Bear Mountain State Park Reviews

Hiking, sports, swimming, zoo, views, ice skating, carousel … trail to Ft Montgomery is a little rough & steep but great view of Bear Mountain Bridge & old dock. Zoo trail a bit steep in places but a nice little old zoo. Old museum buildings along the trail are quite informative. Carousel is only opened weekends. Drive up to the top of the mountain is great.... can even see the Manhattan skyline 60 miles away.

Beautiful park...wanted to take my pup to chill in the hammock and eat lunch, read a book...relax social distance style. 2 minutes after finding the two most perfect hammock trees a park ranger comes up and tells me “you are not allowed to hang hammocks on trees here, people apparently don’t know how to tie knots and it’s a liability”. Seriously!? So ur saying we can come in clusters on the weekend, masks not worn the whole time, crowded areas with 20+ ppl, spread a deadly virus...yet me solo in the middle of the week I’m not allowed to hang a hammock and chill without spreading a deadly virus? Laughable to say the least. Still a beautiful view but would have saved my $10 in parking if I knew about the no hammock policy. Yes ur allowed to purchase a hammock stand but I have looked all over and they are sold out. Probably due to dumb rules such as this one. Side note...ur allowed to bbq so they trust people more with fire then hammock knot tying.

Take Grandchildren to the Zoo during the year when the visit. Bear Mountain Inn was renovated and is a great place to have lunch or dinner. You can rent a room for overnight stays. My family had Bar Mitzvah at the Overlook lodge many years ago and they did a great job catering and serving food. Think about this place when you need a place to have an affaire. Attended several weddings at the Bear Mountain Inn. Just as wonderful. BG.

Great for hikers, especially this time of the year. Just stay away on Holiday weekends. Way too many people

The little zoo and musiems on the trail were a real treat

Driving up mountain a lot of fun and views from top spectacular. No fee to enter and it appears school groups visit, also motorcycles with police escort up the road to top. Clean and welll maintained.

Hessian Lake is gorgeous! The grounds could be cleaned up a little but with the amount of people who visit, its ok. Its well worth the entrance fees to visit! Grab a picnic basket and visit!

What a great park to visit just wish perkins memorial tower was open at this time of year. The zoo is free and absolutely amazing with tiny little museums scattered about and fort clinton and indian camps within the zoo. There is also an amazing view of bear mt bridge. A total must see. The other trail right of the zoo was just as cool, it leads you down the mountain to the hudson excursion docks with another cool view of the bridge. And there is a really cool spot to watch the freight trains go by super close!

We recently moved to the area and boy do we love coming to the bear mountain! You can drive to the top and the views and to die for; the bottom has carasol, barbecue areas, a lake, paddle boats, even a trail side zoo!! Great park! And can’t forget great hiking!!!!

had a great day hiking thru the different trails and the views from a few of them were breathtaking. It was very crowded the day we arrived, but it was a weekend and we were able to find parking before we started out.

Octoberfest in bear mountain by exit 17 is not worth of going if you have family , kids . The only good thing is the beer and music , that’s it , food is not good poor quality food with very little flavor . The sausage tasted like cheap hot dog that’s you get in shop rite , nothing to do besides drinking and listening to the music . Two stations for poor food and the shaved ice truck my kid got all messy after that ( I would not recommend ) no place to clean up after no bathroom s or wash your hands . After spending 30 min there we went to bear mountain loge and park witch is 7 min away and we had more fun over there . So I don’t recommend octoberfest for family s . Nothing to do there besides drinking !

To be honest we have not been back in a while as they were renovating & every time we dropped by, it was not open, the Bear mountain Inn I'm referring to. We used to visit in the winter as there was a huge Fireplace & the younger used to hang out on the floor in front of it on blankets, it was a pleasant way to spend an afternoon & evening .

First I would like to say that Bear Mountain Park is absolutely beautiful. We were looking for a place to visit for the day near jellystone: lazy river. So we decided to drive an hour away to Trailside museums & zoo, and we are glad we did. This is such a unique zoo. It states on their website "Trailside exhibits wildlife native to New York State. Trailside’s animals are either permanently injured or orphaned and would not be able to survive in the wild" It was a free zoo, but they do take donations. The parking was also free the day we went, it was a Monday, not sure if it is always free. As you walk down trails there are different animals along the way. There were also 4 little museums along the way with different exhibts. Cute day trip for those who don't mind walking or nature. I had my 10, 6 and 2.5 year old with me. They all enjoyed it very much.

I have been coming here for 20 years, and every visit has been fun! It's a great place to have a cookout in the woods and be surrounded by nature with friends and family. There is a great hiking trail system in the park, and the trails are all well-maintained.

The views looking down the Hudson Valley are simply breathtaking! It is also definitely worth a couple of dollars to cross the Bear Mountain Bridge and see the views of the Hudson River from the bridge. The lush mountains and wide river make for fantastic pictures!

The park can be crowded, but the hiking trails are pretty much silent once you step foot on them.

The zoo is worth a look... There's a surprising number of animals... And as a bonus there's the American revolutionary fort remains, and the Appalachian trail... Which cuts through the zoo to its lowest point on the whole trail!

This is an awesome local park with a beautiful lake, picnic areas, trails, small museums, pool, and a dock and a zoo with rescued animals. It is a wonderful outing for the family and children of all ages - the zoo entrance fee is minimal if at all. We love this place and were married in the glass house overlooking the lake, then walked to our reception at the Overlook Lodge - overlooking the lake. The only down side is on weekends and holidays the park is mobbed with people visiting up from the city, so its best to go at "off" times..

You can easily drive up to the top of Bear Mountain, but get there early, as during the weekends it's difficult to find a parking spot up there.
The views are amazing, especially during foliage. If it's clear enough, you can see Manhattan.
During peak season, try using the southern entrance: you'll avoid long lines of car trying to find a parking at the foot of the mountain.
Fee for parking is kind of steep (10 USD), but it's free to drive to the top. Once there, drive down the narrow road with no exit, for great additional views of the Hudson Valley.

The road is open seasonally. It's beautiful any time but especially in autumn. On a good day you can see New York. CIty.

Beautiful lake to walk around or use paddle boats or have a picnic and barbecue . Also a beautiful old fashion carousel in its own building for the kids and a very nice zoo although it's a bit of walking there and back . We ate dinner at the bear mountain lodge restaurant ..beautiful view of the park through their windows ..food was excellent and staff very polite and helpful . A lil pricey but good quality.

We used the Bear Mtn Inn as a one day stop over. We got there early so we hiked to the top of Bear Mtn.

The large park area was very crowded with kids and families enjoying the beautiful weather and playing baseball, soccer, frisbee, and more. If you hate people you might not like this place. But, if you are not a curmudgeon it should be fine!

The hike to the top of Bear Mountain was very nice. We started at the Inn but we went a slightly round-about way so the entire roundtrip trail was about 4 miles. Much of the lower trail is composed of uneven rock steps. While I usually hate when they do this, the steps were actually very well done. There are ample places to take pictures along the trail and the view from the top is beautiful. There are many more hikes that could be "looped" from the Inn ranging up to 12 or 15 miles.

Spectacular views of park from the Perkins Memorial Tower, breathtaking views of Hudson Valley from Perkins Memorial Drive...Convenient for hiking and biking...And yes, you can see a bit of Manhattan on a clear day from the tower. Picnic area of the park needs improvement though...

I bought am Empire Pass which covers the parking fee at all NY State Parks. So very familiar with Bear Mountain as I am there 3 or 4 times per week. The Outdoor Pool is fantastic. Large with both a 1 foot mark and 11 feet mark plus two diving boards which open 12 Noon each day. I have not spent a full day as I follow an exercise regiment then swim few laps and leave. The Park itself has a rustic inn situated overlooking a pristine Lake in addition there is a zoo and old fashioned Carosel. Now I boldy suggest a mid week visit. I went one Saturday around Noon and had to park in an auxilary lot. The park itself was packed with competing boom boxes and all picnic tables/ grills taken. On Mondays the crew is slow to clean up as you may imagine all the debris, litter and clutter leftover from the weekend festivites. The staff are very nice but obviously overworked and sometimes over run by the guests. For me, it is the Pool that is important and the entire reason I began to go.

We were getting married and the judge cancelled 3 days before the wedding. My husband contacted the Inn very last minute and explained the situation. They arranged everything beautifully. We just showed up to celebrate our wedding. Food was great, service was excellent and overall it was a wonderful experience.

Loved this park. You can bring your grill (the smaller the better since the parking area is not that close to the park) and have a wonderful time walking around, the view is great, the lake is beautiful. You can do hiking, they have a pool and a small zoo. You won't regret !!

I have always lived in NJ but never knew or heard about Bear Mountain until I got into motorcycle riding and motovloggers would talk about going there on YouTube. It is nearly 1.5 hrs on highways for me to get there but I did it once on a weekday just to check it out. I took the roads around up to the highest point where there was thankfully a port-a-potty and there was a tower to go up for the view. No gas stations too close and I was running empty but the gps took me along the water and to a Shell not too far away. It was a beautiful area to spend time, wish it were closer.

Bear Mountain was a great place to visit and plan some hiking. I visited for an overnight stay with friends. We hiked two trails (Bear Mountain loop and Pine Swamp Loop), both were well-marked trails with moderate traffic.

While staying at the Bear Mountain Inn we were lucky enough to get a clear day to walk around the State Park. This is such a lovely and peaceful place. Along with the woods and the mountains, you can also appreciate the rescued and orphaned animals in the trail side zoo. This included a few bears. There is also an aquarium and an historical museum, along with the remains of Fort Clinton. Even in Winter it's a great place to spend a few hours walking around.

Visited the mountain yesterday. Excellent fall colours and a scenic lake.Dint expect the crowd being a week day. The hike gives excellent views of fall colours.They have a pretty big parking area. Definitely take the ride on the Bear mountain bridge, excellent! You can easily ride and have a beautiful scenic overlook few miles away from the bridge. It was too cold, go prepared.Excellent getaway as its not very far from Nyc..

Went here on a Sunday with my family. It was my first time here. We brought a grill to cook food as the park doesn't have grills. They have a lot of benches. The park gets packed fast. So the earlier you get there the better. There's an area where you can rent row boats and paddle boats to go out on the lakes. They have a hiking trial as well. would definitely come back here again.

I've wrote a report on spending a day at Bear Mountain in past, this is a review if you want to summit the tallest mountain within an easy commute from NYC at 1,305'.

As there are turn by turn hike descriptions already out here, I will try to stick to some stuff that may not be mentioned other than three fingered Willy. I lead free hikes almost every weekend, and Bear Mountain is not one of those places we look to go often because it just so crowded with visitors, noise and bbq smoke, but its all good energy so we don't mind every once in awhile our group winds up here from NYC.

The reward at the top of this hike is Perkin's Tower. The investment? 1.5 miles of grueling uphill if you take the Major Welch. We purposely took it to condition us for the end of the world.. well no, it was because we could. Let's just say if you live watching tv all day and are a couch potato this is not the hike for you. You'll need an oxygen tank and bionic legs if you're not in good cardio shape. Suffice to say we did pass four Russian cosmonauts who carried a jug of wine up the trail .. having a grand time along the way.

You can park in the Bear Mountain visitor parking lot, use the restrooms in the Bear Mountain Inn, the cafe, as well as restaurant. And if you so choose there are rooms at the Inn as well. There is a public bus that stops right in front of the Inn from NYC. The city is about 45 minutes by car but by bus.. oh boy that is a long ride with all the stops and winding village roads it travels on.

Starting from the Inn you go around to the mountain side of Hessian Lake and hike along a paved trail or road towards the far end on left. You will be headed towards the Overlook Lodge, but will turn off before you arrive at end of lake (see photo of sign I've attached). Before you get to the side of lake where all the paddle boats are you'll pass a number of people who look like they are barbecuing for a whole battalion.

You will eventually turn left off the easy flat top to begin your forest ascent. Seems easy at the start because you still have to hike up the very base of the steep part of Bear Mountain. Once you get going the trails if easy to follow and has a number of long switchbacks giving you a 1.5 mile trail before you summit.

Near the top it gets more rocky, and the vistas start popping up. You'll loose about two pounds on the way up in just sweat alone if not shedding your water bladder. Make sure you take breaks going up. My head thought it was about to explode like a scene out of Scanners. It was only 60 degrees and cloudy out.

At the top you are greeted with, let me emphasize - THREE vending machines. One was soda, another for what looked like M&M's, What the heck? Okay, it was for car tourists that drove up Perkin's Memorial Drive. What I know now that I should have known before. No wonder those women in heels we passed on the upper part of the trail were able to carry around their dogs, and weren't sweating! We looked like a traveling wet tee shirt contest out of Flashdance.

You will also merge with the 2,190 mile Appalachian Trail. Time to decide whether you want to go for it and hike up to Katadin, ME or Mt. Mitchell, GA. Trivia - if you go to the Trailside Zoo and Museum near the base of Bear Mountain you will be standing at the lowest point along the entire 2,190' mile trail at 210'.

Before you head over to the Tower make sure you look for a little hill, looks about 30' high or so. On top you'll find the highest point of the mountain marked by an official USGS marker planted in 1932. You are now at about 1,305'. Trivia - in 1932 Bear Mountain was considered for hosting the Olympics.

The vistas from the top were sweeping and well worth the hike, or if you cheated well worth the cheap drive for you slackers - if you're handicap or a senior you get a pass. There is also Perkins Tower that you can enter and it has tiles inside depicting the history of the Tower, Perkins, and Bear Mountain. The tower adds another 60' elevation gain or so to your hike. At the top floor there are signs showing what you are looking at dozens of miles away. The sweeping views are 360 degrees. The restroom on top looks like it has been closed since 1932.. and still is.

Having hiked up the Major Welch, the most difficult trail in Bear Mountain, we now hike down the AT (North) to the Inn. I was wondering where the trail was.. most of the hike down was one relentless spread out staircase. Great for people who are not trail steady hiking down over 1,100'. 1.6 miles down to Inn.

So now you survived the hike and need a shower and fresh tee shirt. If you go to a restaurant afterwards you'll probably be kicked out so they don't have to fumigate after you leave. The entire hike took us about 2.5 hours, but we added on a hike with historical significance along the 1777 E trail (one of the trails used by the Brits and Hessians to invade and destroy Ft. Clinton and Ft Montgomery during the revolutionary war.

It is easier go up and down the AT stairs vs the Major Welch. If you're really lazy you can either hitch or have someone drive you to the top and then hike down. Not advisable to hike down the Major Welch - it is marked on a white trail marker with a red ring in center.

Hike Strong!

Take me slightly over an hour from downtown Manhattan to Bear Mountain State Park on a windy day. Better to get there earlier. It will normally cost $10 to park but as I was there around 2pm, nobody is there to man the carpark entry and thus was free for me.

There is a nice cafe and picnic tables, public rest rooms. If you want to stay, there is a Bear Mt Inn which looks very rusty but still interesting to me. Worth the time spending afternoon walking along the park.

Within an hour’s drive from Manhattan we went here to view the Fall colours. There was plenty of colour to see along the sides of the road, en route to the Bear Mountain State Park.

Bear Mountain rises from the west side of the Hudson River. Cross the long suspension bridge and it takes you up Bear Mountain.

Part of the way up, you could stop for a break at the renovated Bear Mountain Inn. Rooms can be booked if one chooses to stay over. The cost to park is $10, even if you were stopping to spend a penny, as they say, back across the pond!

The Inn houses a large restaurant called 1915, on the second floor. But you need to book the previous day. Walk ins are summarily turned away, as was our experience!

But we made up for it by using the Hikers Cafe on the ground floor. Tasty fare and immensely good value. This was well worth a visit, especially because Restaurant 1915 has limited opening hours.

The Inn has a nice shop with hats and coats as well as sundry mementos.

If you have come prepared for it the hike up the trails on Bear Mountain are well worth it. There were groups who were having a picnic and others enjoying an impromptu barbecue.

What we came to see were the Fall colours and it was a spectacular sight. It was not to be missed. Given climate change and global warming, one understood the colours were delayed in making an appearance. They were still vibrant towards end October.

During a pandemic what better place can you find than a beautiful park. It sits on water, has paddle boats for rent. Tons of picnic tables. Small kids ride their bikes and people hike and walk their dogs. I wish people would be more considerate of others and pick up after themselves before leaving for home but that would be my only negative.

You climb through beautiful rocky forest on historic granite steps to wonderful views of the lower Hudson Valley

This is a very scenic place to walk.

We drove up to Perkins memorial tower (bit of a windy steep drive so take it easy!) which has some great views.

Then we did the summit loop walk (you'll find plenty of walks available by googling bear mountain trails) which has some great scenery.

Afterwards we drive back down and parked at the bear mountain Inn and walked around the zoo. Saw 2 bears, beaver, coyotes, some owls but it's really a very small zoo so don't expect too much.

We went out the back of the zoo and under the big road bridge but found the route a bit steep so turned back but had we kept going I suspect we would have been rewarded with some even better views.

Then we walked around Hessian lake which is nice and flat, on the way back to the Inn.

Overall a lovely day of great scenery and all for free! No complaints.

Bear Mountain State Park is a lovely place with lots to see and do. The weekends get too crowded, but weekdays aren't bad. The Trailside Museum and Zoo is nice place to visit. Paddleboats at the lake are nice, but be warned that you have to wear a lifejacket and they absolutely reek of body odor to the point it is difficult to enjoy the time on the water, and it didn't look like they are disinfected in any way between users (during the pandemic...)

A 3 hr drive away from New York is the lovely bear mountain park.Well known for its spaciousness and scenic views.

Was there yesterday with the entire family to enjoy a hot summer weekend. It was too crowded. Parking was packed. They made us park our car on the hill on top of the grasses miles away from the lakes and Restrooms. Terrible. Toilets were dirty as hell. Boat renting guys are BIG time thieves. They charge $10 ea even for babies as well as $20 deposits for each boat. Which they will try to keep for BS reasons. We had our life-vest on all the time and we took it off once we got off but they were like "you took off your vest so you won't get your deposit". Which was a complete lie and thus we had to fight back to get our deposit back after a video proof that they were lying. BE AWARE!!!

STopped by the INN and gift shop-cute!
Once you get pass all the smelly BBQs, you can hike a trail. Go at your own pace, easy or difficult paths. Saw the giant pool that had a very long Line to enter and was filled with many families.

I went all the way up to the peak of the mountain and i could see the WTC and bit of the city! That was really nice even though i was out of breath lol

I knew about the cute little Zoo but I did not know there is also an ice skating rink and carousel! We drove to the top for the first time and the views are incredible! I can't wait to go back and do the loop around the top. The trails are well maintained and easy enough for my small kiddos. We had a great time and brought lunch. There is a cafe in the lodge that sold food as well but if going to the top come prepared with water and snacks.

My wife and I decided to enjoy a warm February day here at the park. We visit from Long Island every few years in different seasons and are never disappointed.

The park offers many paths and trails from easy (paved) and moderate. (we take the easy). Also enjoy walking over to the zoo and mesuem area. It too offers fantastic views of the Hudson River and Bear Mountain Bridge.

On a pleasant day, one can enjoy and take in the beautiful scenes of nature on the many walking trails. There are signs to follow along the trails leading to specific destinations. One of the trails leads to the Bear Mountain Zoo. It's a small zoo, but a must visit because it's here. The admission is a suggested $1 per person. The zoo has animals that have been injured, and orphaned.
My best animals are the a bald eagle, and the bears. The bald eagle, a magnificent adult bird has one wing that is permanently damaged, but still stands proud. The brown bears, were not bothered by the flock of vultures that dropped into their compound looking for leftovers. Along the zoo trails there are educational buildings that one can enter and gain knowledge of the animals, rocks, and history of the area. It was a fun day of walking and seeing the animals. Wear comfortable footwear.

Back in the 50 to early 70s this may have been a good family place. I did not want to leave anything unattended. I would definitely never go there again, it felt like I got off at a wrong subway, not comfortable.

I love to go to the little zoo with rescued Hudson Valley animals such as the bald eagle, coyotes, and beavers. There's a carousel, picnicking, row boating and hiking. There's even a huge swimming pool, but it's usually very crowded with city people, so not that appealing. In the winter there's a fun outdoor ice rink. The ride to get to Bear Mountain is beautiful. They updated the lodge with the restaurant and it's very nice, though a little expensive.

There are lot of trails here for hiking. The mountains provide great scenary. There is a lake to sit and relax.

Came after labor day mid-week when things were pretty quiet. There was no charge to park no entry fee to zoo altho the seek donations -and there was no congestion around the pool area which had been long closed and drained. They have an interesting collection of animals in the zoo - sad to see really, as they should be in the wild, such as the coyotes and two bears. Several vultures huddles around not only the bears but the other caged vultures as if they wanted in so they could get free food, too. There is an interesting reptile display of samples of local species and a local snake crossed the hardtop trail in front of us as we walked around. It is a bit of a hike from the Park and Bear Mtn Inn parking lot so add time to get there and back with a stroller. The Inn looks very nice on the inside and I'll likely make a reservation to stay on night when back in the area -modern with the old fashioned exposed wood feel of a cabin in the woods. Did not visit the cottages or other facilities. Website has decent descriptions. Worth a day trip if you are local and add on either a trail walk or jump on up to West Point but dont go on a game weekend!

Very nice park. Beautiful lake that has a path all the way around the whole lake.... Needs some work as there were puddles that I had to walk through. The except on my title is the zoo.. IT'S A BIG Joke. It's a good thing it's free as it's certainly not worth paying for its not worth going even if I would have been paid..... Save your time. Enjoy the rest

I've been here a few times, always enjoyable, always happy to come back. We hiked up the AT (via the stairs) and walked back through Doodletown and back to the Bear Mountain Inn. We were lucky because it was relatively empty (we met a handful of hikers) and the trails are clean and very well maintained. At this time of year, the foliage is exquisite and on a crisp fall day it's just the right weather for hiking. We used the Inn for restroom break and snack at the end (I didn't try the ice cream but my hiking buddies said it was great).

THere are a number of flat ledges along the way - perfect for a lunch break.

First time I used a hiking pole - very strongly recommended!

We hiked for about 5 hours. THere are shorter and longer routes. Take a map!! Note that Cell phone/GPS is not always available.

Additionally, there is a beautiful lake, a merry go round, boating etc - I don't know when these are open.

Drove from Nj to the Park. Took additional 45 minutes due to traffic once we got into the park, which was 11:00AM. Better to get there earlier. $10 to park, there is a nice restaurant and a separate snack stand. Many picnic tables, public rest rooms are fine but bring paper towels to dry your hands. We went to ZOO and walked onto Bear Mountain Bridge. All good. Nice views from bridge. There are bigger and longer trails to hike. Over all a pretty place. Good for parents w children, good for parents w teens but only if teens like to hike. We will go back and bring picnic lunch next time,

My husband and I did the Bear Mountain loop a few weeks ago. We arrived at 9 AM to ensure we could park in the main lot. Yes, they charge to park.

I highly recommend the route we took: White/AT to red trail, to the blue trail. The hike up is challenging, but fun. The hike down on the blue path is wide, well maintained and gentle. The HikingProject app by REI performs really well on the trail and provides detailed descriptions of where to park, elevation gain, mileage, and the trail. You can use the hike for turn-by-turn navigation to ensure you stay on the recommended route.

This is a challenging hike. There is an elevation gain of 1,616 feet - that's like climbing a 67 story building (if each floor is 24' high). Wear hiking boots, bring at least 2 liters of water, bring snacks. Do NOT hike this if you are out of shape.

I love going here. They have so many activities and it is just so peaceful. This is a great spot by yourself or with a group. I always bring lunch and snacks. Also Bring Bird food as it is bad to feed ducks bread and people food. And there are plenty of ducks. lol I like to bring a big blanket as well to relax on.

nice place to visit with family. BBQ available. You can go to lake and paddle boats available for ride with $10 per person.

Decided to take the Bear Mountain Bridge to Bear Mountain Bridge Road day trip.
Interesting ride over and alongside the Hudson River south on Route US6/202.
Traveling the road on Anthony's Nose.

Nice! Pretty! Amazing! - 3 mile two-lane twisting and turning drive!
Steep rocky majestic mountain slopes to one side and the brillant powerful Hudson River beckoning on the other side.
Magnificent views especially during the Fall Foilage!
Stop at the Scenic Overlook.

Close to Bear Mountain and Harriman State Parks and not far from local towns.

They used to hold the Oktoberfest at a lovely lakeside spot, but they moved it a couple of years ago to an old rundown sports field. There are, however, no signs pointing you to that. Unless you know, you'll wait behind a line of cars for parking, only to find out that the Oktoberfest is being held a couple of exits away. Once you get there, you'll go into shock over the lengthy lines for food and beer. There are only a couple of food and beer stands. My wife stood on one while I stood on the other. Each line was about 45 minutes long. There was no cell phone service and we couldn't reach each other, otherwise we would have just given up. The German food was mostly flavorless; the beer was exorbitantly priced at $26 for a liter stein and $12 for a refill. But who was going to stand on a 45-minute line a second time for a refill? This was the biggest ripoff and waste of time in what should have been a pleasant afternoon.

It took us 2 hours to drive from Brooklyn to Blue Mountain. There was a hiking route providing good exercise for the whole family and stunning views of fall leaves on the way and a beautiful lake at the bottom.

We had a relaxed and breezy picnic lunch by the lake, enjoying the homemade food we brought and the beautiful scenery surrounding us. Although it's a Sunday in October, we could still enjoy the tranquility and the natural beauty Bear Mountain.

We left in late afternoon, and on our way back, we went shopping and had dinner at the nearby outlet too.

My wife, my 16 year old, my 7 year old, and I spent a day here. The area was so quiet and pleasant. We hiked 5 miles around the mountain with ease. If you want to go farther it’s possible but the terrain does become more difficult. We visited I. The middle of July but even so the weather was great.

A great spot with excellent trails and views. Many activities good for kids. Pet friendly. Restaurant was great for lunch.

Hiked the Major Welch Trail (Bear Mnt loop) from Bear mountain inn, marked by red open circle on a white tag. The ascent was rocky up the side of the mountain with some bouldering including some steep 50-60% grade areas. Lots of areas on the way up to view the Hudson River valley.

Once at the summit you can see the Perkins tower, and the NYC skyline.

Decent was easy, gravel lined path with man made stairs. This also linked up with the Appalachian trail.

We hiked up Bear Mountain. We went up the Appalachian Trail via the steps. You can also get there via the Major Welch trail to avoid the steps and experience more of a trail hike. Very nice trail. I don't normally like steps but there are so many people using this trail that erosion became a problem. Since we went up on a Thursday morning in late September we were alone the whole way up except for a couple people coming down the trail. I think the elevation gain is around 850 feet to the top. I could be wrong about that but it is somewhere north of 800. Very well maintained trails. After arriving at the top we climbed up Perkins Tower for an even better view of the Hudson. We continued on the AT until we came to the 1777 trail. We followed that to the Yellow trail which took us back to Bear Mountain Inn for a total of about 7 miles and a total elevation gain of 1400 feet. Some great views on this hike. The trails are well marked. Some rugged ups and downs as anyone familiar with NY state hiking knows. Lots of big rocks. And little ones too. A trail map is a must. Don't leave home without it. There are over 200 miles of trails between Bear Mountain and Harriman State Park. You don't want to make a wrong turn. Bring plenty of water, a compass and a map. Happy hiking. I'll be back.

Area is a nice quiet area during the week for walking, hiking, picnics, for the whole family. Parking could be an issue on weekends with festivals which are popular and pricey if your a local. It's N Y, forget about it....

Awesome! Store manager (Doris) is the epitomy of Customer Service. Natalie was extremely friendly. Had a great time and took souveniers for some friends and Family. Weather was perfect.

It gets very crowded on weekends May-October! Arrive early. If you arrive early you can also avoid the parking fee. Parking is definitely an issue as the parking lot fills up fast. Highly recommend the Trailside Zoo! And it's not called Bear Mountain for nothing--there are bears in the zoo! There is no electricity so if you bring phones etc they cannot be charged unless you bring a portable charger.

It has been years since we have been to Bear Mountain State Park and I can honestly say I will NEVER GO BACK!! The park was very nice to walk around but it is a problem when you are in a state park and "NO ONE" speaks english. When I feel uncomfortable in a surrounding where I am the only visitor who speaks the language, it is a problem. The fact that a state park charges $10.00 to park your car is a travesty! It is a shame that english speaking Americans allow one group of individuals overrun our parks. I had really thought there was an asian convention at the inn but soon realized this is what has happened to this area. Totally sinful!!

In the January sunshine this park is truely viewable. Spectacular scenery and quiet roads at this time give the visitor a chance to see the park at your leisure. We had a great day out and had anjce meal in the mountain restaurant.

Sadly this was my first NY State park experience in many years since I moved south 20 years ago. I came here knowing it is not the Adirondacks but fir heavens sake the litter that is sitting around is not fresh. Get out there and clean up. Dirty diaper, food wrappers, bottles, wristbands. Absolutely disappointing and an embarrassment.

The park was mostly empty. The pool was empty. The aquatic staff of at least 6-10 could have picked up the litter in moments. We walked from lodge to Hudson River boat ramp. Much of the litter was on paths near them.

Seriously the saddest thing I’ve seen in a long time.

Must visit on top as it has awesome viewing. Donot park next to hotel which they charge 10$ an hr as its very expensive

We decided we wanted to get out of the city for a day on our trip to NYC so booked the shortline bus and headed up here for the day. I was absolutely over joyed with the place. Upon arrival at the inn it reminded me of the film dirty dancing, a firm childhood favourite of mine! The inn is well kept, staff friendly and helpful and has a good gift shop and nice restaurant.
There is something here for most people, easy stroll round the lake, big lawn to relax on, barbecue and picnic tables around the lake. There is a carousel, pool and a lovely zoo too. We visited on labour day weekend and there were also plenty of stalls selling food. We got some candy from some Amish people, it was lovely!
Now the hike we took was the usual suspect up to Perkins tower. We went up the major Walsh trail and down the alapechian trail. Defiantly recommend doing it this way round. The major Walsh has a lot of boulders that you have to walk up and is very rugged. The AP trail is a maintained path with bridges and steps. I find it easier to scramble up rather than down! I did this hike with my six year old. She enjoyed it though did say it had challenged her!
At the top you find a vending machines and the Perkins tower and wonderful views. You can see all the way over to the Manhattan skyline! A fantastic treat.
Our trip left us wanting to return again and spend a full weekend and explore some more and do more hikes, a wonderful place that I can't recommend enough, defiantly worth taking a day away from the city!

Beauty abounds... awesome... however the park service really does not know their trails and many have confusing markings. I suggest ALL TRAILS... for clarification. We used their app as we hiked and were able to find some wonderful trails that were taken care of... but not marked... and provided an exceptional day. Leave only footpirnts behind.... Too much garbage... SAD

Went hiking with friend at bear montain. The view from the top was so beautiful i was dead climming up there. To find the route we took was for experience or people challenge in stuff like this. Cause it was steep and we got lost but their mark in the trees you can follow..it was not until we got to the top we saw bunch of people coming another(that route is for famillies and kids so much safe but you still got to watch your step)

Cause i didnt want to take route we took to get up there cause it was ridiculous(hell no) so we took the safer route going down and was not tired or out of breath (like it was nothing/like a breeze) Then we walk by the lake we saw so many barbecues/smell so much foods cooking (making us so hungry passing by) after walking for so long passing those foods so we bought hot/burgers/drinks at store by the bathroom (they are candy stands and little snack stand to buy stuff)

ATTENTION DOGS PEOPLE also they was lot of people with their dog when i was going down from the mountain and during walking by the lake

We were on holiday in the area, from the UK, and were looking for a place to do some trail walking. Ever since reading Bill Bryson 's A Walk in the Woods 20 years ago, I have always wanted to hike some of the Appalachian Trail, so I saw my chance at Bear Mountain State Park!

The park is clearly signposted from the Bear Mountain bridge, a nice metal structure (can't beat a good bridge!). It was a Monday in August and the car park was pretty full but not packed. Parking fee is $10 per vehicle. We couldn't see a visitors office but obtained a map of the park from the reception desk at the Bear Mountain Inn - a very nice building. The Inn also houses a well-stocked gift shop.

The merry-go-round was unfortunately closed on the day, so my sons (13, 11 and 7) didn't get to go on it.

We mainly came to hike to the top of Bear Mountain and the Perkins Memorial Tower, so we skipped the trailside museums, zoo and pool. There are also some other trails, for example to the docks, but we didn't try those.

Instead we hiked up the mountain via the Major Welch trail and down again via the AT. A word of warning, the Major Welch trail (white blaze with a red circle) is very rugged and involves scrambling up a very large steep rockface as you get nearer the top. It should only be attempted in laced-up shoes (my husband made it in his Converse but only just!). Personally we were fine going up the trail, but I would not have enjoyed going down it, as it is steep in places and I don't like heights much. My boys thought it was a great adventure and loved it! The Major Welch trail is 1.5 miles, but it took us a while to hike to the top, where of course we felt vastly superior to the many visitors wo had driven up in their cars via the Perkins Memorial Drive ;-).

Views from the top, and from the Perkins Memorial Tower, are lovely, and included the New York Manhattan skyline to the south. There is a vending machine were we treated ourselves to some cold drinks to celebrate reaching the top - and yes, we had brought plenty of water.

Compared to Major Welch, hiking 2.5 miles down the mountain on the AT was positively easy. It's a nice trail, well maintained with some nice features and lots of steps. And of course, I can now say that I have hiked the AT (or at least 0.11% of it....).

The boys were tired out, so after some purchases in the gift shop we left. In all a great place to spend a day, or two.

Really fun park, ice skating, zoo, pool. You really have to see the new inn it's so pretty. Nothing but positive things to say about the park. It's a must to visit when you are in the area.

We went up to Bear Mountain for a day trip to see the fall colors. The mountain and lakeside were beautiful. We waked around Hessian Lake, counter-clockwise. The walk is probably about a mile and a half and not very hilly other than one small section. It is a breezy stroll. There was a concession stand at the beginning of that loop selling standard fare, hot dogs, fries, burgers, etc... Near the end of that loop, there was a small playground where our kids got out the rest of their energy before our return trip home. A very nice day.

Great park that includes a zoo, carousel, hiking , restaurants and gift shop. The zoo is very nice with great views of the Hudson. The restaurant upstairs has good food. They offer a buffet brunch on Sundays which is good.

I stayed at Camp Homeward Bound in Bear Mountain, Upstate New York. What a beautiful place. Full of wildlife including deer & chipmunks. Tall lush green trees, many vast lakes and generally a gorgeous natural area to have lived temporarily.
Whenever I'm in the states again, I will be paying Bear Mountain another visit.

Very good park, full of amenities: picnic tables, grills, etc.
It has a small zoo, a museum, a merry-go-round, and a playground - a nice place to spend a day with kids outside.

This hotel's biggest plus is that it's only 5 min. to Bear Mountain Inn and Bear Mountain State Park. Clean, comfortable room with ample choices for the free breakfast, including eggs & bacon or sausage, bagels, yogurt. Good coffee. Indoor pool was heated to 79-80 degrees. Free wifi. A bit pricey for upstate NY but the location is prime for both Bear Mountain, West Point & Cornwall NY.

Bear Mountain is a great day trip, there is a cute zoo, a great swimming pool, beautiful scenery and large picnic area. But so disappointed that people don't pick up after themselves. On my visit the picnic area was littered with garbage. There were bottles and cans strewn all over the place. Food and debris was just left on picnic tables. Such a shame that the natural beauty of this wonderful park is spoiled by those that are inconsiderate and disrespectful.

Came for the day with a group of 9 people. So fun! We hiked the 3.9 mile loop, rode the marry-go-round and played just sat and enjoyed our beautiful surroundings while eating lunch. $10 for parking & $1 to ride the Merry-go-round. Great day trip (or overnight trip) for any age. Affordable and fun!

there is a very nice zoo for littles. The lake and the park are very beautiful. we took the way throw the zoo to see the bridge .
recomended.

Bear mountain state park is huge. Fun all day long. You can just hang out in your lawn chairs and bring a picnic lunch or be more adventurist and take in the sights. They have quite a few animals and all different kinds of beautifull flowers each one tells a little story. You can see the boat bring in people from the city to enjoy the park and its many things to see and do. You can even bring a swim suit and towel,and jump in the pool ! There's lots of beverages and food on sight or if you like you can eat in there restaurant for a more dressier meal. I,m telling you could be eight or eighty and enjoy yourself !

Fall foliage does something to our surroundings and this place as beautiful as it is, just turns magical. Must see!

A nice state park. The delicious smell of barbecue hits you as soon as you get near the parking lot. The pool was closed, which was a bit disappointing, but it's a beautiful spot.

The lake was frozen and you were able to walk on it! The zoo was open and you could see bears, cayotes and birds. The trails were a bit difficult because of the snow but all in all a day to enjoy!

A short drive from NYC, this offers a very refreshing break. There are hiking routes of various difficulties. The legendary Appalachian Trail runs through here too.
From the summit, you can even see the Big Apple.

the park is great,but it get VERY busy on the weekend best to get the early. The restaurant is not that good, limited menu. Best to have a drink in front of the fireplace in the winter.

I like the hike to the top! The skating is nice in the winter but it's outdoors so check the weather. Try the 11Am session when the sun is on the rink. Great fall leaves, big pool in summer (go after 230 when the camps clear out).

We took the Bear Mountain Cruise to visit the state park. We departed at 9:00 and returned at 5:30. The park was brilliant with all the fall colors and I was a busy taking lots of pictures. We stopped at the Inn and had a coffee.

Always loved Bear Mountain State Park, a great getaway for decades. To get back to NYC, I always cross the Hudson at that Bridge ($1.65) instead of using the GWB ($14+) and getting stuck on the Cross Bronx Expressway.
In the past, I’ve hiked the Appalachian Trail segments and walked in the green.
However, haven’t been to the BM in area or the zoo in years. Went last weekend, and to my surprise, the facilities are quite run down. (Scenery is still great, though). Don’t expect any serenity or privacy. Bathrooms were dirty, paved trails (park side) were all busted up. Much restoration maintenance is needed.
Still it is a day in the woods. Will try the park again in the winter when the It is cover in a beautiful layer of snow.

This is our favorite spot for a moderate hike. Hessian lake at the bottom of the mountain is also nice for barbecue or for a stroll. There is paid parking $10 which includes the park fee. We usually go up the bear mountain via the major Welch trail(1.5 miles to get to the top) and come down via the Appalachian trail. Combined I think it's around 4 miles and generally takes us 2.5 hours. Appalachian trail has a lot of steps so we generally avoid that going up, Major Welch trail is mostly a uphill trail with some rugged spots where you crossing a huge boulder. For us it's the most exciting part of the hike and its around half way through the trail when climbing up. On top is usually never too crowded and they do have restrooms and soda machine. The view from the top aren't really mind blowing but it's a good to get away from the city and breath some fresh air.

This is a great day trip from NYC. When we visited we got a late start and it was hot so we didn't attempt any of the longer hikes. But we'll be back this autumn.

His was our first time visiting Bear Mountain and it won't be the last! This place is amazing! From the breathtaking views to the boating on the lake,the huge pool with different sections for children,2 deep sides to do laps and the other side has 2 diving boards..pool was clean and I liked how the lifeguards worked. They were very attentive and organized! Then you have the zoo which has animals that were rescued who were hurt and are getting the care they need there and there's also a lot of history while you're walking through the zoo and you also have a few lil museums with a lot of beautiful history and then you have the trails which take you to a few forts on the island and you can also walk the Bear Mountain Bridge which is amazing as well and to top of off you can go fishing at the boat dock n catch eels,fish n blue craps which I saw ppl catching them yesterday and cooking them right there..if you're looking for a beautiful place for either yourself,you & your partner or your whole family this is the place to go..they even have a playground and lots of tables to set your food and cook,barbecue n it doesn't end jaja..
Prices are:
Bear Mountain Parking lot - $10
Pool- $2
Zoo- $1 donation fee
& that's it! Talk about affordable😁 we did donate more to the zoo cuz it helps the animals in need and everything is def worth more than $1 donation for sure so please help out as much as you can. Yes, I am an animal lover!
They also have plenty of restrooms & the mountain bear inn is there as well which has a gift shop,restaurant n a lil cafe where u can purchase food and there's also a lot of machines around to purchase snacks n drinks for about $1.50 & ice cream machines for $2-$3 which is not bad at all so pack your stuff and get to Bear Mountain where you're sure to have an amazing time guaranteed!

Major Welch Trail to the top of the mountain very well marked and challenging but worth the climb. Definitely need proper shoe wear and expect rock scrambling.

Only criticism was hikers not wearing masks! The trail is less than 6 feet wide so anytime you are passing another party, masks should be worn, and not around your wrist! Some people did not even have the courtesy to clear the path . If there is another wave of Covid 19 , the trails will be closed. Its up to us to keep them open. Wear a mask when you hike

This is a great trip from Manhattan. Its attractions include a beautiful lake, a pine log lodge and has numerous areas for family fun.

Great area. Nicely maintained grounds. Pretty crowded on the weekends or holidays. Enough to do without the hiking thing...

Had a lovely time even though it was raining. I will definitely return when it is less wet. We none the less walked around as best as we could, loved the fall colors, and we even rode the Ferris wheel, interesting. We walked half the trail but would definitely go back lovely place to get away for a weekend or to retreat into the wild and have a beautiful reflection time. There was a fancy dress kids party in session that seemed great.

Stayed at the stone cottage last night and even though I couldn't get the room I requested, they went out of their way to make sure we enjoyed our stay. The room was spotless and now comes with a Keurig - a very nice addition. Upon checking out the Manager, William Vandunk, personally apologized for not being able to fulfill my request - which was thoughtful and would have been enough, but he went above and beyond by issuing a substantial credit on our bill AND giving me his business card and told me to call him direct to book my next stay. This is something that would NEVER happen at a big chain hotel and this is EXACTLY the reason we will keep going back. I cannot recommend Bear Mountain enough!!! Thank you for another memorable anniversary❣️

I visited Bear Mtn State Park for the first time and was very impressed. It is beautiful with lots to do. Hiking, pool, lake with boats for rent, a huge lawn for sports, a carousel and plenty of picnic areas. There is a police station there as well as a lodge and park administrators so it was very well staffed and safe.

Came to the park on Earth day so kids can do some activities it was an awesome day and lots to do. Highly recommend it. Bring your bike balls and stay a whole day

There used to be boats from Wall St and then on the west side on the Circle Line. No more and the venue has changed. Just another lost fun Autumn venue for us New Yorkers.

Loud and noisy bikes and cars ruin a peaceful walk here. I was here in October and was surprised by the many cars and bikes roaring through this area with a total disregard for the many people who come here to enjoy nature, the views, and try to escape the hectic and noisy city. With the exhaust noise traveling miles and echoing through the mountains, these people don't seem to realize or care about the many thousands of people who are unwillingly exposed to noise pollution they create during their trip. Unfortunately, police does not seem to have the capacity to enforce it. Hopefully acoustic noise cameras and heavy fines will one day deter this.

My wife and I have been coming here for years. It is one of our favorite state parks to visit. I recommend coming at any time of the year. You can simply go for a walk, visit the zoo, ice skate, or much more. You can bbq there during the summer and even rent boats to go fishing on the lake.

This park is well kept and just finished a fairly large renovation. The inn is a wonderful old stone building. There are several hiking trails both flat and hilly. The walk around the lake is beautiful this time of year. There is a separate building that houses a wonderful old style carousel. In winter the park also has an outdoor ice skating rink. While small the zoo is nice is indigenous animals.

Situated in the rugged and rocky hills on the west bank of the Hudson, this park features something for all ages and skill levels. A swimming pool, historic museum, Bear Mountain Inn, a lake with boat rentals and some of the toughest hikes in the Northeast. You can drive to the Perkins Memorial Tower at the top of Bear Mountain with views across the Hudson Highlands and Harriman State Park. If you drive, be sure to keep out of the way of Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers as the AT crosses the summit of Bear Mountain near the parking lot. There are also some easier hikes for those not up to the challenge.

We hiked this mountain from top to bottom then back to the top. With amazing views and friendly people along the way, this made for a pleasant trip. Leisure hikers stay away from challenging trails. All trails are labeled very very well and are easy to follow. Beautiful sites on all trails. We saw many people wearing flip flops. NOT A GOOD IDEA!! If you're serious about hiking wear good shoes. Those people were miserable. No bugs and little wild life. The views were spectacular. A definite if you want to get outdoors with the family or alone. With friends or as a couple!!!

My fiancé and I went hiking yesterday it was such a great experience. Everyone there is super friendly and willing to help. We went to bear mountain inn where we ran into William who is a manager there. He was really helpful and showed us around and told us all different things bear mountain has to offer. My fiancé and I fell in love with the atmosphere and the hall.. and we can't wait to get married here. We finally found a venue that is beautiful and suits the both of us perfectly. Thank you William for taking time out of your busy schedule to show us around !!! We loved it and we will be back soon ! :)

the lake at the bear mountain state park is spectacular. great place for family bbq. fishng. paddle boats and to hike to the mountain.
the light fog was so beautiful

Enjoy the fall foliage with the fall colors radiating off the many lakes. Take an hike. many trails for the beginner or experienced hiker. With 1000's of acres of trail and lakes your sure to enjoy your day. In colder months you can ice skate under the stars.

After a Long Drive it's worth taking a short detour for a nice scenic stop for a picnic and an hour leisurely hike around the lake to stretch and decompress.

looking for some boating adventure .. visit the hessian lake for a paddle boat adventure.

you also have picnic ground to chill or if you one of those who like to adventure out go for hike

We took a drive to Bear Mountain to get a fresh perspective and do some hiking. The weather was chilly so it was short lived. It actually started snow flurrying in May! It was still nice to see the scenery and have a break from quarantine

we travel what they call a challenging hike e+f which is nice except navigation problems. marking is bad only on trees and sometimes on road. the trail itself is usually good but no drinking eater

Beautiful state park. Breath taking views.
All while skating ,you can enjoy spectacular scenery.
Great for date,or for entire family.

Our first time at this park....beautiful area with merry go round, ice rick,restaurant and inn. did the appalachian trail..well maeked trail and a bit strenous. Lots and lots of steps and a bit steep. about 3 hours R/T...bring some small snacks and water. confortable shoes. beautiful view at the top. $10 parking per car.

We had perfect sunny Saturday weather for a walk through the park: mid-50s-to-low-60s. Picnic tables, grills, snack & beverage vending machines, local vendors, and gift shops. We visited the trailside zoo, which, as I understood, doesn't feature all animals until their Earth Day celebration kicks off the warm season. Enjoyable, nonetheless; plenty to enjoy in the amphibians, reptiles, bears, porcupine, waterfowl, turkeys, bald eagle, owls, and coyote. The entire zoo walkway is paved, and with some inclines, but is stroller-friendly. There is a merry-go-round for $2 per ride across the parking area from the Bear Mountain Hotel.

I want to start hiking the Bear Mountain trails, what should I bring with me to ensure its enjoyable and safe and I can find my way back :) ?

I took the circle line cruise up the Hudson and hiked the park. I recommend it for all the outdoor lovers. It overlooks the Hudson and it also has a lovely lake, nestled against the mountains. They have a swimming pool opened during the summer months and they also have a zoo where they house rescued wild life.

I love the figures on this carousel. They represent animals found throughout the Hudson Valley. My ride was an otter, while my daughter rode a black bear.

If you do go to Bear Mountain treat yourself to a walk in the Zoo for a look at real live bears.

Not worth it. Very badly organized. 30 min wait in line off the freeway to pay the $15 to get in the parking lot as only one booth open, then once you get in there was 30-40 min wait in every line to get a beer then 30-40 min wait to get food as only one person taking money in each line!!! Very easily fixed but no one seemed to be overseeing or managing the event. Waist of a good day out.

A wonderful day trip
Ether by car or the walking tours there something for all ages.
If you want to swim plan your trip after june 15. Before that the beaches are closed.

I hadn't been in Bear Mountain State Park in over twenty years and I was so shocked on how decrepit the condition is in the park and pool. I went on a week day and was so sad with the amount of garbage in the park and around the pool area. I decided to go to the pool and it look as if the surrounding area of the pool hadn't been cleaned in months. The floor of the pool and so many cracks that it was dangerous to walk on. It was heart breaking because this is one of the biggest monuments of New York State and whomever is not keeping up with the repairs and the cleaning of the park. I hope things change and someone does something regarding this issue. Wow!!!!

We were a little short on time and decided to drive up to the summit. It is a short 10 minute drive, but there are lots of cyclists along the way. so do be careful. The view from the top was nice, but not spectacular. it was fun to see the Manhattan skyline from afar. I think the views would be phenomenal when the leaves change color in the fall time.

This is an amazing place, love hiking and being surrounded by nature. Whenever I can I go to explore nature and Bear Mountain is a magic place to be, even I enjoy being there by myself or friends and family

Its one of my favorite picnic spots in upstate NY. Must visit if you are looking for a day trip. Do visit the watch tower as well, which is few mins drive from the park.

What a gem! We have gone twice since Covid (from Pennsylvania) and love the views, the trails and can't wait to go back!

I can confirm this fond, Appalachian memory of my early youth stands bucolic and majestic, still, with a lake of similar virtues pooled lovingly athwart, for boating not swimming. A pool of large expanse buoyed and refreshed its inhabitants, without undue crowding on a weekday. (Read signs before diving; not all rules intuitive.)

Excellent food at Restaurant 1915 in the main hall, 2nd floor, and the check's arrival did not mar the meal.

Alas, our two day's venture was brought to premature end when the flow of electricity ceased to the entire complex after a few hours time (I heard an accident knocked over some power lines) so we left without paying the bill. (Après wife's well negotiated consent from the hotelier, of course.)

Such a beautiful and happy state park! So much to do. The walk around the lake was stellar and having time to sit and meditate divine. My favorite thing was the wildlife preserve and conservation center. So well thought out as I was getting a light hike in while exploring the land and seeing the local animals, creatures & vegetation. Great few days well spent that did my heart and soul such good!

We drove through the park, hiked some its trails, and sat on the shore of Lake Sebago on a beautiful day. Heaven.

Been going to Bear Mountain State Park for years. Wonderful park with great hikes, beautiful lake and many things to do for kids. Unfortunately it is now extremely dirty. Garbage everywhere you can see. The park seems to have sold out to barbecues for $10 per car which dont clean up after themselves with rude people who blast loud music and have large barbecues and leave alot of garbage behind. Bear Mountain best days are behind it unfortunately. Either people dont clean up after themselves or the park doesn't clean. Garbage everywhere you look including the playground. Park smells like garbage as well. Charred tree stumps and picnic tables. Vultures flying around after left over garbage. Very Sad. Park needs to take back control and set some rules on what people can do. People are treating it like their local county park. Graffiti also. Dont recommend coming here.

It's a great place for everyone especially to go with the whole family it's a really nice view when u reach the top @ the tower but I wouldn't recommend taking the small kids there unless u go only to the zoo cuz it's too hard to go up till the high point for them

Hiking, camping, panic grounds, swimming (outdoors) newly refurbished inn..........beautiful ,majestic views......all within walking distance.

We went there during July 4th and took the bear mountain loop trail, hiking counterclockwise from the lakeside. The park was very quite in the morning and the view is great. It took a lot efforts for us to finish the 4.2 miles trial with 1,227 feet elevation. As it's hot though there are a lot of shades, I was sweating like a pig.

Overall the trail is very good and helps burning calories, while you can enjoy a great view of the New York mountains. Downside is that the park has too many moths, plus other cute insects during the summer time. But it keeps hikers moving forward.

Great hike (easy) around the lake at sunset, to only find trash and litter everywhere when we ended the hike at the main entrance near the inn. Ick. Otherwise, beautiful!

I have a beautiful & fun day at Bear Mountain. A lot of people were having a bbq I took advantage of the paddle boats great price $10 p/p per 1hour maximum of 4 people for each paddle boat $20 deposit that you get back after you return the paddle boat. They have an hotel in case you want to stay over night there is a place to buy like hot dogs / burgers etc. They also count with a souvenir store and a carrousel for kids. I highly recommended.

The park is a great place to see some stunning examples of the fall colors. The observation point at the top of the mountain gives some amazing views. Wear comfortable shoes as it involves a lot of walking and hills.

The walk around Hessian Lake is wonderful and we had a gorgeous fall day to go along with it. There are spots to sit, relax and enjoy the view. The Zoo is very well maintained has a natural setting and the bears were out. The paddle boats and picnic areas are also very nice.

An awesome place to hike not too far from NYC! We came here on a snowy day and the trails were still well maintained and there was just the right number of people on the mountain!

great place for any season.
I hike so I definitely love this place. the trails behind the lnn are fun challenging and for anyone if you want to get to the top and have some great views of the Bear Mtn Bridge and the surrounding mtns and river.
Hessein Lake behind the inn is a great picnic area during the summer and fishing for the novice or expert fisherman. The fields are great for playing all sports and the ice skating ring is open in the winter. aslo try the beautiful Carousel.
The refurbished inn is quite beautiful. the bar upstairs is very quaint and their Sunday brunch in the great room by the fireplace is fantastic. You can also stay there if you are interested in a nice long getaway weekend or have your wedding there.
One other thing is the Zoo. pretty cool and worth the trip across the street to visit. it is quite large.

It’s amazing park!! incredibly beautiful!! be sure to climb the very mountain! very beautiful view! there is a mountain hotel, vacation with my family is highly recommended! you can ride on boats, swim in the pool and fish)) there will not be bored !! there is parking, which is very important!!

We decided to walk across the Bear Mountain Bridge and entered the State Park and walked around Hessian Lake. It is a beautiful location. Great for spending a day and picnicking or stop for lunch at one of the restaurants. The lodge looked very nice as well. Dogs are permitted on the property and there are plenty of them there. Overall a very nice relaxing way to spend a nice Fall day. There are also many trails for those more willing to explore off the

My experience was terrible. I was charged $10 to park, once at the event I was told the parking had been prepaid and I should not have been charged. I went to the Admin office for a refund to which I was told without the prepaid ticket they would not refund my money. Inside the carousel building, although the hostess was told the venue is heated the temperature struggled to get above freezing. We were put in the far back of the building with little room. The carousel, although rented for a birthday party was open to the public. There is no wrist band, hand stamp, etc. for the party guests and the public was able to receive free hot chocolates and rides. I will tell everyone I know to never use the facility for a party.In addition the side walk was not shoveled an posed a potential accident threat.

We were 4 adults and 4 kids (4-9). We hiked the Welch train to the summit and down the AT trail. Beautiful views, great rock formations and enjoyed lunch. 5 miles round trip. Tough climb, easier descent.

The but, is for how rude most people were on the trails. On top of that. The garbage left all over the place.

We hike a lot and teach the, what I think is easy, carry in and carry out policy. Really a shame

I would go back in a minute, but not in a holiday or weekend

It was a chilly Sunday afternoon with bright sunshine and I wanted to hike and see animals so I went to the Bear Mountain Zoo. It is small but has interesting animals in its collection. There are informative plaques along the trail path that describe the trees and the habitats. Also, you will be able to look up and down and across the Hudson River from the beautiful scenic overlook. There are a few small buildings housing the reptiles and fish as well as stuffed birds, minerals, and a description of historical battles nearby. It costs $10 per carload to park in this state park and a $1 donation per person is suggested at the zoo. It's well worth it. See the bears, foxes, eagle, ducks, and snakes!

The carousel is beautiful for kids. The skating rink looked in good shape. It had just closed a couple weeks earlier. The Bear Mountain Inn looks the same as when I was a kid. Supposedly it has been renovated. The overlook view at the park was closed. Disappointing. Hadn't been in thirty+ years.

After not having been there for many years, I went again after first checking the website about Oktoberfest info. According to the website Oktoberfest is now held at Anthony Wayne Recreation Area "just a stone’s throw from Bear Mountain State Park – located at Exit 17 off the Palisades Parkway" Turns out that would be apr. a 3 - 5 mile throw and is not reachable easily on foot.
There were no signs anyplace at the main Bear Mountain Park to alert visitors where the Oktoberfest now actually is. Paid $ 10 parking (Does not carry over) only to find out Anthony Wayne is apr. 3-5 miles away, PLUS the BM bus to there is only for hotel guests. Really? What a waste and environmental disaster. You are driving there anyway with a few people, just take whoever wants to go there. Paid another $ 10 at Anthony Wayne. Venue showed that it was obvious that this event had to be moved as it grew over the years. Food , beer and music excellent and everything well organized. 1/2 point deduction for not enough "German" desserts, cakes, pastry etc.
Prices as to be expected for such an event.
Very much worth visiting (as is the real Bear Mountain Park) BUT BE AWARE THAT YOU HAVE TO GO TO ANTHONY WAYNE RECREATION AREA AT EXIT 17 OFF THE PALISADES!

Depending on your physical condition you can walk up or drive up. The walk is great fun but not suitable for small children or strollers. Depending what route you take, its about 1-1.5h from the parking lot to the top. Great views...

It was torrential. We were wet which made the hike seem interminable. But even in really adverse conditions, bear Mountain is beautiful. Great vistas, great water, beautiful flora and fauna.

Experienced just a small portion of the park in one day. Started up at the inn and hiked one of the loop trails ( Major Welch Trail & Appalachian Trail). Was gorgeous day, perfect balance of sun and wind. Plenty of good places to pop a squat and snack or hydrate especially when you get to the top. The thing I liked about this trail was that it was, at times, didn't seem perfectly paved, so it required some hiking skill making it feel more wilderness like. Can see NYC from the top. You'll see all kinds of people hiking this trail, from civilians to people who have been trekking for 3 months from Georgia and are making their way to main by trail. When you're done you can plop down on the big open field just outside of the inn and rejuvenate, relax or snack.

This place is a total gem - it can get really crowded for weekends and event, but especially week days and when the weather is cold, it's lovely. The zoo is a nice change of pace from the usual, where they help heal injured and orphaned animals. The lake is great for running and biking around and the carousel is a great deal at a buck a ride. The spa is also really terrific. If you are coming more than twice in a year, get the NYS park pass - it's a much better deal than paying each time.

Alright so let me start by saying that this is mountain gets crowded. If you seek privacy with nature and like walking at your own pace. Bear mountain is not the place to connect with nature despite it being beautiful. I love the way its a mountain park families come here and can enjoy a bbq while others hike or boat ride at the lake. The hike is not very challenging but you should still take little breaks if you need to. Overall it was a nice experience I enjoyed the drive as well. It’s probably one of the few hiking places where you will pay for parking ($10).

very beautiful views from atop the mountain near the tower easily accessible via driving to the top or a hike thats not too bad depending on your fitness level via the Appalachian Trail from behind the inn on bottom ( or if you have a driver drive you to the top and then hike down and let them meet you behind the inn on bottom 1-2 hours later. You can even do this via public transportation through the coach USA bus that stops at the bear mountain inn and hike up and down the Appalachian trail to the top and back. this is a wonderful one day trip or can even make 2 days by staying overnight at the inn on bottom and spending the second day at the amenities of the park/lake near the inn. Problem is that the area around the lake can get very crowded and alot of people grilling especially on the weekend. there was so much grilling when we were there we could smell it half way up the mountain when we were hiking down.

This place is about an hour away from Newark airport, through the parkway north. once you get there the parking fee is 10 dollars per vehicle. You can BBQ (Charcoal only), do pick nicks, they also have a beautiful lake with canoes and paddle boats, a Zoo which has a free admission and multiple hiking trails, I highly recommend taking the walk to the marina dock, the zoo and the top of bear mountain using the Appalachian trail which takes about 2 1/2 hours to get to the top depending how much you stop to rest but is worth it once you get to the top the view is majestic and full of green luscious mountains around you. They have some vending machines at the top, bathrooms and a tower to get a better view. Also if you don't want to hike you can also drive up there.

Found this last year while visiting the Bear Mountain Inn. Was at the Inn again over the weekend and went back to the zoo. Really nice zoo with a lot of animals that were injured and then saved by the zoo. Large variety of animals to see in a non crowded environment. Stop by if you are there. Worth the visit.

Bear Mountain State Park is one of my all-time favorite areas to hike and soak in the serene beauty of nature, as it surely abounds here. No matter your skill level in hiking, you will be pleased with the amount of trails here. The legendary Appalachian Trail runs through here for approximately six miles (the lowest elevation on the entire AT is here within the park); there are many other trails that snake their way through the beautiful forest and up the mountain, and there is also the peaceful two-mile loop that encircles beautiful Hessian Lake – of the Revolutionary War era. Speaking of the Revolutionary War, if you’re a history buff, you’ll appreciate Fort Clinton and the other historical remnants of the Revolutionary era that are also located at Bear Mountain. Whether you have children or not, the trailside zoo is a must see; such a great little zoo made up of animals indigenous to the area that the zookeepers have saved or are in the process of rehabilitating. In another area of the park is a wonderful, historical carousel – worth checking out even if you’re not putting your child on it for a spin! The carousel (which is enclosed in a historic stone building) features hand-painted scenes of Bear Mountain, as well as hand-carved seats that are actually animals indigenous to the park, such as bear, deer, bobcats, fox, etc. So cool to see! Going back to the hiking, the trails offer amazing views of the area mountain peaks, the mighty Hudson River, and on a clear day, you not only have spectacular views of the Hudson Highlands, but you can see the Manhattan skyline from the top of Bear Mountain (and the Perkins Tower as well). If you’re hungry, thirsty, or better yet, would like to stay in a beautiful, rustic lodge for the weekend surrounded by all of this natural beauty -- be sure to check out the Bear Mountain Inn, located right on the grounds of the park. There are two restaurants here, a great little gift shop, and the décor of the inn itself is worth checking out – even if you’re not staying overnight. Love Bear Mountain State Park and can’t wait to go back!

Bear Mtn SP is a great park. I love the old buildings that were constructed when the park opened. There is a lot of history here. The trails are a good mix from easy - very difficult. Make sure to bring sturdy shoes because the footing can be tricky!

This is a large park with many places to picnic, hike and even fish. There are many hiking trails but you can drive to many great views overlooking the Hudson too. Take a ride on the merry-go-round. It's fun!

An hour from NYC, Bear Mountain offers some gorgeous scenery and resources. Friends and I traveled up on a mild Friday morning and found the lodge parking lot and the lake easily. Took the Major Welch trail which runs about ⅓ of a mile on a road until it splits off and goes vertical. Alternate between steps carved into the mountain and pure granite, it is challenging, technical, and a great workout. As the oldest of our group I was the slowest but everyone found the terrain tough but capable. Beautiful views, peace and quiet, and few other hikers to contend with. At the crest there is a gentle walk to the tower, a nice place to eat a snack, and we took the Appalachian Trail back to the lot, almost twice the distance but only taking about the same time as the ascent on the Major Welch trail. Highly recommended for experienced, capable hikers. Be warned of potential slick/dangerous conditions in rain, hail or snow on Major Welch.

Decided to go for a hike with my family and had remembered visiting this park about ten years ago when our kids were young so thought we’d take a stroll down memory lane so to speak...
We arrived around 11am and the parking was already backed up but did not let it deter us. Paid the $10 fee to park which seemed fair until we were directed through numerous lots that said FULL but were actually not as we saw plenty of empty spots. Ended up in the very last grassy field they use for parking but it wasn’t terrible for us as we weren’t lugging coolers and chairs as so many others were! I’d like to point out that no information was given when we entered the park, not even a print out of a map. Thought that should be standard when paying to enter. There was a bbq event of some kind and looked like it was enjoyable and a carousel for little ones that is inside so they are protected from sun. We kept asking where to find a trail map until we were directed to a building and found some handouts in the foyer but upon seeing staff behind a office door went in to ask more details and for most part the girl couldn’t be bothered to talk to us. We ended up finding the one we were looking for after a good twenty minutes of wandering around and asking a passerby. The walk around the lake was nice and easy and a few children were on scooters or bikes. There is a shack where you can rent peddle boats. The lake is not for swimming. It was a pretty hot day but the trails are for the most part shaded and the slight breeze made it tolerable. There needs to be better signage pointing to trails and then along the way letting you know how far you are etc... We nearly got to the top of a challenging trail but came to an area where you had to scale some steep rocks and we weren’t wearing the proper shoes for it so retreated. Another helpful tip that should be forthcoming from the park! All in all it was a nice day but look up info before you go as it isn’t readily available and cell service was spotty at best!

A beautiful mountain with a great view of Harriman State Park and the surrounding Rockland and Orange counties. On a clear day one can see NYC.

hade a super time here,
went to the ice rink, zoo, play ground and a couple of hikes.
has nice lake with a loop walk around it.

Nice place for outdoor activities. Nice hiking trails, beautiful lake and also bicycling. Beautiful place for picnic with friends and family. Also if you can not hike, you can go to a view point by car and enjoy the scenery.

Every trip to Bear Mountain State Park is a good one! There are hikes to for all levels and the park is dog friendly. We love to walk around the lake and then enjoy ice cream at the Inn. There's also ice skating in the winter and boating in the summer.

We visited this beautiful park to view fall foliage. It was beautiful with lots of colors and lakes. Even a lodge where we had lunch.

We were driving home from Newburgh and were diverted from I-84 and I-684 passing through the park. It was a scary route on a narrow road but took us diagonally from Orange County to Peekskill in Westchester County. Definitely cut out some mileage and time.

I've been there several times and each visit had something different to enjoy. This park offers great experiences for hiking, camping, and fishing. I've also enjoyed weddings at the carousel and ice skating in the winter. Fun for all.

Pleasant people beautiful surroundings. There are bears deer fox , Very rustic. Scenery is amazing lakes and row boating . Swimming is allowed in certain areas .Great for a day at the woods

It's such a great place! I really enjoyed , it is peaceful, great to spend the day admiring the view, walking trough and visit the museum. It's a little dangerous to drive to get there because of the route 9N but also very excited, take the chance! But pay really good attention, because it's really narrow and they go from both sides, and to park, can be almost impossible.

Planned to visit here a few years ago, but kept missing it in all my trips to New York in past few years. This time my colleague brought me there for sunset photography after work. There was an inn, a zoo and a lake in the park. And you can drive to the top of the mountain for a great sunset view. In a clear day, you are supposed to see four states (including Manhattan skyline) on the top of the tower which stands in the top of the mountain.

Bear Mountain State Park is a beautiful place to visit year round. Nice picnic area with gorgeous trails all around. Love to visit the museum and zoo there!

My family and I were very disappointed by our visit to the Bear Mountain Zoo. My toddler son loved the bears and owls, but many of the other animals were missing with multiple empty or overgrown cages. Getting to the zoo requires a long walk from the parking lot, which was a mess today due to landscaping work. We won't be returning anytime soon.

My Asian-born, second wife (who had never been to America) and I were touring America and we were on our way to New York City from Connecticut. We wanted to hike up a mountain during our visit to the Northeast and I remembered from my youth that this mountain is not too far off the way from Connecticut to New York City. In fact, for any New Yorker looking to escape the city atmosphere, even for just a couple of hours (as I did several times in my youth), this beautiful mountain and state park is only a one hour drive north of the George Washington Bridge and yet like a star-gate, you are transported into a whole different world than the city. My most memorable experience of this mountain and park was 40 years ago when my first wife and I hiked up this mountain starting from the Bear Mountain Lodge and we camped out on the Appalachian Trail for two nights near the summit. Forty years later, this past June, I returned to Bear Mountain with the intention of once again hiking up this mountain, but because we had spent too much time at the Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets shops in Clinton Crossing, Connecticut (see my Tripadvisor review) on the way to Bear Mountain, we had to settle for driving up the mountain and taking a short hike on the top. We were both in awe of the amazing, panoramic view from the top of the mountain. And as I gazed out at this amazing view, I realized how much I missed the beauty of the mountains and forests of America, and of New York and New England in particular. This mountain and state park is a “MUST DO” for all nature lovers wherever you live!

The views when you are @ the top of the mountain are breath taking, it feels like you are walking on top of the world. watching the hawks fly above and the small animals going about their day really shows you the greater good of our planet. The beauty of how Mother Nature paints a canvas of color with the sun the .trees and flowers . As you step on each step it takes you you through the enchantment forest that you only see from beyond , each person who climbs Bear mountain and reaches the top will have their own spiritual experience of wonder and respect. Take your time and be careful as you are climbing a mountain . be prepared with plenty to drink wear the proper sneakers , and please don't litter . keep all empty bottles and trash in your back pack and place in a trash can when you are home . Thanks and enjoy.

Bear Mountain State Park has roads with a view, hiking trails, meals at the lodge, picnic tables, events and walks around the lake. Enjoy a day at the park whether it is an event, a meal, or a hike.

Stop the Covid excuses!! We had to ask twice for the garbage and damp towels in the room piling up to be removed They do not clean the rooms your entire stay even though we were there for six days!! Wait for it wait for it COVID-19 !!

The grounds are great. Darren who works the front desk was super professional very very nice fellow as well Bill who bartend‘s at 1915. The food though sadly limited was very very good as well service. Hikers café we went there one time while there had a gluten-free waffle. Unfortunately it tasted sour as if something was off. The gift shop well what can I say- your typical over price for lower quality merchandise. Also don’t expect help from the woman there, very snooty as if she was doing everyone a favor being there. My wife did a spa treatment, unfortunately there was a mixup because the woman in the evening before wrote down the wrong services to have done.

Other than that the young lady at the front desk trying to flex her muscle complaining because I didn’t have my mask on when I walked in even though for five days we were there was not a problem we had our vaccination cards with boosters with us. I guess she was trying to put on a show trying to impress the other woman she was working with- maybe her boss?

Bear Mountain State Park is absolutely fantastic. Something for everyone. Bring walking shoes, bottled water, sunscreen for hiking. Very much enjoyed the hiking trails. All clearly marked. Rough, rocky terrain in some areas. Awesome views. Beautiful vistas of mountains, bridge, and river. Many things on site: walking Trails, swimming Pool, zoo - lots of birds & animals, historic exhibits, stone buildings, memorial plaques, fishing ponds, picnic areas, grills, snack bar, food vendors, covered pavilions, gift shop. Wonderful day trip.

Bear mountain is one of the best places to take in the fall foliage. You can hike, bike or just relax and experience nature here.

Hello, I had reservations to stay in the cottages April 27-29th. The room is so small and you cant even open the bathroom door to get inside. It only opens 1/4 of the way and then it hits the sink. It was so small when you sat down on the toilet you hit your knees. No air conditioning and my TV did not work. I called down to front desk and the person said they would come out and help in few minutes. The person came out and proceeded to tell us that he was written up today for leaving the front desk so he could not stay long. He got it to work for one minute and then it went back to a blue screen. He said he had to go take care of something and would be back...never came back. I ended up leaving and finding a decent hotel. BEWARE do not stay there.

Bear Mountain (Hudson Highlands) ... Located partially in Orange County in the town of Highlands and partially in Rockland County in the town of Stony Point, it lends its name to the nearby Bear Mountain Bridge and Bear Mountain State Park that contains it.

I visited this place hoping for fall colors. But I am too early. This place has a nice lake where you can rent pedal boats. Nice place for a weekend picnic though.

Wonderful park, lots to do. Accepts NY State Parking Pass

wonderful hike, great zoo. Breathing photo spots

Great people.

I went here on a Sunday and was shocked at how many families were there. The day was cool and very windy but it was crowded. The trails I chose were paved and beautiful. The fall colors were at peak. Even with the crowds every was courteous yielding the pedestrian right of way. The scenerywas superb!

We took the family and traveled up north to go to Bear Mountain State Park. I had been there once many many years ago and was looking forward to the visit. The day we visited was sunny but still chilly.
Parking was plentiful and we avoided the $10 entrance fee by going online and buying our yearly Empire Pass for all NYS Parks.

We checked out the carousel and the kids rode it $2. We walked around the lake area and headed toward the exhibit buildings and their zoo area. The winding trail through the zoo area affords you a variety of birds and animals to see.

In the better weather, it looks like there are paddle boats to rent and you can picnic and BBQ. The Bear Mountain Inn is a beautiful building with rooms for overnight stays, a restaurant/bar to eat/drink in and a gift shop to buy local souvenirs.

There is plenty of nature to see and experience. You can hike up the mountain or drive up to see the view from the mountaintop.

We hope to go back in the warmer weather to enjoy a lovely day with nature.

A beautiful park, with canoing, pools, a small zoo, and a lake with canoing, which was not open as we visited in early May. It also has many hiking trails. It was my first hiking trip so we used the white trail. It was not difficult and had many beautiful scenic overlook and rest areas. The peak was phenomenal! So peaceful and humbling!

We had a great time ice skating, hiking, walking through the local zoo and enjoying the rich history of the area. Highly recommend it in the fall!

We took a boat ride up to Bear Mountain from Manhattan. It was November 1st and the weather was unseasonably warm. The foliage was spectacular. The park itself was very clean with a nice restaurant. Would go back!

I go often to Bear Mountain to hike and I always discover something new. The area is rich in Revolutionary War history as well as more recent history surrounding the Inn. The Zoo, or animal sanctuary is great and there is a trail in the zoo that leads to Fort Montgomery. Loads of fun!

I was a little hesitant to hike this mountain due to my inexperience, but as an able-bodied adult in okay shape, I found the White Trail manageable. If that is not possible for you, there is always the option to drive up to the top (good for families with small kids or those with limited mobility.)
The first 20 minutes up are the hardest due to the number of steps, while the last third of the trail was the trickiest due to the dirt and small rocks and lack of walking sticks (I would recommend using these on the way down if you forego the road trail). There's a vending machine at top with over priced Powerade but really.....everyone should have enough sense to bring their own water. I went on a Wednesday in June so parking was not an issue though I've heard it gets pretty crowded on weekends.
The park charges $10 for entry. Worth it in gorgeous weather.

The lake with its boats was unfortunately closed in June. As a Floridian I sometimes forget there are "seasons" so if you decide to visit during the spring, check with the park on what is open.

WE were able to get in for a quick stop while in the area. WE went during the Columbus day weekend and it was very crowded. We tried to go in the early afternoon and couldn't get in. We made it in the early evening and got in but the park was still crowded. I'd like to go back when it's not crowded and do more.

There are so many great things to do with young children at this first rate state park. I have to say though I nearly had a panic attack on Perkins Memorial Drive. It is a very narrow two way, steep mountain road with no rail on the outside lane. I felt like I was on the edge of a very steep drop. I have a problem with heights so maybe that was the problem, but I think this drive is not for everyone.

Beautiful park to hike. Like many say, hike counter clockwise. Alittle tough for young kids maybe. Definitely will go again!!

We had a very enjoyable day at Bear Mountain State Park.

We started at the zoo and found it very educational. There are tons of signs about the animals and the environment, so if you're not into reading signs, then you might find it less enjoyable. The reptile house was extremely good. At the zoo, they also had a museum (a small building, not a full museum) with exhibits about the revolutionary war and life at that time. The exhibits are very well done. In addition, they had a building on the geology of the area that is interesting. In the same area, there is a nice overlook of the Bear Mountain Bridge and the Hudson River. (We did not take the walk to Fort Montgomery, which seemed like it would have been interesting.)

The pool was great--what a beautiful setting, large with varying depths, and clean.

We took a ride on the carousel, which is beautiful designed.

We didn't even get to the lake, nor did we go hiking. The great lawn was beautiful, although we didn't do much on it.

One note, the picnic area between the Inn and the lake, on the walk to the zoo and pool, was a bit messy with liter. It initially turned us off, so to speak. But then the zoo and pool areas were nearly immaculate, and the picnic area almost seemed cleaner when we returned, albeit not as clean as it could be.

This place is just plain huge and because of that there is something for everyone. There are hundreds of miles of hiking trails including the original section of the Appalachian Trail. There are sand beaches for swimming and many lakes for boating. There are mine shafts to explore, proceed at your own risk and be careful. Iona Island and Doodletown are near by. Plan on spending the day and have fun.

Had a great time walking about the lake and the zoo. The zoo is mostly injured animals from the surrounding area, which is great. We went on a cold day and still had a good time. Lots of hiking trails, so we will go back in the summer.

Park upkeep has gone downhill. Have been here many times before. Maintanence and garbage removal not being kept up. Many animals missing from the Zoo area.

My daughter and family just moved to NY and so are in the process of discovering stuff. During my visit we checked out several things near them and this was one of my favorites. We went to spend two hours at the Zoo and loved it! You have to walk in. When I first got to the Zoo I was not too impressed (small cages, etc.) until I started reading the little signs. The animals are being rehabilitated (or cannot live in the wild). There are several "museums" which were well-done and informative. Be sure to read the little signs and allow more than two hours (we didn't get to see all the "museums").

Honestly for some reason I expected more. Their benches need to be replaced many have lost their lusted and some were broken. My son enjoyed the pool and the price was reasonable to get in. They also have a mini zoo which was sweet and also house type museum of the history of the area. Great view of the bridge lovely quite lovely. The mini zoo takes donations so there is no set price.

Very good place for friends and family, specially for picnic and hiking! Highly recommended, you will feel the atmosphere even before you park…then you will like the lake and peaceful!

Had a lovely afternoon at Bear Mountain. Took a walk around the Inn, found the restrooms (which were clean) and checked out the gift store. Lots of picnic tables and pretty area by lake behind the Inn!! There is a zoo...we didn't check that out, wasn't sure how far the walk would be (husband has trouble walking). Paved path going around Hessian Lake...looked like a nice area, but also a little too long for us. The merry go round was not open today. We did drive up Perkin's Memorial Drive...great views up there and places to sit, either on benches or the big rocks. Could see NYC!! We were watching birds, trains and just enjoying the view of the Hudson river and surrounding scenery. Just don't take the turnoff for the picnic area up there...just a narrow, rocky ride thru the woods with no picnic tables??? We ate our lunch after finding our way back to the parking area by the overlook.

we climbed by foot to the mountain, it is a long hike but some of the young kids did it :)
very nice views
if you dont want to hike for 3 hours up and one down (that's how long it takes with young kids), then 1 hour up the hill to the first observation point is definitely good enough :)
of course, you can reach to the top with a car but then it's less fun (if you can walk well)

With weekend crowds from NYC that throngs this park, it could be difficult to find parking. The place is too crowded at times. Scenery ok. It is just that the parking spaces could be difficult to find.

LOVE the stone cabins here, the insides aren’t the most beautiful things in the world but on principle i love getting to stay in a little stone house in the woods so it’s ok. the lake is beautiful and there’s tons of nice walking/hiking paths to choose from.

Its state park. When you cross the last bridge and take right there is a park starts. Very high slop for hiking. Around 45 minutes to 1 hour of hiking then you get the view. It will clearly give you feeling like you are at the top of the world.

It is difficult to put into words why we enjoyed Bear Mountain so much... the colours of the fall, the views of the Hudson, the distant view of NYC, the slab rocks, the amazing and huge lodge, the lake etc... we simply wandered about, didn't buy anything or go for food or drink but we visited a couple of times and we will go back... difficult to explain but worth a visit.

Went here on a Saturday in early spring. A bunch of us hiked up Major Welch trail to top. It's a pretty challenging trail with some steep spots and some rock scrambles where some people will need to be on all fours to climb. The view are awesome. There's a tower up top that you can go up. If you just want to see the views and aren't up for the hike you can drive to the tower. Parking was $10/car. There's a merry go round and in winter an ice rink. Plenty of bathroom facilities. I didn't go inside the lodge. Nice walks around the lake too. Big open field where people were flying kites and playing frisbee. Really just a great place to spend the day.

Large, beautiful park which can be quite crowded on weekends (and traffic a mess).
We visited during the week and almost had the park to ourselves.
Park contains a zoo (see separate review), swimming pool and carousel (which was not operating on the day we were there).

Senior drivers avoid the park fee during the week.

It is located amongst mountain range is graced by lake, huge lawn, inn and family hikes. One can take a hike and go on top of the hill to have a grandeur view. On one side is river flowing gracefully and has a lake on the other side. Even kids can participate in all activities. Best outdoor place for barbecue. Surrounded by nature at its best can provide enough oxygen for the family bondings

I live in NYC and Bear Mtn State Park has always been my go-to place for a day out whether by car or bicycle. On this particular day (October 26th) I decided to ride my bike from the GW Bridge to Bear Mtn. It is an incredibly HILLY ride, but beautiful, nonetheless. Perkins Tower has gorgeous views and is a great stop for lunch (pack your own). It is a pet and family friendly location. I highly recommend it, especially during fall foliage!

Paved access great for strolling or strollers. Small buildings to explore on different animals and habitats. Animals and close to pathways and easy to watch

Oktoberfest in the park starts September 10, 2016 and runs through the end of October. It's so great to know that even if you can't make it every weekend, it's there when you're ready to spend a beautiful fall day in the park with a beer and bratwurst!
Easy to get to. You only pay to park (was $8 last year), not to get into the 'fest.

My wife and I along with our son hiked up the trail to the Perkins Tower on the summit of Bear Mountain this Fall and it was a truly meaningful experience. We have visited the Lodge and the grounds around Hessian Lake many many times, but this hike to the top is a trip you must take if you can physically handle it. It can be very strenuous so make sure your doc says it is ok for you! We took the steep and challenging route up the north side which involves some memorable and leg-straining climbs. This trail is just off the Hessian Lake paved path and quickly becomes a steep trail. Wear good hiking shoes! Great views as you ascend, so take your time and take deep breaths.

We love Bear Mountain and our Family frequently visits the zoo, carousel, restaurant and ice rink. This year, we celebrated my 40th at the restaurant and not only was the food delicious but the service was good. After dinner we skated at the outdoor ice rink which is always a blast! Regretfully, I left mine and my Daughter's hats behind along with a pair of gloves.

I contacted Bear Mountain the next day and was given to the Ice Rink Manager - Kevin Green. Kevin is not only extremely professional and friendly, but he went ABOVE & BEYOND to find our missing items!! He was gracious enough to call me as soon as they were found and in his possession. He held onto them for us until they were back in our hands. I am SO appreciative of him! Bear Mountain should take pride in having a Manager as professional and customer service oriented as Kevin! Thanks so much!

Great hike to the top of bear mountain. Was steep at times. We went around the loop clockwise, but go counter clockwise. Scenery is really nice. Not too far from nyc.

Been here in the fall & was wonderful! Too much charcoal, loud music, people throwing wrappers on the walkways. Not a refreshing outing!

A Good day spent walking around the park visiting the small zoo or other interesting exhibits that the park has to offer. Some very nice scenic views. Places to picnic and just enjoy a beautiful day with friends and family.

It has a lot to offer, from a Zoo, Ice rink, Carousel.Kiddie Play area, a lot of hiking trails, hundreds of picnic tables, lake, and Inn, cabins, close to a lot of other destinations.

This is a perfect place to take in some views. You can see New York city skyline on clear day. If you are near by and want to see some beautiful views stop here.

Good FAMILY place with picnic tables, nature zoo, hiking, nice carousel and fishing with n.y. state fishing license. Problems: little or no enforcement of Park rules, excessive music levels, litter is a problem, bathrooms nasty. Many people fishing without licenses, no one checks and park patrol seems useless. Many times Park is like a third world country with no rules or consideration for others or the park itself.

Eight of us took to Bear Mountain State Park to hike the Bear Mountain Loop Trail. Four adults with four teens in tow we followed the white blazes with red circle toward the head of the Major Welch Trail.

This part of the hike was the most difficult with some very steep areas with rock scrambles and bouldering. At the end of Major Welch trail we followed the white blazes with red circles toward the Perkins Memorial Tower.

Outstanding views from the peak. Many people enjoying the sunshine and clear skies with NYC skyscrapers in the distance.

At the Tower, the connection to the AT was the start of our descent, a canopied walk down with many steps and well tended traveled path.

Great day was had by all. Would definitely do this hike again.

Parking was $10, but we were able to use our Empire Pass and parked for free. Get there early (we started our hike at 9 and were done by noon). We had a couple people hike through our group on the way up, but many more people on the AT (easier) side. Also, the later you go, the warmer it is.

Looking forward to my next trip!

horrible wknd stay mayham here on the wknd not reccomended if you need a place to relax place has at 10,000 people barbecueing right next to the inn couldnt
breath smoke everywhere very undersible people all over the place absoluty no security anywhere in the park you couldn't
even walk no room to walk people even barbecuing right in the pathway garbage
everywhere i felt like i was in a war zone
not a place to come and relax at all
im warning people not to come here on the weekend because the inn doesnt
warn people i feel i have to STAY AWAY!!
unless you want to pay 200 a night to be in a war zone

Visited both Bear mountain observatory (on mountain top) and the Bear mountain state park recreation area. Lovely fall colors from top of the mountain and besides Hessian lake. Had lunch in the picnic area. Though it was windy, but the atmosphere was awesome and the scenery was excellent. Also visited the small zoo in the state park.

What a wonderful park which has so much to offer! In summer there's a merry go round, tons of hiking & walking trails, a zoo & huge pool. In winter there's ice skating, walking & hiking & huge fireplaces to find a cozy spot at the Inn. Plenty of weekend "theme" activities & events. Get there - it's so close & feels so remote.

My family took a car ride to Bear Mountain State Park and we enjoyed the beautiful natural scenic view of the mountain and surroundings, as well as a great picnic (with my favorites chicken, potato salad, fruit, and cookies), a walk, and some games. It was a great day out with my family and our Bear Mountain day trip and our picnic stand out as a most memorable day. In the Fall, the Circle Line offers trips to Bear Mountain, or go by car as we did.

We had been to Bear Mountain for cross country meets with hundreds of kids but decided to visit for a walk and to the zoo. The zoo is a 20 minute walk from the parking lot. I don’t know what disabled people do. The pool is almost as far but clean and very reasonably priced. As others have mentioned, there is a lot of trash throughout the picnic area. We were wondering if they left it there for animals to eat at night. As we walked through the zoo we never saw any staff members. The animals were nice to see. I’m not sure if I’d ever go back. The view of the Bear Mountain Bridge is nice from the zoo.

They moved the Octoberfest to a park up the road and this year we had to drive because its to far to get to once the boat drops you off at the pier.

Nice area to recreate. Great nature reserve.
Nice little zoo, with driven rangers leading that.

Water sports minimal to nothing; we had hoped for canoe rental, which turned out to be pedal boats. Very pricey.

This is the perfect getaway. Gorgeous views of the river and a big lake. Lodge onsite, lots of hiking trails, small zoo, and a few eating options. Would make a great destination for a long weekend from the city. Large grassy area, great for game playing. Lots of options for picnics. Great entertainment for small children.

Went there last week end (July 9) and was shocked by the amount of trash and garbage flying around barbecue tables. Pile of hot charcoals were simply dumped on the ground, surrounding by trees...
There's a limit to what the park staffs can do to educate visitors about environmental consciousness, but there's must be reinforced efforts to preserve the park from damaging behavior and attitude of visitors.
If you go with kids, watch out the pieces of beer bottles glasses scattered all over...

I have been going to Bear Mountain State Park since I have been a teenager, I love the hiking trails the beautiful scenic views from the top of the mountain, the absolute beauty of the drive on the motorcycle on Perkins Memorial Drive. Everyone needs to do this ride either by car or motorcycle.

We drove to the observation tower to view the fall colors. Although we were a little early for peak season, the views were amazing. I wish we had had more time to spend here. There are lakes, hiking trails, the Inn .... and so many wonderful places to explore.

I went to Bear Mountain with my fiance and brother. We loved it. It was on a rainny, fresh and cloudy day. The smell of nature; trees convined with rain was on anither level.

This is a beautiful park and only an hour and a half from the city. I got the Short Line bus from Port Authority which was great, and I got dropped off at the Inn. I spent a lovely day hiking up the mountain to see the stunning view, walked around the lake and went to see the two black bears at the zoo.

New York State is mostly known for the city... but rest assured, it has plenty more to offer! Bear Mountain is a state park located North of the city, and it really has something for everyone. Ice skating in the winter months, the most beautiful trails up the mountains and a gorgeous lodge for couples looking for a romantic break.
It's perfect to take your dogs too, and they are even welcome in the lodge and gift shop! We took our pup, and the shop owner was kind enough to give us a complimentary biscuit for her!
We went in January and although it was chilly at first, we soon worked up a sweat from the hike. We hiked to the top of a certain trail and it was more or less empty, but my partner told me in the summer it gets absolutely packed.
It is such a beautiful place and such a welcome break from the city that never sleeps.

Did some hiking around the lake near the Bear Mountain Inn. It is such a wonderful State Park. There was a farm stand there with locally made bakery goods and honey. Awesome time.!!

We had a quick visit here on a recent holiday to New York to see family. It is about a 40 minute drive from Manhattan and it was pleasant to see another side of New York. We had a picnic beside the lake then drove to the top to climb the Perkins Memorial Tour. The tower had great views of the surrounding countryside and Manhattan in the distance, also interesting photos and history of the State Park. It was an enjoyable day and there were obviously lots to do there if you had the time. With its proximity to Manhattan it apparently does get busy at certain times of the year - however I'm sure it is large enough for a quiet corner to be found.

This is a popular place for a hike. As you follow the path to the top of the Mountain you will find yourself stopping every once in a while just to catch your breath. When you reach the top the view is breathtaking. No pun intended.

Simply love the area, with its shopping close by, and it's marvelous Bear Mountain Park. If you want a get away that's not too far, this is for you.

This is one of the more scenic spots in the area. Between the walk around Hessian Lake and wonderful mountain trails , it's a great way to commune with nature.

A great place to enjoy the outdoors only 1 1/2 hours away from Brooklyn. We stayed the the Bear Mountain Stone Lodge and the room was nicely decorated and clean. The 3.9 mile Perkins Memorial Tower Trail was a bit challenging but a great hike!

Exploring the Park, was a wonderful start to our 10 day exploration of the Hudson River Valley.
Being late April, we weren't encumbered by large crowds throughout our wanderings about (though some event at the Lodge, was attracting a good deal of incoming traffic, as we were leaving the parking lot late afternoon).
From the magnificent River views obtained at the top of the Tower (as well as, along the road up and back), to a satisfying afternoon high-tea in the engaging wood-centric Lodge; our time in the Park was a joy.

Packed some food and drinks and took the entire family for a fun day un the sun. Place is nice and clean and absolutely peaceful. Has a lake you can rent a pedal boat and just chill in the water or race with the kids.

You can hike right from the Inn. The trails are rugged and rocky and offer a great hike. Just keep in mind that since Bear Mountain is located so close to NYC, it gets really, really crowded here in the spring and summer.

Bear mountain state park and Spa is a must! It's such a beautiful property with several different trails of a variety of difficulties and scenes. There's a spa that is fine but the waiting room is freezing cold,so cold I could not hold my pen. But overall, it was a wonderful day and I would want to go back.

I drove to the parking area at the top of bear Mountain, by the fire tower, and my dog and I did the short loop trail around the summit, which I found described on the NYNJ Trail Conference website as the "Bear Mountain Summit Loop". There are several dramatic overlooks out over the valley and the Hudson River, and the trail is well-described and overlaps with the Appalachian Trail, which is fun. There are also overlooks visible just from the parking area, if you don't want to hike at all. The trail itself is quite easy, with high view payoffs - my favorite combo! Definitely worth a stop, and I was grateful for the play-by-play trail guide, which kept me assured that I was not lost along the way!

Our first visit during the fall. A lovely place for a family date with the nature. Fall colors makes you love the place more. Good number of picnic tables, big open space for the kids to have free place. A must visit for the hikers. Kid attraction: carousel. Parking is easily accessible.
During peak season reach early to avoid the traffic.

So happy to be back on the trails which were great! So challenging. Bathrooms however were filthy. Surprised, never seen it like that.

Beautiful winter day.. we hiked part Appalachian trail and then the blue and yellow trail. About 8 miles total. It was not for beginners. Lots of scenic views of the Hudson and even see NYC off in the distance. We are from Long Island so it made the perfect day trip..

We drove for a short trip to see the fall foliage. We had little children so we did not plan on any hiking.Fall foliage was not at its peak yet but the scenery was beautiful.There was a paved trail along Lake Hessian which was perfect for strollers or wheelchairs.Our little ones loved climbing the low rock formations along the way.There were bathroom facilities.There were picnic areas with barbecue facilities.We bought food from the concession stand.Food was good but a little pricey as expected.Boats were available to rent.The park was clean overall.We went on a Sunday morning and it was a busy day. Entrance fee was $10.00 per vehicle.There was heavy traffic on the Palisades Parkway getting into the park. By noon, the park was at full capacity and the entrance was blocked.Go early,bring your picnic and enjoy Bear Mountain.

Took the trail going up to the tower. Awesome view!!! Then went down the other side. Except I took the wrong trail there for a while. It turned into an awesome adventure. At 45 and being taken back to my childhood days...haha...it was sweet. The provided maps are hard to understand and follow when on the trail. Getting back to the park was one heck of a workout. The park itself was very accessible and there was a cool car show going on.

Great trip to hike with the family ! Me and mine do it every year . Recommend going out and being 1 with nature

We took a short trip on the Appalachian trail which took us through a zoo in bear mountain park. The zoo was nice especially since all the animals come from rehabilitation and cant be released into the wild so they give them a home.

Bear Mountain State Park has some wonderful hiking trails that are clearly marked. Cascade is probably the easiest hike but they have more difficult trails that have rocky terrain. Stunning vistas and they have family fun in the park with a zoo, a picnic area with grills and a snack bar. I am only rating the hiking trails as the park looked too crowded.

Such a beautiful park. Sad that visitors throw their trash down near the pools and other heavily trafficked areas. The park staff couldn't possibly keep up. Stay on the hiking trails and take a trash bag for Mother Nature!

Walking around, going over the Bear Mountain Bridge, the Zoo ~ all of it beautiful. I would recommend going there any time of year

Parking costs 10 US - not much is offered for this. The toilets are far apart and the hotel on site is only accessible by guests. The path around the lake is quite nice - we expected signposted hiking trails. The "Major Welch Trail" is too steep, you have to climb a lot.

We live 15 minutes away, and whenever we feel overwhelmed after a long day, or when we have some extra time after work, we hop in the car with the kids, and enjoy a few relaxing hours walking around the lake, and seeing the bears and other animals in the zoo. Staff is extremely friendly, and grounds are well kept yet still an untouched natural look.

We visited with 3.5 Years old son. Nice to spend a day during fall season..! We used trails to reach the tower.

One of the best state parks I've ever been too. You can easily spend 8 hours here. Lots of parking, and admission is only $10 per car. The Lodge offers air conditioning gift shop and restaurant as well as overnight accommodations. The food stand has hot dogs burgers fries etc.... very cheap. Lots of picnic tables, paddle boats on the beautiful lake. You have to walk a bit to get to the huge pool, which is an additional $2 pp entrance fee. Walk past the pool entrance and enter the zoo and exhibits. The animals are wonderful, this is a great family experience. Later, take a drive up to the tower for amazing sunset views. You can even see the NYC skyline form the 1300ft elevation. It's breathtaking looking through the Hudson River Valley. For the younger kids, there is a large carousel inside one of the buildings you can enjoy a ride for $2 pp. it's a beautiful carousel, with 50 different animals that are unique, like rabbits, dogs, frogs, you can all types of animals. You could easily spend two days here with the family. I highly recommend this park.

We drove up the tower road which we caught just in time as the ranger opened the gate at 11:30am on Sat, no way in Hell could we (I) have walked all that way. It's fun to climb four floors in the tower and see NYC in the clouds behind the mountains. Bring Quarters for the pay per view binocular things inside. Do look for the trails that surround the tower, we spent well over an hour taking pics and climbing boulders as a family. It was cool and the views are really, really nice. .

What a lovely scenic place this is, lots of things to do, I was mesmerised by how beautiful it was, made a great rest from the rush of the city. research your hiking path, we decided to go up the mountain to the tower and only a quarter of the way up I was exhausted! It's about 1 hour 30 mins long, beautiful views though so worth it if you can make it up there!!!

Horrible. If you want to hike and enjoy nature DO NOT GO HERE. Loud music, so dirty, screaming children, lifeguard whistles (yes- they have a pool...) .. couldn't find parking, longest part of the hike was the half hour uphill walk up the road to the entrance. Just don't go. Ruined our day.

Bear Mountain does not disappoint! Let me start by saying, yes, it is a drive out there. I live in Queens, I went with my 7 year old daughter on weekday and it took us an hour to get there but it was well worth the trip. Parking is $10 by the Bear Mountain Inn. We started by walking along the Hessian Lake to the underpass that leads to the pool and the museums/zoo. We passed the pool and started with the zoo. It is small but it has animals native to the region and there is great information on signs everywhere telling you about the animals and plants. The museums are small as well but you can spend alot of time exploring in them. After walking the path through the zoo and museums we made our way back to the pool which is huge!!! It is $2 a person to get in which is a bargain! My daughter loved jumping off the two diving boards they have there and the pool has a very shallow area for younger kids. You could really spend all day at the pool, although there are signs that say you cant bring food in, we did sneak a nutrigrain bar as a snack. Finally before leaving we went to the park by the lake and spent an hour there playing. Really wonderful day. I saw alot of families there grilling but we packed sandwiches and chips and were content with what we brought. This is really a great destination if you are on a budget because everything is so inexpensive! I will be back in the fall when the ice skating ring opens! My daughter left exhausted but had stories to tell about our trip to Bear Mountain for days.

Spent the day with my 5 yr old here and at nearby West Point. The most expensive part of tbe day was $10 to park. Seriously where in America today can you spend a day and spend less than $20. We walked by Hessian Lake (too chilly for boats) walked to the zoo. Great time talking about the animals and exhibits. Great little museums that filled a 5 yr olds mind with all sorts of questions about nature and the revolutionary war. We finished our time at Bear Mt on the carousel filled with local animals as opposed to the traditional horses. Again a great deal at $1 per ride. A great place for an affordable outdoor family fun day.

We hiked in June and the flowers along the trails were in full bloom. We saw great views and even a snake! Just had a blast hiking this beauty. Best hike close to NYC !

Seems this is very popular place for a weekend BBQs - lot of people come to cook and eat, so beware of different smells when you go along the picnic area. Swimming in the lake prohibited - there is a pool instead (big but still crouded).
You can hike up to the mountain, by more simple or more hard trail; even for the simple route you need to be in decent fit. But it is also possible to drive to the very summit.

Bear Mountain State Park has lots to do. The parking fee is $10 per vehicle. You also have the option to buy a Empire State Park Pass which costs $65 and lasts one year and is good for admission to all of the New York State Parks. Near the main parking area, there is a large grassy area/lawn with lots of areas to lay in the grass, kick around a soccer ball or fly a kite. There is also a basketball court there with two hoops as well as a carousel/merry go round. Across the large lawn is the Bear Mountain Inn. I have never stayed there or visited, so I am not sure the details and costs of the inn. The exterior looks nice. As you go further through the park you will come across Hessian Lake which has boat rentals to ride throughout the lake. I personally think the boats rentals are way overpriced....$10 per person (no matter how young) and a $20 deposit for an hour. So for myself, fiance and little one to go out, it would have cost $50 and we get $20 back. Way overpriced...in my opinion. Cash ONLY too. Around the lake there are grills for cooking as well as many picnic tables/benches are a large playground area for the little ones. There are also some vending machines throughout the park (some accept credit cards) and a food stand. We didn't eat any food there but there was also a little pastry hut set up that sold donuts and other pastries amongst other items. Further down is the pool, which they were filling up at the time for use later in the summer. The pool sign said $2 per person, though I am not sure if that was updated. Further is the Trailside Zoo which itself is a wonder. It is a free zoo trail with a few animals and a few small nature museums with smaller animals and educational exhibits. Lots to learn and beautiful views to see and its FREE...On the other side of the Trailside Zoo is a hiking path which takes you across a small bridge and leads you to the Montgomery Historic site which has a small building with some interesting exhibits. There are lots of hiking trails there so bring comfortable shoes, snacks and beverages. A map may help too. Lots to do here as I initially said. Plan your day and try to take advantage of everything this wonderful park has to offer.

Harriman and Bear Mountain are awesome drives. It is great to go down Seven Lakes Drive to see the mountains, lakes, and occasional wildlife (e.g.: deer and turkeys). I love the fall foliage in these areas. The Bear Mountain Bridge is great to walk over, and I love to hike up Bear Mountain and Anthony’s Nose. There are many police patrol cars throughout the area, so you should watch your speed! It is about ten dollars ($10.00) to park at Bear Mountain; I I find this price to be a bit steep but the attraction is great.

Beautiful country, beautiful lake great place to hike and enjoy nature in a picture book setting just miles from USMA at West Point.

Sometimes unplanned adventures are the most memorable. This was the case for us when visiting Bear Mountain. Arrived on a Friday around 10 and the lot was half full but was completely full when we left around 1:30, so get here early on weekends. We took the Major trail up to the fire tower and then back down the AT. The first half was where things went wrong and we ended up terribly lost with several others. Eventually we all just kind of picked a different direction (we chose straight up) and somehow everyone made it to the top. This was very strenuous but would be rated moderate if we would have stayed on the trail. Beautiful views at the summit but very busy. Coming down the AT side there were many people attempting to climb up all 800 stairs from Hessian lake to the tower. The vending machine at the top ate my only $5 bill but that was the only downside to this place.

I love state parks, and visit them often. I was excited to see the zoo (which I reviewed separately) but the park itself, at least the area I was in, was pretty gross. The picnic area was filled with litter and garbage. The stairs on the path to the zoo had lots of litter, bottles, etc. (Note the zoo area itself was much cleaner). The restrooms I used were very dirty - I don't mind old or old school restrooms at all, this was dirty though, not just old. I won't return to this park. Might be better off if you head straight out on the trails?

My husband and I love seeing the beautiful Bear Mountain Inn and walking the many hiking trails around Hessian Lake. The Bear Mountain Zoo had many rescued/injured animals including bears, Bald Eagles, hawks, deer, fox and vultures.

It is a nice setting but the only downside is that it gets pretty crowded. If you are looking to hike a fair distance you will be able to escape the crowd but any short walks will be around a lot of people.

I rented a Mclaren for my husband and John over at Broadway super cars told us to go to the mountain. Our main objective was to drive the car and that's exactly what we did while getting up to the top of the mountain. When we got to the top, people were sight seeing and hiking all around us. On our way down we saw the inn, carousel, and bikers making there was to the water. I'm definitely going back soon to hike all day !

I love bear mountain state park. The scenery at the top of the mountain is breathtaking. I have hiked up the mountain twice, in the summer and fall. I must say that during the fall the scenery is beyond amazing. The first time was an unforgettable experience. Getting to the top was a hassle, I thought about walking back down so many times but I had heard that once you get to the top the view will be amazing. Once I got to the top of the mountain I did not want to go back down. The view was just amazing! Aside from the mountain the lake at the state park is beautiful. The zoo is also a great add to the park. I love this park and try to visit every year.

Now is the time to see the colours changing and the eagles soarind , any one on their qwn worth a drive , the two together well worth it.

Tough hike at least for me. Took 145 to get to top. Make sure you drink drink drink
I didnt and bonked on way down
Not exciting descending 800 steps going down. That being said a wonderful hike
Bring some lunch and enjoy the views
Wear hiking boots
Trail marked well
Hiking pole would be helpful for downhill

We did the bear mountain loop as well as anthony's nose, on two separate days of course as we chose to do the more challenging of both. Despite at times having to hunt for the trail markers, both hikes were fantastic, the guides near the Bear Mountain Inn were very helpful as well.

We came here for a picnic and the Hessian Lake loop. The place was packed with visitors but it was still fun. The lake is nice and the loop (about 1.4 mile or 2.3 KM) is fully paved (accessible to strollers and wheelchairs). You can also rent a pedal boat for 30 minutes or an hour (reasonable price, deposit must be in cash).

All season hiking on well marked trails, including part of the Appalachian Trail. Swimming or ice skating are seasonal. Bring water and sturdy boots. Beware of ice on the trails in the winter.

Every year I visit the park with friends to see the Native American Pow Wow. In this event you get to see the Native American from their tribes perform dances and at the same time you learn the history of the dance. The men, woman and children wear costumes that they make with beautiful colors, feathers and ornaments. While your there you can get food or buy paintings, jewelry, clothing and books. The entrance and parking are not expensive. They stay there for the weekend, bring your beach chairs due to limited seating. I enjoy it every year I go.

Clean park, quiet respite from NYC, good for families. We paid the $10 to park and hiked a couple of trails including to the Perkings Memorial Tower (over 3 miles with many steps but definitely worth the view). For those with small children or handicapped, one can also drive and park at the tower.

Bear Mountain is enjoyable during the winter as well. We like that it's not as crowded or at peak rates during this time. Our son loves to ice-skate and sled down the hills. We also enjoyed learning a lot at the zoo and museum. We were able to go on a short hike and enjoyed the wildlife. It's cozy and warm with the fire place in the restaurant.

Just 40 miles north of NYC, or an hour drive, you will find one of the most beautiful parks NYS has to offer. Boating, fishing, b-b-queuing, hiking, and more. This is part of the Appalachian Trail. Bring your most comfortable footwear and your adventurous spirit.

We stayed at the Bear Mountain Inn and the park was right next to it. The park itself is very beautiful BUT the grounds need to be cleaned of the garbage. One morning I was out walking, all the garbage pails were filled and the birds were throwing the garbage all over the grounds and it smelled horrible.

The park is lovely with a friendly staff! We came to grill, which is allowed, and the state website says is available and Trip Advisor says grills are available! NO BUILT-IN GRILLS/ GRILL PITS! If you wish to grill you must bring your own, Buy a plate sized table top grill from the souvenir shop or use one of the many abandoned grill scattered around the park! The abandoned grill are usually missing key components, e.g. legs, covers, etc! Many of the picnic tables have the burn scars from these found grills. Bear Mountain is part of the Appalachian Trail so found grills may be a treasure for hungry hikers! Make sure to bring table cloths all of the tables are inevitably covered in bird poop but not badly! The bathroom were not spotless but were better than expected! Most of the problem there is women out in nature forget they are civilized and forgo the niceties like flushing and wiping down the seat they just used!

Otherwise the park is great, with beautiful vistas and hiking, paddle boats for rent, a pool, zoo and merry go round! Very enjoyable!

What a beautiful Fall get-a-way!! We would love to stay at the Inn sometime!!!
We recommend this area with or without children.

Okay, this is an unexpectedly beautiful spot. If you are looking for a beautiful drive and some breathtaking vistas, you have got to stop here.

I found the hike easy enough for beginners. Maybe two/three stops and then all is good. I did 2:30 up& down but I heard people doing the whole hike in 1 hour. It’s nice once in the top!

One of the least expensive day trip I ever took. Just $10 to park your car. you can spend the day in the pool for two dollars extra. So many things to do like paddle boating, kayaking, hiking or just laying on the grass looking at the Hudson. The is also small zoo for the kids.

I did a lot of research before I left and found it virtually impossible to find any Bear Mountain trails that weren't labeled difficult, challenging or moderate and wouldn't take many hours to complete. I was looking for an easy trail to do for just a few hours before dinner at the Inn and the next morning before leaving.

Here's what I discovered once I arrived that fit that need:
1. There's a paved/gravel trail from the Inn that goes around Hessian Lake. Easy, level and no ticks to worry about. At the end of the trail (near the Inn) there is an access to the Appalachian trail and a Trails for the People Interpretive Exhibit. This was in interesting stop where you can see the different ways trails are crafted. If you follow it there is a sign for a demo trail, which included stone paths and stairs. We took it about halfway up the mountain and saw no end in sight. There was no indication of how long this "demo trail" actually was and we had no water with us so we turned around. The Merry-go-round is also in this area but only open on weekends. This would be a great hike with kids using the merry-go-round as their reward for being good hikers!
2. There's a trail that goes from the Inn to and through the zoo, where you can see bears, coyotes and birds of prey (warning there are a lot of vultures free flying around. Dogs are prohibited from going into the zoo but we didn't realize it until a ranger told us. At that point I was glad to have my husband take our little dog out before a vulture did!). There are also little museums you can pop into. No charge for the zoo. This is another great with kids thing to do.
3. The trail to the zoo splits and you can go to the Hudson River Dock and view the water up close.
4. You can drive to Perkins Memorial Tower and walk around.
5. You can drive to Fort Montgomery State Park just outside Bear Mountain circle and follow the trail through all the historic markers about the fort and battle there. Apparently this also links up to the Bear Mountain Trail side Museums and Zoo trail.

The overall setup is very poorly done. To get in from the highway was a 40-minute wait in the car, just on the ramp because they have only one booth collecting money, and allowing credit card payments slowing it down. Once inside the lines for food and beer were again 30-40 minutes long. Water and soda are sold at the same tables that beer is so it is a 40 minute line just to get a bottle of water. The food and beer are good (so is the music), but not worth the waits. Also, despite assurances on the website, there is very little for children of any age to do. Good idea, very poorly executed

Beautiful area with lots to do - hiking, fishing, paddle boats, etc.
We took our own picnic to enjoy while my husband fished. The walk to the pier was very interesting as well. Unfortunately, the only bears we saw was in an enclosure. There was lots of wildlife though.

This was an awesome experience. We started out just wanted to walk a trail and ended up climbing up a mountain. I must admit it was hard and I wasn't completely prepared with the right hiking boots or comfortable clothing, but I actually really enjoyed it. There are several ways to climb the easiest being the rock stairs built into the mountain. Be careful to watch every step you take and if possible grab a stick to help keep your balance. The climb is about 3-4 hours depending on your endurance and at the top is a tower and restaurant ( so I was told) by Friendly hikers along the way. So I only made it halfway up but totally worth it and if was breathtaking even from that vantage point. Do if you can it's not just for athletes I even saw someone blind being assisted by his mother( now that's trust) Probably one experience I will never forget.

Hiking trails, zoo, hotel cabins, pools and so much more. I love walking and just breathing the air. The zoo is great for kids and the bears never disappoint. Stop in at the inn and sit down for brunch and mimosas. If the weather permits, take a dip in the pool or just bbq at the provided grills. Picturesque as can be so bring your go pros and video cameras. Walk the bridge and remind yourself what nature really means to us. Propose to your girlfriend or take your wedding photos there. You will not be disappointed

We spent two days at Bear Mountain at the end of October. There was still plenty of color splashing the area, and still a fair number of tourists day-tripping from NYC. The park is nearly 6,000 acres of trails and picnic areas, and some special features. These include the Bear Mountain Inn (and lodges), deep in the heart of the park, a petting zoo, an old-fashioned carousel, paddle boats, an outdoor swimming pool, and we were told, ice skating in winter. We stayed at the Inn, and spent a day and a half rambling through the park. It was a lovely, relaxing experience, and the view south from the top of Bear Mountain is nothing short of magical: the Manhattan skyline looks like the Emerald City!

We went here for a day in Autumn whilst all the leaves were a wonderful red and yellow colour. There are a few trails you can walk which can take a few hours at most. The one we did was fairly steep and perhaps a little dangerous at points. The views at the top are amazing.

A great view point of hudson river and the all region. In a good weather you can see New york city. Very good pkace to stop and have a breakfast or lunch break.

Very beautiful area. Didn't know that the Appalachian Trail went through the area. Paths are well maintained. Just scenic and relaxing! I'll go back as the location isn't to far from the city. A lot of space to cookout and play sports too.

Bear Mountain State Park has trails for adults and young adults as well as walkways for children Seniors & Disabled.
The Inn and Restaurant are closed but outdoor vendors have good quick food selections

This park is a wonderful place for a day trip. Many things to do in a walkable distance. Beautiful scenery and clean facilities

I thought it wold be a nice experience to take my almost 2 year old niece and her parents for a family picnic to Bear Mts. It took us longer than the 1 hr estimated on mapquest. We live in NW New Jersey close to the NY state line. The signs for bear mts are almost non-existent on the interstate, and once you get off the interstate you are on your own. Parking is $10 per vehicle, and they don't provide grills. There is a store on grounds where one can purchase a small grill for $20. The grounds are well kept, they have a recycling program. Unfortunately the bathrooms need to be updated. A carousel for children is the only attraction except for the swimming pool located across the highway, almost a quarter mile away from the main grounds. They advertise boating on the lake. We saw no action, just 3 or 4 small boats moored on a small pier. We went on a Friday thinking we would be there late. Everything shuts down at 5pm,even the pool. Very disappointing as it was 90 degrees, hot, humid etc. There is a restaurant on grounds, we did not bother check it out.I doubt we will go there again.

Beautiful state park, Amazing view of the park from the Perkins memorial tower, which is about a 10 minute drive from the bottom. The hessian lake is also very nice calm and very clean lake, fishing and barbecuing is allowed through out the lake area .Pets are also allowed through out the entire park as long as they are on a leash.