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 to Fort Montgomery

Bear Mountain State Park
Rockland & Orange Counties,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Twin Forts Trail: Blue stripe in white blaze

Total Time: 1:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.8 Miles

Pros: Scenic area along Hudson River
Cons: Busy area
Hike Type: Candy Wrapper Loop
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/LmTMssnNDXqoz7H46

I parked at the dock area at Bear Mountain, and took the path up to the Bear Mountain Trailside Zoo. The Appalachian Trail goes right through the zoom. I took the Appalachian Trail in the zoo past the exhibits, and was surprised to see the bear out and not hibernating despite the cold weather. 

I took a spur to the viewpoint over the river, and then took the paved zoo path to the Fort Clinton remnant site. I then continued to the area behind the bridge, and took the Twin Forts Trail underneath the Bear Mountain Bridge to the Popolopen Creek.

I crossed the Popolopen Creek on the pedestrian suspension bride, and then toured through the Fort Montgomery historical site, where the Americans fought the British in the Revolutionary war. I then turned around and took the Appalachian Spur Bypass Trail around Bear Mountain, and returned back to my car.

Map of the Route

Bear Mountain Bridge and the Elk Statue

Bobcat at the Zoo

Porcupine at the Zoo

Bear at the Zoo in the Winter
(Shouldn't he be hibernating)

Hudson River

Fort Clinton Remains

Anthony's Nose & Bear Mountain Bridge

Ft. Montgomery Trailhead

Popolopen Footbridge

Route 9W Popolopen Bridge

Bear Mountain Bridge from Popolopen

Fort Montgomery Historic Site

Ice on the Trail