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ince that first sunny
September day in 1609 when Henry Hudson sailed his
ship of discovery, the Half Moon, north up the mighty
river from the harbor, the Hudson River has been a
place of exploration, transportation and recreation.
First a pathway into the continent the river evolved
into the most important commercial highway into the
heart of America.
At first the only highway
north and south, the Hudson was the primary route
for passengers up to Albany and beyond. Late in the
19th century dozens of steamers provided transportation
and pleasure as they raced between New York City and
Albany. Excursions on the Hudson became a pleasure
ride, one of scenic beauty and tranquil afternoons.
The spectacular scenery of the Hudson and its valley
are best seen from the deck of a boat amid the waters
of the river.
The 20th century brought
the advent of pleasure boating and in the long tradition
of the river, the Hudson became one of the most pleasurable
of locales for the sport. Both for natural scenery
and natural resources, the Hudson provides the full
gamut of possibilities for the boater. Businesses
and villages up and down the river cater to the boater,
providing services and access, tie-ups & facilities
to make your day, weekend or longer trip both fun
and easy.
Long famous as a fishery,
the Hudson is world renowned for its Shad and especially
Striped Bass. Early Spring brings a flotilla of pleasure
craft onto the river chasing one of the most impressive
game fish around. The "stripers" of the
Hudson average in the 20 pound range, but can soar
to over 40 pounds easily. As the fish migrate north
to spawn, the pleasure craft follow. Starting in March
around the Tappan Zee, the season peaks in mid-April
with the Hudson River Fishing Derby. By late April
and May, the stripers are well up the river to Catskill
reaching the Troy Dams by the end of May.
No matter what your goal,
a lazy afternoon motoring through the splendor of
the Hudson Highlands or chasing after the elusive
giant Stripper, the river affords a myriad of locations
and resources to meet your pleasure boating desires.
So pull your boat out of storage, find a marina or
public boat ramp and spend a day or longer plying
the mythic waters of the Hudson River. You'll have
the time of your life and be glad you did!
Located roughly from just
south of Albany up to the falls at the Troy Dam, this
area of the Hudson provides pleasure boaters with
a unique section of the river. The islands of the
Hudson abound with parks and preserves insuring preservation
of the river's natural beauty. From this section of
the river you can head into the Mohawk and aim for
the Erie Canal or through the locks and up to the
Lake Champlain area.
For the river tourist,
the Albany area has many things to see and do. Visit
the USS Slater, the State Capital or any of several
extraordinary art and culture museums. In Troy, walk
the streets of a nearly perfectly preserved Victorian
City, visit the Herman Melville house, take the Tiffany
Stained Glass Walk or laze at one of the many sidewalk
cafes.
From Castleton down to
Saugerties, the river takes on a lazy slow pace. The
valley is broad and flat, bordered on the west by
the misty Catskills and away to the east by the Taconic
and Berkshire Mountains. Both banks are dotted with
small hamlets and mid-river are many sand bars and
alluvial islands. At Castleton-on-Hudson is one of
New York's newest state parks encompassing a large
sand deposit that has evolved into a permanent island.
It's undeveloped and natural but provides an excellent
day use anchorage.
Spend a day at Hudson
investigating one of the largest and most important
antique centers in the Northeast. Across the river,
tie up at Athens and spend a delightful evening enjoying
Shakespeare under the stars. If you're lucky, you will
arrive during one of the scheduled visit days to the
Hudson-Athens Lighthouse. Just south of Hudson is Olana,
the queen of the Hudson River estates. Home of Frederic
Church, world famous Hudson River School painter, Olana
is perched high atop a hill with a commanding view of
the river and valley.
Arrive in Catskill, home
of Rip Van Winkle, at Dutchman's Landing on Market
Day and stock up with the freshest produce the Valley
has to offer. Arrange for a car and take a day trip
up into the Catskills. Hike to Kaaterskill Falls and
slumber in the mist and mystery with Rip.
In Saugerties your choices
for tie-ups are numerous on the Esopus Creek. At the
mouth of the creek is the lighthouse, open to the
public daily and a very active Bed & Breakfast.
Limited day use dockage is available with advance
notice at the lighthouse. Venture into Saugerties
and explore the art galleries and antique shops. Savor
the delights of some of the best restaurants in the
Valley. |
| Middle Valley |
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HERE FOR A COMPLETE RIVER RESOURCE SUMMARY |
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South of Saugerties
down to just above Newburgh, the nature of the river
is a bit narrower, hills and bluffs rise from the banks
and the current quickens a bit. Lying within this section
of the river the great and powerful 19th century barons
of industry created their Great Estates and country
homes. On both sides of the river, but mostly on the
east bank, they erected massive homes, created romantic
landscapes and pursued the country life. The Vanderbilts
and Roosevelts settled in Hyde Park while the Livingstons
and their kin continued to develop their vast holdings
to the north in Dutchess County. Kingston,
New York's first Capital, is an old and historic town.
Very friendly, Kingston welcomes boaters to many marinas
and facilities both on the river and on the Rondout
Creek. The section of the city on the Rondout, originally
the terminus of the D&H Canal and an industrial
and commercial powerhouse, is a walking hamlet, filled
with interesting shops, museums and great eateries.
Up in the Stockade, the old town, you can walk the
historic trail exploring the colonial stone homes,
the Senate House and later 19th century urban development.
As you pass Hyde Park,
visit the mansions and explore FDR's Presidential
Library. Grab a cab and make a visit to Val Kill,
Eleanor Roosevelts private domain. In Poughkeepsie
attend a performance at the Bardavon Opera House and
have a memorable meal at the Culinary Institute of
America overlooking the Hudson between Hyde Park and
Poughkeepsie.
| Newburgh
Bays |
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HERE FOR A COMPLETE RIVER RESOURCE SUMMARY |
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At Newburgh the river
widens for a moment before it plunges into the imposing
North Gate of the Hudson Highlands. Newburgh has spent
millions redeveloping its waterfront at Newburgh Landing
where restaurants line the quay and you can tie up and
enjoy the food and drink. Across the river is Beacon,
a newly "discovered" town. In Beacon, Dia,
one of the most important contemporary arts museums
in New York City has opened its largest and most impressive
location. Easily accessible from the riverfront and
several marinas on the bank, Dia takes you into the
world of the arts. Vast galleries containing dizzying
masterpieces of contemporary art await for you to experience
and appreciate. Just
below Beacon on the east bank lies Denning Point State
Park. Fairly undeveloped, it provides excellent protected
anchorage between the point and the east bank. On
the west bank just above the North Gate is Cornwall-on-Hudson,
a charming little vest pocket village with some marina
activity below their Riverfront Park. Cornwall-on-Hudson
is the perfect jumping off point for exploring the
majestic riverscape of the Hudson Highlands.
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