Home ⎟ Hikes & Wanderings ⎟ New York ⎟ Hudson Valley ⎟ West Mountain

Distance: 4.8 miles; or 7.8 adding The Timp & Cat’s Elbow

Time: 2.5 hours

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Gain: 650 feet; 1150 feet if including the Timp  & Cat’s Elbow

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Directions to Trailhead Parking: From the Palisades Parkway North, go to Long Mountain Circle, take exit 18, and soon after bear right following Seven Lakes Drive for 0.6 miles until reaching the Trailhead parking to your RIGHT. For directions, click here.

Description: From the trailhead, look for white triple diamond blazes with a red 1777.  Facing away from the road, go LEFT on the 1777 Trail for 0.10 miles to its junction with the Appalachian Trail.  Turn RIGHT and take the Appalachian Trail 0.34 miles to its junction with the RED-BLAZED Fawn Trail, turn RIGHT and take for 0.28 miles. From here, turn LEFT on the BLUE-BLAZED Timp-Torne Trail and reach the summit of West Mountain (elev. 1200 feet) in another 1.52 miles.  From here, continue on the Timp-Torne Trail for 0.21 miles, then veer LEFT on the YELLOW-BLAZED Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail.  After 1.25 miles, you’ll meet the  Doodletown Bridle Path, following it for 0.12 miles and then turning RIGHT to stay on the YELLOW-BLAZED trail. In another 0.21 miles, make a sharp left onto the WHITE TRIPLE DIAMOND-BLAZED 1777 Trail, and follow for 0.78 miles back to your car.