Bear Mountain to Pine Hill
 

Are there any problems with this route from Bear Mountain to Pine Hill? If so, what would you suggest instead?
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27684145

9W kinda looks like a highway north of the bear mountain circle, with on and off ramps. Probably not a fun ride and not even sure it's legal. That being said, it doesn't look there's really any other option on that side of the river, other than maybe route 293, which opens up a whole new can of worms regarding the legality of riding on the Palisades parkway (needed to access 293 from the bear mtn circle). Never done this, maybe someone else has experience. :foo:

Two years ago I rode the first three miles of 9W (to 218) and it was ok. I don't know what it's like north of there.

The actual NYS Bike Rt 9 crosses to the other side of the river at the Bear Mtn Bridge. You could take that to Poughkeepsie and cross the the bridge there to continue on 9W. The section of 9W through West Point and Black Rock forest and maybe as far as RT 84 in Newburgh is 4 lanes and I'm not sure what the shoulder is like. North of there you're going through towns, and malls and it's a regular busy road, but not limited access at all. I road a small section around Marlboro a few years back and recall it being just 2 lanes through there.

The bridge at Poughkeepsie is a wonderfully scenic spot (Walkway Over the Hudson). The rail trail it connects to on the west bank can take you halfway to New Paltz, and back onto your original route. The remainder of the route to New Paltz is on Rt 299 which is has traffic running around 50 mph or so. There are shoulders but you might enjoy using Old Route 299 instead (a little less direct and less heavy traffic). The rail trail north out of New Paltz is nice with a great scenic bridge at Rosendale. That's as far as I've been.

Thank you all for your suggestions.