Scenic Drives
- Route 9W up Storm King Mountain - Use the designated scenic overlook spots. Parking on the roadside is hazardous.
- Hawk's Nest - Route 97 outside Port Jervis, New York, sits high above the Delaware River. The road is winding and should be driven with caution.
- Route 20 and Route 88 – East/west routes
- Route 9 Starting in Hyde Park - Starting in Hyde Park, Route 9 is the longest north-south highway in New York.
Leaf Peeping Adventure
- Catskill Mountain Railroad Fall Foliage Train Ride: The Catskill Fall Foliage Train boards in Kingston and takes you on the former Ulster & Delaware Railroad Corridor in both closed and open-air cars.
- Zipline at Hunter Mountain: A 10-minute chair lift ride up Hunter Mountain gives awesome views of fall foliage. Then it’s just a short hike to the highest fire tower in NYS and ziplining over the trees!
- Grafton Peace Pagoda: Surrounded by forest, the pagoda is a rare example of a Buddhist temple in the U.S.
- Art Omi: Covering more than 60 acres, Art Omi is one premier sculpture parks in the U.S. and features the work of internationally renowned artists.
Historic sites
Get a little history with your scenic views! These sites offer nature’s beauty and our nation’s history. You can learn more about these spots on the National Park Service website.
- Olana State Historic Site
- Home of Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site
- Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
- Staatsburgh State Historic Site
- Clermont State Historic Site
Take a Hike
Shuffling through the fragrant piles of fallen leaves is part of enjoying the fall foliage. Get up close and see the foliage from below at some of these popular hiking spots. There are so many great trails in the Capital Region and Hudson Valley for every hiker's skill level. You’re bound to discover gorgeous paths, waterfalls, and views that all outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy.
Hudson River Bridges
Many bridges, from the Taconic State Parkway to the Palisades Interstate Parkway, have scenic byways that offer tremendous views of fall foliage along the river.
- Rip Van Winkle Bridge: NY-23 over Hudson River and Railroad, this bridge connects Columbia and Greene Counties.
- Bear Mountain Bridge: U.S. 6 and US 202 between Bear Mountain State Park in Orange County[5] and Cortlandt in Westchester County.
- The New Tappan Zee Bridge: Carries northbound and westbound traffic of the New York State Thruway, Interstate 87 (I-87) and I-287.
- Mid-Hudson Bridge: Carries three lanes of U.S. 44 and NY 55 and a pedestrian/bicycle walkway.
- Newburgh-Beacon Bridge: Carries Interstate 84 (I-84) and New York State Route 52 (NY 52) between Newburgh and Beacon
- Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge: Carries NY 199
State Parks
You can get location, cost, sites of note, and other information about these parks and more on the NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation website.
- Peebles Island State Park offers views of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers, with miles of paths through the wooded landscape with observation decks along the edge.
- Saratoga National Historical Park: The Battlefield Tour Road will bring you to multiple historic sites, and it's free and open to the public.
- Thacher State Park: Enjoy incredible cliff views or take a gentle hike on the Indian Ladder Trail.
- Saratoga Spa State Park: Explore great foliage views, historic buildings, and mineral springs.
- Hudson Highlands State Park
- Bear Mountain State Park
- Harriman State Park
Related Article: Get ahead of your winter plans with these winter outdoor activities in the Hudson Valley.
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Photo by F.A.Pfaffenbach, one of the winners of our MetzWood calendar photo contest.
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