IN THIS SECTION
A 556-acre bedrock island nestled in the Bear Mountain State Park, Iona Island is bordered by meadows, marshes, shallows, and mudflats offers incredible paddling and wildlife viewing opportunities. Iona Island is part of the New York State Birding Trail, which highlights world-class birding opportunities across the state.
A variety of waterfowl, wetland birds, deer, muskrats, turtles, frogs, fish, and crabs call the marshes of Iona Island their home, and bald eagles often roost on the island in the winter. Iona offers important opportunities for research and education as well as being a National Natural Landmark designated by the National Park Service.
Enjoy Iona Island through the free public canoe programs offered by the Reserve every summer, or from the peaceful overlook off of Route 9W. Note that there is no public canoeing or kayaking allowed in the marshes surrounding Iona Island.
Iona Island is one of four sites in the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve.
For more information on the Iona Island site, including rules, restrictions, and guidelines for allowed uses, visit the DEC website.
Visit Iona Island
Open for Recreation: Year-round
Fee: Free
Allowed Uses: Parking, Paddling, Wildlife Watching (may be seasonal or have other restrictions)
Directions
All coordinates provided are in decimal degrees using NAD83/WGS84 datum.
Iona Island Parking Area
Provides scenic overlook (41.302794°N, 73.978351°W) Google Maps (leaves website).
From the west: On the west side of the Hudson River just south of Bear Mountain Bridge, Iona Island is accessible by car via a two-lane causeway from Route 9W/202 across Salisbury Meadow. Travel to Bear Mountain traffic circle and turn right onto 9W south. About one mile south of the turn-off for Bear Mountain Inn, the road flattens out. Look for and make a left-hand turn onto Iona Island Causeway. This road cuts directly through the tidal wetlands. Drive about ½ mile. There is parking just before the railroad tracks near the kiosk.
Bear Mountain Parkway Parking Area
Provides scenic overlook on the east side of the river with excellent views of Iona Island (41.311966°N, 73.970621°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website).
