Bear Mountain State Park, State park in Rockland County, United States.
Bear Mountain State Park is a nature reserve in Rockland County that covers forested slopes and rocky ridges. Several paths lead through hardwood forests to open viewpoints where visitors can see the river and surrounding valley.
The area was protected in the early twentieth century to preserve the landscape along the Hudson from development. In the following decades, infrastructure for hikers and visitors was built throughout the grounds.
The park's name comes from Bear Mountain, where a bear den opened in 1926 and became the Trailside Zoo, now home to injured or rehabilitating black bears, otters, deer, bald eagles and owls. The Trailside Museums take their name from the Appalachian Trail, which runs through the complex at the former site of Fort Clinton.
The park lies on the west bank of the Hudson in Rockland and Orange counties, reached via the Bear Mountain Circle where the Palisades Interstate Parkway meets the Bear Mountain Bridge. Trails range from short lakeside walks to the steep climb to Perkins Memorial Tower. Some paths were closed for months after the July 2023 storm, so check current conditions before setting out.
A section of a multi-thousand-mile long-distance trail runs through the grounds, connecting the region to the southern Appalachians. Hikers can follow the white blaze markings that identify the entire route.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,358 contributors worldwide.
