Avoid at all costs while they are doing construction. It's impossible to actually get to a trail…read morehead. And there is no one in any of the offices to actually offer help. They should have warned us many trails closed or detours when we paid the parking fee. While not much I would have skipped the $10 feet since we actually didn't do anything during our trip as all the trail heads were too far

THE GOOD ----------------…read more+ LOTS of trails of all levels if you're into hiking. + The Hessian Lake Loop is a super easy walking path for those with families, has a great view of the lake and mountain and has many picnic tables surrounding it. + The Trailside Museums & Zoo is located not too far from the Hessian Lake Loop and is totally, 100% free! And you WILL actually see animals, including a black bear, porcupine and bobcat! + There are vending machines randomly located throughout the park. Yes, they are pricey, but, if you're desperate you'll fork up the $$$ for a beverage or snack. + There are public restrooms every once in awhile by Hessian Lake. + There are multiple parking lots at the park that charge $10. + There is a massive field, perfect for a game of frisbee or any sport requiring a lot of space, between the Carousel and the Bear Mountain Inn. THE NOT SO GOOD ---------------------------- - Nothing! This park has a little bit of everything for everyone.

This was our first time here and we came during the right season!! BEAUTIFUL fall foliage…read moreeverywhere! We were here with a group of fairly experienced hikers, so we opted for one of the more difficult trails: the blue trail. However, they have multiple trails, with the red one being one of the easiest routes as it's mostly flat. The red trail rams you to the lake which is absolutely beautiful! We were here on a Sunday for an all-day experience, and we noticed that it was pretty well-trafficked - lots of hikers everywhere! But not enough to be considered crowded. All in all, we had an amazing experience!! Would definitely recommend, especially in the fall season. Heads-up: the visitor center closes at 5pm and therefore the restrooms close at 5pm. We learned this the hard way after returning from our hike!

Varied hikes from easy to difficult and loops or out and back. Whether it's rock scrambling,…read morevistas, lakes or just forest paths, it is pretty accessible to reach from the Palisades Parkway or 17, and provides a nice respite from the bustle of daily life. Parking also differs based on which hikes you choose. Some of the hikes that use a seasonal road are closed after 12/1 for the winter.

We have been here many time to hike with our dogs over the last few years. Great views of the…read moreHudson River and surrounding area from the North Point/ Pitching Point Loop Trail. We always get there early (7 AM) because the lot for North Point/ Pitching Point Loop is super small. Great hike with great views !

Are these views to die for? Highly debatable. We came after a day where it rained the night before…read morein the late fall. There's some really cool views of what appears to be a lake, but it could also be the Hudson River. I am not sure because I had no signal at this park. When I said are the views to die for, I mean some of our hiking crew probably would have died if we weren't paying attention. There's a lot of trails that are especially narrow, on a cliff's edge, and the leaves are super slippery. Should be warning signs like die at your own risk or something. There are certain paths with wooden bridges and guard rails, but they are not frequent. If you are planning to have a picnic here, I'd suggest going to a local park instead. The only benches are at the parking lot, and there are no bathrooms... Unless you count mother nature as a bathroom.

What a stunning beautiful park , so clean with plenty of parking , picnic table and a beautiful…read morewaterfall-river . It's an amazing place to spend the day on a romantic date or with the family .

I definitely recommend going early and having your own transportation to get there because signal…read morecan be spotty. The croton gorge and its bridge was beautiful. Beautiful views , the sound of the water and trees all around. I saw a deer and many people picnicking in the grass. A lot of lantern flies unfortunately. I wish there was a way to get rid of them in a eco friendly manner because the trees don't deserve this haha! They had portopotties , a playground, and some food trucks. On a beautiful day this is a hidden gem not too far from the city.

This was a great short hike. A bit challenging at the beginning, but overall worth the beautiful…read moreviews. We typically come here on Friday nights for sunset hikes. It is fairly quiet at that time. This trail gets packed on weekends.

Wrapping up Earth Day with this trip to NY. Call me a hater but this one was on the tougher side!…read more Up up up through the woods until you get to a clearing and think it's over. Aht aht more uphill to the lookout. The lookout was great - the older I get though the more timid I am about heights. I peeked over the cliffs and promptly scooted my booty back up on the rocks. Down wasn't that great either but the jagoff woman who had to make her SHOCK and SURPRISE known about my group of plus size baddies hiking the same trail as her put a revenge pep in my step. This is a one and done for me. I like a challenge but I prefer scrambling with my uphill and this didn't have it. People say 40 minutes to the top. These people lie.

This museum is located in the Bear Mountain. It's free to check out. There is also a hiking trail…read moreinside. Very nice place to take a walk on a nice day.

this is a quaint museum that's located in bear mountain. The size is appropriate for the location…read moreand it's free. Staff is very nice and the place sells souvenirs, refreshments, has a movie, and bathrooms. A lot of the stuff on display is also cool (bones from animals, weapons, everyday soldier items)

This cave is actually Fulmer mine area. Enjoy the hike up the mountain. Extremely hot, that day so…read morewe stood at the mouth of the cave to cool down! Area known for being a source of hematite. Will hike around the area again as there are several trails to hike. Delaware river is at the base and got a nice view of tubers enjoying the river along the way. We'll have to try that too sometime.

Great hike! I would recommend this hike to everyone. Very nice views. We did the whole loop and was…read moreworth it

This is a 6.8 mile (10.9 kilometers) moderately challenging hike (1,007 feet elevation gain) at…read moreMinnewaska State Park Preserve. Highlights of the trail are Sam's point, Ice cave and lastly Verkeerderkill falls. At Sam's point there are dramatic overlooks and spectacular cliff views, A photographer's paradise. Ice cave was amazing, we had to go through some crevices, my headlamp was very useful at those dark areas and footpath, I noticed remnants of ice inside even at the start of summer (that's when I did the hike), did a little rock scrambling outside the cave, there was an extraordinary ridge overlook at the end of the cave and a fantastic view from a large rock outcrop. The most challenging and strenuous part was the hike from the Ice cave to Verkeerderkill Falls - rocky, narrow, lengthy, uneven, wet, slippery, stream-like path, trekking poles and waterproof hiking boots was a big help to endure the trail. Verkeerderkill falls is a spectacle to see, there are a few ridges, escarpment, and ledge spots (somewhat perilous as all were near the drop-off) to rest and view the falls (I found a good spot facing the falls while hydrating, snacking and replenishing my energy). A solid day's workout, this is everything I could ask for from a great recreational, adventurous, stimulating hike with mother nature.

Very interesting and fun hike. Me and my friends hiked for 5 hours total. We've visited the ice…read morecaves and the waterfalls . Didn't make it to the lake because it started to thunderstorm. The hike to the waterfall is long so pack a lot of water. Also if it didn't rain before , the waterfall will be very light. In general it's a perfect place to connect with nature and cool down inside the ice caves. P.s. you still can see big chunks of ice deep down in the caves.

This place is great for bird watching. It's also great for a walk on a nice cool weather. Great…read moreview! Very quiet and peaceful. The staff were friendly and polite. The only reason why we gave 4 stars instead of 5 is because there is no parking lot or space. You can't park anywhere near there. You have to find a parking elsewhere not anywhere near there or have someone drop you off and pick you up later.

Loved this place! I'm so glad that I was finally able to come here. This hike has been on my list…read morefor some time now. The parking lot can only fit 8 cars. So if you get here and the lot is full, you can't stay. There is no parking on the half mile road to get here, so you'd have to park in another area if you wanted to hike here. The trails are clearly marked. The walkways on the water are well built and cleared. I loved it here. I would definitely come back here again!