Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Views · Wildlife

One of many trails in Bear Mountain State Park that is best suited for combining with other trails to create a loop rather than taken as an out-and-back. You can get to Bear Mountain State Park from NYC using mass transit by taking the Shortline bus which will drop you off at the lodge. Or you can access this trail by parking in the Anthony Wayne parking area at the Harriman State Park end.

From there, you can take the Cornell Mine Trail to the middle of this trail just east of Bald Mountain. Or park at the Rampo-Dunderberg parking area on the side of 202/9W/Liberty Drive. From the parking area, the trail climbs up Dunderberg Mountain (redundant, I know) and to the east. The trail provides some great views of the Hudson River and later Bear Mountain.

High above Jones Point, the trail turns west and eventually meets up with the Cornell Mine Trail. Continue along the red blazes up Bald Mountain and back down to the south. The trail then turns west again to pass just south of The Timp before ending in a ravine that separates Harriman State Park from Bear Mountain State Park. Be mindful of unmarked forest roads in this ravine.

From the ravine, you'll climb up the southern end of Western Mountain. At the top, the trees are relatively sparse so you can enjoy some nice views. The mountain is fairly broad so the top isn't super steep (unlike both ends) but there are a few rock obstacles along the route that make the route much more entertaining.

Once the descent of western mountain is fairly steep, it will take you to a section of the park with numerous forest roads/mixed use trails. Keep an eye for the red blazes, and rattlesnakes as this is where we encountered our first ever in the wild.

The trail ends at the Appalachian Trail, but where it meets the AT is in the middle of the woods. You'll want to take Anthony Wayne Trail to the parking area, or head back to beginning/wherever you're parked.