Cooperstown, New York, is not only home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum but also historic buildings, restaurants, and parks, and it sits on the southern shore of the pristine 8-mile long, 4,046-acre Otsego Lake. But for riders, the most important attractions are the beautiful roads that lead to and wander around Cooperstown, making it a great destination for a multiday New York motorcycle ride.
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Established in 1786, Cooperstown was founded by William Cooper, father of author John Fenimore Cooper, who used the area as a setting for his Leatherstocking Tales novel series. Though its population is just 1,853, the town receives half a million visitors per year. Late May through August is the busiest time, when motel prices soar and advanced reservations are recommended. The best time for riders to visit is midweek from late August to mid-October.
Joined by my two riding buddies Rich and Joe, we rode from New Jersey into the highlands of southern New York on a sunny September day. Breezing through quaint Warwick, we headed north on State Route 17A to SR-17, enjoying adrenaline-boosting speeds. Exiting onto SR-302, we rode through farmlands, horse farms, and small hamlets, with the Shawangunk Mountains silhouetting the horizon.
At Pine Bush, we cruised west into Shawangunk Ridge State Forest and stopped at an overlook to admire the view of the valley below and the Catskill Mountains. After snaking down the mountain to Ellenville, we continued to Rondout Reservoir and weaved along the reservoir’s forest-lined shoreline on SR-55A. At the west end of the reservoir, we connected with SR-42, cruising into the Sundown Wild Forest and Slide Mountain Wilderness areas of Catskill Park.
Passing the Peekamoose Blue Hole parking area, a popular hiking and swimming destination, we stopped to enjoy Buttermilk Falls. From there, SR-42 narrows alongside the mountains that surround Peekamoose Lake. Descending from the highlands, we travelled north on SR-28A to SR-28, where we stopped at the Catskill Visitor Center.
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Next, we thundered along SR-28 through the heart of the Catskills. At Shandaken, a sinuous, rolling SR-42 took us through mountain passes, and then SR-10 took us north through an endless quilt of farmland and rolling hills. Soon we crossed into central New York, heading west toward Cooperstown.
State Routes 165 to 166 traversed more scenic farmland. The roads were bordered on both sides by farms that drifted into the forested hills beyond. Arriving at our hotel at dinnertime, we were famished and suffering from stiff legs. Rich suggested a leisurely stroll to the nearby Council Rock Brewery, where we ended our day with a few cold ones and some tasty bar food.
The next day, our first stop was Lake Front Park. A statue paying homage to Native American hunters overlooks the lake and boat dock. From nearby Lake Front Restaurant, we took in the lighthouse, a panorama of the lake, and the Glimmerglass Queen touring boat. Cooperstown is known as the “village of museums.” Beside the Baseball Hall of Fame, there’s the Fenimore Art Museum, Fenimore Farm & Country Village, and cultural attractions like the Glimmerglass Festival and art galleries. Main Street is full of shops and restaurants.
Next, we rode north on SR-31, which is lined with trees and runs along the eastern shore of Otsego Lake. We stopped at Glimmerglass State Park on the northern shore, which offers expansive views of the lake, a huge sandy beach, picnic areas, camping facilities, and the Hyde Hall mansion. Leaving the park, we wandered north of the lake and discovered pristine Amish farms, adding to the area’s charm. We became lost in the maze of hinterlands roads, but Rich used his navigational skills to lead us back to the main road. Then it was smooth sailing south on SR-80 along the west shore of Lake Otsego back to Cooperstown.
At the Otesaga Resort Hotel’s Hawkeye Bar & Grill, we enjoyed delicious hamburgers, the outside patio’s peaceful, scenic ambiance, and the cool breeze blowing off the lake. We lingered longer than planned, but we eventually hit the road, rolling west on rural SR-80 into the heart of central New York’s farm belt, passing through small villages and seeing more Amish farms. We turned onto SR-8 and passed Unadilla, one of the best motocross tracks in the country. We blasted east on U.S. Route 20 and then south on SR-28 along the western shore of Canadarago Lake, returning to our hotel just before sunset.
In the morning, we thundered south on SR-28 back to the Catskills, weaving and rolling through open country, forests, and small villages. At Andes, SR-1 led us to scenic Pepacton Reservoir. Crossing the SR-30 bridge over the reservoir into the Catskill hinterlands, we passed Big Pond and Little Pond and cruised alongside the Beaverkill River, famous for its purity and trout fishing. We crossed the historic Beaverkill Covered Bridge, erected in 1865, and weaved along rural roads in Sullivan and Orange counties to Port Jervis, where we separated, taking different routes home.
Cooperstown really is a great destination, and the roads make it a great journey.
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New York Motorcycle Ride Resources
- Cooperstown, NY
- National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
- Otesaga Resort Hotel / Hawkeye Bar & Grill
- Glimmerglass State Park
- Shawangunk Ridge State Forest
- Catskill Park
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.
The post Catskills to Cooperstown, New York Motorcycle Ride appeared first on Rider Magazine.
Source: RiderMagazine.com
