Bear Mountain State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Bear Mountain State Park lies on the western side of the Hudson River in New York. The oldest section of the Appalachian Trail passes through the park. The mountain itself is 1,289 feet tall, and there is a paved road to the summit. From the top, you can see Manhattan, which is 50 miles away. The park has hiking trails, picnic groves, a small zoo, and even a famous merry-go-round. Nearby Cities: •New York City, New York •New Haven, Connecticut •Kingston, New York •Poughkeepsie, New York
Spring 44 F to 73 F
Summer 67 F to 82 F
Fall 44 F to 65 F
Winter 14 F to 32 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Bear Mountain State Park
There are no RV parks or campgrounds within Bear Mountain State Park.
Peaceful Valley Campsite
One excellent campground you can stay at near Bear Mountain State Park is Peaceful Valley Campsite. The campground is only a short 15-minute drive from the state park. There are many activities for all age levels like hiking, fishing, canoeing, and more. All RV campsites are equipped with picnic tables and fire rings. In addition, they're located near bathrooms and showers.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Olympic-size swimming pool, playground, propane filling station
Little Spring Brook RV Park
Little Spring Brook RV Park is situated on 93 acres right in the central part of the Western Catskills. It's nestled between Downsville and Roscoe, and it's an excellent spot for fishing and camping. There are private, secluded sites that accommodate RVs up to 40 feet long. You can go hiking on the mountain trails, explore the surrounding woods or relax by the fire while eating s'mores.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Cable TV, in-ground pool, playground
Butternut Grove Campsite
Butternut Grove Campsite offers 70 sites in four different sections that can accommodate up to 35-foot-long RVs. The campground is nestled in the Catskills on the southern border and is less than 30 minutes from the state park. Heated bathhouses with hot showers and restrooms are provided.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Laundry facility, dump station, propane gas fill-up
What to Do at
Bear Mountain State Park
There's a large playing field at the park, and shady picnic areas are also abundant. If you visit from October through March, then you can enjoy the skating rink, too. The best views in the park are from the Perkins Memorial Tower on top of Bear Mountain itself. Don't forget to ride the world-famous carousel.
Inside Bear Mountain State Park
The undeveloped mountain area features a beach and a selection of boat rentals such as rowboats, canoes and kayaks. The area contains various topography levels ranging from steep mountainsides to gentle valleys that are great for exploring. Horseback riders can take the multi-use trail system through natural terrain. The 24 miles of trails are also cleared for biking and hiking adventures. The area is generally used for fishing and swimming.
Fishing
Hessian Lake is nearby in the town of Stony Point. The lake covers 40 acres and has a depth of 40 feet. You can chase brown trout, two species of bass, sunfish, bluegill, pumpkinseed, and bullhead. You aren't allowed to use motors on your boat, and you need a boat permit from the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. In the winter, you can ice fish if the conditions are right. In every case, you need a valid New York State fishing license.
Geocaching
There's a geocache to be found in the woods near Cranberry Lake. Bring your GPS and see if you can find even more.
Stargazing
The area is free from most light pollution, so on clear nights, the stargazing is great. When it's cloudy, then you might only see the moon or a few of the brightest stars and planets.
Flora and Fauna
Along the trails in the park, not only will you find wildflowers in the spring and summer but also wildlife traversing the area. This includes white-tailed deer, squirrels, beavers, and as the name of the park indicates, even bears.
Hiking
There are quite a few hiking trails that wind their way through the 5,205 acres of Bear Mountain State Park. The Hessian Lake Loop is a flat, easy loop trail that covers 1.4 miles. The Perkins Memorial Observatory Loop is 3.7 miles long and is moderately challenging. This trail connects to the Appalachian Trail, so you can hike for miles and miles if you'd like. For a tougher route, try the Bald Mountain Loop. It's 8.6 miles long, and it climbs more than 1,600 feet.
Boating
You can rent rowboats and pedal boats from one of the three lodges within the park. Note that children 16 years of age and younger must have an adult present in the boat with them at all times.
Swimming
The Bear Mountain Pool is open seasonally starting in the late spring and closing at the end of summer sometime around Labor Day. Swimming hours are from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Check with the staff anytime after Labor Day because the pool might close for the season.
Biking
The Hessian Lake Loop Trail is popular with mountain bikers as well as hikers. The three Ramapo Dunderberg Trails are difficult with strenuous climbs and are popular with experienced mountain bikers. The Doodletown Road Trail is a more moderate trail that climbs a bit more than 150 feet along its length.
How to Get to
Bear Mountain State Park
The easiest way to get to Bear Mountain State Park from the east side of the Hudson River is to take the Bear Mountain Bridge in Cortland, New York, and then proceed south on Route 9W. Follow the signs from there. If you're coming from the west side of the Hudson, then travel north on Route 9W from Haverstraw or Stony Point. Or, if you're coming from the north, then travel south on Route 9W from the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Entering Bear Mountain State Park
Bear Mountain State Park Parking Per Vehicle Per Day : $10.0
Bear Mountain State Park Pool Entry Per Person : $5.0
Frequently Asked Questions About Bear Mountain State Park
The best time to visit depends on the activities you want to do. Most of the time, however, late spring throughout the summer are the best times to visit, followed closely by autumn. The colors of the trees in autumn are spectacular, for example, but many of the popular activities, such as swimming and boating, aren't available during the autumn and the winter. As with any trip, planning ahead is a good idea.
Aside from the animals in the zoo, there are bears, coyotes, and white-tailed deer. Raptors like the bald eagle and osprey are common. Bird-watchers should keep an eye out to spot great blue herons, warblers, kingfishers, and several migratory species. In the streams, there are otters and beavers. Above your head, you might even hear a woodpecker or two battering away on a tree trunk to gather a snack.
No, there aren't any RV-friendly campsites.
Camping is not available at Bear Mountain State Park.
Yes, you may bring your pets along. They must be leashed at all times, and the leash cannot be longer than 6 feet in length. Note that pets aren't allowed in the pool area, picnic areas, or inside buildings. They also aren't allowed in the zoo or the Trailside Museum areas.