Perkins Memorial Tower

Status: Standing Lookout
Elevation: 1,300 feet
Prominence: 700 feet
State: New York
County: Orange
AT Access: Trail goes over the summit.

In 1928 the Palisades State Park Commission erected a 60-foot standard Aermotor LS40 tower on the summit of Bear Mountain in Bear Mountain State Park. The tower high above the Hudson River was a highlight to anyone visiting the park.

In 1932, the George W. Perkins Memorial Drive was started, taking 2 years to build by the Civilian Conservation Corps before being opened to the public in 1934. The road works its way up the face of Bear Mountain, is just under 5 miles in length, reaches Bear Mountain Park at the summit, then drops down the southern side of the mountain to join the Seven Lakes Drive.

In 1934, the steel tower was taken down to make way for the 65 foot high Perkins Memorial Tower erected in honor of George W. Perkins Sr., the first president of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, from 1900 to 1920. It was a gift of Perkins widow and son. It was used as an observatory, a fire lookout and as a U.S. Weather Bureau station. The stone structure is 30 by 30 feet at the base, fashioned from rock quarried at the base of the mountain. From the summit you can find an unobstructed views north, east, south and west as far as the eye can see.

In 1953 it stopped being used for fire observation.

In 1990, the Perkins family donated $100,000 to defray the cost of producing new exhibits and also agreed to donate $650,000 over a period of years as an endowment for the maintenance of the tower. It was completely renovated and re-opened to the public.

Located in Bear Mountain State Park, this Perkins Memorial Tower is a popular travel destination. Four states (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania) are visible from the tower as is the NYC skyline. It is also said there is evidence of the former tower at the very summit. On the mountains east side, the Appalachian Trail has 800 stone stairs.

Nice benches all over the mountain

Perkins Memorial Tower and Bear Mountain from a northbound AT approach hike

Historic image from the viewpoint

Photo by Michael Herrick

Map of Bear Mountain and how the Appalachian Trail climbs up, around and back down the mountain.

Below: Some historic images of the Perkins Memorial Drive being built up to the summit

The tower in the distance

Perkins Memorial Tower

Lots of stone steps on the mountain

Trail down the mountain

Vending machines at the summit