest portion of the Appalachian Trail.)

Lazy Bear in the Bear Mountain Zoo

Appalachian Trail through the Bear Mountain Zoo

Wild Deer in the Bear Mountain Zoo

Bear Mountain Bridge

Trail Entrance to Ft. Montgomery Trail

Hudson River Facing South from the Bear Mountain Bridge

Anthonys' Nose from Bear Mountain Bridge

Westchester Side of the Bear Mountain Bridge

View from the Bear Mountain Bridge from the North Part of the Bridge

Popolopen Gorge Bridge

Appalachian Trail Bypass Around the Zoo

Hessian Lake at Bear Mountain

Appalachian Trail Information

Bear Mountain State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 1:40 minutes
Estimated Distance: 2.9 Mile

Pros: Very scenic area and good climb
Cons: Very busy area
Hike Type: Loop
Level of  Difficulty: Slightly difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/MeKbeRJzhp8ykYnR9

I parked at the dock area at Bear Mountain down by the Hudson River, and walked up towards the zoo, past the pool, and then up to Hessian Lake. Being a Sunday, this area around Hessian was extremely busy with people making barbecues and parties. I continued past to the steps where the Appalachian Trail climbs the mountain, and went along to the first view, the waterfalls, and then to the end of Perkins Drive by the dead end. I then took a short spur to the view facing south, and then bushwhacked along the old former Appalachian Trail route that connects to the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail. I noticed that the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail was also rerouted here further down the mountain and will explore this further on another trip. I then continued from here back the route I came back to my car.

Map of the Route

Bear Mountain Bridge and Bear with Antlers Statue

Bear Mountain Bridge and Anthony's Nose

Hessian Lake

Hessian Lake and Bear Mountain

Hessian Lake

AT Trail Information at the Foot of Bear Mountain

First View at Bear Mountain

View of the Hudson River, Iona Island, and Peekskill

Waterfalls 

View Facing South, Facing Dunderberg, Bald, the Timp, and West Mountain

View at Dunderberg

View on the Former AT Trail