HIGHLIGHTS: This section is a short day hike between the Bear Mountain Bridge and the Graymoor Friary near the Palisades Interstate Parkway. The Friary opened its doors for over twenty years to long distance hikers, and I stayed with them during my thru-hike in 1994. Graymoor had a dorm style room, hot showers, and an AYCE breakfast and lunch available for a donation to the Friary. It was one of the best stays I had on the Appalachian Trail in the Mid-Atlantic States.
The Trail crosses the Bear Mountain Bridge and climbs to the Graymoor Friary with some decent views of the Hudson River and the Iona Island, particularly from Anthony’s Nose. The nose is actually a rock outcropping at the northern end of the bridge. From here, the A.T continues up to an old carriage road then crosses a blue-blazed side trail after five miles that has more views of both the bridge and the river. The Graymoor Friary is only a few miles north of this scenic overlook past NY 403.
Note: In 1995, the Graymoor Friary had to end it’s service to long distance hikers and I have not heard if this was a permanent or a temporary decision.
