Anthony's Nose via Appalachian Trail

Parking for the trail runs along both sides of 9D right up until the Bear Mountain Bridge. It can be busy on the weekends so just make sure you're as far off the road as you can and be especially careful unloading kids and dogs. The trailhead is located at approximately 41.322571, -73.975949 and has an information board, though it's hit or miss if there is a stack of maps so best to be prepared and bring your own.

The white trail takes you half a mile up a series of stone stair cases and represents almost all of the elevation gain you'll make on the hike. If while climbing these stairs you suddenly feel the urge to keep hiking for hours, days, even weeks fear not, you're not going through dehydration delusions. You're just making your way on the Appalachian Trail, one of the most famous in the US, and sharing it with people who start their trek in Georgia and end months later in Maine. If you happen to come across one of them, pick their brain and take in their stories because they're going to be fantastic.

After the stairs the white trail will intersect with the blue, on which you'll take a right. The trail is well marked but it's unnecessary, it is the size of a service road and quite well worn. There will be plenty of little foot paths that shoot off to the right towards daylight through the trees that you're welcome to explore, but none of them compare to the outlook you'll hit at almost exactly one mile. The path will open through the trees to open rock face, offering plenty of seating set up like nature's bleachers over ridiculous views north and south of the Hudson River, down on the Bear Mountain Bridge, and across to Bear Mountain and Popolopen Torne. Keep an eye on children or dogs because it can be steep if you head down too far, but for the hike itself should be no problem for the whole family!