Finishing an eight-day run on the Appalachian Trail, one long-distance hiker capped off nearly 200 miles with a short but rewarding detour: the 0.6-mile spur trail up to Anthony's Nose, a rocky overlook towering above the Hudson River in New York's Hudson Highlands.
The day itself was a big one — 25.9 miles of backpacking starting from the William Brien Memorial Shelter, winding past Black Mountain, over Bear Mountain, and across the Bear Mountain Bridge. October mornings on the trail have turned cold, and the hiker describes the daily negotiation of waiting for warmth versus getting miles done early. Lucky weather helped: not a single drop of rain across all eight days.
Bear Mountain is one of the AT's busiest spots, with a summit tower and ledges looking toward the New York City skyline drawing Saturday crowds. Interestingly, the trail runs so close to itself on the mountain's ascent and descent routes that skipping the summit would have saved two miles — a shortcut only spotted too late. Below the summit, though, crowds thin out quickly, so a little initiative goes a long way.
The Hudson crossing is worth knowing about if you're walking this section: the Bear Mountain Bridge is one of the trail's sketchier road crossings, with traffic funnelled onto a four-lane roadway even where crosswalks and flashing signs exist. From the bridge, Anthony's Nose is visible as a rocky ledge high above the river.
The climb to the overlook involves stone steps up from Route 9D, and it's popular — a dozen cars parked roadside and a steady stream of day hikers on the way up. The trail attracts mostly city-based visitors dressed in serious layers, friendly but curious about anyone carrying a full backpacking setup. The payoff is a broad overlook with plenty of room to spread out and views over one of the widest points of the Hudson, with photos possible from several angles.
For travellers, this is a great reminder that some of the best viewpoints near New York City sit within easy reach of the AT corridor. Anthony's Nose works as a half-day hike from the Route 9D parking area, or as a satisfying add-on for through-hikers passing through the Hudson Highlands. Pair it with Bear Mountain's tower views and the Trailside Zoo along the route, and you've got a full Hudson Highlands day. The hiker celebrated the finish the classic way — a huge dinner in nearby Fishkill and an evening watching F1 qualifying.
