Escape NYC and take a leisurely cruise up the Hudson River to historic Bear Mountain. You’ll enjoy a 2.5 hour cruise each way with an Onboard Oktoberfest – new this year! Once docked, you’ll have approximately three hours to enjoy Bear Mountain’s natural beauty, abundant hiking trails, zoo and more.
On your cruise to Bear Mountain you'll sail past the Palisades, Grant's Tomb, the George Washington Bridge and the Cloisters before cruising up the Hudson River. This trip is especially gorgeous in the fall, when the trees lining the river put on a spectacular display of russet and gold. Enjoy German beer and food at an Oktoberfest celebration on the boat, with live music on Saturdays and Sundays.
Bear Mountain is 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of New York City, in the Hudson Highlands. Enjoy about three hours of free time to discover this site independently. Highlights you can explore during your two-hour visit include Trailside Museums and Zoo, Iona Island Estuarine Reserve and Bird Refuge, Perkins Tower, the merry-go-round and pavilion.
Pre-order a picnic lunch and enjoy a great day on the water! Beverages, wine, beer, cocktails, sandwiches, hotdogs, and snack foods are available for purchase on board.
A beautiful trip. The boat cruise along the Hudson River was relaxing with lovely riverside views on both sides including the Manhattan shoreline. After the short scenic hike to the top of Bear Mountain it was lovely to see the glowing Autumn colours as elsewhere throughout my trip they had been sparse. The surprise at the end of the walk was the gorgeous Hessian Lake which I also walked around. A trip to recommend to all tourists both local and international.
Review by: Mikhal S, October 2017
Time on the mountain was superb! Great hike. The cruise itself was not for me really. I dont think its fits solo travelers much. I would rather get there faster having time for a longer hike.
Review by: Taalber, October 2017
The Circle Line Bear Mountain sightseeing cruise was wonderful. There was just enough time on the boat and plenty of time to go exploring when the boat docked at Bear Mountain. The boat was clean with plenty of seating both inside and out. There was great food and drinks as well. The German band was very entertaining.
Review by: Katie F, October 2017
Great day, highly recommended
Review by: Pamela L, October 2017
This was a nice day. If you won't spend most of your time drinking, I recommend not sitting on the second level next to the bar. A lot of people were very drunk by the end (the had free refills on beer if you bought the mug). The food lines take forever. Nice views, enjoyed the zoo on the mountain.
Review by: George C M, October 2017
Nothing there to see...Boring Trip...
Review by: Sergio D, September 2017
Be prepared for an exhausting day! The boat has seating for all, but it's a folding chair. People decided to rearrange the chairs into circles and block walkways and doorways and not really care they were doing so. The boat has security, but they did not stop the bottlenecks of people from doing this, they seemed more concerned that nobody went to the very top deck where 'premiere' passengers were sitting._br/_ The service at the food counter was the slowest i've ever seen in my life, and the food choices were not pretty. The German food was doled out on small plates for a high price, and the beer was plentiful but expensive. A good deal was the mug for 35.00, after 4 beers you kind of made up for the 35 dollar price tag....With so many people on the boat it is impossible to hear the narration of the sights that you pass, everybody talks over it. On the positive side, the German music was great and really set a good tone for the trip. You have to be on the bottom deck to hear it though, you cannot hear the music on the top deck. The bathrooms were exceptionally clean and the Boat staff were very friendly and helpful. They give you fair warning about Bear Mountain State park. It is an excruciating 1/2 mile uphill walk on crooked pathways to the main park, and then another 10 minute walk to the Bear Mountain inn.....the Zoo area is quaint and interesting, but again, allot of uphill walking....be prepared!.....overall, we had a good time, you are exhausted by the end of the trip, but you take in allot, it lives up to the expectation. Pricy on top of the ticket price, but then again, this is NYC....
Review by: Judith K, September 2017
Beautiful day on The Hudson River...hoping for trees changing color, but NYC having a heat wave so no color. Narration inaudible...sound system poor so couldn't hear about sights along the way. Not that there were many. Nothing to do at Bear Mountain .Food on board poor and cannot bring your own for picnic. All in all very boring and the waste of eight hours. The Circle Line Tour around Manhattan is much better.
Review by: Blingblingchen, May 2017
Great view fantastic trip
Review by: Blingblingchen, May 2017
Great view fantastic trip
Review by: Nikhil Raj K, May 2017
Nice and Beautiful views!!
Review by: William H, May 2017
Great day to spent away from the city's craziness!
Review by: Mrs_Inma, March 2017
The ferry trip was relaxing so much so that you get to close those weary eyes of yours and easily have a nanna nap. Going this time of year you get to see all the colours of Autumn and it's just beautiful. We went there at a time they were celebrating October fest. Good time.
Review by: Sandy B, January 2017
The trip started early in the morning and was full of great sites along the Hudson and with narrative by the crew. Lots of good food and snacks were available on the boat. Bear Mountain was lovely and fun to hike up to the lake, the rustic café, and the gorgeous rock formations and lovely forests along the way up. Our trip was in the Fall and the leaves were stunning. The café offered hot dogs, burgers, chicken sandwiches and soft drinks and beer. The trip back on the Hudson was just as interesting and the view of NY skyline in the afternoon was beautiful. Take this trip. You will enjoy it!! Sandy Brown
Review by: Stacia s, December 2016
It was hard to hear the guy talking about the sights on the way up. We didn't understand what to do when we got to the mountain. We ended up wandering through a weird zoo. If there was actually a nice wooded hike up the mountain we completely missed it._br/_ The scenery is beautiful. The lodge at the top is pretty neat and great for a cocktail._br/_ We did enjoy the day but I would have liked a map or something that helped us understand what our option were once we got to Bear Mountain.
Review by: Penny M, October 2016
Had a great time. Staff was helpful and friendly. Cruise commentator was very knowledgeable and made the trip up and down the Hudson River even more interesting.
Review by: Vania P, October 2016
This is my 4th trip with Viator, and it's my least favorite. While I enjoyed the cruise up the Hudson, the food on the ship, and the fall foliage, the steep hill, wasn't fun. I loved the scenery, and the grounds were beautiful, but I don't have difficulty walking, the hill, did prevent me, from going to the Bear mountain inn, the zoo, and the trail, uphill. The trip was overall, good, but could have been better. Perhaps, hand rails, up the hill, would have made feel more safer.
Review by: ike p, October 2016
Good morning!_br/_ We enjoy our trip so much._br/_ You can see it from attached pictures - the best foliage colours !_br/_ Ike.
Review by: Charles A, October 2016
Unfortunately we got a cool rainy day. The space on the boat would just about get warm and then the ventilation system would blow cold air on us, so I recommend bringing more clothes than you think you need. Also the crowd was so noisy we could not hear the comments by the guide. I would have liked to hear them. The band playing on the boat was fun. We did get to see nice autumn colors along the Hudson and the trip was worth it for that. Bear Mountain would be fun with kids going through the zoo.
Review by: Michelle M, October 2016
Seating was tight, not very comfortable in my opinion. The staff and tour guide were awesome.
Review by: Marilyn C, October 2016
it was very lively, but the weather was bad. All the young kids were drinking beer and having fun. The walk up to the Bear Mountain Inn was fun, and they had a delicious buffet lunch for 20.A band played going there and back and it made the trip lively The foliage was beautiful.
Review by: Amy Y, October 2016
The onboard staff was great. BUT, it was a cold day so there were major problems. It was freezing on deck and extra chairs could not be brought in off deck. So, a selection of passengers had to stay outside and shiver. There were chairs in the un-full elite section. Consolidation would have been better. Hint! Many many passengers got very very drunk leaving the rest of us ducking and avoiding conflict, consoling weepers, and fearing vomit.
Review by: Alison R, October 2016
This was marketed as a booze cruise On board youll have access to German beer and food however, they don't have the license yet to sell booze before noon. The cruise to Bear Mountain was from 9-11:45 so we had no booze for the way up.
Review by: skapoor33, October 2016
Nice cruise, but very limited food options for vegetarians on the boat and at Bear Mountain. We enjoyed the live band very much!
Review by: Mark B, October 2016
Great boat ride.
Review by: Arthur R J, October 2016
A first time experience, but certainly re-doable. My guests thoroughly enjoyed our trip. Ambiance and service were pleasurable, the music was great. It should have been broadcast throughout the vessel. The walk at Bear Mountain was unexpected but tolerable. I'w awaiting the change in season to re-book another trip.
Review by: Joseph C, October 2016
The Boat ride was great, but not much to do at Bear Mountain.
Review by: Ely P, October 2016
very nice , although its rain, i enjoy . Thanks
Review by: docdavejones, October 2016
Nice to see the other side of New York. Well worth the time to visit
Review by: lemacdm, September 2016
Wonderful! The band and the bratwurst was great. The boat trip was pleasant, and the walk and the animals we saw were enjoyable. Couldn't hear the commentary on the boat at times with everybody talking, but got some information out of it. No fall color yet this year. Everything well organized and mostly friendly staff. Really a fun day.
Review by: Rob W, November 2015
Weather was very cold and we were unable to get a seat inside the boat as they were all taken or reserved even though many seats were vacant.
Review by: aura r, November 2015
good time and beautiful view.
Review by: James G, November 2015
Loved it. Beautiful relaxing day.
Review by: Chong C, November 2015
Well planned and meticulously executed. The timing of the tour was excellent, catching the beauty of the fall foliage.
Review by: Jane L, November 2015
Great experience. Chairs could have been more comfortable
Review by: Kaitlyn H, October 2015
The views were beautiful, however the staff was extremely slow and there was barely any German food on board which was weird. Other than that the overall idea of it was good, it just could have been better.
Review by: Bart L, October 2015
The staff was very professional and friendly, the boat was clean and safe, add more women's bathrooms, please!!! I felt bad for the women they had very long waits for the bathroom. Thank you, Circle Line, for your graciousness!!!
Review by: Zulkifli M, October 2015
Beautiful place. If only it does not take 2.5 hours one way to the Bear Mountain via cruise so technically you will spend more time on the cruise both ways than at the Bear Mountain itself.
Review by: Joanne D, October 2015
Beautiful scenery if you can deal with the very uncomfortable folding chair seating. Boat was overcrowded and food left much to be desired. I was expecting more but the scenery made it worthwhile.
Review by: Donald K, October 2015
Did not go on this tour. We purchased two tickets based on Viator's claim that we could reschedule if necessary. When I called to say we couldn't make the all day tour I was told there could be no changes. I will never book with Viator again.
Review by: Karen T, October 2015
Awesome day out. Lovely boat with a fantastic commentary.
Review by: janice o, October 2015
The circle line cruise to bear mountain was just lovely. The MC was very informative and funny. The bartender, Aleshia, was great. I enjoyed it and will return to do other trips. _br/_ This trip, however, is not for the handicap or old. There was much walking and up a very steep mountain. FYI wear good walking shoes.
Review by: RAGIP D, October 2015
we enjoyed the tour very much,first there was error for sept 13,was corrected and got this tour very nice day would recomend to any one...,,//
Review by: RAGIP D, October 2015
there was no cruise that day,very disappointed the day was lost,had to change it to sept27 now we are happy.
Review by: Christine F, September 2015
Beautiful spot would be perfect in Fall - really enjoyed the day
Review by: Cristina G, March 2015
Wonderful view of NYC, the staff was very professional. I highly recommen this tour.
Review by: J M, March 2015
Pleasant ride out and enjoyed the guide pointing out things along the way. Oktoberfest was fun but got a bit crowded.
Review by: shirleya_watts, March 2015
Weather was beautiful, staff vey helpful a fabulous day and worth the money .
Review by: Lindsay T, January 2015
The sightseeing boat tour was okay. The captain was great at explaining everything and the ride was smooth. But it was 3 hours each way. My only comments are that they were serving alcohol at 9 a.m. which just seemed "wrong" and people were clearly taking advantage. There was a good sized bathroom on the boat. Bear Mountain was awesome!! Loved it, however, they don't tell you on this website that you have to hike up the mountain from the boat just to get to the main area where the Octoberfest was. This was very tough for my dad who has bad knees and those who wore heels or uncomfortable shoes. Wished we were prepared for that. But the mountain was great. We did decide it was easier just to drive there though. Okay tour for a one time trip. Won't do it again.
Review by: Phyllis M, December 2014
I did not realize I was going to have to climb such a steep pathway just to get to the event. It was a nice cruise but I could not hear what the tour guide was saying. The festival was not as good as I had expected. I thought there would have been more craft and items from Germany as well as a better selection of food..
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