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Hudson Valley Scenic Drives

Photo posted with permission of Silvanus Lodge, Hillsdale, NY (Columbia county)

Hudson Valley Getaways

Travel Plans for Fall Foliage

A scenic byway is a road, but not just a road. It's a road with a story to tell. A scenic byway might offer magnificent views or fascinating historical sites or amazing wildlife. It might offer access to an exhilarating array of outdoor activities or reveal captivating cultures, spellbinding art or spectacular structures.

Whether a scenic byway offers one or many of these things, it always offers a great experience. A scenic byway is a "win/win" arrangement for the travelers who use it and the communities that adjoin it. Travelers are treated to an uncommonly exiting, educational or entertaining trek. Communities profit by an organized management plan that protects and enhances the byway corridor while encouraging increased tourism.
Source: New York State's Scenic Byways (see below)

Belleayre Mountain

The Sky Ride will be running (weather permitting) to take riders to the summit of Belleayre Mountain, where the peak of autumn color in the Catskill Mountains can be enjoyed.

Interlaken Inn

74 Interlaken Rd.

Lakeville CT 06039

(860) 435-9878

Resort style Inn with meeting facilities. Complete recreational amenities including 2 Lakes, Tennis, Golf and Gameroom....

The Interlaken Inn of Lakeville, CT

Delaware County

Pepacton and Cannonsville reservoirs in Delaware County offer breathtaking views of fall foliage, along with some of the best fly fishing east of the Mississippi. (Route 30 from Margaretville or Andes to Downsville along the southern edge of the Pepacton, and Route 10 from Walton to Deposit)

Howes Caves

Driving directions to Howes Cave, from NYC
182 mi – about 3 - 4 hours from NYC. Scenic Route, NYS Thruway (I-87) North to Exit 21, Catskill, Rt 23 West, Rt 145 North, Rt 7 East Follow signs.

Scenic Route, NYS Thruway (I-87) North to Exit 21, Catskill, Rt 23 West, Rt 145 North, Rt 7 East Follow signs.

Mohonk Mountain House

New Paltz, NY (I87 to exit 18), though the college town of New Paltz and follow the signs. Or you can bypass the Mountain House and go over the top of the mountain to Rt 213, High Falls.

Mountain Top

Mountain Top is in the Catskill Range between Hunter Mountain and Cave Mountain aka Windham Mountain. Our community is referred to as "The Mountaintop" which includes Haines Falls, Tannersville, Elka Park, Hunter, Lexington, Maplecrest, Hensonville, Windham, Ashland / Jewett, Prattsville, Durham, and Cairo.

Palisades Interstate Parkway

The Palisades Interstate Parkway (PIP) is a 38 miles long in parts of NJ and NY. The parkway is a major commuter route into NYC from Rockland and Orange counties in NY and Bergen County in NJ. The PIP ends / begins at the George Washington Bridge (I-95/US 1-9/US 46 and the end of NJ 4) in Fort Lee, New Jersey. At Exit 18, the PIP forms a concurrency with U.S. Route 6 for the duration of its run. The PIP ends at a traffic circle in Fort Montgomery, NY, where the PIP connects to Rt 9W and Rt 202 and the Bear Mountain Bridge.

Route 9

(east side of the Hudson River)
U.S. Route 9 is a north-south United States highway in the states of Delaware, New Jersey, and New York. It is one of only two U.S. highways with a ferry connection (the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, between Lewes, Delaware and Cape May, New Jersey); the other being US 10. US 9 is signed east-west in Delaware and north-south on the rest of its route.

Route 9W 

(west side of the Hudson River) From NJ to Albany, NY
U.S. Route 9W is a U.S. Highway which runs from Interstate 95, U.S. Routes 1 and 9, US-46, and the Palisades Interstate Parkway at the foot of the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, New Jersey up the west side of the Hudson River to terminate at Rt 9, in Albany, NY.

Route 28

Alternate route to Cooperstown by taking local roads from I87, exit 19. Follow Rt 28 all the way. Cooperstown is north of Rt 88, signs are posted. Great fall colors along the way. Slow down and enjoy the views.

Cooperstown (Baseball Hall of Fame)
Take I-87 north to I-90 Take I-90 west to Exit 25A Take I-88 west to Exit 25 and get on Route 7 Follow Route 7 to Route 20 west Take Route 20 west to Route 80 Take Route 80 south to Cooperstown. About 240 miles from NYC.

Route 32 

From exit 20, after the toll booth you have to turn right to be on Rt 32, towards Cairo, passing the Alcove Reservoir to Bethlehem Center, Rt 9, just South of Albany

Turning left leads to Rt 212 / Rt 32 into the village of Saugerties and Rt 9, North to Catskill and exit 20, I87 or South to Kingston and exit 19, I87.

Route 97

The Upper Delaware Scenic Byway in New York roughly parallels the Upper Delaware River from Port Jervis in Orange County to Hancock in Delaware County, with the majority of the route being located in Sullivan County. It is an area characterized by stunning scenery, a rich history, communities both lively and quaint, and an abundance of recreational opportunities.

The Delaware River not only forms the scenic backdrop to this attractive area, but also the historical backdrop to the communities and land patterns of today. Views across the river to Pennsylvania emphasize the integral role neighboring river communities across the border have played and continue to play in life along the byway corridor. This tapestry of qualities—historic, natural, scenic, recreational, and cultural—offers the visitor many ways in which to explore and experience the area. 

Route 209

Pick up Rt 209 any where from Philadelphia, PA to Kingston, NY where is ends and becomes Rt 199, to cross the Hudson river going East to Dutchess County over the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge.

Saratoga Springs

Saratoga Springs is home to horse racing, concerts, history, museums, gaming, mineral springs and more. Here is our guide to the top Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County attractions. Of course, there's much more to do on vacation in Saratoga - so check out our full list of things to do. If you plan to go to Saratoga Springs during racing season, August, book your rooms early, at lease 6 months in advance.

Saratoga National Historical Park, Routes 4 and 32, in Stillwater offers a variety of scenic views including one overlooking the Hudson River Valley and another that overlooks three states.

The 155-foot Saratoga Monument, off Route 29, in Schuylerville has 187 steps to the top and offers beautiful panoramic views of a view of Albany’s skyline, the Adirondack and Catskill mountains and three states.

Scenic Circle

I87, exit onto Route 17, North, to Route 209, North to Rt 28 (Kingston) to Thurway South, I87
Near by: Woodbury Common Premium Outlets

Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway

Coming  soon

Taconic State Parkway

Very scenic, winding ride from I287, White Plains to I90, Albany or go east to Boston. Speed limit is 55 MPH and is strictly enforced. Trust me, I know! You can take I87 back to NYC. It was completed in 1932 and the width of the road proves this out. The lanes are narrow, watch out for those vans, pickup trucks and SUVs. The views are awesome anytime of the year. Taconic State Parkway history and exit list.

New York State Scenic Byways Program

New York State's Scenic Byways
A scenic byway is a road, but not just a road. It's a road with a story to tell. A scenic byway might offer magnificent views or fascinating historical sites or amazing wildlife. It might offer access to an exhilarating array of outdoor activities or reveal captivating cultures, spellbinding art or spectacular structures.

Whether a scenic byway offers one or many of these things, it always offers a great experience. A scenic byway is a "win/win" arrangement for the travelers who use it and the communities that adjoin it. Travelers are treated to an uncommonly exiting, educational or entertaining trek. Communities profit by an organized management plan that protects and enhances the byway corridor while encouraging increased tourism.

511 Project
511NY is New York State's official traffic and travel info source. Whether you drive or take public transit, click below for precisely what you need, or simply dial 511 on your phone. Wherever you're going, 511NY is here to get you there.

New York State's Designated Scenic Roads
By Road Name, County and length

Not So Local Road Trips

The Adirondacks

Mount Arab Fire Tower, in the hamlet of Piercefield, near Tupper Lake, offers great views of Tupper Lake and Mount Morris to the southeast, the Adirondack High Peaks to the east, The Raquette River valley to the north, Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest to the southwest, and Mt Arab Lake and Eagle Crag Lake to the west.

Bald Mountain (also know as Rondaxe Mountain), off Route 28 in Old Forge, features a fire tower offering great scenic vistas of the Fulton Chain of Lakes, as well as the parks of the southwestern Adirondacks.

The summit of Mt. Defiance in Ticonderoga features a picnic pavilion with spectacular views of the Champlain Valley and Fort Ticonderoga.

Whiteface Mountain near the Wilmington/Lake Placid area, has a 4,872-foot summit that can be reached via Memorial Highway. The breathtaking Gondola Sky Ride at Whiteface Mountain Ski Center offers unique views of the Adirondack High Peaks, and the Olympic Region, as it climbs to the top of Little Whiteface peak.

Prospect Mountain in Lake George, off Route 9, offers vistas of Lake George and a 100-mile view of five states from a 2,030-foot summit.

The Sagamore

Location: Green Island, on Lake George at Bolton Landing, New York. The Sagamore is accessible year round by automobile via Interstate 87 (the Northway). About 230 miles from NYC.

The Greenbrier

Driving to The Greenbrier is a scenic trip through the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. Located in picturesque White Sulphur Springs, The Greenbrier is accessed by a network of turnpikes and interstate highways, easily linking the Eastern United States to America’s Resort. About 470 miles from NYC.

Books

Books by Joanne Michaels

HUDSON RIVER JOURNEY

ADIRONDACK HIGH

LET'S TAKE THE KIDS!

THE HUDSON VALLEY & CATSKILL MOUNTAINS

Cyber Haus Publishing

159 Delaware Ave #145

Delmar, NY 12054

518-478-9798

Fasten your seat belts for award-winning, war-based, travel books that trace the American Revolution along America's most scenic highways, including the Hudson Valley. The books provide complete driving directions to dozens of sites as well as detailed information, photos, maps and places to eat and stay along the way.

 
Capital-Saratoga

Scenic overlooks at John Boyd Thacher State Park, located on the Helderberg escarpment on Rte 157 in Voorheesville, offer amazing views of the Hudson-Mohawk lowlands, including the City of Albany, and the southern Adirondacks.

Saratoga National Historical Park, Routes 4 and 32, in Stillwater offers a variety of scenic views including one overlooking the Hudson River Valley and another that overlooks three states.

The 155-foot Saratoga Monument, off Route 29, in Schuylerville has 187 steps to the top and offers beautiful panoramic views of a view of Albany’s skyline, the Adirondack and Catskill mountains and three states.

Grafton Lakes State Park on Route 2 in Grafton provides great views along Route 2 and throughout the park along fives lakes.

The Empire State Plaza in Albany features an observation deck at the 42-story Corning Tower, offering spectacular views of the Helderbergs and Catskills.

 
The Catskills
 
Sam’s Point Dwarf Pine Ridge Preserve, a National Landmark on Route 52 in Ellenville, showcases views of five states.

Point Lookout, on Route 23 in East Windham, offers scenic viewing of the Hudson Valley and five states.

Kaaterskill Falls, Route 23A, in Haines Falls, the highest cascading waterfalls in New York State, with scenic marked hiking trails and magnificent views of the Hudson Valley.

Pepacton and Cannonsville reservoirs in Delaware County offer breathtaking views of fall foliage, along with some of the best fly fishing east of the Mississippi. (Route 30 from Margaretville or Andes to Downsville along the southern edge of the Pepacton, and Route 10 from Walton to Deposit)
 

 
Central-Leatherstocking

Vroman’s Nose, off Route 30 near Middleburgh, offers a short uphill hike and breathtaking views of Schoharie Valley and the northern Catskill Mountains.

Round Top picnic area, in Endicott, off Route 17C, offers hiking, shelters and scenic east-west overlooks.

A drive to the top of Torture Hill near the statue of the Lady of Fatima and the Monument of the Unborn at the Auriesville Shrine, located just off Route 5S in Auriesville, offers commanding scenic views of the confluence of the Mohawk River and the Schoharie Creek.

The Overlook Trail at Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site, off Route 5S,in Fort Hunter offers scenic views of the Schoharie Aqueduct with the Mohawk Valley’s fall foliage in the background and the Schoharie Creek in the foreground.

Chittenango Falls State Park on Route 13 in Cazenovia offers a spectacular view in the autumn of waterfalls and a colorful gorge.
 

 
Hudson Valley
 
Trophy Point, on a tour of the grounds of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (Route 9W), boasts magnificent fall views of the Hudson River and the Hudson Valley.

West Point Overlook, Route 9W between Highland Falls and Cornwall,offers scenic viewing of the United States Military Academy at West Point and the Hudson River.

Sky Top Tower (also known as Smiley Memorial Tower) at Lake Mohonk, near New Paltz off Route 299, offers views of six neighboring states. Requires a hike to the top.

Minnewaska State Park on Route 44/55 in New Paltz, provides spectacular views of the Shawangunk Mountains and Hudson Valley.

Elks-Brox Park Overlook, off of Route 97 near Hawk’s Nest in Port Jervis, provides scenic views of the valley where the Neversink River meets the Delaware.

The top lookout of Perkins Memorial Drive in Bear Mountain State Park in Bear Mountain offers spectacular views of Bear Mountain and Harriman State Parks. (Route 9W or the Palisades Interstate Parkway).

Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, Route 9, in Hyde Park overlooks the Hudson River with a spectacular view of the Catskill Mountains.

DeLaVergne Hill, Route 44 East, in Amenia, a mile-long "S" curve on a descending road, features magnificent views of three states. (Rt. 44 East)

Olana State Historic Site on Route 9G in Hudson offers magnificent views of the Hudson River and surrounding farm land.

Clermont State Historic Site off Route 9G in Clermont offers magnificent views of the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains.

Harvey Mountain State Forest in Austerlitz offers magnificent views of the Hudson Valley Region. (East Hill Rd. off Rt 22, near the I-90 B-3 Exit)
 

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