Hudson Athens Lighthouse

Just south of the launch point lies the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse and the Catskills.  In the distance, the Rip Van Winkle Bridge crosses the Hudson. Sitting perched atop Mount Merino on the east shore is Olana, once the home of the Hudson River artist Frederic Church. Ramshorn Marsh follows the west shore in this stretch of the River. 

Further south along the western shoreline is Inbocht Bay, marked by the cement factory on the south and an unnamed "dredge" island which separates the bay from the main channel. The Upper Flats lie across the channel from Cementon and West Camp. 

Across from Malden on Hudson (west shore) lie the Green Flats, where the center of the River is shallow and covered with lilies. Also, Clermont, former home of Robert Livingston, Jr. can be seen along this stretch. Towards the end of our journey we will approach Esopus Creek, the Saugerties Lighthouse on the west shore and Tivoli, on the east.

Tivoli Bays, Cruger Island
and the Catskills

Just north of the launch point lies the Esopus Creek and the Saugerties Lighthouse.  Just south of Tivoli are the Tivoli Bays, large freshwater tidal marshes that encompass approximately 1700 acres and Magdalen and Cruger Islands. Blythewood, a mansion on Bard College overlooks the South Tivoli Bay.  Beginning at Ulster Landing, lies the Flat. Hikers familiar with this area of the River, may have walked along Scenic Hudson's Poet's Walk which is on the east shore. South, lies the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge which replaced the ferry linking Kingston to Rhinecliff upon its opening in 1957.

Along river right (west shore) are the brickyards, so named for old brickworks that once lined the west shore of the Hudson. Remnants of these factories (the bricks) line the shores in this stretch. Kingston Beach and Kingston Point Park lie just north of the Rondout Creek and the Rondout Lighthouse. Across from Kingston is the town of Rhinecliff.

Towards the end of our journey we will approach Esopus Meadows Lighthouse. The large building along the western banks is Mount Saint Alphonsus.  To the south of the lighthouse and along the eastern shore is Mills Mansion and the beginnings of Norrie State Park. Across along the western shore from Norrie lies Black Creek.  In the center stretch of the river lies Esopus Island.

Hudson River near Annsville Creek

Just south of the launch point lies Constitution Marsh, an 87-acre preserve that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Along the west shore of the Hudson River, opposite Constitution Island is West Point Academy. Further south, along the east shore lies Garrisons Landing and Manitou Marsh. 

Mystery Point, the first major headland on the east shore is home to the headquarters of Outward Bound.  About 1/2 mile south, on the west shore is Popolopen Creek.  A suspension bridge over the creek connects the remains of Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery.  Both Forts figured prominently in the historic American Revolution battles. The bridge to the south is Bear Mountain Bridge. Doodletown Marsh and Iona Marsh lie further to the south. Just opposite Dunderberg Mountain (on the west shore) is the Peekskill Bay.  On the north side of the Peekskill Bay lies Annsville Creek.