Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Bear Mountain State Park is very close to where I grew up and though I can’t say that we often visited the state park, the mountain has a lot of memories for me since I drove up and down it every day in high school to go swim practice at West Point. Tina and I spent a lot of time on the Hudson River growing up as well so the views of the river and the valley were very much a homecoming for me. The morning we went was hazy, reducing visibility but creating the most lovely blue tints to the distant mountains.

Looking upriver from atop Bear Mountain, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Looking upriver from atop Bear Mountain, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Looking upriver from atop Bear Mountain, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Looking upriver from atop Bear Mountain, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Hudson River Valley, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Hudson River Valley, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Tina doing her thing, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Tina doing her thing, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Tree overlooking the Hudson River, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Tree overlooking the Hudson River, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Tina, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Tina, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Blue tailed salamander hiding in the shade, Bear Mountain State Park, New York (Photo by Tina)

Blue tailed salamander hiding in the shade, Bear Mountain State Park, New York (Photo by Tina)

Tina and I, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Tina and I, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Perkins Memorial Tower, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Perkins Memorial Tower, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

After we wandered around the top of Bear Mountain we drove down and explored another lookout area with views of the Bear Mountain Bridge.

Bear Mountain Bridge, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Bear Mountain Bridge, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Bear Mountain Bridge, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Bear Mountain Bridge, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Views south of Hudson River and Iona Island, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Views south of Hudson River and Iona Island, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Bear Mountain Bridge, Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Bear Mountain Bridge, Bear Mountain State Park, New York