September 17, 2022 – Stony Level, NY

Issue: Simple – Average

Size: Roughly 2.7 miles

Max elevation: 1,289 ft. – whole elevation acquire roughly 494 ft.

Route kind: Circuit

Free Bear Mountain Summit Path Map: Bear Mountain Hikes, NY

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Free Net Map: Bear Mountain State Park Path Map 2019

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Trailhead parking: Perkins Memorial Drive, Stony Level, NY 10980

Paved parking zone – loos on web site

Park Overview:

The 5,205-acre Bear Mountain State Park is located in rugged mountains rising from the west financial institution of the Hudson River. The Perkins Memorial Tower on the summit of Bear Mountain offers guests spectacular views of the park, the Hudson Highlands and the rolling hills of Harriman State Park. A scenic drive to the highest of the mountain, alongside Perkins Memorial Drive, is a extremely popular vacation spot within the park for vacationers and sightseers. Perkins Memorial Drive and Tower are open from April by late November, climate allowing.

The park consists of Bear Mountain in addition to Dunderberg Mountain and West Mountain. Fort Montgomery is adjoining to the north fringe of the park whereas Iona Island Hen Sanctuary is on the jap edge on the Hudson River. Bear Mountain State Park is a separate entity from the adjoining Harriman State Park which runs alongside the western fringe of the park, however are managed as a single unit.

Bear Mountain State Park is 45 miles north of New York Metropolis within the Hudson Highlands. Probably the most visited parks within the Northeast, Bear Mountain hosts greater than 3 million annual guests. Bear Mountain is accessible by automotive and bus and is a well-liked day use park. It’s typically too widespread; the state often shuts the park down to manage crowds throughout the hotter months.

Historical past:

In the course of the American Revolution, when management of the Hudson River was considered by the British as important to dominating the American territories, the world that was to change into the park noticed a number of vital army engagements. In 1777 British troops routed Patriots at Fort Montgomery. Anthony Wayne’s assault of the British fort at Stony Level moved colonial troops to the west of Bear Mountain.

In 1908, the State of New York introduced plans to relocate Sing Sing Jail to Bear Mountain. Work was begun within the space close to Highland Lake (renamed Hessian Lake) and in January 1909, the state bought the 740-acre Bear Mountain tract. Conservationists impressed by the work of the Palisades Interstate Park Fee lobbied efficiently for the creation of the Highlands of the Hudson Forest Protect, stopping the jail from being constructed.

Mary Averell Harriman, whose husband, Union Pacific Railroad president E. H. Harriman died in September of that 12 months, provided the state one other 10,000 acres and a million {dollars} towards the creation of a state park. George W. Perkins, with whom she had been working, raised one other $1.5 million from a dozen rich contributors together with John D. Rockefeller and J.P. Morgan.

Bear Mountain-Harriman State Park turned a actuality the next 12 months when the jail was demolished and a dock constructed for steamboat tour visitors. The park opened in June 1913. Steamboats alone introduced greater than 22,000 passengers to the park that 12 months. Tenting at Hessian Lake (and later at Lake Stahahe) was immensely widespread; the typical keep was eight days and was a favourite for Boy Scouts. By 1914 it was estimated that greater than 1,000,000 individuals a 12 months have been coming to the park.

Within the 1930’s the federal authorities beneath Franklin D. Roosevelt was creating plans to protect the setting as a part of the Melancholy-era public works packages; the Civil Works Administration and the Works Progress Administration spent 5 years on initiatives on the park. Pump homes, reservoirs, sewer methods, trip lodges, loos, properties for park workers, storage buildings and an administration constructing have been all created by these packages. Each the Perkins Memorial Drive and Perkins Memorial Tower have been constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) between 1932 and 1934. The winding, steep drive was dynamited out of Bear Mountain by 1,500 NYS Short-term Reduction Employees. Work started on November 21, 1932 and the drive and tower opened on October 31, 1934. President and Mrs. Roosevelt have been among the many first guests.

Perkins Memorial Tower was constructed with funds offered by the Perkins household. The tower is 65 toes excessive and 30’x30′ on the base. It was constructed of native stone from a quarry on the base of Bear Mountain.

Appalachian Path~

It was in Bear Mountain State Park again in 1923 when the very first part of the Appalachian Path was constructed and blazed. It formally opened on October 7, 1923 and served as a sample for the opposite sections of the path developed independently by native and regional organizations and later by the federal authorities. The Appalachian Path has been re-routed quite a few instances on Bear Mountain since its founding in 1923 as a consequence of erosion triggered from 100,000+ hikers a 12 months.

Within the fall of 2018, the New York-New Jersey Path Convention accomplished the Bear Mountain Trails Venture, essentially the most formidable rehabilitation of the Appalachian Path (AT) ever carried out. Of the complete 2,200 miles of the AT, the part that runs by Bear Mountain State Park is the oldest and most closely used. Over 90 years in the past, it was Path Convention volunteers who blazed this unique portion of the AT and opened it to the general public. By 2004, the Bear Mountain path had change into an eroded, 10-foot-wide scar.

Work on the path included hardening the tread with 1,300 granite steps, every of which weighed between 500 and 800 kilos and wanted to be moved from the underside of Bear Mountain to the summit. The mission additionally included developing the primary ADA-compliant part of the AT.

The primary part of the Appalachian Path relocation was opened on June fifth, 2010 (Nationwide Trails Day) and consisted of roughly 700 steps. A second part together with an A.T. loop and almost 1/2 mile of absolutely accessible path on the highest of Bear Mountain was formally opened on June sixth, 2011 (Nationwide Trails Day).

Trails Overview:

There are over 50 official trails masking over 235 miles, that includes a variety of difficulties and elevation modifications.

The Appalachian Path passes by old-growth forest on its method to Perkins Memorial Tower atop Bear Mountain, with scenic overlooks and spectacular views of the Hudson River and Dunderberg, Bald, and West mountains alongside the way in which. The tower may also be reached by automotive, and a portion of the trail on the summit is wheelchair accessible.

Hike Overview:

I’ve been on the summit of Bear Mountain extra instances than I can rely. I’ve all the time pushed to the highest to benefit from the views from Perkins Tower and the point of view simply off the parking zone the place the crowds appear to assemble. I had by no means bothered to discover the paths across the summit till final 12 months. Coping with some well being points, I needed to get open air and revel in some Hudson Valley views with out the bodily exertion required on a hike. Strolling round on the summit led me to the western aspect of the mountain the place the AT passes by in addition to a few blue connector trails. I’ve since returned a number of instances to discover somewhat extra and determined to do a brief loop hike using the AT and the deserted part Perkins Memorial Drive to hyperlink it collectively.

This hike descends stone steps right down to an deserted part of Perkins Memorial Drive then climbs extra stone steps because it regains the elevation misplaced on the way in which down. Alongside the way in which there are quite a few views and little foot visitors. This hike is ideal for the informal hiker or these not in search of a deep woods expertise. Relying on the time of day or season, you’ll encounter hordes of individuals across the neighborhood of Perkins Tower. The farther you progress away from that space, the much less individuals you’ll encounter. We arrived on the summit round 8:30am on a Saturday Morning in late September and there have been a number of automobiles already there. By the point we returned to the parking space, round 11:15am, there have been many automobiles, bikes, bikes and other people milling round having fun with the surroundings. My recommendation is to get there early earlier than the crowds.

The Hike:

Throughout the paved loop highway, with Perkins Memorial Tower in your left, there’s a kiosk with a map and data on the northwest aspect of the summit. Simply to the proper of the kiosk is a fork. The best fork, blazed with the two″x6″ white blazes of the Appalachian Path (AT) and the red-ring-on-white blazes of the Main Welch Path, will likely be your return route, however for now, proceed forward by the parking zone and if the tower is open, you could wish to go inside to test it out.

Located 1,305 toes above the Hudson River, the 360 diploma panoramic views from Perkins Tower are spectacular. On a transparent day, 4 states and the Manhattan skyline may be seen from the tower. The statement flooring has interpretive shows that describe the distant surroundings. Perkins Memorial Tower was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) between 1932 and 1934. The tower was closed once we arrived at roughly 8:30am on a Saturday in September.

The tower was constructed to honor the reminiscence of George W. Perkins (1862-1920), the primary President of the Palisades Interstate Park Fee. The tower served as a fireplace lookout station till the 1950’s. It’s now open to the general public.

Proceed previous the tower and proceed forward to a broad south-facing viewpoint, with Dunderberg Mountain jutting into the Hudson River to the left. Rustic benches have been positioned on this space for guests to relaxation and benefit from the views. Observe the Manhattan skyline seen within the distance.

Wanting south over the Hudson River from Bear Mountain at 8:30am.

After having fun with the view, head again in direction of the tower, however bear proper at a fork within the path. Instantly forward, on a rock, you’ll discover a plaque positioned to commemorate the service of Joseph Bartha as Trails Chairman of the New York-New Jersey Path Convention from 1940 to 1955.

Bear proper on the plaque and descend alongside the white-blazed Appalachian Path. You now are following a spectacular path part, opened in phases between 2010 and 2018, that was constructed over a 13-year interval by skilled path builders and AmeriCorps path crews, together with Path Convention volunteers.

In about half a mile, after having descended almost 400 stone steps, you’ll attain a viewpoint on the proper over Dunderberg Mountain to the southeast. Right here, the path bears left and ranges off. It then climbs somewhat and crosses a stream channeled between two rock slabs.

The height on the left, rising simply above the leaves is Bald Mountain. The height simply left of the notch (left of middle) is The Timp and West Mountain is the lengthy ridge on the proper.