At a green gate towards the rear of the parking area, you'll notice a triple red-dash-on-white blaze that marks the start of the Tuxedo–Mt. Ivy Trail. Follow this trail uphill on a wide dirt road, then bear right at the power line clearing and continue along a dirt road parallel to the power lines for about 0.2 mile. As the road crosses under the power lines, you’ll come to a Y-junction, where you bear left and head uphill. A short distance beyond, follow the trail as it turns right and enters the woods.
The Tuxedo–Mt. Ivy Trail now ascends gradually on an old woods road. After crossing a stream on rocks, the road becomes rockier. Watch carefully for a left turn and follow the red-dash-on-white blazes as the trail leaves the road it has been following and continues to climb rather steeply on another old woods road. Near the top of the climb, the trail bears right and continues on a footpath.
Just below the summit of Eagle Rock, the trail reaches a limited viewpoint, with Limekiln Mountain visible to the north and the Hudson River to the east. Beyond the viewpoint, the trail continues to climb more gradually.
Soon, you'll reach a T-junction. The Red Arrow Trail, which will be your return route, begins on the right, but you should turn left to continue on the Tuxedo-Mt. Ivy Trail, which now descends gently. After climbing a little, the Tuxedo-Mt. Ivy Trail reaches a junction with the yellow-blazed Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail at the height of land, with an interesting rock outcrop on the right and an old stone fireplace on the left.
The Tuxedo–Mt. Ivy Trail now levels off and passes through dense mountain laurel thickets. In about half a mile, it reaches a T-junction with a woods road known as Woodtown Road. Here, the trail turns right, crosses a wooden footbridge over a stream, then turns sharply left. The trail now climbs on an old woods road, which soon levels off.
After crossing another stream on rocks, you'll notice the Green Swamp on the left. Towards the end of the swamp, after a short climb, follow the Tuxedo–Mt. Ivy Trail as it turns right, leaving the woods road it has been following. A short distance beyond, a triple white blaze on the right marks the start of the Breakneck Mountain Trail.
Turn right and follow the Breakneck Mountain Trail along the ridge of Breakneck Mountain. Soon, the trail passes West Pointing Rock, a large boulder with a sharp projection on its west side. The trail often emerges onto open rock slabs. At one point, it passes between two glacial erratics as it traverses an open rock slab. As the trail approaches the northeastern end of Breakneck Pond, the pond can be glimpsed through the trees to the left.
A short distance beyond, the Breakneck Mountain Trail ends at a junction with the yellow-blazed Suffern–Bear Mountain Trail. Continue straight ahead, following the yellow blazes downhill to the right toward the Third Reservoir.
After passing the western end of the reservoir, the trail climbs over Ladentown Mountain and descends to Woodtown Road. It crosses the road and a stream and soon reaches a junction with the Red Arrow Trail. Turn left onto the Red Arrow Trail, which skirts the edge of a swamp. After climbing a little, the trail descends. It bears right at a fork, then bears right again and continues uphill on a woods road.
Soon, you'll reach the end of the Red Arrow Trail, marked by a triple blaze. Turn left onto the Tuxedo–Mt. Ivy Trail and follow it downhill to your car, now retracing the route you followed at the start of the hike.
Publication: Submitted by Daniel Chazin on 04/04/2013 updated/verified on 10/08/2018
This loop hike passes through dense mountain laurel thickets and crosses open rock slabs with interesting glacial erratics.
At a green gate towards the rear of the parking area, you'll notice a triple red-dash-on-white blaze that marks the start of the Tuxedo–Mt. Ivy Trail. Follow this trail uphill on a wide dirt road, then bear right at the power line clearing and continue along a dirt road parallel to the power lines for about 0.2 mile. As the road crosses under the power lines, you’ll come to a Y-junction, where...
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 13 (US 202/Haverstraw/Suffern). Turn right at the bottom of the ramp, then turn right again onto US 202 West and continue for 1.7 miles to a junction with NY 306. Turn right onto Old Route 306, then right again at the next stop sign. In 0.2 mile, turn left onto Mountain Road; then, in another 0.2 mile, turn left again onto Diltzes Lane. Continue on Diltzes Lane for 0.2 mile and turn right into a gravel parking area.
The Short Line bus from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City to Bear Mountain stops at the intersection of Routes 202 and 306 in Pomona, N.Y. (the bus timetable designates this location as Pomona Heights, N.Y.). From the bus stop, folllow the driving directions to the trailhead (the distance from the bus stop to the trailhead is about 0.7 mile). For more information, go to www.coachusa.com/shortline and look for the schedule for the New York City-Bear Mountain bus.
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December 31, 1969
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