Three Mountains: West, The Timp & Bald

Total Distance: 8.5 miles
Difficulty: medium+ (2,000'+ total elevation gain)
Estimated hiking time: 5+ hours

Walk westward on the road immediately adjacent to the south side of the Bear Mountain Inn towards the woods/mountains behind it. At the edge of the woods (at an intersection) pick up the Suffern-Bear Mountain trail (yellow blazes), the Appalachian Trail (white blazes) will also coincide here with the SBM trail. Take the SBM south until you reach the Timp-Torne trail (blue blazes). The SBM and TT trails do not coincide/merge where we are heading! Make a quick left onto the TT trail and take it over West Mountain until the top of The Timp.

From The Timp continue on the TT trail until you reach the Ramapo-Dunderberg trail (red blazes). Make a left onto the RD trail. Take it over Bald Mountain. After taking in the view from Bald Mountain continue on the RD trail for a short while (10 ? minutes) and then make a left onto the Cornell Mine trail (blue blazes) and take it until Route 9W. At Route 9W, make a left, walk about 100 feet north until you reach a very small set of stone steps on your left, a sign for Doodletown and a blue blaze for the Cornell Mine trail. Go up the stone steps and follow the paved path until you see a (poorly!) marked blue blaze on your right for the Cornell Mine trail. Continue on the Cornell Mine trail here. It will merge into the 1777E trail (white discs with red print). Take these trails north to the Bear Mountain Inn area.

At the traffic circle make a right onto Route 9W South and follow signs to Bear Mountain. Veer right at the fork in the road just south of the traffic circle. Take Route 9W South until the entrance to Bear Mountain Park/Inn (Bear Mountain Inn: N 41.31314, W 073.98892) which should be less than a mile from the traffic circle.

Park in the main parking field (there may be a $7.00 fee) to the left after the parking toll booth.

Driving distance is about 46 miles and the total driving time is estimated at under one hour without traffic.

From the Port Authority in New York City there is a bus that leaves people off in front of the Bear Mountain Inn.


Bear Mountain Inn (November 2012)		The red arrow points towards the start of the Suffern-Bear Mountain trail. (August 2009)


The start of the Suffern-Bear Mountain trail (yellow blazes for the SBM and white for the Appalachian Trail). (August 2009)		Sign near the start of the Suffern-Bear Mountain trail. (August 2009)


The West Mountain Shelter (November 2008).		The West Mountain Shelter with the Hudson River in the background (November 2008).


The Timp and the Hudson River as seen from the West Mountain Shelter area (November 2008).		Markers for 1777E & Timp-Torne trails found near the end of hike. (June 2004)


270 degree panoramic view from "The Timp". New York City's skyline can be seen in the distance on a clear day. (July 2009)


The small stone steps (at bottom) along Route 9W where the Cornell Mine trail continues. (August 2009)		Close-up of the signs from the image at left. Note the top sign says "Doodletown" on top and the brown plastic stake at right has a blue blaze for the Cornell Mine trail. (August 2009)