To experience the full extent, start your tour in Voorhesville, a few miles south of Albany at the John Boyd Thacher State Park. Here, trails cut through the rock-faced escarpment and overlook the surrounding farms, historic villages and skyline of downtown Albany. Then cross the Hudson River and visit the historic Oakwood Cemetery in Troy, where 100 miles of the valley stretch out before you in sensational color. By the way, this rural resting place is where such notables as the fellow who modeled for James Montgomery Flagg’s World War I “Uncle Sam” poster are buried.
Travel a bit farther south for expansive views of the valley in Greenport at Olana, the home of Hudson River School artist Frederic Church. Looking much like it did in the 1800s, the view makes you feel like you’ve stepped out of one of Church’s paintings. Back on the road, traverse the Rip Van Winkle Bridge to Five State Lookout between Cairo and Windham. The panorama here stretches for 180 miles, taking in five states and four different mountain ranges.
Another multi-state vista can be found outside of New Paltz from the appropriately named stone tower at Mohonk Mountain House known as Sky Top. An easy walking trail leads to this popular lookout where efforts are rewarded with glorious views of the Shawangunk Ridge. On the east bank of the river, stroll the grounds of the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park and gaze across at the Catskill Mountains. Some of the original 1700s plantings still flourish here, like the gingko tree with leaves shimmering like gold coins in autumn. The grounds of another imposing estate, Boscobel in Garrison, offer an astounding panorama memorialized by the painters of the 19th century Hudson River School. Pack a picnic on a warm day and allow the scenery to transport you.
Sometimes it’s more fun watching the fall foliage from the car, and the perfect route for this is the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway outside of Port Jervis. The road parallels the Delaware River along the curvy Hawks Nest portion, offering fabulous scenes of the lushly bordered river below. Or drive the River Road that parallels the Hudson between the charming villages of Piermont and Nyack. The southernmost stop to behold the last leaves of autumn is Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate in Sleepy Hollow. From the balcony of this magnificent mansion, the view across the grounds toward the Hudson is an unforgettable experience.
For more ideas on how to explore the Hudson River Valley, please visit Hudson Valley Tourism’s Web site at www.travelhudsonvalley.com.
Hudson Valley Tourism, Inc. is the 10-county region designated by I LOVE NEW YORK to promote tourism for the area. Counties include Rockland, Orange, Ulster, Greene, Albany, Rensselaer, Columbia, Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester. Regional information can be obtained from any of the county tourism offices, or by calling 845-291-2136.
TOP TEN HUDSON VALLEY LEAF PEEPING HOT SPOTS
John Boyd Thacher State Park. Route 85, Voorhesville. 518-872-1237
Oakwood Cemetery. 186 Oakwood Avenue (Route 40), Troy.
518-272-7520, www.oakwoodcemetery.org
Olana State Historic Site. 5720 Route 9G, Greenport
518-828-0135, www.olana.org
Five State Lookout. Route 23 between Cairo and Windham.
Sky Top. Mohonk Mt. House, New Paltz.
845-255-1000 or 800-772-6646, www.mohonk.com
Vanderbilt Mansion. Route 9, Hyde Park.
845-229-9115, www.nps.gov/vama
Boscobel. 1601 Route 9D, Garrison.
845-265-3638. www.boscobel.org
Upper Delaware Scenic Byway. Route 97 from Port Jervis.
866-511-8372, www.upperdelawarescenicbyway.org
River Road. Piermont through Nyack.
Kykuit. Sleepy Hollow. 914-631-9491, www.hudsonvalley.org
