Bear Mountain Loop via Major Welch Trail Hiking Guide
Bear Mountain is the classic hard day hike within reach of New York City: up the red-ring Major Welch Trail on steep granite slabs, out to Perkins Memorial Tower on the 1,289-foot summit, and down the oldest section of the Appalachian Trail on hundreds of hand-built stone steps. Plan for construction near the Bear Mountain Inn, which has rerouted the start of the loop until summer 2027.
Permit: Bear Mountain State Park parking fee: $10 per vehicle, collected year-round (weekends and holidays 8 a.m.-5 p.m., weekdays 8 a.m.-4 p.m.)
The Loop
From the Bear Mountain Inn lot, walk the paved path around Hessian Lake to the Major Welch Trail and turn uphill. The trail climbs hard over bare rock with some hand-on-rock scrambling and big slabs that are slick when wet. It tops out at Perkins Memorial Drive near the tower. Descend on the white-blazed Appalachian Trail, which the Trail Conference has been rebuilding and realigning since 2006 into a long stone staircase. Mapping apps list 3.9 miles and about 1,150 feet of gain; a Hudson Valley trip log that started and ended around Hessian Lake measured 4.5 miles and about 1,200 feet.
The Construction Detour
NY State Parks and the Trail Conference have rerouted the Appalachian, Major Welch and Suffern-Bear Mountain trails around construction between the Inn parking area and the trailheads, with work expected to run through summer 2027. Follow the posted white AT and red Major Welch blazes through the picnic area around the north end of Hessian Lake: the Trail Conference gives 0.8 mile from the Inn lot to the Major Welch junction and 1.2 miles to the AT trailhead at the south end of the lake. That adds distance to the figures above.
Perkins Tower and the Summit
The stone tower was built in 1935 to replace a fire lookout and is named for George W. Perkins Sr., the first president of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. It served as a fire lookout and weather station until 1953. In good visibility the summit view reaches Manhattan to the south and the High Point monument in New Jersey. Perkins Memorial Drive is open April 1 to November 30, weather permitting, so expect drive-up visitors at the top in season.
Fee, Hours and Crowds
Bear Mountain State Park charges $10 per vehicle to park, collected year-round on weekends and holidays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The park is open dawn to dusk. The Inn lot can fill on nice weekends. Arrive early in fall foliage season.
Dogs
The park takes dogs only, on leashes up to six feet, and keeps them out of buildings, picnic areas, bathing areas, on walkways or in the Trailside Museum and Wildlife Center. Check the posted detour signs near the lake for the route that keeps a dog out of those areas.
Hiking tips for Bear Mountain Loop via Major Welch Trail
- Go up Major Welch and down the AT; the slabs are much easier to climb than to descend.
- Follow the posted detour blazes around the north end of Hessian Lake until construction ends in 2027.
- Skip Major Welch after heavy rain; the granite slabs get slick.
- Bring $10 for parking and arrive before late morning on fall weekends.
- Climb Perkins Tower for the full 360-degree view before you start down.
Nearby trails to explore
- Anthony's Nose via the Appalachian Trail
- Storm King Mountain Loop
- Popolopen Torne
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Bear Mountain is a real workout and a rite of passage for city hikers. Use TrailMates to find Hudson Valley hikers heading to Bear Mountain. Download the TrailMates app to connect.