Hiking at Bear Mountain

Bear Mountain State Park has a 42-mile trail system, and its stretch of the Appalachian Trail was the very first section of the AT ever built. Most hikes start at the Bear Mountain Inn: the easiest is the flat, paved 1.5-mile loop round Hessian Lake, and the classic is the challenging 3.9-mile loop to Perkins Memorial Tower on the 1,305-foot summit. Before you go, check NYS Parks' closure map: some trails damaged in July 2023 are still closed, and trails near the Inn are detoured through summer 2027.

Suggested Hikes (NYS Parks)

These routes come from NYS Parks' Bear Mountain suggested-hikes sheet, easiest first.

Hessian Lake loop — 1.5 miles, easy

A paved path round the lake, starting and ending beside the Inn. Stroller friendly. See Hessian Lake.

Bear Mountain Dock — 1 mile round trip, easy

Turn right at the zoo entrance and walk down past the Elk's Head statue to the dock on the Hudson, with picnicking, fishing and views of Iona Island. See Trailside.

Fort Montgomery — 3.5 miles round trip, difficult

The AT and 1777E Trail through the tunnel under Route 9W and through the zoo, then the steep Popolopen Creek Trail over a footbridge to the fort ruins. 2.4 miles if you return along Route 9W. See Fort Montgomery.

Doodletown — 3.8-mile loop, difficult

The 1777E Trail south past the merry-go-round and ice rink and through two tunnels into the valley holding the remains of the hamlet of Doodletown, then the 1777W and Suffern-Bear Mountain trails back over the shoulder of Bear Mountain, joining the AT and passing under the old ski jump.

Perkins Memorial Tower — 3.9-mile loop, challenging

Up the Major Welch Trail along Hessian Lake and steeply to the 1,305-foot summit, down on the AT and Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail. See Perkins Memorial Tower.

Popolopen Torne — 4.8 or 6.3 miles, challenging

The Popolopen Gorge Trail and a 500-foot climb on the Timp-Torne. See Popolopen Torne.

Popolopen Gorge and Queensboro Lake — 6.5-mile loop, challenging

Gorge, aqueducts and Revolutionary trails, returning on the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail.

Bald Mountain — 6.8-mile loop, challenging

The Cornell Mine Trail (blue) climbs nearly 1,000 feet to Bald Mountain's summit, then the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail passes the Cornell Mine with wide Hudson views, and the 1777 and 1777E trails return through the remains of Doodletown.

The Appalachian Trail at Bear Mountain

NYS Parks says Bear Mountain's section of the Appalachian Trail was the very first built on what is now a 2,190-mile path, and it marked its 100th year in 2025. The NYS Parks trail map shows about 6 miles of AT in the park. It climbs over Bear Mountain past Perkins Memorial Tower, descends to the Inn, runs on a paved path through Trailside Museums & Zoo, and crosses the Hudson on the Bear Mountain Bridge toward Anthony's Nose. After the July 2023 storm the section from the summit to the Inn was closed for ten months and reopened for Memorial Day weekend 2024.

Trail Closures and Detours

On July 9, 2023, a storm dropped about 10 inches of rain on Bear Mountain. NYS Parks says nearly every trail in the 42-mile system was damaged, some needing complete reconstruction, and the Doodletown trails were hit hard. Many trails have reopened, but NYS Parks still posts a trail closure map (updated December 2025) and a notice of detours near the Bear Mountain Inn on the Suffern-Bear Mountain, Appalachian and Major Welch trails for construction through summer 2027. Check both before any hike.

Trail Lengths

For the in-park length of every marked trail, see the trail map page.

Tips

• Start early. On fall weekends the lots fill and the park closes to cars. See parking.
• The park closes at dusk. Plan to be off the trail before dark.
• Dogs: allowed on a leash of 6 feet or less, but not in the zoo, buildings, picnic areas or on walkways. Use the blue bypass trail round Trailside.
• Winter: NYS Parks lists snowshoeing and cross-country skiing when there is snow; Perkins Memorial Drive is closed December to March.
• No car? The Coach USA bus from Port Authority stops at the Inn, at the start of the AT, Suffern-Bear Mountain and Major Welch trails.

Good For / Maybe Skip If

• Good for: hikers of every level within reach of New York City, Appalachian Trail fans, fall foliage.
• Maybe skip if: you want solitude on an October weekend; try a weekday, or neighbouring Harriman State Park's larger trail network.