Bear Mountain National Park is one of New York state's jewels, located just 45 miles north of New York City, but lacking all of Manhattan's bustle, pollution and crowds. Bear Mountain houses campgrounds, a historic museum, zoo and other tourist attraction, but is famous for its beautiful, natural landscape. Since the park is located in the Hudson Highlands, a river cruise is the perfect way to travel to and from Bear Mountain. At present, there are no cruises departing Bear Mountain that are not part of a round trip tour; however, a day-long trip along the Hudson from Manhattan to Bear Mountain is the perfect way to spend a day off. For even better scenery, make the trip during the fall months and enjoy the colors of the changing leaves.
Departing from Pier 83 in Manhattan, the Circle-Line Bear Mountain Day Cruise offers a scenic two-hour ride up the Hudson River to Bear Mountain National Park. Since the cruise departs New York at 8:30 a.m. and Bear Mountain at 3:30 p.m., visitors will get to spend four full hours touring the sites and scenery of Bear Mountain. Passing by such sites as Grant's Tomb, the Palisades and the George Washington Bride, passengers will see more than just Bear Mountain. The cruise runs from mid-September through October, allowing cruisers to experience Bear Mountain's annual Oktoberfest celebration.
Circle-Line Bear Mountain Day Cruise
Pier 83
at West 43rd Street and 12th Avenue,
New York, NY 10036
Adults: $49
Seniors: $40
Children: $30
nyc.com
There's nothing quite as picturesque as a sailboat. And with Sail NYC, you can take one all the way to Bear Mountain and back. Sail NYC offers a nine-hour round-trip cruise from Chelsea Pier in Manhattan. Not only will visitors enjoy the fall festivities of Bear Mountain, but they'll find pleasure in the journey; Sail NYC offers a breakfast buffet during the three-hour sail north and a barbecue buffet for the cruise back home. Additionally, passengers can purchase optional alcoholic beverages from the vessel's bar. Along with the palisades and bridges along the Hudson, sailors will also see the historic Sing Sing prison.
SailNYC
Chelsea Piers (Pier 62)
W. 22nd and Hudson River
Manhattan, NY
Adults: $165
(212) 209-3370
zerve.com/sailnyc
If two is too short and three is too long, try Viator's 2.5 hour (each way) cruise to Bear Mountain from midtown-Manhattan. The seven-hour round trip allows passengers two hours of free time in Bear Mountain to hike, explore, and enjoy a leisurely picnic. And if packing baskets isn't your thing, pre-ordered picnics are available at an additional cost.
Viator Tours: Bear Mountain Full-Day Cruise
Departing Midtown-Manhattan
Adults: $48.99
Children: $35.00
Seniors: $39.99
Infants: free
(866) 648-5873
viator.com
September and October are lush in Bear Mountain, so experience the cruise from Pier 83 in Manhattan to the colorful National Park. New York Tours' cruise departs New York at 8:30 a.m. and returns at 5:30 p.m., allowing cruisers to experience two hours of Bear Mountain's charms, including Iona Island Estuarine Reserve and Bird Refuge, a trail side museum and a merry-go-round for the kids. Passengers can purchase optional box lunches from the cruise line for $12.
New York Tours Full-Day Bear Mountain Cruise
Pier 83, Midtown-Manhattan
New York, New York
Adults: $48.99
Children: $35.99
(702) 233-1627
allnewyorktours.com
