Anthony's Nose

Anthony's Nose is the rocky peak on the east bank of the Hudson, directly across the river from Bear Mountain, in NYS Parks' Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve. Hikers climb it on the Appalachian Trail from the Bear Mountain Bridge side or on the blue Camp Smith Trail from the south, for the well-known view down onto the Bear Mountain Bridge and Bear Mountain State Park. It is not part of Bear Mountain State Park, and it has its own parking and rules.

Where It Is

Anthony's Nose rises above the east end of the Bear Mountain Bridge, in Westchester County near the Putnam line. The bridge's east approach road was blasted into its south face, 410 feet above the river, in 1923. NYS Parks manages the summit area as part of Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve, whose office is in Beacon.

Trails to the Summit

NYS Parks' Hudson Highlands South map shows two marked routes:

• Appalachian Trail (white blazes): the AT crosses the Bear Mountain Bridge from Trailside and climbs the east side of the river. NYS Parks lists 5.20 miles of AT in this part of the preserve, measured from the trailhead to the Bear Mountain Bridge.
• Camp Smith Trail (blue blazes, 3.63 miles): runs north from the Peekskill end along the ridge to the Nose. The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference says Peekskill's Metro-North station is about a two-mile walk from the trail's southern end.

Both routes are steep and rocky. NYS Parks does not publish an official difficulty rating or round-trip time for Anthony's Nose, so we do not give one; plan for a half day and carry water.

Parking

Parking is limited, and this is not inside Bear Mountain State Park, so the Bear Mountain lots are a long walk away across the bridge. The NYS Parks map marks parking areas and trailheads along the routes; check it before you go, and never park where signs prohibit it. On fall weekends, when searches for Anthony's Nose peak, small trailhead lots fill early.

Safety: Camp Smith

The Camp Smith Trail runs beside Camp Smith, a military training site. NYS Parks' map warns hikers to stay on marked trails to avoid active military training exercises. Do not leave the blazed route.

Hiking It From Bear Mountain

With a full day you can park at Bear Mountain (fee $10), walk the Appalachian Trail through the zoo, cross the bridge on foot and climb the Nose on the AT, then return the same way. Allow for the zoo's opening hours (10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. most of the year) if you plan to walk through it, and remember the park closes at dusk. See hiking at Bear Mountain.

Without a Car

Take Metro-North's Hudson Line to Manitou and walk up Manitou Station Road to the AT, or to Peekskill for the south end of the Camp Smith Trail, as the Trail Conference describes. Manitou is a flag-style stop: stand where the crew can see you.

Good For / Maybe Skip If

• Good for: the best photo of the Bear Mountain Bridge, fit hikers, Appalachian Trail section hikers.
• Maybe skip if: you want an easy walk with facilities; try Hessian Lake or the drive up to Perkins Memorial Tower.