Click to enlarge photo of Hessian Lake at Bear Mountain Park.

Hessian Lake is located in Bear Mountain State Park. Hessian Lake offers a dock on the Hudson for mooring small craft, rental boats, and lake and river fishing. Looking for fun things to do in the summer? Plan a picnic followed by a boat ride or a hike around Hessian Lake.

Bear Mountain State Park, a 5,000-acre park, is situated in rugged mountains rising from the west bank of the Hudson River. Bear Mountain Park, flagship of the Palisades Interstate Park System, is renowned for its natural beauty. The park is located at Bear Mountain, New York 10911, just 45 miles north of New York City in the historic Hudson River Valley.

The park features playing fields, shaded picnic groves, a dock on the Hudson for mooring small craft, lake and river fishing access, a swimming pool, the Trailside Museum and Wildlife Center, hiking, biking, cross-country ski trails and ski-jumps. Ice-skate at Bear Mountain's outdoor rink open for ice-skating, weather permitting, from late October through mid-March. Also visit Perkins Memorial Tower atop Bear Mountain. Perkins Point affords spectacular views of the park, the Hudson Highlands and Harriman State Park.

Lakes, ponds, forest, hills, and mountains abound at Bear Mountain. Bear Mountain is heavily forested, offering the natural beauty of sights such as Perkins Memorial Tower. Bear Mountain is primarily a day-use park with magnificent scenery, photo opportunities and hiking for all levels of hikers.

Things To Do at Hessian Lake in Bear Mountain Park
Boat Launches
Boat Rentals
Fishing (lake and river fishing)
Food
Hiking Trails / Walking
Merry-Go-Round Pavilion
Museum - Trailside Museum and Wildlife Center
Nature Trails
Picnic Tables
Playgrounds
Playing Fields

Winter Activities
Cross-Country Skiing
Ice Skating
Snowshoeing

Points of Interest for Kids
The Merry-Go-Round Pavilion at Bear Mountain features hand-painted scenes of the park while the merry-go-round itself features 38 carved renditions of Hudson River Valley animals, including raccoons, bear, deer, eagles, foxes, river otters, and bobcats.

Trailside Museum and Wildlife Center
The study of native animals and their habitat at Bear Mountain has a long history. In 1921, the American Museum of Natural History installed a facility at the Boy Scouts headquarters on Lake Kanawauke. Four years later, the same Museum began a program for the study of insects in Harriman State Park. The Commission added a bear den in 1926, which became a small zoo, as the facility took in more injured animals in need of shelter.

Perkins Memorial Tower and Drive were built with funds provided by the descendants of George Walbridge Perkins. Perkins Memorial Tower, atop Bear Mountain, provides spectacular views of the park, the Hudson Highlands, and Harriman State Park.

"The sinuous and steep drive, which leads to the Tower 1,305 feet above the Hudson River, was blasted off the mountain by 1,500 workers using 50,000 tons of dynamite. The tower, built to serve as a weather station and fire lookout, served those purposes until the 1950s. Work began in 1932, thanks to labor provided by the NYS Temporary Relief Administration. The drive and tower were inaugurated in 1934."

Hike, bike, or drive to Perkins Point, just be sure not to miss this attraction. Perkins Point is an absolute must see when vacationing or planning a day-trip to Bear Mountain. Walk the four sets of stairs in the tower (landings have benches to stop and rest between floors) to the observation floor where the views are documented and described in detail.

"With its 360-degree panorama, the Perkins Memorial Tower offers spectacular views of the Hudson River, the Bear Mountain Bridge, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Storm King, and Fort Montgomery. Four states are visible (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania), as well as the New York City skyline. The observation floor has interpretive displays that describe the distant views, including several mountain ranges: the Taconics, Ramapos, Shawangunks, and even the Catskills. Perkins Memorial Drive and Tower truly are a highlight of any visit to Bear Mountain."

Things To Do at Perkins Point
Biking (Advanced bikers can ride to the top of Perkins Point.)
Birding
Hiking Trails / Walking
Museum at Perkins Tower
Nature Trails
Picnic Tables
Scenic Views

Popolopen Creek Suspension Footbridge
The Popolopen Creek Footbridge, for pedestrians only, was designed to create an economic and esthetically pleasing river crossing of 140m on the Appalachian Trail in Bear Mountain Park. You can access the bridge on a path near the Bear Mountain Bridge toll booths. However, the Popolopen Creek footbridge is most easily accessed through Fort Montgomery. Just park your car at the Fort Montgomery Visitor Center off 9W, north of the Bear Mountain Bridge, and walk down to Popolopen Creek.

American Revolution
Popolopen Creek and the Popolopen Suspension Footbridge are located in Fort Montgomery, NY 10922 in Orange County; adjacent to Bear Mountain State Park. The Battle of Fort Montgomery was the scene of an American Revolutionary War battle that was fought for control of the Hudson River. Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton were built to secure the Patriots control of the Hudson River.

"On the afternoon of October 6, 1777, the British began an assault on both forts, which were defended by no more than 700 men. At Fort Montgomery, the Americans kept the British at bay as the two sides exchanged musket fire. When the Americans refused to surrender, the British stormed both forts. Taking advantage of the growing dark and the smoky haze from the battle, many of the Americans escaped, but as many as 275 were taken as prisoners to New York City where they remained for much of the war."

During these American Revolutionary battles, there was a pontoon bridge connecting Fort Clinton to the south and Fort Montgomery on the north side of Popolopen Creek. Today, Fort Montgomery State Historic Site stands in memory of the Battles of Forts Montgomery and Clinton.

Bear Mountain Bridge
The Bear Mountain Bridge is a Suspension bridge. It was completed in 1924. According to the New York State Department of Transportation, the Bear Mountain Bridge carries approximately 20,000 vehicles per day across the Hudson River. In addition to carrying one 12-foot-wide lane in each direction for US 6 and US 202, the roadway has eight-foot-wide shoulders for pedestrians and cyclists that accommodate the Maine-to-Georgia Appalachian Trail. To discourage through trucks from using the bridge, the NYSBA prohibits rigs weighing more than 56 tons from using the span.