Thread: Bear Mountain Routes

was on bear mountain for the first time today! great fun, but was pretty much only on route 9, which was nice but congested, especially around rush hour. i kept looking for this other road call storm mountain, but couldn't find it.

can anybody post up good routes, either in words or google maps, through that area, especially those with low traffic/cops? also, where are these bikers in this video?

YouTube - Bear Mountain Run 7-20

thanks!

Bear Mountain is a blast to drive! Last run I did up there was with Greg, he should chime in with his route. I like to hit it early spring or late fall when the crowds have died down. And watch out for the park police, they are pretty hard core.

yea bear mountain is def. fun... you have to hit up route i believe its 311 or 301 not sure.. Its right out the town of Cold Spring..min speed is like 115 on the straights.. and turns are outa control.. a TON of FUN! cold spring has a nice lunch spot as well

You also should make your way over to 7 lakes drive. That is a great road, scenic and lots of twists as well as straights. Holl atcha boy if your going to be around..

Here is a rally event I did many years ago.

“Meet & Greet” 8:00-9:00
Sheraton Crossroads Parking lot
1 International Blvd
Mahwah, NJ 07495


“The Sprint” Distance – 10.8 miles
Sheraton Crossroads to Rt. 287 South to Exit 57: “Skyline Drive / Ringwood”
Re-group on Exit 57 exit ramp. 9:15

“Hill climb #1” Distance – 5.3 miles
Skyline Drive into Ringwood
1st stop:
Gas and breakfast stop at McD/Lukoil in Ringwood. 9:20-9:50

“Alongside the Reservoir ” Distance – 3.7 miles
Right onto Greenwood Lake Turnpike
Right onto Sloatsburg Road
Left into Ringwood State Park (Ringwood Manor)
2nd stop:
“Show-N-Shine” 10:00-11:30

“Back on route to Greenwood Lake” Distance – 11.4 miles
Right onto Sloatsburg Road (the way we came)
Right onto Margaret King Ave
Right onto Greenwood Lake Turnpike
Right onto East Shore Drive (Speed limit slows to 30mph and then to 25mph)
OBSERVE THE SPEED LIMIT!
At Stop sign, bear right onto Sterling Road 11:50


“Hill climb #2” Distance – 10.1 miles
Take Sterling Road to end (25 mph speed limit)
Right onto 17A
Pass Sterling Forest ski area / Forest of Fear 12:05

“Bear Mountain Twisties” Distance – 15 miles
17A turns to Lake Kanawauke Rd (Harriman State Park)
At first circle: in at 6:00, out at 9:00: “Seven Lakes Drive”
At second circle: in at 6:00, out at 12:00
At third circle: in at 6:00, out at 12:00: “Rt. 6 East / North PIP / Bear Mountain”
After left merge, take immediate exit: “Perkins Memorial Drive / Seven Lakes Dr”
Beware: Exit is 200 feet after merge!
Take next left, SHARP TURN onto Perkins Memorial Drive
Proceed to top of mountain
3rd stop:
“Bear Mountain Peak” 12:30-13:15



“Bear Mountain to West Point” Distance – 8.5 miles
Proceed down the mountain
Make left at stop sign onto Seven Lakes Drive
At circle, in at 6:00, out at 9:00: “Seven Lakes Drive / Rt 9W North”
At next circle: in at 6:00, out at 9:00: “Rt. 9W North / West Point / Newburgh”
Follow Rt. 9W
Take Exit: “Rt. 218 / Highland Trails / West Point”
Careful: Follow 30 MPH speed restriction!
Make Right at Clock: “West Point”
Park across from West Point Museum
4rd stop:
Lunch and awards presentation 13:45-15:00

“Storm King Loop” Distance – 28.5 miles
Rt. 218 South to Rt. 9W North
Beware: Rt 9W North is on the LEFT at the split!
Rt. 9W North to Rt. 218 North “West Point / US Military Academy”
In Cornwall follow signs for Rt. 218
30 and 25 MPH speed limit!
Make right at light onto Rt. 218 / Academy Ave.
Make right onto Rt. 9W North
45 MPH limit!
After Toyota dealer (on right), make right at first traffic light
Regroup behind building on corner: 
“Cardiovascular Center” 15:40-16:00
Loop back to 9W South: left at light after exiting building
Rt. 9W South: Storm King Highway back
Careful: beyond BMW dealer, speed limit drops to 40 mph!

“The way to the Mason Jar” Distance – 29 miles
Proceed on Route 9W South
After bridge crossing, bear right onto “Palisades Pkwy South / Rt 6W”
Proceed along Palisades Pkwy South
Regroup at parking stop after Exit 17
Beware: Stop is on the left! 16:30-16:45
Take exit 9W: “Rt 87 North / 287 South”
Take exit 15: “Rt. 287 South / Rt. 17 South / New Jersey”
Take exit 66: “Rt. 17 South”
Pass Sheraton Crossroads (starting point of rally)
Take Exit: “Rt. 202 / Suffern / Morristown”
Make Left at end of ramp onto Rt. 202 South
Mason Jar is immediately on the Left: enter into parking lot.
Final stop:
Dinner Time!

Hey Yuri, thanks.. my head is spinning! lol

PS: I got your PM and the info. Thanks agian! Will sign up to that site when I get a chance.

Rt. 218 is great, snake hill road on the other side of the bridge is nice too. The goat trail would be awesome if you could hit it without traffic. Northern jersey has some sick roads too.

Just saw this and thats my old turf up there. Those are some of the sickest roads in lower Hudson Valley. A nice 2.5 hour route (Starting from North Jersey) - take 7 Lakes all the way through Harriman State Park, cross the Palisades Parkway, and head straight up through Bear Mountain and take the road to the top (which it sounds like the OP has already) come out the other side and go through the traffic circle onto 9W. My recommendation would then be to take 9W through the little town, go over a hill and get off the exit after the West Point carwash (there should be signs for West Point itself). Go through that town (Highland Falls) and than enter the academy - its a nice little sightseeing detour and all you need is a picture ID to get in. Just say you are visiting someone if they ask you any issues at the gate. Just stay on the main road or do some exploring if you like. If you stay on the main road it takes you right to the start of 218 (make a right coming out the gate), which is the Storm King Highway spoken of above - very sick tight turns and hardly any oncoming traffic. After getting to the other side go through Cornwall and get back on 9W. Take that all the way back to the Bear Mountain traffic circle and this time go over the bridge and make a right. This is another tight mountain road, although there is a bit more traffic on this one.

Sorry for the crappy and quickly typed description - I used to have a google map of the route but can't seem to find it. Anyone who is really interested PM me and I will go into more detail or make a new map. And this is only one of many enjoyable cruises that you can take. I live in the city now and definitely miss those roads!

Originally Posted by HERM3S

Just saw this and thats my old turf up there. Those are some of the sickest roads in lower Hudson Valley. A nice 2.5 hour route (Starting from North Jersey) - take 7 Lakes all the way through Harriman State Park, cross the Palisades Parkway, and head straight up through Bear Mountain and take the road to the top (which it sounds like the OP has already) come out the other side and go through the traffic circle onto 9W. My recommendation would then be to take 9W through the little town, go over a hill and get off the exit after the West Point carwash (there should be signs for West Point itself). Go through that town (Highland Falls) and than enter the academy - its a nice little sightseeing detour and all you need is a picture ID to get in. Just say you are visiting someone if they ask you any issues at the gate. Just stay on the main road or do some exploring if you like. If you stay on the main road it takes you right to the start of 218 (make a right coming out the gate), which is the Storm King Highway spoken of above - very sick tight turns and hardly any oncoming traffic. After getting to the other side go through Cornwall and get back on 9W. Take that all the way back to the Bear Mountain traffic circle and this time go over the bridge and make a right. This is another tight mountain road, although there is a bit more traffic on this one.

Sorry for the crappy and quickly typed description - I used to have a google map of the route but can't seem to find it. Anyone who is really interested PM me and I will go into more detail or make a new map. And this is only one of many enjoyable cruises that you can take. I live in the city now and definitely miss those roads!

That sounds like a nice drive...combo of spirited twisties and sightseeing cruise

Originally Posted by anderskt

Rt. 218 is great, snake hill road on the other side of the bridge is nice too. The goat trail would be awesome if you could hit it without traffic. Northern jersey has some sick roads too.

yea definitely.. there is ALWAYS traffic on that road no matter when your on there