Bradbury Mountain State Park

Please excuse the late posting of this adventure, an obvious relapase on my part as evidenced by the bright fall colors no longer existant this late in the season. Bradbury Mountain State Park was a destination suggestion of a member of the Peregrine Press, a printing co-op that Mike is hoping to be involved with.

We embarked upon Bradbury Mtn. in late October and were rewarded with magnificent views of 800+ acres of forested land dressed in bright reds, oranges and yellows stretching out towards the ocean.







Sculpted by a glacier, Bradbury Mountain itself is the park's most outstanding natural feature. A great variety of plants and animals call the mountain home and it also offers views of migrating hawks and eagles, much like Hawk Mountain in PA, except the best time to view the migration is Spring instead of PA's fall.

Before the first Europeans arrived, Wabanakis camped on the mountain on trips to the coast. In the early 1800’s, the Cotton family raised grapes on terraces still visible on the mountain. To hold stray cattle, sheep, and pigs, the early settlers built the cattle pound that still stands on Rt. 9 near the Northern Loop Trail. Near the ball field visitors can still see where feldspar was mined in the 1920’s to make crockery and china.

Acquired from the Federal Government in 1939, Bradbury Mountain became one of the five original state parks. In the 1940’s, it offered downhill skiing with a rope tow. In the 1990’s, the park added 250 acres.











The $3 to get into the park and the 30 minute drive was well worth it. We plan on doing some winter camping on Bradbury soon before I head out to El Paso!