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New York State Hidden Treasures

Written by Kristen McKenna | May 17, 2021

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When New York comes to mind, general thoughts revolve around the Big Apple, The Hamptons, and Lake George. Steering clear of typical tourist attractions leads one to uncover some of New York’s best kept secrets – hidden corners of the wilderness and small towns often disregarded. Most times, an area’s greatest treasures are the ones commonly overlooked.

Each year, larger portions of the public flock to the great outdoors. While the intentions are respectable, one must also consider the increasing negative environmental impacts. Concluding to take the road less travelled and seek out lesser known territory, ensures a lower degree of deterioration in high trafficked locations. New York State is so much more than what is ordinarily portrayed – so, carry on scrolling to reveal some of the Empire State’s hidden gems.

Lucifer Falls

While upstate New York hosts a multitude of waterfalls, some stand out more than others. Just outside the college town of Ithaca lies Robert H. Treman State Park, an area entertaining locals and tourists as early as the mid 1800s. The park’s creation lay thanks to Robert H. Treman and his wife – the couple donated the first 327 acres of land in 1920 to the state and worked relentlessly to make it available to the public.

The park’s highlight, Lucifer Falls, is a 115 ft. cascading waterfall. A bearable 2.25 mile walk up the Gorge Trail provides a view of the falls lower half from the base, while the upper park shows an outlook from the waterfalls summit. For a fuller perspective of Lucifer Falls, the Rim Trail showcases the picturesque sight from across the glen.

Bannerman Castle

When imagining historic, age-old castles, Europe and the United Kingdom are typically what come to mind – not the Hudson River in New York State! Resting on Pollepel Island, Bannerman Castle was built from 1901 to 1908 to store surplus military arsenal. Francis Bannerman, a Scottish-born, Brooklyn-raised businessman purchased ninety percent of the Spanish arms after the Spanish-American War, including 30 million rounds of live ammunition. Being a city dweller, Bannerman locked sights on Pollepel Island and made the purchase for $1,600 (about $50,000 today).

The castle was modeled to resemble the architecture of an old Scottish castle. Though the uncommon structure remained in use for a few decades, a series of unfortunate events took place that led to the crumbling framework. A storm in 1950 sank the ferryboat used to service the island, leaving the arsenal abandoned. In August 1969, a large fire destroyed much of the complex.Then, in December 2009, an estimated 35% of the front wall and east corner wall collapsed due to erosion.

Today, Bannerman Castle is property of the New York State Office of Parks and is maintained by the Bannerman Castle Trust Inc. The Trust is committed to gather resources and funding to preserve the buildings on Pollepel Island, while raising awareness to the public and government organizations on the significance and history of the island.

Jay Mountain

The Adirondacks are home to some of the state’s most dazzling peaks, pristine lakes, and bountiful valleys. With over six million acres of wilderness to explore, the list of outdoor adventures seem endless. Ordinary visitors flock to the Lake George and Lake Placid region, where tourists swamp the villages and waterways. Luckily, the Adirondack Park has miles of ground to cover.

Jay Mountain Wilderness grants an authentic Adirondack experience; open rock mountain summits and vast expanses of isolated areas lacking marked trails. Jay Mountain escapes the congestion of well-known peaks, offering solitude and isolation. Climbing 4 miles one way presents hikers with a treeless summit and colossal views of New York forests. Though much of this area of the Adirondacks requires bushwhacking and camping in the rough, the memories are unique and unlike most others.

Stonecrop Gardens

Commonly unnoticed by travellers heading north toward the Adirondacks, the Hudson Highlands accommodates multitudes of greenery. Just sixty miles of New York City lies Stonecrop Gardens, a valuable haven for plant enthusiasts since 1992. Original owners Frank and Anne Cabot, received the land from a relative and built their home within the sixty acres of fields and woods. Though initially a private garden, the Cabot’s flower and plant collection grew considerably as they speculated with new concepts and horticulture became their life’s work.

Today, “Stonecrop’s mission is to inspire gardeners to explore the infinite variety of the plant kingdom and to encourage a joyful willingness to experiment in the garden.” Visitors should prepare for serious plant engrossment as they walk the grounds and examine the vast assortment of plant species and collections. Some focal points include greenhouses of alpines, tropicals, and succulents; a cliff rock garden; a confined English-style flower garden and arranged order beds portraying over 50 plant families. What better way to welcome the summer months than by meandering through some of the seasons most prized contributions.

Eternal Flame Falls

The outskirts of Chestnut Ridge Park host a peculiar waterfall unlike any other in the entire country. Eternal Flame Falls contain a small, natural flame protected by a miniature cave. The odor of rotten eggs fills the air while approaching the falls – the outcome of seepage from layers of organically-rich shale. “The gasses produced during the decomposition of the organics within the rock deposits are under pressure and push out through cracks and loose layers within the rock.” Two other, smaller seepages nearby can be lit, though unable to withstand a flame as long or as large as the “Eternal Flame”.

Though just over a half mile each way, the hike to reach the falls affirms to be somewhat challenging and wet. Walking along the creek downstream, visitors will reach two small cascades before arriving at the top of Eternal Flame Falls. To reach the base; cross the creek, head up the dirt trail, and pass a hemlock grove as the sound of the falls comes within reach (if it is flowing). As elevation decreases, the trail reaches the creek bed and switchbacks commence. The remaining walk is along the creek before witnessing one of the most unique natural wonders.

Escarpment Trail

Who would have thought the oldest known forest on Earth would be found in downstate New York? The Catskill Mountains reveal a set of 386-million-year-old fossilized root system, a compelling fact only creating a more alluring location.

To grasp the full scope of one’s surroundings, sometimes an overnight trip proves necessary. The 24 mile Escarpment Trail traverses a thin route of stone above the quaint Hudson Valley. The cherished folktale of Rip Van Winkle takes place in these mountains – where he wandered into the Catskill Mountains attempting to escape his nagging wife, only to fall into a “magic potion” induced 20 year slumber.

The Escarpment Trail presents challenging terrain across ever changing scenery with mixed hardwood forests, shady hemlock groves beside rapidly-flowing, and spruce-fir peaks. Set aside a weekend for this endeavor as the trail leads backpackers through ancient mountains once carved by glaciers some 22,000 years ago.

Rosendale

Small towns set the scene for rural environments and create a strong society. Rosendale rests in the Hudson Valley where locals believe their home to be more than a location, but a way of life. The rural community of 6,000+ residents may be of modest size, but they have a meaningful presence. “There’s a forward thinking progressivism that many other towns can only hope to strive to attain and a responsibility to preserve this way of life and to preserve the land on which the town sits.”

Priding itself in providing residents and visitors with educational programs and resources to benefit the mind, body, and health – the Rosendale Theater Collective compliments the community through film, music, performing arts, and more. Main Street brims with unique dining options and shopping experiences; the Rosendale Cafe offers some of the best vegetarian food and live music, or Rosendale Waxworks selling homemade candles. In Rosendale, the passionate community inspires its visitors to seek out new encounters and create unique memories.

Taking the Road Less Travelled

A destination’s true beauty lies within less dominated areas. New York holds much fame and prominent features, though venturing off track liberates genuine travelers. So instead of feeling suffocating in Times Square or getting stuck in Long Island traffic, initiate encounters rare to the common folk. Strive to be the far and few between and inspire others to unearth mysterious locations.