From the parking area, walk back along the entrance road until you reach a gravel road on the right blocked off with a gate. Turn right and follow this road, marked with the white blazes of the Anthony Wayne Trail. Bear right at the next fork and continue uphill, proceeding ahead across a four-way intersection.
When you reach a T-intersection, turn left. Then, in 25 feet, you'll notice three red-"F"-on-white blazes on a tree to the right, which mark the start of the Fawn Trail. Turn right onto the Fawn Trail, which climbs, using switchbacks and rock steps for part of the way, to reach a junction with the blue-blazed Timp-Torne Trail.
Turn right onto the Timp-Torne Trail and climb steeply over rocks to reach a viewpoint to the left over Bear Mountain (with the Perkins Memorial Tower visible at the summit). After a short level stretch, the trail continues its steady climb, steeply in places.
In about a third of a mile, you'll emerge onto a panoramic viewpoint from an open rock ledge, with Bear Mountain and the Hudson River visible to the left, the north parking area at the Anthony Wayne Recreation Area (where the hike began) below to the right, and Black Mountain in the background.
After another relatively level stretch, the Timp-Torne Trail climbs to reach a junction with the white-blazed Appalachian Trail (A.T.). Continue ahead, now following both blue and white blazes. Soon, you'll reach another viewpoint to the left over Bear Mountain and the Hudson River. The trail now swings to the west side of the ridge and emerges at a west-facing viewpoint over Black Mountain, with the Palisades Interstate Parkway and the two large parking areas for the Anthony Wayne Recreation Area visible in the valley below.
The joint A.T./Timp-Torne Trail proceeds south along the ridge for about two-thirds of a mile, passing more viewpoints to the west. After reaching another east-facing viewpoint, with a tower of the Bear Mountain Bridge visible between Bear Mountain and Anthony's Nose (on the east side of the river), you'll come to a junction, marked by a sign. Here, the A.T. continues ahead, but you should turn left and follow the blue-blazed Timp-Torne Trail, which heads southeast, crossing a fire-scarred ridge.
Soon, you'll reach a junction with the yellow-blazed Suffern-Bear Mountain (S-BM) Trail. Turn right and follow the S-BM Trail, which descends to a valley, where it crosses a stream. After climbing out of the valley, it crosses another fire-scarred area, with some young pine trees. It then descends from a rock ledge, joining the red-dot-on-white-blazed Ramapo-Dunderberg (R-D) Trail on the way down.
The joint trail soon comes out on a slanted rock ledge (near a steep climb known as "Cats Elbow") with a panoramic south-facing view (the Hudson River is visible to the east). Here, the two trails split. You should turn right (west) and follow the R-D Trail, which descends steeply on a long switchback, then more gradually through dense mountain laurel thickets.
At the base of the descent, the R-D Trail crosses the wide Beechy Bottom Road, blazed with blue-on-white Bike Trail markers. Turn right onto this pleasant woods road (improved by workers of the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934), which you will follow gently downhill for the next 1.4 miles.
In about a quarter of a mile, the white-blazed A.T. crosses. When you reach a T-intersection in 1.0 mile, turn right, then immediately bear left, continuing to follow the Bike Trail markers. Then, at the next Y-intersection, bear left and follow the white-blazed Anthony Wayne Trail downhill, retracing your steps to the north parking area at the Anthony Wayne Recreation Area, where the hike began.
Publication: Submitted by Daniel Chazin on 07/30/2009 updated/verified on 08/21/2016
This loop hike climbs to the ridge of West Mountain, passing several expansive viewpoints over the Hudson River and the surrounding hills.
From the parking area, walk back along the entrance road until you reach a gravel road on the right blocked off with a gate. Turn right and follow this road, marked with the white blazes of the Anthony Wayne Trail. Bear right at the next fork and continue uphill, proceeding ahead across a four-way intersection.
When you reach a T-intersection, turn left. Then, in 25 feet, you'll notice...
Whether you are going for a day hike or backpacking overnight, it is good practice to carry what we call The Hiking Essentials. These essentials will help you enjoy your outing more and will provide basic safety gear if needed. There may also be more essentials, depending on the season and your needs.
Hiking Shoes or Boots
Water - Two quarts per person is recommended in every season. Keep in mind that fluid loss is heightened in winter as well as summer. Don't put yourself in the position of having to end your hike early because you have run out of water.
Map - Know where you are and where you are going. Many of our hiking areas feature interconnecting network of trails. Use a waterproof/tear-resistant Tyvek Trail Conference map if available or enclose your map in a Ziplock plastic bag. If you have a mobile device, download Avenza’s free PDF Maps app and grab some GPS-enhanced Trail Conference maps (a backup Tyvek or paper version of the map is good to have just in case your batteries die or you don't have service). Check out some map-reading basics here.
Food - Snacks/lunch will keep you going as you burn energy walking or climbing. Nuts, seeds, and chocolate are favorites on the trail.
Sunscreen and insect repellent
Rain Gear and Extra Clothing - Rain happens. So does cold. Be prepared for changing weather. Avoid cotton--it traps water against your skin and is slow to dry. If you are wearing wet cotton and must return to your starting point, you risk getting chills that may lead to a dangerous hypothermia. Choose synthetic shirts, sweaters and/or vests and dress in layers for easy on and off.
Compass - A simple compass is all you need to orient you and your map to magnetic north.
Light - A flashlight or small, lightweight headlamp will be welcome gear if you find yourself still on the trail when darkness falls. Check the batteries before you start out and have extras in your pack.
First Aid Kit - Keep it simple, compact, and weatherproof. Know how to use the basic components.
Firestarter and Matches - In an emergency, you may need to keep yourself or someone else warm until help arrives. A firestarter (this could be as simple as leftover birthday candles that are kept inside a waterproof container) and matches (again, make sure to keep them in a waterproof container) could save a life.
Knife or Multi-tool - You may need to cut a piece of moleskin to put over a blister, repair a piece of broken equipment, or solve some other unexpected problem.
Emergency Numbers - Know the emergency numbers for the area you're going to and realize that in many locations--especially mountainous ones, your phone will not get reception.
Common Sense - Pay attention to your environment, your energy, and the condition of your companions. Has the weather turned rainy? Is daylight fading? Did you drink all your water? Did your companion fail to bring rain gear? Are you getting tired? Keep in mind that until you turn around you are (typically) only half-way to completing your hike--you must still get back to where you started from! (Exceptions are loop hikes.)
Check the weather forecast before you head out. Know the rules and regulations of the area.
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
The Trail Conference is a 2015 Leave No Trace partner.
(c) Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org.
Take the Palisades Interstate Parkway to Exit 17 (Anthony Wayne Recreation Area) and park in the large parking area just to the right of the entrance kiosk.
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May 31, 2023
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