From scenic overlooks to architectural wonders, explore the vast beauty of New York State.
Updated March 29, 2024 at 12:35 pm
Whiteface Mountain Steps | Flickr/boubou1
Though it’s often overshadowed by the Big Apple’s gigantic skyscrapers, New York is home to a multitude of beautiful mountain ranges, cascading waterfalls, and gardens that rival any other natural wonder in the world.
Waterfront parks across the five boroughs are great places to gather with friends on a sunny afternoon, but sometimes nothing beats escaping the city for some scenery and adventure. In addition to nearby beaches, fall foliage and other seasonal delights, check out these beautiful, off-the-beaten-path locations in New York State.
Bannerman Castle | Photo by Karen Foley Photography
The most beautiful places in the Hudson Valley
Pollepel Island/Newburgh
In the early 1900s, Francis Bannerman VI’s munitions business grew too quickly to fit into New York City, so he built a castle on an island in the Hudson River to house his surplus stock and also built a smaller castle for a comfortable residence. After his death in 1918, a gunpowder explosion in 1920, and several other unfortunate events, the castle fell into ruin. Largely untouched except for the passage of time and the influence of graffiti artists, this charming ruined castle is easily accessible from New York City by Metro-North Railroad. The island occasionally hosts theater and film screenings. Get a history lesson on a walking or kayaking tour on weekends from May onwards.
Cold Spring
Like a Monet painting come to life, Stonecrop Garden is the lifeblood of two gardening-loving New Yorkers who dreamed of sharing their plants with the public. Since opening to the public in 1992, Stonecrop Garden has offered guests an immersive experience with nature, with dramatic changes from the muted hues of autumn to a kaleidoscope of bright, vibrant primary colors in spring and summer.
Shandaken
While Giant Ledge isn’t among the top 50 highest points in the Catskills, this 3.2-mile round-trip hike is one of the most popular in the region. The trail takes you to eight beautiful overlooks and offers great views from five beautiful ledges. There are also two lively campsites, plus the option to continue on to another, more challenging trail up Panther Mountain, which continues two miles from the first ledge.
Eternal Flame Falls | Photo by Gregory Pleau www.gregorypleau.com via Getty Images
The most beautiful places in upstate New York
Ithaca
There are many beautiful college campuses around the world, but Cornell University students have the privilege of passing a 55-foot waterfall on their way to class. Triphammer Falls, a twin-cascade formation, is located in the center of the university’s Ithaca campus. What makes it even more picturesque is that its base is accented by an abandoned power plant built across from the falls.
Orchard Park
This is not your average 30 foot waterfall, this is a cool one. Located in Chestnut Ridge Park in Erie County, Eternal Flame Falls has a small cave behind the falls that contains the “Eternal Flame”, a spring of natural gas that burns constantly. The amount of water in the falls varies with rain and the season, but the gas from the Eternal Flame continues to flow. The trail is an easy 1.2 mile hike with a steeper path that leads down to Shale Creek.
Wilmington
Increase your daily steps by hiking up the cobblestones of Whiteface Mountain’s Stairway Ridge Trail in the Adirondack Mountains. The 0.2-mile man-made path is steep and slippery in places, but it’s just as photogenic as the natural scenery that surrounds it. On a day with low-hanging, thick clouds, your photos might just fool your followers into thinking you’ve trekked across the New York state line.
Ausable Chasm
Nicknamed the “Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks,” AuSable Chasm offers a variety of outdoor activities, including rafting, rock climbing, tubing, biking and other nature activities with a cult following. For some amazing footage, try capturing the sunset from AuSable Chasm Bridge.
Pittsford
Taking the back-to-nature concept to the extreme, the Mushroom House was built in the early 1970s and was designed after the stems of Queen Anne’s lace rather than the mushroom it obviously resembles. The four interlocking pods span 4,168 square feet and blend in with the surrounding forest. Book this incredible three-bedroom, three-bathroom property for a weekend and party like Papa Smurf.
North Elba Island
Avalanche Pass and Avalanche Lake Trail are challenging treks for experienced hikers. The adventure over wooden ladders, bridges and ski trails leads to some of the most spectacular views of the Adirondack Mountains. The route is beautiful in the fiery autumn foliage, snowy winter landscapes and lush greenery of spring and summer. The unobstructed 360-degree views make it worth the challenge any time of year.
Alexandria Bay
In 1900, George Boldt, then-manager of the Waldorf Astoria, began construction of the six-story castle on Hart Island in the St. Lawrence River as a lavish gift for his wife. After Mrs. Boldt’s death in 1904, the castle was left unfinished and fell into disrepair until it was purchased and renovated in the 1970s. Today, the castle remains in immaculate condition, with gorgeous stained-glass windows and a restored 1892 Kestrel steam yacht, and also serves as the official port of entry into the United States for guests traveling by boat from Canada.
Sodus Bay
The original Sodus Bay Lighthouse, which provided a beacon to boaters on Lake Ontario, was built by Congress in 1824. After many years of deterioration, the lighthouse was rebuilt in 1871 and served ships and sailors for the next 80 years. Now renovated and transformed into a maritime museum, it’s a romantic, dreamy spot.
Blue Mountain Lake
Everyone knows the world looks more beautiful from above, and one of the most beautiful views in New York City can be found at the top of Castle Rock, at an elevation of 700 feet. A mostly gentle 1.5-mile hike up Castle Rock Trail ends with a spectacular view of Blue Mountain Lake and its large, tree-covered islands. Be prepared for a gradual climb up to a steep incline just below the summit.
Canandaigua
Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park is a cross between Marie Antoinette’s gardens at Versailles and the Queen of Hearts’ croquet court from Alice in Wonderland. Open from May through the end of October, the 50-acre site is a dream come true, with vibrant flowers, historic architecture, moonlit walks and, best of all, a location in the heart of the Finger Lakes wine country.
The most beautiful place on Long Island
Huntington
Originally built in 1921 as a luxurious, self-sufficient English mansion (the site had its own electricity supply), the grounds and buildings were eventually turned over to the state of New York and transformed into a nature lover’s paradise on a peninsula jutting into Long Island Sound. Today, the park spans more than 1,500 acres and offers a variety of activities and experiences, including hiking, bird watching, polo, fishing and, with permission, scuba diving.
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Tanner Saunders is a former Thrillist employee. Follow him on Instagram.
