Bear Mountain-Harriman State Parks
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Park Overview:
Bear Mountain and Harriman State Parks in New York combine to cover nearly 52,000 acres of mostly forested landscape with hundreds of miles of trails--including the Appalachian Trail--a rich hiking resource close to New York City.
Park Description:
Bear Mountain-Harriman State Parks
The variety of trails looping across the rugged landscape, draped upon the Highlands, is a major part of the appeal of Bear Mountain and Harriman State Parks. Bear Mountain-Harriman State Parks cover nearly 52,000 acres, this network of practically infinite trail combinations is unmatched in the area surrounding metropolitan New York. The hiker may choose to climb through the crevices of the Lemon Squeezer, savor the views of the Hudson from high on Dunderberg Mountain, or ramble on old woods roads past sleepy swamps and abandoned mining villages. The Bear Mountain Inn area [the Inn is closed for renovations] is itself a destination for many families to enjoy its numerous attractions, including access to several hiking trails.
For a history of the park and a complete guide to marked and unmarked trails, see Harriman Trails: A Guide and History, by William Myles [New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, 3d ed., 2010]. See also Chapter 16 of the New York Walk Book [NYNJTC, 7th ed., 2005] [Since Harriman and Bear Mountain State Parks are so intertwined, a nearly identical on-line description can be found at Harriman-Bear Mountain State Park]
Bear Mountain State Park official website
Harriman State Park official website
Trails Overview:
With more than 235 miles of trails, approximately fifty marked trails, and three-dozen plus woods trails not to mention unmarked trails, it seems best to feature just a few major trail access points with parking areas.
- Reeves Meadow Visitors Center: One of the most popular trails in the park, the Pine Meadow trail [5.5 miles; red on while] leads to the north shore of Pine Meadow Lake. A 0.2-mile hike east from the parking area towards Sloatsburg on Pine Meadow Trail connects to Seven Hills Trail [blue dot on white]; 300 feet east of the visitors center on Pine Meadow Trail is the trailhead [on the right] of the Reeves Brook Trail [white].
- Bear Mountain Inn: The large parking area [though it becomes full in good weather, or on special holidays] is an access point to several trails, including the Appalachian [white], Anthony Wayne [2.8 miles, white], 1777E [red "1777" on white], Suffern-Bear Mountain [23.5 miles, yellow], and Cornell Mine Trails [2.5 miles, blue]. Also the Twin Forts Trail, a short path connecting the sites of the historic Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery [including the modest Fort Montgomery visitor center] and also leading to the Timp-Torne [11.2 miles, blue] and Popolopen Gorge trails [4.5 miles, red on white].
- Significant improvements are underway for trails in this section of the park; volunteers are welcomed to join the NYNJ Trail Conference's Bear Mountain Trails Project.
- Anthony Wayne Recreation Area: The mid-point of the Anthony Wayne Trail [2.8 miles; white] forms a loop with the Popolopen Gorge Trail [red on white] at Turkey Hill Lake and the Timp-Torne Trail [blue] on the west end of West Mountain.
- Elk Pen Parking Area: On the western side of the park, there is access to the Appalachian Trail, Arden-Surebridge Trail [6.3 miles, red triangle on white] and Island Pond.
The Appalachian Trail [18.0 miles, white] traverses the northern section of the park, extending from the Bear Mountain Bridge at the Hudson River west to NY 17. On the way, it intersects or runs jointly with eleven other marked trails, and it can be combined with these trails to make a variety of loop hikes.
This section of the Appalachian Trail in the park was the first of the 2,160 mile-long A.T. to be completed, and much of it still follows the original route. Improvement are still being made to the A.T. on Bear Mountain which is the focal point of a multi-year, multi-agency trail building and rehabilitation project being led by the Trail Conference. Learn more about the Bear Mountain Trails Project.
- Before proceeding west on the A.T. from Bear Mountain Inn, hikers may wish to follow the trail east, through a pedestrian tunnel under US 9 W, into the Trailside Museum and Zoo, which features native plants, animals, reptiles and birds. A sign on the A.T. as it passes through the museum marks the lowest point on the entire trail from Maine to Georgia - 124 feet above sea level.
- Both ends of the trail in the park are readily accessible. See "Let's Go/Directions to Trailhead" to either Bear Mountain Inn or Elk Pen Parking Area.
Doodletown near Bear Mountain, an isolated hamlet surviving for 200 years -- but a ghost town since the mid-1960s -- is a popular destination for hikers. Click for more information.
For a collection of detailed hikes go to the “Find a Hike” page, scroll down to “Harriman State Park” and “Harriman-Bear Mountain State Park.”
Park Acreage:
52000.00 acresMunicipality:
Bear MountainBear Mountain and Harriman State Parks in New York combine to cover nearly 52,000 acres of mostly forested landscape with hundreds of miles of trails--including the Appalachian Trail--a rich hiking resource close to New York City.
Bear Mountain-Harriman State Parks
The variety of trails looping across the rugged landscape, draped upon the Highlands, is a major part of the appeal of Bear Mountain and Harriman State Parks. Bear Mountain-Harriman State Parks cover nearly 52,000 acres, this network of practically infinite trail combinations is unmatched in the area surrounding metropolitan New York. The hiker may...
Park Acreage:
52000.00 acresMunicipality:
Bear MountainContact Information
Web Link:
OPRHP-NYS Parks, Bear MountainPhone:
(845) 786-2701Fees:
Some times and places; check with parkDogs in park:
Dogs on leash
Directions to Trailhead
Public TransportationDirections to Trailhead :
- Reeves Meadow Visitors Center: From NY 17 in Sloatsburg take Seven Lakes Drive 1.4 miles. GPS: 41.174182, -74.168434
- Bear Mountain Inn: From the Palisades Interstate Parkway [north or south], get off at exit 19 [Bear Mtn. Park] and take Seven Lakes Drive for 3½ miles to the Bear Mountain Circle. At the circle, take the second right. Follow the signs to Parking Lots. If you miss exit 19, take the Parkway to the Bear Mountain Bridge Circle. At this circle, make the first right onto 9W south and go to the traffic light. Bear right and go up the hill. Parking fees apply. GPS: 41.312055, -73.988693
- Anthony Wayne Recreation Area: From the Palisades Interstate Parkway, take Exit 17. GPS: 41.297022, -74.027669
- Elk Pen Parking Area: Take Route 17 north through Southfields, NY, turn right [east] onto Arden Valley Road, pass over the NY State Thruway [no access], then turn right on Elk Pen Road. From Route 17 south, Arden Valley Road is two miles south of the Harriman train station. [Google Maps: "Rt 17 and Arden Valley Road, NY 10975" The satellite view will show the parking area.] GPS: 41.265345, -74.153499
- Public transportation: Short Line buses from the New York Port Authority Bus Terminal to the Bear Mountain Inn also stop, if requested, along US 9W at Tomkins Cove and Jones Point. Short Line buses and Metro-North trains to Suffern, Sloatsburg, Tuxedo, Southfields, Arden, and Harriman give access to trails on the west side of the parks.
TRAIN TRANSPORT :
Metro-North's Port Jervis Line from Hoboken to Suffern, Sloatsburg, Tuxedo and Harriman provides access to trails on the west side of the parks. You can take an NJ Transit train from Penn Station New York to Secaucus and change there to the Metro-North Port Jervis Line trains.
BUS TRANSPORT :
Short Line buses from the New York Port Authority Bus Terminal to Suffern, Sloatsburg, Tuxedo, Southfields, Arden, and Harriman give access to trails on the west side of the parks. Short Line buses to the Bear Mountain Inn also stop, if requested, along US 9W at Tomkins Cove and Jones Point.
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To reach Pine Meadow Lake from the Reeves Meadow Visitor Center, begin (as usual) by following the red-square-on-white-blazed Pine Meadow Trail. However, where the Pine Meadow Trail turns right and heads uphill, away from the brook, continue straight ahead on the yellow-blazed Stony Brook Trail, which continues to parallel Stony Brook (to your left). At the site of a washed-out bridge over Stony Brook, the white-blazed Kakiat Trail joins. Continue ahead, now following both yellow and white blazes. After crossing a wooden bridge over Pine Meadow Brook (one that actually survived Hurricane Irene), the yellow-blazed Stony Brook trail leaves to the left. Bear right here, now following the white-blazed Kakiat Trail, with Pine Meadow Brook on your right. Continue for several miles until, at the site of another washed-out bridge, the white blazes abruptly end on your side of the brook. Proceed ahead, now once again following the red-square-on-white-blazed Pine Meadow Trail, which leads to Pine Meadow Lake.
Seven Lakes Drive is now accessible from Route 17 in Sloatsburg via a detour. Traveling north about one-half mile beyond the normal turn-off is a temporary traffic light. Angle right down a ramp to Washington Avenue. Travelling south on Route 17, turn left at the temporary traffic light.
Washington Avenue leads to a T-intersection with Seven Lakes Drive just as it passes under the NYS Thruway. Turn left, the park entrance is straight ahead.