A little throwback to one of our favorite outdoor activities near NYC, the Bear Mountain Hike. If you are looking for something to do near the city, go hike Bear Mountain and then head to the Oktoberfest nearby the last few weekends in September and the first weekend in October.
Life is completely crazy sometimes. The best medicine for hours of computer staring, airports, and conference calls is a day trip out of the city. You know, that nature thing. We needed to get out of New York City for a bit, so the Bear Mountain hike was a perfect getaway.
We are not hard core hikers, but we love getting out and breathing in fresh air as often as possible. It feels good to get outside and sweat. What’s even better is the food you can demolish afterwards without feeling even a little guilty.
This little adventure took us to Bear Mountain to hike to the summit and then celebrate afterward at Oktoberfest. The hike was about 2 hours for the loop we chose. The trek downhill followed the Appalachian Trail, which was really cool to walk on, even for less than a mile. The leaves weren’t really changing yet, but the views were stunning.
The AllTrails app lists all the different trails that are available. It allows you to sort by distance and difficulty and gives you updated feedback on other users’ experiences.
The Bear Mountain Inn is such a cool building. It’s a quick hour-long drive from New York City, but it looks like a great place to spend a weekend. Plus, it’s really affordable so you can spend the night and enjoy some post-hike libations and relaxation. Book your stay here.
Oktoberfest at Bear Mountain was a blast. They had great music, great beer, and lots of stands with food, art, and random goodies. The food line was crazy long, so if you’re hungry, get there early. I’m happy we went to celebrate. Here is all the information about the festival. It’s dog-friendly, so bring your pup for the hike and celebration. Prost!
