Bear Mountain New Jersey

The Hudson Highlands and their extension southwesterly into the Ramapo Mountainsalong the New York-New Jersey border constitute a major topographic feature ofthis region. These mountains, once more than 10, 000 feet high, are now eroded to a still-rugged maximum height of about1400.

Among the striking evidences ofglaciation in Harriman-Bear Mountain State Parks are the abundant bedrocksurfaces that were scratched, polished, or grooved by rock debris carried byIce Age glaciers. Erratic boulders -some of immense size - were carried south from the Catskills and elsewhere.Left behind when the glaciers melted, they are widely distributed throughoutthe park.

The 52, 000 acres making up Harriman-Bear Mountain State Parksin the Hudson Highlands contain more than 235 miles of hiking trails, includingan 18-mile segment of the Appalachian Trail. The parks are administered jointly by thePalisades Interstate Park Commission.

Click on either of the first two links below to go to a page with moredetailed descriptions of the parks and trails and for additionalrelevant links. (The pages cover the same ground and are essentiallyidentical.)

For a history of the park and a complete guide to marked and unmarked trails, see Harriman Trails-A Guide and History, by William Myles [New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, 2d ed. 1999].