View Full Version : parking near the bear mountain bridge
I'm due to start a north bound section hike on the west side of the bear mountain bridge in new york - where is a good place to park there for a day?
juma
RITBlake
04-07-2009, 16:16
huge parking lot next to the inn, well patrolled by state police.
Cookerhiker
04-07-2009, 16:36
Just to clarify for the OP: said parking is not free. But it is safe.
BTW, has the Bear Mountain Inn finally reopened?
NYCHiker
04-08-2009, 13:51
BTW, has the Bear Mountain Inn finally reopened?
My understanding, as of a month ago when I was there, was that the lower floor was due to open "Spring 2009." The last date we heard from PIPC was June 1. Knowing the recent history of this Inn, don't hold your breath.
Things are looking up though. Operations have now been taken over by the hospitality company Guest Services. There are also pictures on Flickr that show something has actually been done on the lower level and that there might be progress to a 2009 opening. The lower level will have a hikers' café with better food than they currently serve at the large stand North of the hotel (which is not open yet for the season).
It also sounds like they are trying to green up a very old structure that has been in disrepair for years. They are using the lake next door as the air conditioner for the hotel. The huge heat exchangers were installed on the bottom of the lake last year.
Over the winter, there was discussion that they may open up the upper floors in 2010 to inn guests. I think there are about 15 or so rooms in the upper floor. No timetable has been announced recently that confirms this, so I suspect it will be pushed to 2011 or beyond, given the huge budget cuts in New York.
Cookerhiker
04-08-2009, 14:08
Thanks for the status report. It seems like it's been closed for years, at least since my 2004 (http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=81250) section hiking.
YoungMoose
04-08-2009, 14:10
theres 2 huge parking lots.
sasquatch2014
04-08-2009, 15:07
When did they start charging to park there? I have left my car there a few times and never have paid. I just log it in at the park office and out the door i go.
RITBlake
04-08-2009, 15:57
When did they start charging to park there? I have left my car there a few times and never have paid. I just log it in at the park office and out the door i go.
Ya same here.
YoungMoose
04-08-2009, 16:05
Just to clarify for the OP: said parking is not free. But it is safe.
BTW, has the Bear Mountain Inn finally reopened?its free to park as long as your a hiker. just like when you walk through the zoo for free if you say ur a thru hiker.
Cookerhiker
04-08-2009, 16:59
its free to park as long as your a hiker. just like when you walk through the zoo for free if you say ur a thru hiker.
That's a new one on me. Are you sure?
sasquatch2014
04-08-2009, 18:49
I guess it is they never have charged me the 3 or so times I have parked there. That or they just like me? That's kind of scary when I think about it!
BigFoot2002
04-08-2009, 19:08
Not only can you walk though the zoo for free, you can also swim in the amazing pool next to it.
NYCHiker
04-09-2009, 13:48
Not only can you walk though the zoo for free, you can also swim in the amazing pool next to it.
But only if you are a thru. They have started cracking down on day hikers taking advantage of their generosity. It bothers me when day hikers try to scam their way out of a whopping $2 or $3 admission fee to the zoo.
I had not heard about the pool being free for thrus. I also never asked. Good to know.
I was under the impression if you were parking overnight you had to park near that police station and give them a couple bucks.
sasquatch2014
04-09-2009, 21:20
nope no need to give money , well not until you have done something wrong and then I guess you could give that a shot.