Tallman Mountain State Park – A Great Beginner’s Area for Hiking
by Mike Depardieu
Published November 2020
I like this area for families with smaller children, or just for people who want to take in some scenery, walk on paved or packed gravel roads, or hike some trails. It has a variety of options all accessible from a large welcoming parking lot. Note, there is a $6.00 parking fee on weekends from May to October from 9 AM - 5 PM. The park is located on the Hudson River, just a few miles north of exit 4 of the Palisades Parkway in New Jersey by car. This park was one of the first places we visited with our children when they were younger, due to the paved roads that are stroller friendly.
Start with a Hike through the Woods
From the parking lot, you can access a walking trail through a wooded area that has informative displays on the different trees you will walk past. This is the orange trail on the pdf map, and it is about .25 miles long. Just a 5 or 10-minute walk to the end.
When you reach the end of this trail you can either turn left or right and follow the wide, compacted bike path trail. Going left leads to the picnic areas and the paved roads that head down towards the water. Going right leads up to a small parking area on Route 9W. This is about a mile walk. You will see a lot of walkers, cyclists, and strollers on this wide trail on a nice day.
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Start with a Paved Road Walk
If you want to stay on paved roadways (do watch out for cars – 15 mph speed limit) follow the road to the right that goes downhill and you will be rewarded with a walk down to the water where you can stroll along the wetlands of Piermont Marsh. You will be treated to a sight of the Hudson River and the now-closed pool along the way.
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Follow this trail for about 10 minutes and at the end, you will be in the town of Piermont, which is worth exploring in its own right.
Get More Adventurous with a Hike on a Marked Trail
If rocks, stumps, boulders, dirt, and mud are what you are looking for, you can find them here too! The blue trail (Long Path), which you can pick up at the intersection of the orange trail mentioned above, and the bike path (marked in red on the pdf) winds its way down to the intersection of the roadways and other trails if you follow it to the left. It has some uneven terrain, curves, and challenges waiting for you.
In Summary
Tallman State Park is a great option because it has a little bit of everything in one location. Families with kids in strollers or backpacks can enjoy it, as well as those looking for more challenging hikes or just a stroll along the carriage (bike) path. See the links below for more information.
Useful links:
https://parks.ny.gov/documents/parks/TallmanMountainTrailMap.pdf
https://parks.ny.gov/parks/tallman/maps.aspx