West Mountain Loop from Anthony Wayne Recreation Area

From the kiosk at the southern end of the parking area, proceed south on the Horn Hill Loop Mountain Bike Trail, with blue-on-white diamond blazes. The trail passes through a pine forest and crosses several bridges. In about half a mile, you’ll cross the white-blazed Appalachian Trail, and soon afterwards, you’ll reach a junction with the red-on-white-blazed Ramapo-Dunderberg (R-D) Trail. Turn left onto the R-D Trail, which begins to climb West Mountain.

After ascending stone steps, the R-D Trail crosses the wide Beechy Bottom East Road, also marked with the blue-on-white blazes of the Horn Hill Bike Path. It continues to climb steadily through dense mountain laurel thickets until it bears left and crosses a gully. The trail now turns left, passes an old mine opening and continues around the side of the mountain. Soon, it turns sharply left, climbs steeply, then follows a level path alongside a cliff, with views to the left.

After passing a broad west-facing viewpoint, the trail bears right and continues to climb, soon reaching a panoramic viewpoint at a junction with the yellow-blazed Suffern-Bear Mountain (S-BM) Trail. You can see the Hudson River on the left and the hills of Harriman State Park ahead, with the New York City skyline visible in the distance on a clear day. You’ll want to take a break here to rest from the climb and enjoy the views.

When you’re ready to continue, proceed ahead on the joint R-D/S-BM Trail. In 300 feet, after climbing a ledge, the two trails diverge. Turn left and follow the yellow blazes of the S-BM Trail, which descends slightly and proceeds through a fire-scarred area. Although the fire took place a number of years ago, the forest is only now starting to regenerate, with some young pine trees growing in otherwise barren surroundings.

After descending to a valley and then climbing again, the S-BM Trail reaches a T-intersection where the blue-blazed Timp-Torne Trail joins from the left. Turn right, following the blue/yellow-blazed trail, which runs along ledges, with some views to the south.

In another 0.3 mile, after passing a viewpoint from a rock ledge to the right, you’ll come to a junction. Here, the yellow-blazed S-BM Trail continues ahead, but you should bear right, following the blue-blazed Timp-Torne Trail and sign pointing to a shelter. In 500 feet, you’ll arrive at the West Mountain Shelter, built in 1928, which offers spectacular views of the Hudson River to the southeast. This is a good place to stop for a break.

After you’ve rested for a while, retrace your steps back to the junction of the blue and yellow trails. Turn right at the junction, following the yellow-blazed S-BM Trail, which ascends slightly to reach an open area, with views of the Perkins Memorial Tower on Bear Mountain to the north. The trail now descends, first steeply, then more gradually through mountain laurel thickets. After reaching a valley at the base of the descent, it once again climbs steeply. In a level area at the top of the steep climb, there is a limited viewpoint to the southeast from a rock ledge to the right of the trail.

After climbing once more to reach the highest point on the ridge, the S-BM Trail begins a steady descent of about 750 vertical feet. It soon reaches a very steep section, where extreme care should be taken if the trail is wet, icy or snow-covered. The grade then moderates somewhat. About halfway down, the trail crosses a stream and joins an old woods road, with more gentle grades. The road is eroded in places, and some stretches of the trail have been routed away from the road.

At the base of the descent, follow the yellow-blazed S-BM Trail as it turns left onto a level road, the route of the Doodletown Bridle Path. When the yellow blazes go off to the right, continue ahead on the wide bridle path, which soon begins a gradual climb.

 In another two-thirds of a mile, after descending a little, you’ll notice an unmarked woods road that begins on the left. Turn left and follow this road, which was formerly blazed as the route of the Fawn Trail. In about 0.2 mile, the white-blazed Appalachian Trail (A.T.) joins from the right. Continue ahead on the road, now following the white blazes of the A.T. In another quarter mile, the A.T. turns left, leaving the road, but you should continue ahead on the road, now following the Fawn Trail, blazed with red-“F”-on-white blazes.

In another two-thirds of a mile, after descending a little, you’ll notice an unmarked woods road that begins on the left. Turn left and follow this road, which was formerly blazed as the route of the Fawn Trail. In about 0.2 mile, the white-blazed Appalachian Trail (A.T.) joins from the right. Continue ahead on the road, now following the white blazes of the A.T. In another quarter mile, the A.T. turns left, leaving the road, but you should continue ahead on the road, now following the Fawn Trail, blazed with red-“F”-on-white blazes.

After a short climb, the Fawn Trail crosses the blue-blazed Timp-Torne Trail and descends to end at a junction with the white-blazed Anthony Wayne Trail at Beechy Bottom East Road. Turn left and follow Beechy Bottom East Road as it heads south. Almost immediately, you’ll reach an intersection where the Horn Hill Loop Mountain Bike Trail joins from the right. Bear left and continue ahead on the bike trail, following the blue-on-white blazes along the nearly level Beechy Bottom East Road (do not follow the white blazes of the Anthony Wayne Trail, which turns right and descends to the northern parking area at the Anthony Wayne Recreation Area).

In about a third of a mile, you’ll come to a Y-intersection, where you should bear right. In 100 feet, you’ll reach a second Y-intersection. Here, the bike trail bears left, but you should take the right fork, which descends towards the Anthony Wayne Recreation Area. Continue ahead at a four-way intersection, but when you reach a T-intersection, turn left onto a grassy road which leads to a picnic area. Continue through the picnic area, then bear right and cross a stone-faced bridge over a stream, which leads to the northern end of the Far South Parking Area. Turn left and walk to the southern end of the parking area, where the hike began.