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    Trailside Museums & Zoo

    4.5 (34 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 4:30 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Trailside Museums & Zoo Photos

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    One of the scenic views
    Andrew L.

    Cute small zoo of rescued animals with scenic viewpoints and interesting facts given along the trail. Well worth the $1 donation per person entrance fee if you have some extra time to spend while at Bear Mountain.

    I love this view! Picture does no justice.
    Jessica R.

    This is a really nice way to spend an afternoon. Came in after the zoo I intended to go to was closed. They have a good size parking lot which is shared with the Bear Mountain Inn and visitors to the lake. Parking lot is $10 and they accept debt/credit. So we walked over to the zoo/trail area and it's a bit of a walk. Took the lake view trail over to the zoo which was so beautiful! The picture does no justice. They have a nice picnic barbeque area which is fantastic. Oh, and they have a nice looking public pool which is $2 pp. The zoo is $1 suggested donation pp. After I read what they do for these cute animals I would say they should charge a little something but that's my opinion. I know the animals here are mostly those that were injured and can no longer return to the wild but I was so surprised to read some of the animals were shot. Why would anyone be so cruel? Though the animals are beautiful and I respect everything their doing for them, I feel the place needs to have more color and excitement. Maybe some activities for children and families or anyone interested in doing something interactive. I overheard a man say to his family they should have more workers greeting people and walking around engaging and educating others about the animals and I have to agree with him. The place is a bit dreary but still clean and workers are seen cleaning after tanks and feeding animals. I left there feeling a little empty and sad for the animals after reading about their story and seeing how bored they look especially the coyote who was pacing back and forth.

    Bloss C.

    We're going to the zoo! We're going to the zoo! We're going to the zoo! I love the concept of this zoo; all animals are indigenous to NYS and are at the zoo because they have been injured and nursed back to health (but can't return to the wild) or are old and "retired". It really takes the guilt out of the usual zoo experience for me. The exhibits are very accessible and it's easy to get a good look at the animals. My favorites were the coyotes (so pretty and graceful), the red foxes, the bald eagle, two baby dear, and the two owls. I was devastated to miss the Otter and the Beaver, whom according to the sign were hibernating for winter. The two black bears (which looked suspiciously like brown bears) were pretty cool to see also, but they were snoozing in the back area of their habitat and it was kind of hard to get a good look at them. Oddly enough I also enjoyed the reptile house; there were some cool aquatic species and frogs, along with several dirty filthy snakes. Some of the snakes were really big. I'm not a fan of snakes, but I thought it was a good opportunity to get a look at indigenous snakes I may (but God I hope not) encounter someday while hiking in upstate NY. Loved the "Do Not Tap on the Glass" sign on the in front of one of the snakes, which was followed by another sign "What Would You Do If The Glass Broke?"..... it's nice to see someone at the zoo has a sense of humor! I visited the zoo in the winter and am definitely planning to come back in the summer to see the animals that were hibernating, as well as some of the flora and fauna that was covered in snow this visit. Also, the coyotes are getting a much needed larger habitat, so I'm looking forward to seeing them a bit happier and not pacing as much. *** Admission is suggested dontation, but parking is $8.00. The signs for the zoo are a bit lacking; park in the main parking lot by the Inn (chech out the map) and then walk by the Lake until you see the sign for the underpass which will take you to the Pool and the Zoo.*** **** The zoo is located on part of the Appalachian Trail. Check out Bear Mt trail maps for details, but you can stop by the zoo in the middle of a hike! ****

    Lazy Foxes
    Jennifer L.

    This was our first time here. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting but it is a nice little zoo. Our 18 month old had a lot of fun. I really liked the foxes and coyotes but their cages were REALLY stinky. I couldn't Stan there for too long to admire then bc the smell was overwhelming. We also loved the birds ... Especially the bald eagle. After we toured the zoo (approximately for 2 hours) we left and followed the trail down to the boat dock... This rout of shape, beware! It's all down hill... Nice going down... (Totally sucks coming back up if you're out of shape like me!) But I really enjoyed the hike. Beautiful views of the Hudson, bridge, and Anthony's nose. We will def be back in the fall. I bet the view is spectacular then ...

    Bears (the park features rescue animals)
    Jennifer N.

    The Bear Mountain Trailside Museum and Zoo holds fond memories for me from when I was a kid. It's been many years since I've been here and today I had the chance to relive some happy childhood memories. Located within Bear Mountain State Park, it's an easy (15-20 minute) walk from the Inn's parking lot. Admission is free but suggested donation is a $1 a person. Along the way to the Trailside zoo, you will pass Hessian Lake for some scenic views and a large picnic area. The "zoo" portion is actually animals rescued from the wild that have been sick or injured and wouldn't have survived outside the facility. Today we got to see some pretty active occupants of the zoo including a bobcat, two foxes, two coyotes, bears, owls, hawks, bald eagle, and a beaver. There are a few small indoor exhibits as well-the geology House, reptile house and a small history museum. The paths and scenery throughout are a gem themselves with beautiful wooded paths and placards that talk about the natural history of the area as well as pointing out the plants & trees along the trails. An extra bonus is that you can actually access the pedestrian footpath to the Bear Mt. bridge from this area, back near the history museum. Really well maintained and a great way to spend an hour or two while visiting the park!

    Kim F.

    The zoo is a hidden gem, especially in the fall. Free weekday parking & the zoo is by donation only. A little tricky to find from the parking lot, but it was the perfect 2-hour activity for kids. Interesting animals, lots of shade, clean bathrooms, and stunning views.

    My husband's aunt ouside bear mountain in.
    Petsito L.

    Took our family here the views are impressive especially in foliage season. Great place for pictures. At the zoo. You learn about the local animals. Had a great time qith our family. We'll come back again.

    Feeding time
    Catrine M.

    I dont live to far from here and I've been here many times. The kids enjoy the Zoo and trails. It is a bit of walking so have a stroller for little ones. The main attraction is the "Bear" lol. If you get here at a good time all of the animals can be seen. There is also a huge pool near the zoo and boat rentals on the lake. There is an outdoor snack stand with pizza, hot dogs, drinks , & other items in the summer months. In the Bear Mtn. Inn they have a restaurant (never ate here) , not only a cute gift shop, but a little pizza, coffee & ice-cream shop for a quick snack. It is worth the trip. Can get super crowded on weekend. Parking is $10. Zoo is free but, they ask for a $1 donation per person. I love coming in the Fall

    Dewan A.

    Wow, what an amazing place. 1) The entree is by donation. Recommended donation of 1 dollar. Not kidding! 2) The museum has several buildings which are small and nice. 3) The zoo is fantastic. They have bears, fox, owls, etc. Enough to keep anyone occupied. Wonderful.

    Tollbooth to park - Today it was closed, so free parking
    Marc H.

    Ive been coming here for years, and that should tell you something right off the bat. This zoo/museum is small - One can get through it in 2 hours and thats REALLY taking your time. They have all animals indigenous to this area such as coyotes, bears, birds of prey, etc... Most of the animals are rescues. There are hills here and everything is on a paved foot path. There are several indoor areas that are both informational and fun to see the animals. The bathrooms are surprisingly clean. This place is great for a 1st date or to bring your little ones. There is lots of shade and some fantastic views of the river can be had. When you arrive you may or may not have to pay to park - Today I didnt. Then be prepared for a roughly 15 minute walk to the animals. The 15 minutes goes by quickly though, as you have a beautiful lake to look at and the scenery in general is just pleasing to the eye. This zoo is adjacent to Bear Mtn State Park, which I will Yelp at a later date, so why not bring a grill and make a day of it? And before I forget, the admission to the zoo is a donation. Please put something in the box, as like I said - A lot of the anilmals here are rescues...

    Anthony G.

    I'm not normally a big fan of zoos but here you have a mix of both wildlife preserve and museum so it's a lot of fun. On exhibit are rescued wildlife from the beautiful Bear Mountain region including many birds (even a bald eagle!), fox, coyotes and yes, black bears. There are several museums scattered around as well. Best part about this place is that it's out in the beautiful nature of Bear Mountain and the scenery is terrific. Be sure to check out the scenic lookout over the Hudson River. Admission, a mere $1 donation. Absolutely recommended if in the area and a great place to come visit.

    Easy signs to get there...
    Jason P.

    This is truly a treat in the big park. There is no fee for the trail itself, but they do accept donations as there is a small collecting box at the entrances. You should have already (unless you biked or ?walked?) a $10 per vehicle parking fee for the main park itself. From the main parking area (next to the main field, merry-go-round and Inn) just follow the signs for the Trailside Museums and you will walk alongside the Hessian Lake, pass the pool, and take an underpass to the Trailside entrance. The Trailside itself offers a lot of information. Though there are few live larger animals in the caged exhibits including foxes and a variety of birds, the "Museums" that you pass throughout the trail are great and shouldn't be neglected. Some include the "Geology Museum", which give details about dinosaurs, the "Historic Museum" which describe the area's role throughout the wars, and the Reptile and Amphibian House which contains many smaller animals including snakes, frogs and fish. The larger live animal exhibits include bears and coyote enclosures. There were also many empty cages and signs telling of the sick or deceased animals that would normally be there. There are interesting facts scattered throughout the trail. There are also some nice scenic areas, including one with a lovely view of the Bear Mountain Bridge and the Hudson River and another which gives access to the the walkway of the Bear Mountain Bridge itself. These are toward the edge of the Trail. From that point you can walk further and get to the Fort Montgomery Historic Site which has a small museum with more information about the history as well as bathrooms and some items (souvenirs) for purchase. I think the Trailside Museums and Zoo are a great bonus to the park. We easily spent 3 hours walking in the Trailside Museums and Zoo, talking a short look at the scenic overlooks and bridge and walking to the Fort Montgomery Historic site. Lots to learn and see here. I recommend this not only to those who are already visiting the park, but to those to come for only the Trailside Museums. Its more than worth the park parking fee of $10 per vehicle. I would imagine this is a no brainer for any State Park, but wear comfortable shoes and maybe bring some snacks and definitely something to drink.

    Trail in the zoo

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    7 years ago

    Excellent with children. Very educational and a nice walk from the parking lot to the zoo. Watch the poison ivy it is all over the place.

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    Ask the Community - Trailside Museums & Zoo

    Is it covered for rain days?

    Unfortunately not. The zoo is outdoors and has no coverings to protect you from the elements.

    Is the 15-20 minute walk from the parking lot to the zoo wheelchair accessible?

    sure is, the path that goes by Hessian lake is flat and the stairs that go down also have a wheelchair ramp, as does the other side by the pool/zoo entrance

    How accessible is the zoo for a wheelchair?

    I saw on both occasions there a scooter and wheelchair they have ramps

    View All 4 Questions

    Review Highlights - Trailside Museums & Zoo

    My favorites were the coyotes (so pretty and graceful), the red foxes, the bald eagle, two baby dear, and the two owls.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Bear Mountain State Park

    Bear Mountain State Park

    4.1(271 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    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

    I've known about Bear Mountain State Park, not too far north of New York City as the crow flies,…read morefor a while. On a temperate holiday weekend, I drove up here with a friend who had been here many years ago, but didn't remember much about it. It's really not that far. With the exception of Long Island stretching over 100 miles, everything in the Tri-state New York area seems more compact than out West ... when traffic is flowing well. The state park is on the west side of the Hudson River and we reached it by continuing up the Palisades Parkway from New Jersey. I recommend going midweek if it's summertime. During other times of the year, every day should be okay if it's not a holiday. We were driving along on this landscaped highway, complete with stone arch bridges as if the Merritt Parkway, and it was going fairly smoothly until we got to the base of the mountain. On this holiday weekend, state park employees were preventing or metering how many vehicles could continue on the access road upward. We drove along aimlessly on nearby roads for a short while and then tried again. Luck prevailed in that the roadblocks had just been removed and we were able to drive up Bear Mountain. Other reviewers mention the pool, the lodge, and other recreational facilities in addition to lakes and trails, but we came here for the summit and its view. The road up is a windy one, so proceed cautiously. If anything, the natural environment here reminds you that there's a very different world outside of and not very far from New York City. There will different types of of vegetation and wildlife here and, with its name Bear Mountain, there will indeed be bears, but not of the type that are likely to "meet and greet." Up at the top of Bear Mountain is a rusticated stone tower - the Perkins Memorial Tower - as well as limited parking, trails, and benches. On this holiday weekend, the tower was closed to the public. The views available from the trails were still captivating and made it worth the trip. But I'm sure going up to the top of the tower would just give you a better view over the surrounding vegetation. In addition to the views, the topography, and the natural environment, the diversity of the people here is amazing, and I mean that in a good way. It went without saying that, in addition to people visiting from outside the area, many of those present who do reside in the Tri-state New York City area may not be native to the U.S. Thus, it's always interesting to try to figure out where they're from ... at least it is for me. I'm saving the best for last. After parking the car near the tower, descending on the trails on the slope of Bear Mountain gave a faint view of Manhattan's skyline over the hills and valleys in front of us. I was mesmerized by this. Autumn is most likely my favorite season and this state park could be a fine place to take in autumnal color midweek when there's "coffee weather" - cooler, comfortably overcast, and with fewer people. Picking up the car, having lunch, and driving up here chewed up the lion's share of the day. As such, we later crossed the Hudson on the Bear Mountain Bridge and ended up in Westchester County, thus shortchanging the time dedicated to seeing some of its highlights. I've been to Westchester County before, but for more "official" purposes, and realize more and more that it's worth going back to ... and exploring it slowly as well. Crossing the Hudson River into Westchester County and driving through it heading south made for an interesting way to reenter New York City. You can see that you're presented with what is an interesting loop trip: crossing the Hudson and up through New Jersey toward the state park and back down south, remaining in New York State ... or up through New York State, crossing the Hudson toward the state park, and then back down south through New Jersey. Either way, you can't go wrong with a well planned trip to scenic and verdant Bear Mountain State Park.

    Photos
    Bear Mountain State Park
    Bear Mountain State Park - Looking at the beautiful view

    Looking at the beautiful view

    Bear Mountain State Park

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    Trailside Museums & Zoo - zoos - Updated May 2026

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