Cruising New York - Hudson Valley
The Hudson River, extends far north of New York City. Manhattan Island ends 2 NM north of the George Washington Bridge (GWB) (40°51' N). NOAA Chart 12343, "Hudson River - New York to Wappinger Creek" presents the Hudson River through the Hudson Valley. The river originates more than 100 miles north, above the state capital at Albany, and is navigable to large commercial vessels for most of that distance. North of that, the Hudson River connects to the New York State Canal System, a 524 mile system of man-made canals and locks connected to rivers and lakes, that enable cruising to the Great Lakes of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, and to Canada. The New York State Canal System is part of the Intracoastal Waterway.
The effect of ocean tides is seen to Albany, with the river flowing alternately north and south. A short distance north of New York City, the shores rise up in mountains from the river creating the feeling of cruising through the mountains.
The New Jersey continues on the west bank to 41°00'N, about 9.5 NM north of the GWB, after which New York State is on both sides of the river. About 5.5 NM north of the GWB, on the east bank is the City of Yonkers (40°56' N), the fourth largest city in New York. Four train tracks run north along the hudson, toward Albany. These are primarily commuter and Amtrak trains, with limited freight service.
The Tappan Zee Bridge (41°04' N) carries the New York State Thruway across the Hudson about 13.5 NM north of the GWB, stretching between Nyack on the west bank and Tarrytown on the east. North the river passes Sleepy Hollow, of Headless Horseman fame, Ossining, of Sing Sing Prison fame, on the east bank and Haverstraw and Stony Point on the west bank, soon reaching the City of Peekskill, almost 15 NM north of the Tappan Zee Bridge. The river turns at Peekskill and the Bear Mountain Bridge (41°19' N) becomes visible. Just a couple of miles upriver, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (41°21' N) can be seen from the river. Across from West Point and just slightly upriver is the village Cold Spring.
Just before the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge (41°31' N) the City of Newburgh is found on the west bank, about 31 NM above the Tappan Zee Bridge. It has a nice waterfront with dockage and several restaurants at the waterfront.