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)
Read about Hudson
Valley Fall Foliage Tweets below
7 Lakes Drive
Seven Lakes Drive begins at an intersection with
Route 17 in Sloatsburg. The road here is designated
Reference
Route 981G and intersects with some local roads in
Sloatsburg for .36 of a mile. At .4 of a mile, Seven Lakes Drive
crosses under the New York State Thruway and
intersects with Johnsontown Road the first time. After the
intersection with Johnsontown Road, Seven Lakes Drive loses its 981G
designation and enters Harriman State Park. The
parkway intersects with Johnsontown Road again and heads to the
northeast.
See red line on the map
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.
There are many
ways to experience the fall in the Hudson Valley
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)
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.
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.
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.
(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.
(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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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'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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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)
