APPALACHIAN TRAIL (SECTION 3 – BEAR MOUNTAIN BRIDGE TO GRAYMOOR FRIARY)
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
799 West Washington Street
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
(304) 535-6331
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.
- click to see trail photos from this backpacking trip in New York: April 19, 1996
- click to view a detailed trip report of this hike along the Appalachian Trail: April 19, 1996 (password required)
- click to read a daytimer report from this hike in Southeastern New York: April 19, 1996 (password required)
- click to view maps of the A.T. in New York: overview map, trail map (password required)
- click for a Bear Mountain State Park map, New York & New Jersey trail map
- click to see a video slideshow of my 1994 hike on the A.T. (short film produced 2019 ~ 5 min)
- click to watch a movie with commentary on BirdShooter’s 1994 Appalachian Trail thru-hike (long film produced 1996 ~39 min)
- click to hear Appalachian Trail thru-hiker interviews from 1994 (password protected)
- click to listen to a podcast about 30 Pack’s 2012 thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail
- click to see some of my favorite photos from the Appalachian Trail
- click to view a day-by-day summary of BirdShooter’s 1994 Appalachian Trail thru-hike
- click to read about BirdShooter’s Appalachian Trail thru-hike in these States: Georgia, North Carolina/Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia/Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine
- click to view specific sections of the Appalachian Trail (with photos from each state)
- click to read some common Appalachian Trail terms and definitions
- click to review a basic summary of the 2000+ mile Appalachian Trail
- click to view an overview map of the entire Appalachian Trail
- click to view forums and general trail conversation about the Appalachian Trail
- click to get the Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker’s Planning Guide
- click to get the Appalachian Trail Data Book
- click to see some other recommended books, videos and games about the Appalachian Trail
- click to post your own hike on the Appalachian Trail and share photos from the trip
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