America's Deepest River Winds Past Charming Towns, Picturesque Views, And Outdoor Adventure

America is full of grand, meandering rivers that have carved and shaped the land around them for millions of years. New York's Hudson River is one of the most iconic. Discovered by English explorer Henry Hudson in 1609, who was actually seeking a shortcut from Europe to China, it grew to be a significant East Coast waterway, used by steamers and ferryboats in the 19th century, and became a hub of industrialization, a rural escape for wealthy city dwellers, and a battleground for environmentalism at various stages of its life. The Hudson also has the distinction of being America's deepest river, reaching a depth of 202 feet (some sources say 216 feet) at a point known as World's End.

The Hudson's abnormal depth is a result of ancient glacial scouring, whereby glaciers armed with stones and debris scraped away at the bedrock. When the North American glaciers retreated during the last Ice Age, river water filled the fjord-like shape hacked out by the ice. All along the Hudson's 315-mile course, from Lake Tear of the Clouds in the Adirondacks to New York Harbor, are places worth exploring. You'll find charming village hideaways like Nelsonville and the nearby Hudson Highland State Park Preserve, beloved for rugged beauty and trails. There are stunning views and outdoor adventure at every twist and bend in the river, and if you start to miss city life, the Big Apple is never far away.

Nelsonville, a pretty village north of the Hudson's deepest point, is a good place to begin your travels. You'll find antique stores here, and in the adjacent village of Cold Spring, Civil War history, including a former ironworks at West Point Foundry, which once manufactured steam engines, locomotives, water pipes, and cannons. The factory buildings are now mostly reclaimed by nature and harbor local wildlife. From Nelsonville, take the Undercliff Trail leading to Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve, where there are 8,000 acres of protected wilderness, 70 miles of walking trails, and rocky ridges with views of the winding river.

Peekskill sits further to the south; at just 50 miles from NYC, it's a great way to escape the hustle and bustle on a weekend excursion. Peekskill has lovely views of the Hudson, too, especially along the 2-mile trail in its Riverfront Green Park. To get a closer look, book a New York Boat Co. river ferry — the "Evening Star" takes passengers on a sunset cruise of the Hudson Highlands, with Bear Mountain and Anthony's Nose for accompanying scenery. From Peekskill, you can access the Blue Mountain Reservation, webbed by trails of varying difficulties, including the challenging and wonderfully named Ned's Left Lung Trail, popular among mountain bikers.

Alternatively, head further upstream towards Albany and visit Catskill, New York's quintessential Hudson River Valley town. Known for its creative flair, Catskill is home to boutique stores and cool bars. At Left Bank Cider, imbibers pair homemade ciders with eclectic dishes from local food pop-ups, while Avalon, a music venue, mixes live tunes with food from its Korean kitchen and drinks including sake, soju, beer, and wine. For premium accommodation, book a "floating cabin" at Piaule Catskill, a super sleek, diffused hotel in the mountains.

With hiking routes in the Catskills, the Hudson Highlands, the Adirondacks, and the northern Appalachian Trail all running along, and in some cases crossing over, the Hudson River, there are near-endless opportunities for mountain adventure. You can join the Appalachian Trail near West Point, which overlooks the deep twist in the Hudson called World's End. From here, explore the wooded trails of Bear Mountain State Park or cross the river and make your way northeastward towards Connecticut.

If you're further north, where the Hudson meanders through the Adirondacks, you've got lots of great hiking trails, too. With routes like the spectacular Great Range Traverse, the waterfall-laden Auger Falls Loop, and pretty Baker Mountain, the Adirondacks offers some of the best hiking in the state. The sprawling Adirondack Park is also up here, with 3,000 lakes, 30,000 miles of streams and rivers, and diverse ecosystems, including wetlands and virgin forests.

Kayakers, canoeists, and paddle boarders can hit the waters at various points along the Hudson River. You'll find rental shops at Croton Point Park and Tarrytown, or you can take a guided tour of the riverway near Sleepy Hollow. Kayak tours are also available from Beacon, where you'll paddle across to Pollepel Island and Bannerman Castle. The castle, built at the behest of a Scottish business magnate called Francis Bannerman in the early 1900s, might look like a fortress, but it was designed as a resplendent repository for his collection of ammunition and weapons. You can also take a kayak or canoe into Rondout Creek, a Hudson tributary, where you'll get pleasing views of the valley alongside urban scenery, like suspension bridges, a shipyard, and Rondout Lighthouse, built in 1915.