Popolopen Spring Hike

Bear Mountain State Park
Orange Co, NY

Hiking Trails:
Timp-Torne Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 1:15
Estimated Distance: 1.2 Miles

Pros: Excellent scramble and great views
Cons: Limited parking
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3dggNbRLZ1obu7xj9

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick

Popolopen is one of of my favorite hikes in the area. It's an intense, steep climb up with excellent views, and is a short loop hike. However, parking seems to be an issue on weekends, with very limited parking. It's important to park off the paved road surface otherwise tickets are given out. We parked on Mine Road near the northern part of the loop trail, and took the trail up to the top, and then looped around back down to our car.

Map of the Route

Trailhead Map

Ascending Timp-Torne

First View While Ascending Timp-Torne

Hudson River and Bear Mountain Bridge

Rock at the Top of Popolopen

View of Bear Mountain from Popolopen

View of West Point from Popolopen

Popolopen Summit View

Flowers on the Trail

West Mountain Spring Hike

Harriman State Park /
Bear Mountain State Park
Orange Co, NY

Hiking Trails:
Anthony Wayne Trail: White blaze
Fawn Trail: Red blaze
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Timp-Torne Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 1:05
Estimated Distance: 1.9 miles

Pros: Great hike and scenic view
Cons: None
Hike Type: Out and back
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/FBvord7sG8j9HVSH7

This was a beautiful spring day and all the trees were beginning to sprout. I went on this short hike up and down West Mountain after work on Friday afternoon at the start of the weekend. I parked at the Anthony Wayne Recreation Area, and took the Anthony Wayne Trail up to the Fawn Trail, which I took to the Timp-Torne Trail up the mountain. (The trail is temporarily concurrent with the Appalachian Trail as they are worked on a new reroute.) I then turned around at the view from above the ridge after the Appalachian Trail and Timp-Torne Trail originally joined. I turned around and took the same route back, with a short spur at the end to the parking lot.

Map of the Route

Information Map at the Trailhead with the Appalachian Trail Reroute

Climbing Up West Mountain

View of Anthony Wayne Near the Top

Views Along the West Mountain Ridge