Issue #7 — Wednesday, June 10, 2026
One family-friendly hike within a 2-hour drive of Hoboken — plus where to take the kids to eat in the city and NJ. Hike it or skip it; either way your weekend's sorted.
You walk 1.3 miles up a steep Appalachian Trail pitch and arrive at a rocky perch directly above the 1924 Bear Mountain Bridge — the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere when it opened, and still one of the most photogenic structures in the Hudson Valley. From the summit of Anthony's Nose (~900 ft), the bridge's twin stone towers and steel cables frame a tight bend in the Hudson directly below you; West Point sits across the river to the north, and on a clear day the Catskills stack up beyond that. You're not looking at something in the distance. You're looking straight down at it.
Best view-per-mile ratio in the Hudson Highlands. Short enough for a 7-year-old, dramatic enough that you'll want to sit on those rocks for twenty minutes.Park at the small lot on Route 9D, about 0.3 miles north of the eastern end of the Bear Mountain Bridge — it's signed for the Appalachian Trail / Anthony's Nose. The trail begins on the white-blazed AT heading north. The first ten minutes are a gentle wooded approach: good for getting legs under you and getting kids into a rhythm. Then it gets steep. The next mile gains most of the 700 feet through mixed hardwood forest with exposed roots and loose rock in spots — this is the honest part of the hike. Slow down, take real breaks, break out the snacks early. The trail earns that view.
At the summit ridge, follow the white blazes to the open rock outcroppings on the southeastern face — that's where the Hudson opens up. The Bear Mountain Bridge appears directly below; the river bends left toward West Point, and Storm King Mountain rises across the water to the north. There is no shelter or shade at the viewpoint, so plan to be there before the sun gets brutal. Budget 15–20 minutes to sit and eat something before heading back.
Descent is the same route. It's faster but harder on knees — watch the loose rock sections, especially if there was any morning moisture from Saturday's early shower. Most families are back at the car within an hour of leaving the summit.
Eight miles north on Route 9D, Cold Spring is the Hudson Valley day-trip that earns its reputation. Main Street dead-ends at a waterfront gazebo with benches and direct Hudson River views — that alone is worth the detour. The town is small enough to walk end-to-end in fifteen minutes, which is exactly right after a hike.
Water (1.5L per person — non-negotiable this weekend), sunscreen, sunglasses, sturdy sneakers or hiking shoes, snacks, a hat for the exposed summit, and a phone with trail map downloaded offline. Cell service on the trail is unreliable.
Not feeling the drive this week? Here's where to take the kids instead — in the city and across the river. (No connection to this week's hike.)