This Hudson River road trip travelogue has been excerpted from the book Road Work: Images and Insights of a Modern Day Explorer. For a lot more detailed road trip information, along with some timely social commentary, we suggest you grab a copy of that book. Read the chapter entitled Vantage Point.
Today’s Adventure: A Hudson River Road Trip
It’s Mid-August 2021, the days are already getting noticeably shorter, and I haven’t ridden in The Adirondack Mountains even once this year. We’re going to fix that today. I’ve got a theme for today’s ride. I can’t call it a plan, because there are a lot of variables on the horizon.
I have a general idea of where I’m heading, but nothing set in stone regarding where I’ll end the day or spend the night. Today I’m going to ride alongside New York’s Hudson River…the entire length of it.
A fairly accurate depiction of part of today’s ride
A Bit of History
Technically the river is considered a tidal estuary, wherein the waterflow direction changes with the ocean tides for the lower 160 miles of it’s length; and contains a mix of salt and fresh water as far north as Poughkeepsie, NY. The river is named after Henry Hudson, a captain who sailed for The Dutch East India Company in the early 1600’s.
Like all great rivers in The United States, its economic significance was built around transportation, agriculture and industry. To this day the river is a powerful industrial and transportation hub. The Port Of New York and New Jersey are the largest oil importing ports and the second & third largest container shipping ports in The United States.
The Day Begins
I roll out of my driveway by 4:00AM and make a quick stop at the local 24 hour gas station to top off my BMW’s tank with its preferred 93 octane energy source. I go into the small attached convenience store and check the winning numbers from last night’s Powerball lottery in hopes that my retirement has become completely funded overnight. It’s not my lucky day but I am reassured knowing that I have enough cash in my pocket to tide me over until Wednesday’s drawing.
Around first light I shoot right across The George Washington Bridge. This is my first encounter with The Hudson River today, and I start wandering around Fort Lee, NJ looking for a suitable place to capture an image of this iconic span.
The George Washington Bridge spans the mighty Hudson River near New York City
I exit onto The Palisades Interstate Parkway, a lovely road that runs along the cliffs lining the western side of the river. At four lanes wide this is hardly a “back road” but commercial traffic is prohibited on it. It’s still early enough in the morning that the hordes of New York City weekend escapees haven’t found their way onto it yet. I ride the length of this motorway to its terminus at Bear Mountain.
River Views For Riding And Dining
Leaving Bear Mountain State Park the best motorcycling road is clearly NY Route 218; known locally as Storm King Highway. This curvy, scenic byway runs along the west side of the Hudson River and affords beautiful views from a few choice overlooks. Pull over and take a photo or two.
NY Route 218 (a/k/a Storm King Highway) runs alongside The Hudson River
If you’re in the area around lunch or dinner time pick up Route 9W at the end of Storm King Highway and continue north into the city of Newburg, NY. There you will find Billy Joe’s Ribworks, a very biker-friendly eatery/pub. Billy Joe’s overlooks the Hudson River and has wonderful outdoor seating with a view of the Newburgh-Beacon bridge.
Billy Joe’s Ribworks in Newburgh, NY. Biker-friendly pub and grub overlooking The Hudson River
Backroads Paradise
In a previous post I praised the Kurviger navigational resource as one of the finest available for motorcycle travelers. I’m using the Kurviger app again today on this Hudson River road trip. Using a route generated by Kurviger I turned away from the river and traveled for hours through The Catskill Mountains and into The Adirondack Mountains of New York. These remote, rural roads were virtually vacant.
Avoiding nearly all towns and any major population areas I emerged from the wilderness near Gore Mountain. I turned north on New York Route 28 which runs alongside…You guessed it. The Hudson River. I am now 225 miles from The George Washington Bridge and the river has taken on an entirely different personality.
Welcome To The Adirondacks
In complete contrast to where I started this morning, this section of the river is barely 100 yards across, punctuated by submerged boulders creating circular eddies on the surface and lined with tall pine trees, not skyscrapers. In the early spring, when the Adirondack snowmelt is underway, the river produces class III and class IV rapids, making it a popular destination for those whitewater rafting thrill seekers.
The Hudson River in the town of North Creek, NY
Later in the spring, as the flow of the water subsides, this very same stretch of river plays host to ardent fly fishermen in pursuit of elusive trout. Now, in August, the water level is quite low and the flow is not in the least bit threatening; but the beauty of this stretch, with the high peaks of The Adirondacks as its background, isn’t diminished one bit.
The Road And River Roll On
I head east out of North Creek and continue my Hudson River road trip north towards Newcomb, NY making a stop at the community’s picnic area at Newcomb Overlook Park. This is a great stop which boasts a stunning view of The High Peaks region of The Adirondacks to the north.
The view of The High Peaks region of The Adirondack Mountains from Newcomb Overlook Park
I leave the overlook heading east out of town, north onto County Road 25, then onto an unnamed road only marked with a “Dead End” sign. 9 miles later I run out of road. Literally. The pavement ends abruptly after crossing the northernmost bridge that spans the river, a steel girder structure barely 100 feet in length, over a most tranquil, peaceful mountain stream…The Hudson River!
The headwaters of The Hudson River deep in The High Peaks Region of tThe Adirondacks
I will learn later that the river actually continues another couple of miles north to its official northern terminus at Henderson Lake, but is accessible from this point forward only by kayak or a strenuous hike over rugged terrain. I understand lots of people have done this but I’m not that guy.
Point Of View
So what is The Hudson River? Is it simply part of the day-to-day drudgery that must be endured by commuters crossing from New Jersey to their 9 to 5 gigs in The Big Apple? Or is it a sportsman’s paradise where one can enjoy diverse activities such as fishing, kayaking and white water rafting? Maybe it’s simply an isolated, quiet little stream in the heart of a majestic mountain range that serves as the perfectly serene refuge for outdoorsmen? That all depends on your position on the map and your point of view.
The Adirondacks region of New York is truly one of my favorite places to ride. I visit the area a number of times every year. I have been trekking there by motorcycle since 1997 and have dear friends in those mountains.
So rewarding is the two-wheeled experience in The Adirondacks that the late Neil Peart, a famous and extraordinary Moto-Adventurer, also described the region as one of his favorite riding spots in the world! You’ll be reading more about the Adirondacks in future posts.
Conclusion
There is so much more to this Hudson River journey than what the length of this blog post allowed. If your interest is piqued, and you want the “big picture” version, get your hands on a copy of Road Work: Images and Insights of a Modern Day Explorer.
As always we welcome your comments and experiences below. Be sure to subscribe to Roadcraft USA for updates when new features hit the blog. Ride safe, everyone!
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I enjoy your stories and it is great reading. I like all your safety tips only been riding 10 or so years and many things you say I notice while riding with my group and safety is not a top priority along with alcohol.
Thanks for joining the Roadcraft USA conversation, Larry. We’re glad to bring the community interesting content. There will be many more “Survival In The Saddle” features forthcoming. Ride safe!
I like all your safety tips only been riding for 10 or so years
It’s our pleasure to bring these tips to the community, Jon. Be sure to check out the “Survival in the Saddle” series on the blog. Many more feature articles are forthcoming. Best wishes for another 10 years…and many more. Thanks for commenting.