I had something to do this morning. 🐾 My 5-year-old twin cats, Rio and Luna, had their regular checkup!
After finishing the checkup, I looked at my watch and it was around 11:20. Since a long mountain course was too much for me, I decided to go to Bear Mountain, which was relatively short and close.
It was about 40 minutes by car from my house 🚗, and the travel time was not a burden.
🏞 History of Bear Mountain
Bear Mountain is more than just a hiking trail; it's the birthplace of the American conservation movement.
Originally slated for use as a prison site in the early 1900s, the land was donated by Mary Harriman and the efforts of civic groups, resulting in the creation of Bear Mountain-Harriman State Park in 1910. 🌱
In 1924, across the Hudson River Bear Mountain Bridge 🌉was completed. At the time, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world, and it is still a symbolic sight in the park.
🏨 Hotel & ⛸ Skating Rink
Near the parking lot is the Bear Mountain InnThis is a stone-built, mountain-style building that still operates as a hotel and restaurant. In winter, an ice skating rink opens next to the hotel, offering a chance to enjoy skating in the forest.
🪨 Stone steps and observation deck
The stone steps leading from the beginning of the trail were all solid.
I could feel the hard work of the people who moved and placed the large stones, each with a different shape, one by one. 🙏
Thanks to that, I was able to walk comfortably today, and I felt grateful for the effort.
As you climb the stairs, you will come across rocky observation decks with panoramic views.
Sitting there, looking out over the Hudson River and the forest, a cool breeze blew. 🍃
🌿 Life in the forest
Around the parking lot, I saw **Virginia Creeper** and shelf mushrooms wrapped around the trees.
The five-branched leaves climb up the tree and block the sunlight, eventually causing the tree to die.
At that moment, this thought occurred to me.
“Are vines the bad guys of the forest?” 🤔
But in the forest, even a dead tree is the beginning of new life.
Mushrooms grow, moss grows, and insects find habitat.
In autumn, these vines turn bright red, making the forest most beautiful. 🍁
Just as the things that give me a hard time become memories that color my life as time passes.
☁️ Today's sky and flowers
Today the sky was as beautiful as a watercolor painting, with clouds spreading out in all directions. ☁️
Yellow on the roadside Goldenrod 🌼, with black eyes Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan) 🌻, purple 💜 New England Aster, yellow and white wildflowers… and many other flowers were in bloom.
It was also cute to see the bees 🐝 and butterflies 🦋 busily collecting honey.
Next to the purple aster is a thorny Thistle 🌸There was one too, and I was surprised as soon as I touched it.
I thought people are like flowers. Some are pretty, but if you get close enough, they have thorns, and some are easy to hurt.
Flowers, trees, vines, thorns, thornbush… I thought that the forest resembled the world we live in.
Flowers bloom beautifully for a moment and then fall, but trees grow slowly, enduring the wind and rain in their place.
When it eventually falls, mushrooms grow and become soil, giving rise to another life.
I suddenly thought. Am I a flower or a tree? 🌸🌲
🌆 Manhattan from the top
After the last climb, we finally reached the top!
The Manhattan skyline was faintly visible in the distance. 🏙
Looking at the city from within nature felt strangely unfamiliar yet welcome.
Looking out at the city from the forest, I felt strangely comforted by the fact that the world I live in and the mountain path I was standing on were connected.
📍 Bear Mountain Visit Information
- address: Bear Mountain State Park, Palisades Parkway or Route 9W North, Bear Mountain, NY 10911
- Parking Fees: $10 (varies by season) – Free parking with Empire Pass
- Main Course:
- Major Welch Trail → Appalachian Trail Loop (approximately 6.5km)
A circular course that ascends to the summit via stone steps, rock paths, and forest paths, and then descends along the Appalachian Trail. - If you want to take a short walk, you can enjoy the summit view by just going up and down the Summit Trail.
- Major Welch Trail → Appalachian Trail Loop (approximately 6.5km)
- time taken: Round trip takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes (+30 minutes if you walk slowly while taking pictures)
- Recommended season: 🌸Spring (wildflowers), 🍁Autumn (peak foliage), ❄️Winter (skating rink)
“What the forest taught me today is that everything is connected, and I am a part of it.” 🌳
