How to Enjoy Saugerties in Hudson Valley On A Day Trip From NYC

Updated 2025.

Another day, another fun day trip from NYC to Saugerties in the Hudson Valley.

Unlike other Hudson Valley cities that are accessible by train, like Cold Spring and others, Saugerties has no nearby train station and can only be reached by vehicle. There are many beautiful places in New York State to experience by train and vehicle in all seasons so get planning.

Where is Saugerties? I’ve never heard of it.

The Village of Saugerties is in Ulster County. Granted, it does not have name recognition like Beacon, but it has small village charms with a plethora of things to do on a day trip from New York City. Like all of New York State, it has a well documented history dating to the 1700s when it was settled by Dutch farmers from Kingston and Palatines – Germans who immigrated to England – already in the general area.

The Village of Saugerties is part of the Town of Saugerties and is within Catskills Park. It was popular for its ice industry in times when ice was harvested from the Hudson and transported to NYC for use in iceboxes – or refrigerators – of the day. Thank God for technology because the Hudson does not freeze the same way again.

How do I get there from New York City?

• The best and fastest way is by car and it takes 90mins.
• Amtrak from Moynihan Penn Station to Rhinecliff Station and then a cab/Uber ride 20 mins to Saugerties is the closest transit option, but this might be best for a weekend and not a day trip as cabs/Ubers in the area are few and far between. Trust me, I learn this lesson on a day trip to Rhinebeck waiting 40mins for a ride from the station.

This is probably the main reason Saugerties has little name recognition with the downstate crowd because it is inaccessible by Amtrak rail and most New York City residents rely on these transit options for a day trip out of the city.

Read below on how to enjoy Saugerties on a New York City day trip.

#Things to do in Saugerties: Falling Waters Preserve

Falling Waters is a nature preserve in Glasco, a 10 min ride from Saugerties, and is an unmissable experience. It is eerily quiet, green, and you have the run of the place with barely another soul seen. Enter the preserve into a forest of trees and feel like you’re in an enchanted forest. I feel like I am thrust into an Enid Blyton enchanted forest story and expect to see faeries emerge from the thicket of trees.

Saunter onto Father Charles Jorn trail, an easy and hikeable trail leading to pleasant discoveries like waterfalls, rock ledges, and a beach with Catskill views. Father Charles Jorn was a chaplain at the nearby Sisters’ Sparkhill Infirmary and vacationed at this spot for decades, where he cleared trails and raked leaves. The beach is atypical and is the Hudson shoreline with low tides and benches for relaxing after a hike.

Wear waterproof shoes if you're heading to the shoreline. Share on X

 

🥾 Hike Father Charles Jorn trail
🎿 Ski or snowshoe in winter
🚶🏿‍♀️ “Forest bathe” in the green grove of forest trees
🌊 Waterfall delight on the trail
⛱️ Walk to shoreline for a beach-ish experience
🌄 Views of the Catskills

📍 Glasco, Ulster County, NYS

Click below for hiking essentials for Falling Water Preserve and hiking trails in the area:

 

#Enjoy Saugerties: Opus 40 Sculpture Park

Opus 40 is a large environmental sculpture created by Harvey Fite, a professor at nearby Bard College. It is a large area of monolith sculptures created with native bluestone found in quarries in the area which he used to build terraces, ramps, and paths to his sculptures. He carved with hand tools – this was in the 60s – and built Quarryman’s Museum on the grounds.

Hours vary so check opening times in advance here.

#Best Things to do Saugerties: Saugerties Farmer’s Market

One thing to not miss in Upstate New York villages and towns are farmer’s markets, and Saugerties is no exception. Many farm vendors are here with organic vegetables, farm-raised beef and poultry, breads, cheeses, cakes and pies, vegan foods, local wines and liqueurs and so much more.

Location: 115 Main Street

Time: Saturdays 10am – 2pm

Months: May through October

#Things to do in Saugerties: Pound Pavements on Historic Partition Street

Saugerties is no different from other small towns in America with a classic Main Street lined with independent shops and businesses, only that its Main Street is known as Main-Partition Streets Historic District and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Partition Street isn’t long but it has its share of antique stores, the requisite bookshop and vinyl store that every upstate town has, a mercantile store, eateries, and so much more.

Spots to visit here are:

• Inquiring Mind Bookstore – where coffee varieties are served as you sit and read
• Dutch Ale House Restaurant – To replenish calories from walking and hiking
• Eateries & Cafes
• Bosco’s Mercantile – for handmade and beautiful clothing, bedding, artisanal candles etc
• Dancing Tulip – plants, flowers, and things that have tulips and plants on them. Apt for the Dutch history.
• Antique Shops

Again, it is not a long historic district so you have time to pop in and out to buy the delights of any shops that catch your fancy.

#Best Things to do Saugerties: Hudson Valley Garlic Festival

Ah hah! You thought Gilroy was just it on the West Coast, innit?

Sponsored and planned by the Kiwanis Club of Saugerties, the Garlic Festival pulls together garlic farmers, garlic varieties, food vendors, garlic crafts, chef’s lectures and everything that a garlic theme can insert itself into lol. I have no qualms as a garlic lover so this is right up my alley!

The Garlic Festival began in 1989 by Pat Reppert of Shale Hill Farm as a way to promote New York State garlic, and is said to be the first of its kind in the Hudson Valley and perhaps, the East Coast. To keep abreast with this allium festival, check current year dates here.

#Enjoy Saugerties: Kiersted House

Home of the Saugerties Historical Society, it is a 1727 house, also known as the Dutch Barn, that was a 49 acre farm and home to the Kiersted family. Dr. Kiersted was the first physician in Saugerties and his son was a supervisor who helped lay the streets that are now the Village of Saugerties. There are remnants of the old farm  – silos and cow flops – but it is now rented as event space.

#Things to do: Public Art

While there aren’t many murals or sculptures in Saugerties as there are in the City of Beacon, you will spy some public art as you roam the Main-Partition Streets Historic District. Keep an eye out for the love sculpture in a parking lot on Main Street as well as a huge mural on the facade of a building in the parking lot.

#Enjoy Saugerties: Saugerties Marina

There’s a Marina in Saugerties?

There is too and there are many things to do here if you are water inclined.

Located on Esopus Creek flowing into the Hudson, the marina is a prime boating location where rentals for kayaks and power boats are possible. Do you have your own kayak or power boat to enjoy? Dock and service them here before or after use. I see a number of kayaks and boats on the Hudson and sunny weather is the ideal time for this.

Pontoons are available for when you don’t have deep pockets for a sailboat or are too chicken to kayak. Even more fun are pedal pontoons where you can take refreshments onto the water to enjoy the solitude of nature.

#Things to do: Saugerties Lighthouse

Established in 1869 to replace an earlier 1835 structure damaged by ice, Saugerties Lighthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is on the Esopus Creek with lovely and serene views to people-watch kayaking and speed boating and is better on a warm, sunny day.

The lighthouse is across the marina on the other side of the Esopus Creek and is on the Hudson with views of the Catskills. Once you arrive at the parking lot, the rest of the journey is by foot on a plush and sandy trail so wear waterproof hiking shoes like below.

 

This moderate hike takes about 15 minutes passing over wooden bridges and paths, coastal reeds, marsh plants on the shore, and the wide expanse of the Hudson till the lighthouse suddenly looms ahead of you. This area is the Ruth Reynolds Glunt Nature Preserve.

Walk onto its pier, take note of any safety signs regarding high tide, and just take in Mother Nature in all her glory. Share on X

⚓ In certain seasons, Saugerties Lighthouse rooms are available in advance for guests so check out availability HERE.

 

#Enjoy Saugerties: Esopus Bend Nature Preserve

This is on the same side as the Marina and on the opposite side of the Lighthouse and is a lush, woodland preserve with hiking trails and picturesque spots ideal for hikers of all levels, similar to Falling Waters and the Lighthouse trail. I am no hiker and I manage to do these without losing my breath or feeling fatigue. Methinks I’m marathon ready! Lol. No.

If you’re keen on easy hiking trails and verdant forests, Esopus Bend (and Falling Waters) are ideal nature preserve candidates to experience on a New York City day trip.

#Things to do: Saugerties Village Beach

Now, calm your shorts.

This is definitely no Jersey Shore but a small sandy beach with a swimming area, fishing area, playground, and restroom. It is ideal for toddlers (big and small) to relax, picnic, and escape the throng of populated beaches elsewhere in the state.

Lifeguard: Only during summer months of July 1 through Sept 1.

Location: South end of Partition Street

#Enjoy Saugerties: West Saugerties Falls

You’re in Upstate New York now so expect beautiful sights of waterfalls galore in villages, towns, and cities, and the falls in Saugerties are no exception. I ask a bakery owner what else there is to see in the area and she mentions West Saugerties falls, so off we go.

Google Maps never fails me and we easily track Schalke Falls, visible from a bridge, but there is no safe way to access them from this point. Park by the bridge, walk up the side, and take as many photos of the falls as you can. Save this activity for last as you leave Saugerties.

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This is a brief guide on the Village of Saugerties for an upcoming day trip.

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