10 Things to Do in Cold Spring, NY: The Best Day Trip from NYC!

As road trip experts, we know that the best small towns have a little bit of everything. That’s why Cold Spring, NY needs to be on your radar! 

Whether you want to relax with a bite to eat and a bit of local shopping, to picture the boom of an industrial revolution-era foundry, or take a hike up to crumbling ruins, we’ve got you covered. 

Want to explore Cold Spring + other hidden gems in the area? Try a one-day surprise road trip from New York City called Hudson River Hideaways! Many of these stops are ones featured on the third stop, and you’ll discover TONS more destinations by opening a series of envelopes that reveal each as you go.

What is a one day surprise road trip?

At Guess Where Trips, we plan one day surprise road trips that get you out of the house and exploring new things! This small town is just one of many that we recommend on our trips.

The map below marks each stop we recommend during your visit!

Address: 1601 Route 9D, Garrison, NY

If you're a fan of Bridgerton or other Regency-era stories, Boscobel House and Gardens will feel like stepping into that world. The elegant architecture, refined interiors, and sweeping landscapes have that same sense of grandeur and charm...minus the scandal (probably).

It was built in the 1800s for post-Revolutionary War Loyalist, States Dyckman, and his wife, Elizabeth Corné Kennedy. Surprisingly, it was originally located 15 miles south of where it is now. The grand home was demolished in the 1950s, but the architecture was preserved and reassembled. 

You can grab a ticket to tour just the grounds and gardens ($14) or add on a guided house tour ($24). Bonus: the Cold Spring Farmers Market happens here every Saturday from 10 am - 1 pm (November - April) or 9 am - 1 pm (May - October).

Address: 80 Kemble Ave, Cold Spring, NY

Step back in time at the remains of a Civil War-era artillery foundry and ironworks. West Point Foundry manufactured some of America’s first steam engines, pipes for NYC waterways, and cannons and artillery that helped win the Civil War. 

Today you’ll wander past the foundations of former shops and mills, old train tracks that once shipped products across the country, and our favourite, the 1865 Office Building. It’s the only freestanding structure left, and absolutely worth a mini-photoshoot.

We recommend the 0.5 mile yellow trail, which hits all of the significant historic spots with plaques and photos explaining each vital part of the foundry. You can also follow this audio/visual tour while walking (you’ll be starting from #5!).

Cold Spring Pier is the perfect place soak in sweeping views of the Hudson River. While you're here, picture ships and barges skimming along the water. That’s what locals would have seen in the 1800s, when Cold Spring played a major role in the ice trade! Ice harvested from the river was shipped to major cities across the Northeast and even internationally. 

Grab take out from one of our suggestions below, and bring it here for a riverside moment. Can you spot USMA West Point across the water to the left? Notable alumni include Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin (first man on the moon), and Dwight D. Eisenhower (34th President of the United States).

If you love mixing in a good sweat on a road trip, Hudson River Expeditions makes exploring the shores easy, with kayak and stand up paddle board (SUP) tours right from Cold Spring.

From May to October, their incredibly friendly and knowledgeable staff run tours for all skill levels. So whether you're a pro or it's your first time on the water, you're covered.

Personally I'd go for the River to Marsh Explorer Tour ($80), Bannerman Castle Loop ($110), or Sandy Beach Tour ($80). Want to learn more and book a spring adventure? Check out the schedule HERE.

Address: 45 Market Street, Cold Spring, NY

Built in 1830 for the workers of West Point Foundry, The Chapel Restoration now hosts concerts & sunset reading sessions throughout the year.One of our favourite events is Restoration Roadhouse! 

Picture this: back in the day, a roadhouse was a traditional stopping place on well-travelled roads where musicians would roll in to entertain locals. This event brings back that old-school vibe with local craft beer, food trucks and live rock, folk, blues and bluegrass music. Easily one of the best ways to spend an evening in Cold Spring.

Address: 3011 NY-9D, Cold Spring, NY

While technically just outside of town, I couldn’t let you go to Cold Spring without a hike to the ruins of a 1917 estate - Cornish Estate Ruins. For almost 20 years, Edward Cornish and his wife Selina used this home on the Hudson to escape their busy lives in the city. Tragically, the couple died within two weeks of each other in 1938, and the home fell into disrepair, before a fire destroyed most of the mansion in 1958.

As you walk around, it’s easy to picture old motorcars arriving at the entrance, affluent families and friends arriving for a weekend aways, servants gracefully transporting personalized luggage into the grand home, and the gentle clinking of champagne flutes poolside (yes the ruins of the pool are still there!).

The trail is approximately 1.8-miles (out and back) in total, and runs parallel to the highway, and uphill along what used to be the driveway! There are plenty of historic plaques and photos to compare the crumbling ruins to the estate's heyday. 

Address: 3011 NY-9D, Cold Spring, NY

Just finished exploring the Cornish Ruins? Now you deserve a short and easy 1-mile stroll to relax waterside at Little Stoney Point. You don't even have to move your car for this one, as it's right across the road from the lot for the ruins.

As you set off you'll come to a fork in the trail. We recommend heading left first and going clockwise! That way, you have time to pass by remnants of an old mine shaft burrowed into the point’s rocky face before coming to the beach for sunset. This is the perfect place to lay down a blanket, bring some snacks, and just relax.

Just 15 minutes north of Cold Spring is Beacon, NY, a gorgeous small town, and the departure destination for your movie night beneath the stars.

Despite the name, Bannerman Castle was actually an armory warehouse built by Francis Bannerman VI, an arms and military surplus dealer who ran out of room in his New York City storeroom. Construction began in 1901, and alongside the arsenal, he built a smaller residence where his family would stay during summer visits.

So how did the property become abandoned and in ruin? Well, in 1920 200 pounds of shells and powder exploded in an outbuilding, which caused significant damage. Then in 1950, the ferry which served the island sunk in a storm, and the island was left vacant. 

Today you can take a quick 30-minute ferry from Beacon for guided tours of the island and old ruins, but our favourite event is the summer movie nights. Tickets are $45 per person and include the price of entrance, your ferry ride over, and either a guided tour of the island or 50 minute lecture (depending on timing).