home page WARNING/DISCLAIMER: Hiking can be dangerous and the information furnished below may contain errors!

The Timp and Bald Mountain Hike

Hiking Notes

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

Take the Timp-Torne Trail (TT, blue blazes) westward from the road. It is found just south of the parking area. Take the TT all the way to the top of The Timp. Enjoy the view!

The turn-around point is "The Timp" so reverse direction and take the TT downward until it intersects the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail (RD, red blazes). Make a left onto the RD and take it until you reach the road (Route 9W). Along the way, enjoy the views on top of Bald Mountain and then continue in the same direction on the RD. Once 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.

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 Dunderberg (and Bald) Mountain and the Timp 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 (July 2005).    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)    
     
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.

 Last updated: 2/2012

Copyright © 2008-2012 Michael Brochstein. All rights reserved.