Bear Mountain State Park is a beautiful recreational area. The park is located next to the Bear Mountain Bridge which crosses the lovely Hudson River. For decades Bear Mountain State Park has been a location families across the region flock to year round to indulge in the pleasant park environment.
The park is open 365 days a year and while many of the park's amenities are free, parking is $6.00. Some of the other features located within the state park's confines do charge a small nominal fee, but for the most part Bear Mountain State Park is a great place to spend the day at an affordable cost.
There is much to see and do during your visit to Bear Mountain. Here are some of the highlights of the park:
*Ice Skating
One of the key attractions at Bear Mountain during the winter months is the ice skating rink. Over the years many locals and visitors head over to Bear Mountain to enjoy the wonderful skating environment. The rink is open seasonally from October 15th to March 15th.
The rink is of decent size and you can bring your own skates or rent them for a nominal fee. The environment is pleasant and family-oriented, although the rink makes a great place for a date as well. Music is serene and the atmosphere is representative of a traditional skating rink.
The rink is well cared for and staff smoothes the ice after each skating session to make your ice skating excursion a more enjoyable experience. There is a fee to gain entrance to the building whether you skate or not. Since fees may change, your best bet is to call the park at (845) 786-2701 to find out the current fees
*Zoo
Bear Mountain's zoo is not the huge stereotypical image you'll get when you hear the word "zoo", but this small zoo does hold a certain charm. The animals, birds and reptiles housed here are not of exotic distance lands, but regional critters. In this charismatic zoo are exhibits which house animals such as the bald eagle, deer, river otters, fox, owls, bobcat, wild turkeys, birds and fish. A key attraction for decades has been the bear's den.
To get to the zoo (and pool) area you have to walk through a tunnel which takes you under Route 9W to cross the street in order to reach these areas. This short walk underneath the road is a treat for the kids and a great adventure to reach the zoo. If you have toddlers, it is wise to bring a stroller because it is a bit of a walk.
Kids and adults alike delight in walking through the serene paths which lead you through the zoo. The zoo is located in a primarily wooded area overlooking the Hudson River and as you wander the trails you'll see plaques indicating the kinds of trees and plants you see, each providing a short description. The park caretakers pay special attention to these small details to enhance your zoo experience.
Another keynote attraction is the Trailside museum which highlights regional history and geology. The area was an important location in the American Revolutionary War. You can learn about the geological makeup of the area and also of the natural habitat and its residents.
Additionally as you near the end of the zoo trails you'll come to an area which commemorates the importance and significance this region played in the Revolutionary War. You'll also see a statute which stands as a tribute to the late poet, Walt Whitman.
The zoo was free for many years, but today charges a small fee of .50 cents for children ages 6-12 and $1.00 for adults. When you think about all you'll get to experience, the slight increased addition of a fee is minor.
*Water Sports
The availability of water sports at Bear Mountain is one of the things that make the park attractive during the spring, summer and fall months. You can rent a paddle boat or rowboat and indulge in the serenity of Hessian Lake. If you enjoy fishing, Bear Mountain offers this amenity too.
*Grounds
There is plenty to do within the ground's boundaries. For decades families have been picnicking on the park's main green in front of the ice skating rink. There are many additional picnic grounds scattered throughout the park. Some are placed in wooded areas overlooking the lake, others are located in open fields, so you have plenty of choice of what kind of scenery you want to picnic in. There are also designated areas where you can barbeque also.
For the kids' enjoyment there are plenty of playgrounds located in various places in Bear Mountain State Park. There are many open fields where after a nice picnic families can play ball, fly kites or other outdoor fun. In the park's confines there is not a lack of places for the kids to let loose some energy.
If hiking is your thing, there are numerous beautiful trails you can treat yourself to and enjoy the natural beauty the park possesses. Since the trails are nestled in the mountains, you can walk different levels of ability and spend hours wandering the wonderful trails.
A relatively new addition to the park is a brightly painted carousel. The theme is animals which are region specific and sits near the skating rink and big open field. This is a great stop to make during your visit to the park.
*Swimming
Bear Mountain also houses a large sized swimming pool which opens on Memorial Day weekend and remains open through Labor Day weekend. There is a small fee to gain pool access, which at last visit was $1.00 for children ages 6-12 and $2.00 for ages 13 to adult.
The pool area contains a snack bar, restrooms and locker rooms for your convenience.
*Lodge
The Bear Mountain Lodge is another attraction where visitors can choose to stay. The lodge holds a definitive rustic charm and is high-end in price, but is beautiful. While the lodge looks rustic in nature, it has all of the modern amenities you need to make your stay comfortable.
There is also a conference center and restaurant located within the lodge. To find out more information on dining, lodging prices and availability you can call the lodge at (845) 786-2731.
Every year many people come north from New York City to enjoy the rural environment and serenity the park offers. Bear Mountain State Park is easy to get to because it is conveniently located off the Palisades Parkway, Routes 9D and 9W.
The park itself sits within the boundaries of Orange and Rockland Counties, but is literally a hop over the bridge to both Westchester and Putnam Counties. The Peekskill Metro North Railroad station is maybe a 10 minute ride away from the park. This easy accessibility makes it a popular destination for both visitors from afar and locals.