Bear Mountain — Attraction in Town of Highlands

Bear Mountain rises along the western banks of the Hudson, about 1,200 feet high and a 45-minute drive from New York City, its gentle slopes said to resemble a bear lying down when viewed from certain bends along the river. Thanks to the business man & politician George W. Perkins in the early 20th century, who led the effort to preserve the mountain from industrial development, we are able to enjoy today this enjoyable hiking ground.

We chose the stone stair path, which is about 3.4 miles round-trip, taking roughly two and a half hours at a steady, unhurried pace. It grows steep in places, but never forbidding. Families, seasoned hikers, and first-timers alike share the route, winding through patches of bare rock and stands of hardwood forest. For those seeking a milder ascent, there is a paved car path. More ambitious hikers can peel off toward harder trails, where stone gives way to scrambling. One word to the wise: bathrooms exist only at the trailhead and again at the summit near the Perkins Memorial Tower; given the steady flow of hikers along the trail, finding a private spot in between can be a challenge.

The views, when you reach them, are not the grand cathedrals of the Rockies nor the sublime thunderheads of New England’s highest peaks. Instead, the Hudson River unfurls like a lazy ribbon, and the hills roll outward under an endless, softly breathing sky. You might catch sight of a Metro-North train threading its way along the river's edge, a silver flash in the landscape, the faint outlines of New York City flicker at the edge of sight like a whispered rumor. It is a place not built for awe but...

What a beautiful spot for a hike. Great views (you can see the Manhattan skyline), the walk to the top of Perkins Tower is worth it for some additional views and there are plenty of bench once you hike to the top to kick back and relax and soak in the scenery. On the way up, there are 1,300 granite stairs built into the mountain on the AppalachianTrail. It's a man-made miracle and much needed because parts of the ascent are pretty step. Most areas are wide enough for hikes going in both directions. Some bring their dogs (must be leashed) and even some really little kids. As you make your way up , there are a few places along the way that you could stop and soaked in the beautiful scenery of the Bear Mountain bridge and the Hudson. The park itself is huge and has a lot of things to do at the base, but the summit is where the most beautiful views are. It's about 4 miles round trip hiking. Your legs will get a good workout . You may want to. Bring a hiking stick for balance as some of the areas are pretty narrow and with the leaves could be slippery. Once you get to the top, you can see four states: NY, NJ, CT, and PA. It's great for a hike.But weakens do get crowded, and there's a lot of people with dogs and babies, But most people are polite and you either pull over to let a faster hiker go past you or you pass somebody else. There were also plenty of times when we were the only ones on the trail for...

This place is amazing. A lot of hiking trails are available for hikers. The atmosphere seems wonderful. For those who wants to stay there, there is bear mountain inn near to parking lot 1. Also,the parking is free during the weekdays. There are lots of parking space in there so we don’t have to worry about it. There is small zoo which is currently closed during weekdays due to construction of animal habitat according to the instructions in-front of zoo section. There is a lake also which is very pretty. We can walk around the lake since there is trail. There are lots of space and sitting place near to lake which is perfect for family picnic. Also there are many restroom in different location which we can check on instruction board . I saw some vending machines around lake area which has some snacks but most of them are empty and little bit pricey. So, its better to bring our own snack. There is a hikers cafe for visitors near to parking lot 1. This place is wonderful if we visit there on sunny day. We visited there on April so the trees were bare. Its better to go there on August . Overall, its a wonderful place in NYC for hiking and...