The trailhead for Black Bear Mountain is just off NY 28 between Inlet and Eagle Bay, north of Old Forge.  It is also the trailhead for Rocky Mountain, a short steep climb to good views of the Inlet area of Fourth Lake.  The trailhead parking appears to be on a short section of an old abandoned highway.

The trail up Black Bear starts at the end of the old road / parking lot nearest Inlet.  There are two routes up Black Bear, the shorter, but steeper route of 1.9 miles and the longer but muddier route of 3.1 miles.  There is another trailhead on Uncas Road that isn't as steep but is 2.2 miles to the summit.

From the NY 28 trailhead, follow the yellow discs on a well used trail.  At 0.7 miles reach a "Y" junction of two yellow trails and veer right.  Soon the trail is marked with blue discs.  Great views await on the summit of Black Bear Mountain.  There are some steep sections.  This hike is 1.9 miles one way to the summit (3.8 miles round trip).  There is an elevation change of almost 700 feet on this hike.

The first 0.7 mile section of the trail is common to both routes and has generally very good footing and very little ascent.  The intersection where the two routes meet is not well marked but the trail up the short way bears right at that point, and the foot tread in that direction is well worn.  The longer route continues straight ahead on a fainter path.

The shorter route which for most of the way was a very good trail that ascended maybe a hundred feet before leveling out and then later ascending moderately until I was right up against the summit cone of Black Bear.  At that point, the trail climbs up a cliff that is at least 12 feet high which at times can be covered with moisture seeping out of the mountain.  Of course there are hand holds and foot holds and it isn’t exactly straight up, but it is steep.  After that “crux of the climb” there is maybe 400 more feet of steep climbing with more moderate shorter “cliffs” to scale. 

The summit has a large open area and great views both down toward the chain of lakes and to the northeast toward the High Peaks.

Directions:  The trailhead is off NY 28 between Eagle Bay and Inlet, NY; north of Old Forge.  There are two other hikes close by.  The trail to Rocky Mountain is at the same trailhead and Ferd's Bog trail is off Uncas Road (Brown's Tract Road).

Pictures from Black Bear Mountain

Trailhead The parking area for the trails to Rocky & Black Bear Mountain off NY 28 near Inlet, NY.	Summit Sign The DEC sign after hiking 0.7 miles at the "Y" junction of the two yellow trails. Here you veer right.	Steep A very steep section of the trail on the way to the summit of Black Bear Mountain.	View Some of the first views as you approach the summit.	Views More views from the rock ledges as you approach the summit.	Summit View from the summit of Black Bear Mountain near Inlet, NY. This is the first view as you reach the open summit.
View View from the summit of Black Bear Mountain near Inlet, NY.	View View from the summit of Black Bear Mountain near Inlet, NY.	View View from the summit of Black Bear Mountain near Inlet, NY.	View View from the summit of Black Bear Mountain near Inlet, NY.	View View from the summit of Black Bear Mountain near Inlet, NY.	View View from the summit of Black Bear Mountain near Inlet, NY.
View View from near the summit of Black Bear Mountain near Inlet, NY.	View View from near the summit of Black Bear Mountain near Inlet, NY.	View From Black Bear Mountain	View From Black Bear Mountain	Trail Marking Arrow letting you know the way to go during another steep section of this hike.	Well used trail

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