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Dunderberg (and Bald) Mountain and The Timp Hike

Hiking Notes

Distance: 8 miles
Time: 5.5 - 7 hours (group), 4.5+ - individual
Difficulty: strenuous (over 1500' total elevation gain)

Take the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail (RD, red blazes) which is found just south of the parking area. The Timp-Torne trail (blue blazes) also starts at the same place on the road but we are only interested in the RD trail for the next few miles.

You will pass the Cornell (blue blazes) and 1777 Trails (red blazes) but continue straight on the RD trail. At the intersection of RD and Timp-Torne (TT, blue blazes) trails at the base of the Timp, follow (veer right onto) the Timp-Torne Trail to go up to the Timp.

The turn-around point the top of the is “The Timp” (with its panoramic views).

Retrace your route from the Timp, veering onto the Timp-Torne Trail (TT, blue blazes). Stay on the TT trail until you reach the road. Your car will be up the road northward (make a left and walk a small distance).Suggested lunch spots are either the top of Bald Mountain or The Timp (better view but later in the hike).

References: NY-NJ Trail Conference Trail Map #119 (Northern Harriman Bear Mountain Trails)

NOTE: The same hike done in the reverse direction is described in The Timp & Bald Mountain hike.

Driving instructions from NYC

Take the George Washington Bridge to the Palisade Interstate Parkway North, exit at exit 15, turn left (eastward) towards Stony Point (Route 210 East which is also State Route 106 East at this point), at the end of Route 210, turn left onto Route 9W North (if you went straight by accident you would enter a shopping center).

After about 4.4 miles watch carefully for a Dead End sign on the right side that says Jones Point below it. Park in the parking lot on the left side of Route 9W (opposite the Dead End sign/turn-off for Jones Point). You will pass a large ship anchor monument on the right before reaching the parking area (GPS: N 41.28109, W 073.96301).

If you pass the entrance to Bear Mountain State Park, you have gone a few miles too far (turn around and go back south on Route 9W and look carefully on the left for the Dead End sign that says Jones Point below it). The total driving distance from NYC to the trail head is about 44 miles.

Public Transportation

From the Port Authority in New York City there is a bus that leaves people off on Route 9W near Jones Point and the trailhead.

Click here for What to Bring on a Hike

Click here for Information for Group Hikes

Questions: Michael Brochstein

The ship's anchor you will pass on Route 9W south of the parking area. (August 2001 and July 2009)

 
 

The parking area. (March 2009)

  View of Route 9W (looking north) with the parking area on the left and the dead end road to Jones Point on the right. (March 2009)
     
 
A "nuclear" view from the Timp-Torne Trail (May 2015).    Signs near the parking area (from image directly above) between Route 9W (on left) and dead-end road to Jones Point (on the right).  The green sign refers to the Bear Mountain Bridge. (March 2009)
     
   
The dead end road going to Jones Point opposite the parking area. (March 2009)  
     
 
A view of the Hudson River from the Timp-Torne Trail (July 2009).   The 1777 Trail trail markers. (July 2009).
     
   
The start of the Timp-Torne and Ramapo Dunderberg trails (at Route 9W). Visibility (as of when this photo was taken) of this trailhead is not good when walking from the north. (July 2009)    
     
Northward view from Bald Mountain. Bear Mountain is at the top left and the Bear Mountain Bridge stretching over the Hudson River is to the right. (May 2015)
     
270 degree panoramic view from "The Timp".  New York City's skyline can be seen in the distance on a clear day.  (July 2009)
   
Elevation profile for hike.

Last updated: 5/2015

Copyright © 2015 Michael Brochstein. All rights reserved.