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Hiking Bear Mountain Bridge - panoramic view
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Hiking in Bear Mountain Bridge: trails, map and practical info

Hudson Valley • New York

Cross the iconic Bear Mountain Bridge spanning the Hudson River in New York's Hudson Valley, then explore 5.6 km of moderate terrain with 396 m elevation gain. This 2.5-hour hike uniquely combines a historic 1924 suspension bridge with access to the Appalachian Trail and panoramic river views.

François Dumaine
François DumaineUpdated Oct 6, 2026
Choose my trail Plan my outing
5.6 km
Distance
2h30
Duration
764 m
Elevation
Difficulty
Moderate
Max altitude
1,283 m
Recommended for :
Intermediate hikers

Ready to explore Bear Mountain Bridge? Here's everything you need to know before you go!

Discover the trail

1 community photos

Photos: Juliancolton — CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Trail description

Trail Options and Hiking Experiences

Multiple trail options serve different experience levels. The Bear Mountain Bridge area offers a 1-mile easy walk perfect for quick nature escapes (approximately 20 minutes), or for more serious hikers, a 5.6 km moderate route featuring 396 meters of elevation gain with rocky terrain and forest sections.

The most famous trail connection is the Appalachian Trail, which crosses directly over the Bear Mountain Bridge, giving hikers the unique opportunity to walk a section of America's most legendary long-distance trail. For those seeking panoramic views, the Anthony's Nose trail delivers exceptional vistas of both the bridge and the Hudson Highlands.

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Free 1 pages

The Essential Hiking Checklist

Everything you need for your next hike. Bilingual, printable, 1 page.

Get your free hiking checklist

Recommended gear for this trail

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LGPO Pick
Elixir Tour Mid WP
Salomon
Elixir Tour Mid WP
4.5 (2847 reviews)
Waterproof mid-height boot ideal for rocky terrain
203.38 $
See price
Best Value
Trail Ergo Cork
Black Diamond
Trail Ergo Cork
4.4 (1456 reviews)
Comfortable cork grip for long ascents
69.99 $
See price
Daylite Plus 20L
Osprey
Daylite Plus 20L
4.7 (3215 reviews)
Lightweight and versatile for day hikes
109.99 $
See price
Actik Core 625
Petzl
Actik Core 625
4.6 (1893 reviews)
USB rechargeable with 600 lumens for early starts
103.95 $
See price
Most Popular
Wide Mouth 1L
Nalgene
Wide Mouth 1L
4.8 (12540 reviews)
Unbreakable and BPA-free — a hiking essential
23.11 $
See price
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Ready to go?

Everything you need to know before you go

Where?

Address
Garrison, NY 10524, USA
GPS coordinates
41.3199471, -73.9831007
Phone
Not available

Starting Point

The bear mountain bridge is located in the town of Cortlandt, New York. To get to the start of the trails, take the Bear Mountain Parkway exit off of the Palisades Interstate Parkway. The parkway will take you right to the bridge.

When?

Opening hours
Monday: Open 24 hoursTuesday: Open 24 hoursWednesday: Open 24 hoursThursday: Open 24 hoursFriday: Open 24 hoursSaturday: Open 24 hoursSunday: Open 24 hours
Varies by season
Official hours →
Best season
Fall
Spectacular colors
Best time
Early morning
Less crowded
Weather (next days)
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How much?

Entry fees
Adult
Not available
Child
—
Fees, tickets and reservations: Bear Mountain Bridge
What to bring?

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Gear
Download the PDF checklist
Water & food
2L minimum
No water point on the trail
Bring energy snacks for a 4h+ hike
Good to know
Safety
Download the GPX before you go
Limited cellular coverage on the trail
Slippery after rain
Be careful on rocky sections
In an emergency
Emergency
911
Parking GPS
41.3199471, -73.9831007
Center
Not available

Hikers' opinions

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FAQ - Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know
Bear Mountain Bridge is rated moderate.
The elevation gain of Bear Mountain Bridge is 764 m.
The summit of Bear Mountain Bridge is at 1,283 m.
Allow about 2h30 for Bear Mountain Bridge (5.6 km).
Monday: Open 24 hoursTuesday: Open 24 hoursWednesday: Open 24 hoursThursday: Open 24 hoursFriday: Open 24 hoursSaturday: Open 24 hoursSunday: Open 24 hours
Tickets, reservations and access conditions are managed by Bear Mountain Bridge: that is where the information is kept current.
No, Bear Mountain Bridge has no visitor centre on site.
The Bear Mountain Bridge trail is 5.6 km long. Combined with the moderate difficulty rating and 396 m elevation gain, this makes it a moderately challenging day hike in the Hudson Valley.
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Update : October 2026