Bear Mountain State Park, NY - Dunderberg and Jones Point

ABOUT THE PARK:

Bear Mountain State Park - New York State Parks

Dunderberg Spiral Railway - Columbia University

Roaming Through Rockland: Jones Point Path - Nyack News & Views

DIRECTIONS:

GPS Coordinates 41.27400, -73.97307

Pull out parking off of Route 9W/202

TRAIL MAP:

Northern Harriman Beat Mountain Trails Map 119 - New York New Jersey Trail Conference

In orange the trails taken for this hike.

HIKE DISTANCE:  9.8 miles

THE HIKE: 

Brodie was dropped off for a day of being spoiled by the grandchildren (and being annoyed by their newly adopted young dog) so I could hike alone and it was a good thing because there was lots of ice on this day and having Brodie along would have made this hike much more difficult and dangerous.

Turning right out of the parking lot, the 1777 trailhead is a few steps ahead on the opposite side of Route 9W/202.

This bridge was VERY slippery and slanted so ...

... rock hopping over was a better way on this day.

Trust me on this - those are two bald eagles overhead.  They would taunt me for the rest of the hike always circling when trees were in the way.  When the sky was clear they were, of course, nowhere to be seen.  And I would see these two at least a dozen times.

At the top of the ascent there are homes visible to the left; to the right is the unmarked Jones Trail which is where I turned.

The trail is clear for a while with views of the Hudson River along the way.

Then you hit a snag.  But fear not...

... the mass of downed trees can be bypassed to the left.  There is even a sawed downed tree up ahead on what is not the trail, with the trail down to the right.

Back on the Jones Trail.

Crossing over the blue Timp-Torne Trail.

After a little rock hop ...

...the trail becomes more eroded and rugged but still visible enough to follow.

Things smooth out at the top.

At the cairn at the T-intersection it's left on the old railway bed.

At the next T-intersection ...

... right on the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail the rest of the way.

I did not get any pictures of the climb up to this point because it was steep, very icy and slow going so I had to concentrate on that.  Foremost in my mind is always the fact that I do not want a repeat of the 15 stitches in my head ordeal!

Flat at the top - that's not a rocky trail surface, just lifted soil and rocks from freezing.

An unmarked side trail to the left leads to nice views of Bear Mountain - Bear Mountain Bridge - Anthony's Nose with Iona Island in the foreground.

A white trail leads to more views.

Of course, no eagles to be seen but don't you know I could clearly hear them.  This was becoming personal.

This downhill part was not icy at all but these rocks aren't all that pleasant to walk on.

My consolation prize?

The blue Timp-Torne Trail joins in from the right.

Railroad Tunnel

Coming out on Route 9W/202 a short road walk to the left.

On the left is a parking lot; crossing over at the crosswalk leads to the Jones Point Path.

After crossing at the crosswalk, keeping right into a residential area.

I can't believe people would mistake this for the way to Bear Mountain but apparently enough do to warrant the sign.

Straight through the residential area to the Jones Point Path.

Route 9W/206 ascends to the left and the railroad tracks descend and veer away to the right so you really don't notice either along the way.

Lots of ice here, too, but I was able to walk on the side off the path which I like better than pavement anyway.

Another eagle.  Behind tree branches, of course.

The Jones Point Path ends at Route 9W/202 in two miles from the beginning.

Heading back.

There they are - those two bald eagle flying together.  I wasn't fast enough to zoom in.

And a juvenile bald eagle that I was able to catch.  Finally!

There were lots of common mergansers in the Hudson River.

As I came to the end of the path a woman with two small dogs was entering then I saw this cat.  I could hear the woman and I think she was calling the cat.  I suppose they all walk the trail together.  Again, was really happy Brodie was not with me because he is very reactive to cats.

Coming out of the residential area it's straight ahead on Route 9W/202 for about a 3/4 mile road walk.

There is plenty of room off the side to walk but it's certainly not the most pleasant part of the hike.

Then a train comes along.  A looooooong, loooooooud, stinky train and all of sudden you don't notice the traffic.  But it's the only way to connect this hike.

At the top of the hill at the stone wall with the 1777 trailhead on the right ...

... the parking area is just the other side of that stone wall.