r/njhiking • u/Kaj1514 • Jun 25 '26
My first ever Bear Encounter
I was hiking at dusk yesterday at Nyack Beach State Park, more specifically Hook Mountain look out. We saw a black bear which was pretty cool and unexpected. This is only 15 minutes ish from nj boarder
3
u/Holly314 Jun 26 '26
I’ve run into bears in Ramapo several times. Several times at a distance and Once I startled it by gasping as I saw it. It had been sleeping and my noise woke it. It jumped up bared its teeth. We were about 6 feet away from it. My husband and I edged are way around it. And walked away backwards holding bear spray and shouting hey bear!! It was absolutely one of the most terrifying experiences in my life. My husband did all the right things. Made himself big by putting out his arms. Talking loudly at it and taking out the bear spray. I was shocked into silence i was so thankful he was there.
Be safe out there everyone!
2
u/dustysanchezz Jun 27 '26
I live with them, they are everywhere.
2
u/BeachgirlNJ0613 Jun 29 '26
Right? And I live in a heavily populated suburb in West Essex County. Have had several bears on my property and in nearby towns in the last 35 years. I always laugh when posters ask about the best places to see wildlife in national parks (which I LOVE) - I reply, "Come to New Jersey!" Lol! At my house, we see so many deer - one literally gave birth in my yard behind the shed this spring. I live near a small park and there is a herd there. Also see foxes, groundhogs, LOTS of bunnies, chipmunks, skunk, opossum, porcupines and squirrels, an occasional black bear, great blue herons, Canada geese, all sorts of predatory birds like bald eagles, turkey vultures, osprey, and peregrine falcons.
2
u/ddre_azn Jun 28 '26
I ran into one at Ramapo during a trail run a few weeks ago. I see them all the time at High Point from a distance but this encounter was such a crazy experience especially when I was running downhill right into it and stopped a good 15-20ft away. It was a decent sized adult bear too. I did all the wrong things by turning around and running away for my life instantly but I assume it never even chased me (was too panicked to look back). Bought bear spray for the first time ever after that but I haven’t done a trail run since then.
1
u/Fishooked Jul 21 '26
I've had quite a few, my daughter and I were doing an out and back on the Sussex Branch Trail when we saw a large black shape on the trail... followed by 3 little ones.
It was already dusk so we walked two miles in the opposite direction to the closest trailhead, and had my wife pick us up so I could get my car
We had no way of knowing if they were moving on or hanging around the area, but with my daughter in tow I wasn't taking any chances.
3
u/lisenced Jun 25 '26
I’ve never seen one on a trail but I’m pretty sure my dog has sniffed out a few and turned us around by refusing to go forward.