There aren’t too many sunny days that can’t be made better by a walk through the woods, and Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal is the perfect place for that kind of activity. People who live nearby make the Mountain a regular destination, but just the view is worth the drive.

The major draw in the park is the view from the summit. A short hike of a fifth of a mile is rewarded by the panoramic view from Pownal all the way to the coast from a ledge 485 feet above sea level. Most of the area is tree-covered, making the autumn foliage vista absolutely breathtaking. The summit trail, while steep, is relatively short, and perfectly suitable for children with proper supervision. Longer, flatter alternatives are available if you’d like to spread your effort out, some with their own scenic overlooks.

The state acquired Bradbury Mountain in 1939, one of the original five state parks. Today the park covers 600 acres crisscrossed with trails of various lengths and difficulties.

All of the trails are open to hikers; many are also open to bicycles and horses. In winter months, some trails are available for cross country skiing and snowmobiles.

The Boundary Trail – one of the longer ones – is a pleasant hike along mossy stone walls through a mixed pine and hardwood forest. A few steep areas may challenge you, but none seem exceptionally difficult. There’s a special magic in finding yourself alone the woods, far from the sounds of traffic and people, with the birds singing and the mosquitoes buzzing in your ear. On the day I took these pictures, a pair of red squirrels crossed the path just ahead of me, one in pursuit of the other, and disappeared into the underbrush on the other side - apparently unconcerned about my proximity.

Children enjoy the small playground, and the picnic tables near the ball field make Bradbury Mountain the perfect spot for an impromptu family outing. Camping is also available if your plans call for a longer stay.

You can also see the remains of the cattle pound used by early settlers in Pownal to round up stray livestock and explore a feldspar quarry used in the 1920s to make crockery and china.

The state charges a small fee of $3 for adults and $1 for children. Season passes are available for frequent visitors.

Bradbury Mountain is on Route 9 in Pownal, just north of Yarmouth. It’s five miles from the Freeport-Durham exit of I 95.