New York's Most Scenic Overlooks

New York's overlooks span Adirondack summits, Hudson Valley escarpments, and the spectacular Finger Lakes gorges.

Bear Mountain and Perkins Memorial Tower
Bear Mountain (1,305 ft) in Harriman State Park, 50 miles north of New York City, was the setting for the first section of the Appalachian Trail ever completed (1923). Perkins Memorial Tower at the summit provides a 360-degree view across the Hudson Highlands — the city skyline is visible on clear days 40 miles to the south. The Appalachian Trail crosses the Hudson River at the mountain's base.

Storm King Mountain (Hudson Valley)
A dramatic 1,340-foot granite peak where the Hudson River makes a sharp bend and cuts through the Hudson Highlands. The Storm King Art Center occupies the surrounding landscape with world-class outdoor sculpture. The views from the summit of Storm King — or from the Cornish Estate ruins trail — across the river bend are among the finest in the Hudson Valley.

Catskill Escarpment Overlooks (North-South Lake)
The eastern escarpment of the Catskill Plateau drops 2,000 feet to the Hudson Valley below. The overlooks at North Lake (near Haines Falls) provide some of the finest valley views in the state. The Hotel Kaaterskill (demolished 1931) used to stand here — it hosted 1,200 guests at a time in the Victorian era. The views that inspired the Hudson River School of painting are unchanged.

Whiteface Mountain Summit Road
The only Adirondack high peak accessible by paved road (9 miles toll road from Wilmington). The summit (4,867 ft) has an elevator to the castle-like observation structure. The views across the Adirondack interior, Lake Champlain, and the Green Mountains of Vermont are exceptional.

Breakneck Ridge Summit
After the scrambling ascent from the Metro-North train stop, the open granite ledges of Breakneck Ridge deliver sweeping views up and down the Hudson River valley. One of the most rewarding effort-to-view ratios of any hike in the state.