The Hudson has plenty of riverside real estate for waterfront parks with picnic spaces, kayak launches, fishing docks, and, of course, amazing views. A trip to the riverfront is the perfect addition to a daytime visit to towns with so much to do, like Cold Spring and Sleepy Hollow. Whether you’re looking to get out on the water or relax on the bank, these riverfront parks are the best spots to spend a weekend afternoon in the fall.
Athens Riverfront Park
Athens
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Attractions: summer music series, kayak launch
The Athens Riverfront Park is the perfect place for family fun, with plenty of green space for the kids to play or lay out a blanket for a picnic. Come out for an afternoon walk in the tranquility of the waterfront park or stick around on Fridays for live music on the bandstand performed by the Athens Performing Arts Council until the end of summer. If you’re looking to get out on the river, you can even launch your boat, kayak, or canoe from the park.
Croton Landing Park
Croton-on-Hudson
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Attractions: 9/11 memorial, athletic field
Croton Landing Park is over a mile long on the Hudson shoreline, just north of Senasqua Park and the Yacht Club. The paved walkway is also a part of the ongoing Westchester Riverwalk project and is lined with benches, a footbridge, and informational signage to engage with along the way. Feel free to take your dog along (as long as it’s leashed) or stop by the athletic field, 9/11 memorial, or Bluebird Trail for a longer visit.
Dockside Park
Cold Spring
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Attractions: picnic areas, memorial
With so much to do in Cold Spring, Dockside Park down on the river is the perfect place to end a day in the town. Cross under the railroad tracks to visit the sustainable shoreline rehabilitation project that’s not only a great spot to picnic but also beneficial for the river life. Read a book on the benches facing Storm King Mountain or check out the cannon memorial before walking across the street to Moo Moo’s Creamery for a frozen treat.
Highland Landing Park
Highland
Attraction: views of the Walkway Over the Hudson
Perfect for fishing, kayaking, or picnicking, Highland Landing Park is open from dawn until dusk so you can catch the sunrise and sunset no matter what activity you’re doing. Views of the Walkway Over the Hudson, the Mid-Hudson Bridge in the distance, and Marist College across the river are the perfect backdrop for relaxing on a bench near the water or in the shade under the pavilion.
Long Dock Park
Beacon
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Attraction: kayak and paddleboard rentals
This Beacon park has an interesting past – it was created as a peninsula in the 1800s to be a terminal for ferrying cars across the river to Newburgh. Years later, Long Dock Park is a popular destination for walking, fishing, and exploring the nearby wetlands and meadows. If you’re looking to kayak or paddleboard, Hudson River Expeditions rents equipment through mid-October, and an intriguing George Trakas sculpture at the park is worth seeing for the art lovers.
Quiet Cove Riverfront Park
Poughkeepsie
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Attraction: pickleball courts
Quiet Cove is the newly renovated Poughkeepsie park that just got major upgrades. Now boasting spacious picnic areas and four pickleball courts, including one adaptive court for wheelchair play, this unexpected gem can be found right off Route 9. Head down to the boathouse to launch kayaks or chill out on the observation decks for fishing and birdwatching. The Boathouse Room is also available to rent for private events through October 22.
RiverWalk Park
Tarrytown
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Attractions: eco-corridor, Manhattan skyline
Thanks to Scenic Hudson, an 80-year-old asphalt plant was moved to create the waterfront site that is now RiverWalk Park. Views of the Tappan Zee Bridge (a.k.a. the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge) and even the Manhattan skyline in the distance are the focal points of this park, but a riverside esplanade, grass terraces, and an “eco-corridor” filled with native plants have turned the former industrial space into a recreational spot for walking and biking. Spend the day biking next to the Hudson before heading into nearby Sleepy Hollow for fall festivities.
