Delaware River Scenic byway muust-sees

October 6, 2021 9:32 AM

I'm doing the scenic Delaware River Route 97 drive next weekend. What should I make sure to not miss?

I'm a big leaf peeper, never taken the drive from the city up the 97 Delaware Scenic Byway. Planning to start the 97 journey in Port Jervis morning of Oct 16 and staying in Callicoon that night, heading back to the city Sunday Oct 17.

First question: Is there a more scenic drive to Port Jervis I should consider? Right now looking at I-80/280 > Rt 15 > Rt 94 > Rt 23 through NJ. I don't want to go toooo far out of the way, just don't want to be on an interstate the whole time.

Second question: What shouldn't I miss? I love: scenic views/waterfalls, historic homes and gardens, boutique-y home decor stores, farmers markets, farm-to-table restaurants, bookstores/record stores, anywhere I can sit on a porch and drink a glass of wine with a view.

I'm basically planning on driving 97 from Port Jervis (from Brooklyn) to Hancock and back over those two days, stopping at things that catch my eye, but I want to make sure I'm not missing anything super-awesome. I'm ok with a very short hike (like, under 1 hr) or a small detour off 97 if it's really worth it.

I've been all over the Hudson Valley (favorite spots are Cold Spring/Beacon and Kingston for reference of what I like), so trying to keep the suggestion hyper-local to the scenic byway drive.

Please share your tips!

posted by greta simone to Travel & Transportation around New York (5 answers total)

Gee, I grew up in NJ and the only places up in that region that I remember are the Delaware River itself, Stokes State Forest, and the highest point in NJ, cleverly named High Point. It's on the Appalachian Trail. I don't know how close it is to the nearest trailhead and, aside from a monument to itself, is just a path thru the woods.

You might see a bear; that would be memorable.
posted by SemiSalt at 10:40 AM on October 6, 2021

The Hawks Nest, right outside of Port Jervis is a must stop. Just a scenic pull off (oft used in car commercials). That being said, I don’t love having to stop from the “wrong” side so consider planning on stopping on the way back.

On route 23 (not on sundays!) definitely stop for a bakery item at the Holland America bakery.

And since you’re basically driving through it, it’s worth a stop at High Point state park in NJ to stretch your legs before stopping in PJ for the night.

My biggest recommendation is to drive slow and alert enough that when something catches your eye you can pull off quickly to stop at it.
posted by raccoon409 at 11:14 AM on October 6, 2021 [2 favorites]

The Laundrette in Narrowsburg has a beautiful patio overlooking the river and would be a perfect cocktail/wine stop - it's close to Calicoon where you probably already have dinner plans, but if not the pizza is delicious. If you prefer to stop in the morning, there's a coffee shop right next to the bridge that connects to 652 in PA called the Tusten Cup that has amazing breakfasts. The tiny little downtown where both of these are located is very cute and worth a 10-minute leg stretch walk.

There's a good hike right off 97 near Tusten. The whole thing would take you longer than an hour, but walking from the parking area up Tusten Road to the loop trailhead proper and back might be just right.
posted by superfluousm at 11:31 AM on October 6, 2021 [1 favorite]

You could get off 23 a little early and go to Milford, PA. Highly recommend Grey Towers there. Raymondskill Falls and Dingmans Falls are nearby and easy to walk to. Then drive from Milford to Port Jervis along the River Road on the NJ side (much prettier than 209).
The Hawks Nest will be spectacular and there are many little pull offs. Also recommend Roeblings's aqueduct.
posted by jebs at 1:43 AM on October 7, 2021 [1 favorite]

Coincidentally, I plan to be starting a different route (US 6 across Pennsylvania) out of Port Jervis on the 16th!

In PJ drive up to the top of Elks-Brox Park to get a great view of the Erie turntable, downtown PJ, and beyond. The park entrance is on Skyline Drive off 97 as you drive out of the city. An obscure landmark is the Tri-States Monument at the south end of Laurel Grove Cemetery, pretty much under the I-84 bridge.

Foundry 42 is a decent coffee and gift shop with a lot of local and artisan goods downtown on Front Street. I haven't eaten there but Fogwood and Fig, a vegan restaurant a couple doors down, gets good reviews. The Saturday morning Port Jervis farmer's market (in the parking lot across Pike St. at Hammond) is within walking distance of those two. I can vouch for the Texas Lunch hot dog place but it is only open in the afternoons.

I second everything jebs and superfluousm suggested. Milford is a really nice little town. Roebling's aqueduct, which is now a bridge, crosses over the Delaware at Lackawaxen. It was built as part of the Delaware & Hudson Canal. Narrowsburg is nice and worth the ten minute walk to see all of downtown.
posted by plastic_animals at 11:48 AM on October 8, 2021 [1 favorite]