Living in New York City can be the thrill of a lifetime, but it can also wear a person down. Studies have shown that exposure to constant activity and stimuli, even if you are not involved with any of it, can put unwanted stress on your body and mind. But the cure could be less than an hour away. If you need to relax and recharge from a hectic week in the Big Apple, you cannot ask for a more perfect getaway than Bear Mountain hiking trails.
Located just 45 miles north of the City, Bear Mountain State Park seems like an entirely different planet from the hustle and bustle of downtown Manhattan. Stunning views of the Hudson River and the comforting rise and fall of the Appalachians will accompany you on each hike. There are Bear Mountain hiking trails for every taste, from deep woods contemplation to ridge running vistas.
Care to commune with the wildlife? Bear Mountain hiking trails can bring you close to animals of every shape and size. From salamanders to porcupines and beetles to black bears, you can catch a glimpse of it all on the trails. Or, if you prefer a more controlled encounter, you can stop at the Bear Mountain zoo, for a closeup introduction to the variety of regional wildlife the park has to offer.
And for many, a trip along the Bear Mountain hiking trails is just the next step in a much larger journey, as Bear Mountain State Park is home to six miles of the massive Appalachian Trail system. Trail nuts from all over the country and all over the world find themselves trekking through Bear Mountain, so it might seem like a little cosmopolitan taste of home for city weary New Yorkers.
Whatever your reasons for trail hiking in the beauty of Bear Mountain State Park, you can always be sure to find a soul stirring trip and an unforgettable journey. Closer than the Smoky Mountain hiking trails and far more affordable than hiking across Europe (considering you have to fly there to do it), Bear Mountain offers urban dwellers a welcome and convenient relief from the City That Never Sleeps.