Haines Falls, Cold Spring and Kerhonkson Lead N.Y. Scenic Cycling

Three small Hudson Valley and Catskills communities are emerging as outsized stars on New York’s cycling map, as Haines Falls joins Cold Spring and Kerhonkson in drawing riders to some of the state’s most photogenic and accessible trails.

Image by Travel And Tour World

A Scenic Surge in New York’s Trail Tourism

Publicly available tourism data and recent trail guides highlight a marked rise in interest in New York cycling routes that combine dramatic scenery with relatively easy access. New coverage of “most scenic” spring bike rides has pointed riders toward rail trails and lakeside loops where waterfalls, river views and historic hamlets are as central as mileage and elevation profiles.

Within that broader trend, Haines Falls in Greene County, Cold Spring in Putnam County and Kerhonkson in Ulster County are increasingly singled out as standouts. Each sits at the junction of established recreation infrastructure and new investments in multi use paths, and each offers a distinct landscape that photographs well in every season.

Travel features note that these three destinations now compete with better known corridors such as the Empire State Trail for visiting cyclists’ attention, particularly among riders who prioritize scenery over speed. The combination of rail trail mileage, waterfront vistas and mountain backdrops is helping to reshape informal rankings of New York’s most picture perfect rides.

Local and regional planning documents also show that all three communities are benefitting from coordinated efforts to connect town centers to longer off road routes, a factor that tends to convert day trippers into overnight visitors.

Haines Falls: Waterfalls, Escarpment Views and Lakeside Loops

Haines Falls, perched above the famed Kaaterskill Falls in the Catskill Park, is drawing new attention as a base for riders seeking dramatic elevation changes and sweeping viewpoints. The North South Lake area near the hamlet has long been popular with hikers, and recent trail reports underscore how the same escarpment terrain creates striking backdrops for nearby road and gravel cycling.

State and nonprofit stewardship summaries from 2023 describe the Escarpment Trail above North South Lake as delivering views across four states on clear days. While the Escarpment itself is a hiking route, the surrounding park roads and access routes around Haines Falls provide cyclists with a network of short but photogenic loops framed by cliffs, dense forest and frequent waterfall access points.

Outdoor guides increasingly recommend itineraries that combine a ride on quiet mountain roads with short on foot detours to viewpoints such as Artists Rock and Sunset Rock. That combination is proving especially appealing to visiting cyclists with cameras, who can collect multiple high impact vistas within a relatively compact circuit centered on Haines Falls.

Regional trail planning documents also position Haines Falls as an emerging gateway for cycling tourism into the higher Catskills, linking existing park roads with longer distance touring routes that traverse Greene and Ulster counties.

Cold Spring: Hudson Highlands Vistas Within Train Reach

Cold Spring, already a familiar name to New York City day trippers, is solidifying its status as a premier scenic cycling hub along the Hudson River. Guides to the Hudson Highlands point to routes that begin at the village’s train station and quickly climb into ridgelines with expansive views of the river, Bear Mountain Bridge and the forested slopes of Storm King and Breakneck Ridge.

Cycling route descriptions for the region emphasize that riders can step off Metro North trains and be pedaling past 19th century storefronts within minutes, then onto rolling backroads and state routes that thread between river, cliffs and reservoirs. That ease of access has made Cold Spring a reliable launch point for club rides and commercial tours targeting riders who want dramatic scenery without car logistics.

In addition, a long discussed Hudson Highlands corridor project would formalize a continuous hike and bike path along Route 9D between Cold Spring and Beacon. Publicly available planning materials outline a vision for separated space for bicycles parallel to the river and rail line, a change that advocates say would significantly improve safety and broaden the appeal of the corridor for less experienced riders.

Until such projects are completed, cyclists rely on a patchwork of shoulders, village streets and short off road segments, but user generated ride logs and trip reports still routinely describe Cold Spring based routes as among the most rewarding in downstate New York for views and photography.

Kerhonkson: Rail Trail Riding Along the Rondout Creek

On the western side of the Hudson Valley, Kerhonkson has become closely associated with the O&W Rail Trail, a multi use path that follows the former New York, Ontario and Western Railway corridor through Ulster County. Official trail information describes roughly 27 miles of largely continuous route between Kingston and Ellenville, with Kerhonkson anchoring one of the most scenic central segments.

Travel and cycling resources characterize the Kerhonkson area section as a quiet, tree lined corridor that parallels the Rondout Creek and passes remnants of canal and railroad history. The gentle grades inherited from the rail alignment make the route accessible to a wide range of riders, from families on hybrids to touring cyclists towing bikepacking gear.

Recent county transportation memoranda and trail organization updates indicate that improvements continue on missing links around Kerhonkson, including upgraded surfaces and signage between Accord, Kerhonkson and Ellenville. These upgrades are intended to enhance both commuter connectivity and recreation, supporting what advocates describe as a growing rail trail economy based on lodging, cafes and bike oriented services near trailheads.

Combined with nearby access to state lands and the Shawangunk Ridge, the Kerhonkson corridor offers cyclists a rare mix of car free mileage, creek vistas and side trips to hamlets and farm stands, making it an increasingly frequent recommendation in statewide cycling roundups.

A New Informal Ranking of Picture Perfect Rides

As more trail indices, cycling census reports and tourism campaigns focus on experience driven travel, Haines Falls, Cold Spring and Kerhonkson are rising together in what amounts to an informal ranking of New York’s most photogenic rides. None of the three offers the sheer mileage of the Empire State Trail or the Mohawk Hudson Bike Hike Trail, yet each delivers a concentrated package of scenery that resonates strongly on social media and in travel features.

Haines Falls appeals to riders chasing big mountain drama and waterfall access, Cold Spring attracts cyclists who want Hudson River panoramas without long drives, and Kerhonkson caters to those seeking tranquil rail trail cruising along water and through farmland. Collectively, they provide a cross section of the landscapes that define downstate and Catskills cycling, from escarpment cliffs to river fjords and creekside valleys.

Planning documents from state and county agencies highlight that continued investment in multi use paths, safety improvements on connecting roads and wayfinding will likely deepen this scenic takeover. As those projects advance, industry observers anticipate that the trio of Haines Falls, Cold Spring and Kerhonkson will feature even more prominently in guides to New York’s most picture perfect cycling escapes, helping to spread visitor traffic beyond the state’s best known urban greenways.