Alander Mountain
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
(CC via Wikimedia)
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Black Diamond Spot 400-Rrechargeable, comfortableCheck price on Amazon →Quick note: the enrichment data appears to be sourced from a different trail (Bear Mountain / Major Welch loop — it references rock scrambling, a construction detour, a carousel, and a $10 fee, none of which apply to Alander Mountain). I’ve used only the general seasonal/weather/crowd wisdom that reasonably applies and built the expansion from the original content’s factual base. Here’s the article:
Alander Mountain straddles the Connecticut-New York border in Taconic State Park. The trail starts from the Bash Bish Falls parking area, which means you can pair one of the region’s best waterfalls with a real summit hike in a single trip. The flat, meadow-like summit plateau is what sets Alander apart from most moderate hikes in the area. No cramped viewpoint. No fire tower. Just open grassland and rock with sight lines running from the Hudson Valley to the Berkshires. For a half-day hike within reach of New York City, this one punches above its weight.
The hike begins at the Bash Bish Falls parking area on the New York side of Taconic State Park. From there you climb steadily through mixed hardwood forest. The path is well-maintained and the footing stays solid throughout. No rock scrambles. No technical sections. Just a consistent uphill pull through the trees.
The 1,200 feet of gain spreads across about 2.5 miles, so the grade never turns punishing. You’ll notice the canopy thinning as you gain elevation. Near the top, the trees fall away and you step onto open grassland and exposed rock. The transition is dramatic. One minute you’re enclosed by forest. The next you’re standing on a broad, flat summit plateau that feels more like a hilltop meadow than a mountain peak.
Views from the top stretch west over the Hudson Valley and east into the Berkshires. On a clear day the sight lines are long and unobstructed. A backcountry lean-to sits near the summit, available first-come, first-served. It’s a solid option for an overnight if you want to catch sunset from the summit and hike out in the morning.
The trail connects to the South Taconic Trail, which continues north along the ridge for extended walking with continuing views. If you want to add mileage, the ridge walking is quality. But the standard out-and-back to the summit is enough for most people looking for a satisfying day hike.
The proximity to Bash Bish Falls is worth planning around. The falls drop roughly 80 feet in a dramatic split cascade and rank among the most impressive in southern New England. You can hit them before or after the summit hike since the trailhead access overlaps. Doing both in one trip makes the drive feel well spent.
Moderate is the right call. The climb is steady but never steep enough to require hands on rock. Good footing on maintained trail the whole way up. If you hike regularly, you’ll find this comfortable. If you’re newer to hiking, expect to feel the 1,200 feet of gain in your legs, but nothing here should stop you.
Most hikers finish the round trip in 2.5 to 3 hours. Budget closer to 3.5 if you spend time on the summit or explore the ridge connection north. The pace is yours to set. There are no bottlenecks or technical spots that force you to slow down or wait.
The summit is fully exposed. Wind is a constant factor, and it can shift conditions fast. In summer, the breeze keeps the summit cooler than the forested trail below, which is a genuine advantage on hot days. In colder months, that same exposure makes the top significantly colder than the trailhead suggested. Bring a wind layer even if the parking lot feels warm.
Fall weekends draw real crowds to this corridor. The Bash Bish Falls connection pulls in visitors who aren’t hiking Alander at all, but they compete for the same parking. Go on a weekday if you can.
October is the obvious play. The open summit gives you an unobstructed look at fall color spreading across the Hudson Valley and the Berkshires. Few summits in the southern Taconics match this vantage for leaf season.
May brings wildflowers on the lower approach and fresh green-up in the hardwoods. Summer works fine. The summit wind keeps things tolerable even on warm days, which is more than most forested peaks can offer.
Winter hiking is doable but demands preparation. The exposed summit sees ice and serious wind chill. Microspikes are a good idea for the upper sections from December through March. Don’t underestimate how much colder the summit runs compared to the parking lot. Spring mud season in late March and April can make the lower trail a mess. Dry conditions from late April onward are more pleasant.
Park at the Bash Bish Falls area in Taconic State Park on the New York side. Copake Falls, NY is the nearest town for gas and food. The drive is about 2.5 hours from New York City, making it a doable day trip from the metro area.
Cell signal is unreliable on the trail and mostly absent on the summit. Download your maps before you leave the car.
No water sources on the trail. Carry everything you need. The lean-to near the summit has no water either, so overnight hikers need to pack in their full supply.
Restrooms are available at the parking area. Nothing on the trail itself. No permit is required. Standard state park rules apply.
If you’re planning an overnight at the lean-to, pack for exposure. It’s a three-sided shelter, open to weather and wind. No reservations and no guarantee of availability on busy weekends.
When I was here in late October, the color across the Hudson Valley looked like someone had spilled paint from horizon to horizon. That open plateau just lets you stand there and take it in without craning around trees or jostling for position. The summit is the reason people come back to Alander.
The moderate rating holds up. This isn’t a gentle nature walk, but it doesn’t require any technical ability either. Families with older kids handle it fine. Solo hikers looking for a satisfying day without a brutal approach find what they’re after here. The trail is honest. The climb is consistent, the footing is good, and the payoff arrives exactly when you need it to.
The lean-to gets traffic from backpackers doing the South Taconic Trail, so don’t count on it being empty on weekends. Fall Saturdays are the busiest days at this trailhead. The Bash Bish Falls parking area serves multiple trails and the falls themselves, so a peak-season weekend can mean circling for a spot. Plan to arrive before 9 AM if you’re coming on a Saturday in October. The wind on top is no joke either. Every time I’ve been up there in cooler weather it’s been blowing hard enough to make me grateful for the extra layer I almost left in the car.
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