I had heard a lot about Anthony’s Nose from friend’s in the city who hike. Like Breakneck Ridge it’s a pretty popular day hike because it’s a short walk from a Metro-North Station. I went with my friend Ranger Rick on a Sunday day hike.
According to AWOL’s 2018 Northbound The A.T. Guide the hike from the Maintou Rd (Really South Mountain Road, I believe) to the Camp Smith Trail is one mile. Anthony’s Nose is a short hike down the blue blazed Camp Smith Trail. However, accessing the trail from the Metro-North involves a pretty steep road walk from Manitou Station.
To get to the trail head from the city, take the Metro-North towards Poughkeepsie and get off at Manitou. It’s a tiny stop with a station hut and a few houses right next to the Hudson River. You’ll need to be in the back car in order to get off, but most of the conductors are good at announcing reminders.
Follow Manitou Station road all the way up to route 9D. It’ll be your busiest crossing (everything else are side roads or private drive ways) and there will be a New York State historical marker for the chain across the Hudson during the Revolutionary War.
A lot of people recommend following 9D to a trailhead on the southside of the mountain, I do not.
Instead, cross 9D and stay on the gravel Manitou Road. Keep following it and make sure you don’t end up on some of the private drive ways that look a bit like roads. At your next intersection you’ll turn right onto South Mountain Pass. You’ll start walking uphill and go by Fern Hill Rd and High Ridge Rd following a brook all the way up.
You’ll start seeing some Appalachian Trail boundary markers and then your first blaze will be right at a little pull off about two cars wide.
Head onto the trail, past the car gate and follow the Appalachian Trail until you hit the junction with the blue blazed Camp Smith Trail.
Follow the Camp Smith Trail about 0.6 miles to the view, passing some smaller views and little pond along the way.
Anthony’s Nose gives you a cool vantage of Bear Mountain Bridge and Bear Mountain itself as well as views down the Hudson back toward New York City.
-Babysteps
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