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

Bear Mountain Hessian Lake Loop
Bear Mountain State Park,
Rockland/Orange Cos.
New York

Hiking Trails:
Major Welch Trail: Red blaze
Appalachian Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 0:40 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.3 Miles

Pros: Picturesque lake and scenic area
Cons: Built up area with many people

I was off from work for the Christmas Holiday. I had several things scheduled throughout the day, but had a little bit of time at the end of the day for a hike. This is more of a walk than a hike on a paved path, but being the area is mostly along hiking trails and in the mountain area I am including this in the blog.

I parked in the main parking area in Bear Mountain, and walked towards Hessian Lake, and took the path along the western shore of the lake concurrently with the Major Welch Trail. I continued around the loop of the lake, where I joined the Appalachian Trail on the eastern side of the lake. I then continued back to my car for a short and scenic loop around the lake.

Map of the Route

Sign at Hessian Lake at Bear Mountain

A Frozen Bear Mountain, Facing North from the Southern End

Tiny Island on Hessian Lake with Two Trees

Anthony's Nose from Across Hessian Lake

Overlook Above Hessian Lake

Me at the Overlook Above Hessian Lake

Hessian Lake from the Northern Point, Looking South

Bear Mountain and Hessian Lake

Bear Mountain Ice Storm

Bear Mountain State Park,
Rockland/Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Appalachian Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 0:40 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.1 Miles

Pros: Scenic area
Cons: Didn't get to do much of a hike

It had just snowed the night before, and the storm became an ice storm after several inches, causing all the tress to be glazed over with ice. Being that it was windy and the trees were covered in ice, I decide to hike at a more populated place, so I chose Bear Mountain.

I parked at the parking area down by the Hudson River Landing, and walked up to the path where it meets the Appalachian Trail at the entrance to the Bear Mountain Zoo. The scenery with everything covered with ice was breathtaking!

I tool the Appalachian Trail underneath Route 9W/202 to Hessian Lake, and proceeded to walk around the lake. After walking for a few minutes, I was approached by a police officer who told me I had to leave since conditions for hiking were unsafe. At this point I turned around and followed the same route back to my car.

Map of the Route

View from the Parking Area

Sign with Ice Droplets

Bridge over the Hessian Lake Outlet Brook 

Hessian Lake Outlet Brook from the Bridge

Ascending on the Path up the Bear Mountain

View of Anthony's Nose and the Hudson River

Bear Mountain from Across Hessian Lake

Frozen Oak Tree at Hessian Lake

Hessian Lake

Hessian Lake and Bear Mountain

Leaves Glazed over in Ice

Another View of the Leaves Covered over in Ice

Ice-Laden Fallen Tree Covering the Path

View of Hudson River facing South Towards Peekskill

Anthony's Nose and the Hudson River

Bear Mountain Bridge, Zoo, and Hessian Lake

Bear Mountain State Park
Westchester/Rockland/Orange Counties,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Major Welch Trail: Red blaze
1777 W Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 1:40 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.1 Miles

Pros: Great views
Cons: Very busy area

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

I had really hurt myself earlier in the week while climbing down Bear Mountain. I could not do a big hike or any elevation changes, so I opted for something easy, flat, and paved. We drove over the Bear Mountain Bridge and parked on the eastern side at the end of the bridge, on the corner of Route 9D. We walked along the north path of the bridge, which is concurrent with the Appalachian Trail and the point where this trail crosses the Hudson River. After crossing the bridge from Westchester into Rockland, we went though the Bear Mountain Zoo, which also trails along the Appalachian Trail, combined with the 1777 W Trail. We took the detour to Fort Clinton, and took the spur by the bear den to the view in the zoo. We then took the trail to the end of the zoo, walked to Hessian Lake, and looped around its southern end to the trail on the west side, which is along the Major Welch Trail. We then continued around the north side of Hessian Lake, going into Orange county, and then cut across on the grass to Route 9W, which we crossed. We then went along the southern walkway of Bear Mountain Bridge and went back to our car.

Map of the Route

Approaching Bear Mountain Bridge in Westchester

Plaque at the Bridge

Looking Across the Hudson River a the Popolopen Bridge

Looking North a the Hudson River and Metro North Line

Looking North with a Trail in View

Shimmy Midspan

The Three Popopopen Bridges

Hudson River, Facing North

Me on the Bear Mountain Bridge

On the Bridge, with Anthony's Nose Behind Me

Me on the Bridge

The Historical Toll Booth

Me at an Appalachian Trail Plaque, with a Long Distance Hiker to my Left

Cactus Grove Growing in the Zoo

Swans in the Pond in the Zoo

Fort Clinton, in Bear Mountain Zoo

View from Bear Mountain Zoo of the Notch in the Hudson River

Notch Between Manitou and Dunderberg Mountains

Bear Mountain Bridge and Anthony's Nose

North Shore of Hessian Lake, Facing South Toward Dunderberg

View from the Bridge of the Hudson River, Facing South