Winter is a great time to get outside and enjoy the brisk air and what better place for it than Bear Mountain State Park in Harriman!?

The glassy Hessian Lake offers a picturesque backdrop for your seasonal stroll with nature. 

“Because the foliage isn’t on the trees you get a different sense of the valley here....it’s just a different experience hiking in the wintertime,” says Christopher O’Sullivan, Bear Mountain State Park environmental educator.

You can also learn more about some of the animals that call this place home, at the Trailside zoo. “Get a taste of what’s out there up close by coming to the trailside museum and zoo, and see the species that live around here, the mammals, the birds, the amphibians and fish,” says O’Sullivan.

Altogether there are about 40 species of animals that you can meet, including Pal the black bear.  “We have two black bears that I’ve been here since 2005. They are twins that were rescued,” says O’Sullivan.

Sullivan says there’s also a reptile, amphibian and fish museum where you can come face to face with more than a dozen interesting species. “See them up close, we have educational signs that are here that can tell people a little bit about the animals and their habitats.”

There’s always something new to discover here at Bear Mountain, in fact, the habitats for a bobcat, fox and porcupine are in the making to be open later in 2023!

Speaking of plenty to do,  how about a spin on the ice?! Just make sure to check the rink schedule for public session times. 

Before heading home, take a break at the Hiker’s Cafe with some good eats and a cozy cup of coffee to top off your Road Trip: Close to Home.

For more information on all the activities at Bear Mountain, click here.