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    Bear Mountain State Park

    4.1 (271 reviews)

    Bear Mountain State Park Photos

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    Jenny N.

    Something for everyone here! You have the zoo, the inn, picnic tables and hiking trails. You can hike or drive to the top. The state park is clean and well maintained. Some entrances maybe closed and roads are one lane in each direction. My group and I enjoyed strolling around the base of the hike and taking in the view

    Yeimi D.

    You can never go wrong with this place! This is a beautiful place with great views from the top and from the bottom. Lots of things to do. A perfect place to spend the day with family. It has pool(affordable fee).. carousel (affordable fee)..pedal boat(affordable fee)...a zoo(free) and for active people it has a lot of trails and is apparently connected to the Appalachian Trail. Parking is $10 per carbut worth every dollar as it is well maintained!

    Teresa S.

    I've been to Bear mountain as a child for school trips. The first time I returned as an adult was during my hiking excursion period and I was working my way from beginner to intermediate hiking. lol. I was with a hiking group and baby I said my azz need to still be in the beginner level after that tough hike. I mean we climbed some huge boulders and i was very proud after the fact but said never again! The views from the top were beautiful. My most recent trip i told my friend no hiking. lol. We visited via the circle line cruise to see the fall foliage. This visit was perfect. We did some very light walking with a little incline nothing too strenuous. We visited the little zoo and aquarium that was cool. We checked out the beautiful lake and saw people on paddleboard enjoying the beautiful weather. We ate lunch at one of the cafes and surprisingly the food was good. There is beautiful green scenery everywhere. The fall foliage was awesome and it felt great being out in nature. Definitely a place to check out for hiking, walking or just relaxing.

    Hajedy Jerry C.

    Beautiful place to go unwind, swim, bbq and much more. It was my 1st time here and I loved it. I want to definitely come back we got there pretty late around 1-2pm on the weekend. But it was nice still. The area we were in they only had trash cans no bags but we brought our own the staff were cleaning certain areas but the area we decided to pick to bbq they didn't clean. The kids loved the pool. Many access to bathrooms but I just hoped they would clean it a bit more frequently or add tissue at least. There was even someone who came and played on a guitar for entertainment. They had a nice lake that you could paddled in and different hiking trails. Definitely worth a visit.

    Catherine D.

    I would rate it a one start but don't want to rate this beautiful place that for people's nasty attitude. Staff here is very rude and not helpful at all not sure if we came at the wrong time but there was nothing to do the staff wasn't helpful we drove an hour so we were a little disappointed. But next time we will do further research I guess. But it's beautiful. So foggy when we went and parking is for 10$ but we paid 10$ and did nothing. I guess one day I will be back and try and check it out again. It was also a little wet and rainy when we went.

    Ginette P.

    It's been some time since I visited this area, this most recent visit we took a circle line tour ride which was so easy am surprised I didn't know they did that. Early morning cruise ride to catch the fall foliage so nice , peaceful & relaxing u kind off felt like u were not in NY but more like on vacation in the mountains somewhere. U have the lovely scenery coming in & once u arrive at the park u can go about your leisure , walk the trail take in the views. They have a small Zoo & places to get some food. We had an enjoyable afternoon this was a nice way to spend the day.

    Tata G.

    Bear Mountain was our plan B when a trip to Lake welch did not pan out/ close due to Algae bloom. This state park is huge, entrance is free with empire pass. So many things to do... go swim, stroll around the lake , fish for trout, have a picnic, visit the zoo or go hiking. The place is huge, parking is free with empire pass. There are bathrooms too. If you love to be sorrounded by nature, this park is the place to be

    K G.

    BEST MOUNTAIN EVER. Very nice trail up the mountain almost impossible to get lost. They literally have everything I recommend going on a weekday and in the morning it's quite empty at that time!! You can stop anytime while hiking there's a lot of spaces to stop at and giant rocks to sit at, no one's judging ya. Fellow hikers are very friendly remember to greet everyone you pass! PS. You can find some interesting critters here too.

    Christy C.

    Love this State Park no matter which season it is! All the hiking trails were closed due to storm damage, so we just did the easy loop walking around the lake. The trail was extremely easy, paved and about 1 mile. We then drove up to the Perkins Memorial Tower to view from the top of the bottom. Awesome view! The tower was open and we climbed up to explore. The wall/tiles in the tower indicated lots of interesting information /facts about Bear Mountain and its surrounding areas. My oldest boy enjoyed reading these fun facts a lot. Huge parking lot by the inn and up in Perkins Memorial Tower. There is a $10 parking fee for parking by the parking lot 1 (by the Inn). Great place to spend a day with friends and family.

    Mike M.

    I haven't been to many state parks in my life but this place is beautiful. Definitely not in NYC anymore driving up to this place. I do wish though that I had done just a little more research before we went since we went on a sunny Saturday and it was PACKED. Our plan was to visit the lighthouse and enjoy the views but we didn't really get to enjoy ourselves with that many people around. The area is generally clean and kept well. My advice would be to visit during the week if possible to avoid the mega crowds. Do it!

    Angelo G.

    Different types of trails and levels depending on what kind of hike you want to go on. Be prepared to climb on some rocks if you're going on the steep trail. There's a parking lot. It's $10 on weekends. The views are beautiful. Dogs are allowed. Can get crowded on weekends.

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    9 months ago

    Great for walks run hiking. Bring your dog! The trails are marked and the place is peaceful.

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Bear Mountain State Park

    Are there clean restrooms?

    There are bathrooms nearby the parking lot. I went in mid-October around the foliage peak time, the cleanliness of the woman bathroom was acceptable, but it had no toilet papers. It had water and soap for hand washing.

    Is there a spot to bbq?

    No there isn't. You'd have to bring your own grill.

    Is the pool currently closed due to covid-19 restrictions?

    It is currently closed sadly. All other services are closed besides the trail. You can call on the website for more info (845) 786-2701.

    Can you rent bikes here?

    Yes bikes can be rented here.

    Are you able to bring your dog to walk the trails?

    Yes, I've seen tons of dogs but if there is a hard strict park rule then I'm not sure. I can only confirm I've hiked personally with others than have had dogs. In generally public areas I'd keep leash handy.

    What time is good to go to bear Mountain state park? I have plan to go there tomorrow and need to know what is a prefect time and which place?

    Go as soon as they open, it gets so crowded towards noon that the trail is just packed. Start down by the carousel and lake and do the loop

    Do they charge for parking on weekdays?

    Yes 10$

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    Review Highlights - Bear Mountain State Park

    As for the Appalachian Trail, the first half was our way up to the observatory (which I will get to later).

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    Lake Nanuet Pool - Bubbling fountain in the kids' end of the pool

    Lake Nanuet Pool

    4.6(9 reviews)
    15.7 mi

    This is a great municipal pool! Spacious and doesn't feel too crowded even on busy days & holiday…read moreweekends when you can hardly find parking (though the parking lot is quite large). There are a few picnic tables and grills on the lawn. No pool lounge chairs or towel service so bring your own chairs, picnic blankets, food/snacks and other accoutrements to enjoy a leisurely summer day. Facilities are clean and well-maintained. Very kids/toddler-friendly. The sizeable shallow end has several sprinklers/splash fountains for children to play in, and there are slides on both the kiddie and adult sides. Also a playground in the back (not affiliated with the pool). There are always many life guards on duty every time I've gone. The pool is accessible only to Clarkstown residents and their guests, so if you're not a resident befriend someone who is. You must obtain a Clarkstown resident ID card first at the registration office at 31 Zukor Road in New City. (The pool won't simply accept a driver's license.) Rates can be either daily or seasonal for individuals or family, and are very reasonable compared to similar community pools.

    Back in the day we used to refer to this beleaguered mud hole as "Nanuet Snake" for the inundation…read moreof various slithering creatures who would join you on your swim in what was then a dark and unknowable crater that had more in common with Loch Ness than 20th century suburbia. It's no exaggeration that these monsters from the deep probably kept a legion of child psychiatrists in full time employment. On a recent visit it was nice to see that the previous snake-ridden den of iniquity has long been been replaced with a legitimate pool and that the mythological beasts of years past have been slayed by chlorine and actual cement walls. You can even see right to the bottom. What a concept. This is what Nanuet Lake should have been like all along... no thanks whatsoever to my parents who thought this was some tough love version of Shangri La, albeit minus the all consuming bliss one often finds in paradise. I kid about my parents (almost) and am happy to bestow five easy stars for a childhood reclaimed. I still hate snakes.

    Photos
    Lake Nanuet Pool - View from the shallow end (kids area)

    View from the shallow end (kids area)

    Lake Nanuet Pool - Kiddie slide

    Kiddie slide

    Lake Nanuet Pool - 4th of July @ the Town Pool

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    4th of July @ the Town Pool

    Highlands Natural Pool

    Highlands Natural Pool

    3.5(26 reviews)
    24.2 mi

    Nice little place and very secluded . I love the fact that even tho you're basically in the middle…read moreof nowhere , they have WiFi , nice bathrooms with air conditioner , large tables with umbrellas and everything is very organized . Good vibes . The only downside for me is the amount of bugs ..arghhh , I understand we're outdoors but Jesus you better have tons of bug spray . I was bit and stung by every single bug on earth for the rest of my life hahaha and there are creatures in the water , needless to say I didn't even go in .

    Highlands Natural Pool has definitely blown up on social media lately, which is what put it on my…read moreradar. While it's a nice enough spot and the setting is scenic, the pictures floating around don't quite tell the full story. Yes, it's spring-fed and chemical-free, which gives it more of a forest pond feel than a traditional pool. That might be a plus for some people, but there are downsides. The water feels heavier than a normal pool, and there's no true shallow end--so treading water for long stretches can get tiring. If you go, I'd honestly recommend bringing a float to hang out more comfortably in the water. The facilities are basic. There are very few pool chairs--mostly just park benches scattered around a small paved deck. Seating is limited, and it was hard to find a place to set up. I'd recommend bringing your own beach chair if you have one. There are plenty of picnic tables farther back from the pool, which I assume is their way of keeping food out of the swim area. We arrived around 3 PM and that timing was probably my biggest gripe. The parking lot was full, so we had to find a random lot down the road and then walk back and hunt for the entrance. Not the easiest arrival. The $20 day pass would be fine if the setup matched the price, but for what it is, it felt a little steep. Also worth noting--cell service is spotty, and while they say there's Wi-Fi, it didn't work well for us. Overall, it's not a bad experience, but it didn't quite live up to the online buzz. If you go in with the right expectations (and a float, a chair, and some patience), you'll probably enjoy it more than we did.

    Photos
    Highlands Natural Pool
    Highlands Natural Pool - The view!

    The view!

    Highlands Natural Pool

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    River Pool at Beacon - A floating pool, in the Hudson River

    River Pool at Beacon

    4.7(7 reviews)
    13.7 mi

    Obvi the riverpool is closed right now but i do hope they bring it back next year. I don't care…read more.. I love the Hudson and I gladly swim in it. PCB me or not, I ain't tryna do a body scrub mud mask from the silty bottom.. I just wanna cool down! So this river pool in Beacon is such an innovative and unique idea. It's small though which is why it's really only acceptable for kids who don't mind being on top of each other. But overall, still a dope concept!

    There aren't many places on the Hudson River where you can trust that your children will easily be…read morewithin reach, in a shallow environment, AND have a lifegaurd nearby. Enter: The River Pool. Designed for probably no more than 18-20 people, at first glance it looks like a big hot tub or trampoline in the River. In some ways it's a bit of both. You'll find it by meandering your way past the parking lot, beyond the sand volleyball courts, and past the basketball court to the aluminum ramp at the north edge of the park overlooking the bridge. Thankfully, the aluminum ramp means you don't need to climb sharp rocks or weed through lillypads to get into the water, instead you just walk right into the little rainbow colored plastic pool ring and land on a nylon netting that prevents you from walking on river mud. On a hot August day, it's a refreshing way to cool off and enjoy the park. You'd think that would make it busy, but in the prime afternoon heat on a Saturday, there were only 6 people in the pool, with a couple parents on the sidelines. Just in case you need a bit of privacy before getting in the pool, there are porta potties and even a curtained changing area. So many conveniences, and all without park fees. A gem for families in Beacon and for visitors who want to expand their stay beyond Dia and Main St. Bonus tip: go on Sunday and make a picnic from vendors at the local farmer's market on the river dock.

    Photos
    River Pool at Beacon - Geese on the outside, people on the inside

    Geese on the outside, people on the inside

    River Pool at Beacon - Changing tent

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    Changing tent

    Bear Mountain State Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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