Three things that make a perfect ride for me are rural roads, scenic diversity, and a relaxing pace to savor the passing landscape, especially during the off-season or midweek when crowds are minimal. If you enjoy cruising around sparkling lakes, taking in scenic overlooks, visiting picturesque villages, and riding along forest-lined roads, then New York’s Hudson River Valley is for you.
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This ride took place in the fall. From my home in New Jersey, I cruised to the New York state line and rolled into Harriman State Park on Seven Lakes Drive. This 47,527-acre park has 31 lakes and reservoirs, a campground, 200 miles of hiking trails, and serpentine scenic roads to explore. It’s also home to bears, blue herons, coyotes, and plenty of deer.
It was a warm, sunny day, and I enjoyed a relaxed ride on Seven Lakes Drive. After stopping at the Lake Sebago boat launch area to stretch my legs and take in the view, I headed to the road that hugs the shoreline of Lake Tiorati. If you are a fan of the HBO series The Sopranos, the famous “Pine Barrens” episode was filmed here, not in New Jersey.
From Lake Tiorati, I cruised to Perkins Memorial Drive, which snakes its way to the summit of Bear Mountain, where a 60-foot observation tower offers a 360-degree view of the Hudson Highlands. On a clear day, you can see Manhattan’s skyscrapers in the distance. Looking east, the Bear Mountain Bridge spans the mighty Hudson River, which begins as a stream flowing from Lake Tear of the Clouds high in the Adirondack Mountains and ends its 315-mile journey at New York Harbor.
The 5,205-acre Bear Mountain State Park is located on the west bank of the Hudson River and has hiking trails, a zoo, a swimming pool, an ice-skating rink, and a vintage merry-go-round. The rustic Bear Mountain Inn has a stone-and-log facade and is worth a look-see.
Riding across the two-lane Bear Mountain Bridge, which is suspended by cables 155 feet above the river, quickened my pulse. There are great views from the bridge, but I did not relax until my tires gripped solid ground on the other side.
I continued riding north on State Route 9D, a two-lane road that travels through woodlands and alongside mountains as it parallels the Hudson River. Soon I rode through Cold Spring, a historic town with many 19th-century buildings. Its antique and vintage-clothing stores, galleries, restaurants, and a beautiful river-front park make for an enjoyable walkabout. You can even rent kayaks and paddle in the Hudson.
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Across the river is the United States Military Academy West Point. Some of its cadets achieved fame and glory, including Custer, MacArthur, Eisenhower, and Patton, to name just a few. North of West Point, Storm King Mountain rises like a giant monolith.
From Cold Spring, I rolled east on State Route 301. With the fall air caressing my face, I enjoyed weaving through the forests and lakes of the 14,086-acre Fahnestock State Park. A little beyond the park is the impressive and colorful Chuang Yen Buddhist Monastery.
Continuing east, I connected with Farmers Mills Road, a rural, twisty road that leads to State Route 52. I turned south and rode through Carmel, where I reconnected with SR-301, which curves along the shoreline of the 1,061-acre West Branch Reservoir. Crossing the reservoir on a two-lane road lined with stone walls makes for one cool ride.
I followed the same basic route home, which gave me a different perspective in the opposite direction. At the Lake Tioroti ranger station in Harriman State Park, I turned onto Arden Valley Road, another serpentine scenic road that took me to State Route 17 and on to New Jersey.
As I blasted south along the empty scenic highway, I let the beauty of this ride sink into my bones, which brought a smile to my face. As my friend Tom Franco often says about riding, “It’s all good.” I could not agree more.
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Hudson River Valley Motorcycle Ride Resources
Kenneth W. Dahse is a writer and photographer from northern New Jersey and a regular contributor to Rider. Ken has been riding since he was a teenager, and his favorite rides are relaxed multiday excursions.
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