Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain, NY

The Hudson River in New York is one of the longest waterways in the state and one of the most important. There are points along the river that have been protected by the state of New York to ensure they will remain as pristine as they have been for centuries. One of those places is Bear Mountain State Park in Bear Mountain, New York.

The state park is located in the mountains of the state on the west bank of the river. The park offers numerous outdoor activities including a large play field, shaded picnic areas, and a dock for small watercrafts. Since it is on the river the water crafts must be shallow and without motors. Any non motored craft can be used on the lake including little tubes. Also as part of the state park are fishing, a swimming pool, zoo, nature center, hiking, biking, and Nordic trails. The river does lead into a lake, which provides plenty of fishing opportunities.

An outdoor rink is open from October to mid March for those who enjoy skating. They can also come to play hockey on the rink if visitors wish. Inside the park are a couple of sites one might wish to see. They include the Perkins Memorial Tower which sits on the top of Bear Mountain. It can be hiked to if one is adventurous enough to spend the whole day out on a trail. From the tower it is possible to see the entire park, the Hudson Highlands, and Harriman State Park. Also within the park is a Merry Go Round with painted scenes of native animals. These images were handed painted. There are also 42 hand carved seats that look like native animals.

They are formed after black bear, wild turkey, deer, raccoon, Canada goose, fox, skunk, bobcat, and rabbit. The park is open to dogs that are muzzled or on a leash. The leash cannot be longer than 6 feet. The dogs are not allowed in buildings, picnic areas, bathing spots, or on the walkways. They are also not allowed in the Trailside Museum or Wildlife Center. Bear Mountain State Park is open all year round from early morning to sunset.

There are sections of Bear Mountain State Park and nearby where one can find vacation rentals. Some of the land is private with homes that were constructed several years before the land was made a state park. For those who wish to enjoy the park overnight the rentals are the only way to do so. There are no campsites within the park. Instead it is meant as a conservation center for daily fun with plenty of daily activities. The nature trails are mostly handicap accessible.

Visitors to Bear Mountain State Park are able to shop in the gift store for any souvenir they wish. There are also plenty of fun spots for photographers and recording the memories of a vacation. The Empire Passport is accepted at this park to allow access from one park to another.