Perkins Memorial Drive is a short, steep, winding road that climbs to the top of Bear Mountain, in the Hudson Highlands, about fifty miles north of New York City, and it is one of the best-known viewpoints in the region. At the summit, a stone tower built in the 1930s in memory of a conservationist and philanthropist, George Perkins, stands at about thirteen hundred feet, and from its top you can see the Hudson valley, the Catskills in the north and, on a very clear day, the skyline of Manhattan, forty miles to the south. The road is closed in winter, usually from late autumn to spring, and in icy conditions, so check before you go.
Below the mountain lies the Hudson, which here cuts through the Highlands in a deep fjord-like gorge. The Bear Mountain Bridge, opened in 1924, was the first bridge across the river south of Albany, and for a time it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. The Appalachian Trail passes close by, and, at a little zoo at the foot of the mountain, reaches its lowest point, only a few score feet above sea level. The park is run by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, and it was one of the first protected areas in the New York region, set aside in the early twentieth century to save the mountains from quarrying.
Fort Montgomery, a short distance to the south, has a hard place in history. In October 1777, the British stormed the American forts here, Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton, to open the river to their ships, and although the defenders fought hard, the forts fell, and the British burned towns upriver. The site of Fort Montgomery is now a state historic site, with a small museum and good views.
The drive up is a joy, with tight curves, a smooth surface and trees overhanging the road, and it is short enough to ride twice. Weekends are busy, and the summit car park fills with cars, so aim for a weekday. Fuel is in Highland Falls and Peekskill, and there are diners and delis in both. The best season is October, when the foliage glows below you, though a clear spring morning is almost as good. Dress warmly, since the summit is windy and cooler than the valley.