Riding the Empire State
New York motorcycle rides: Catskill cloves, Adirondack lakes and river roads
The best New York motorcycle rides are upstate: the cliff roads above the Hudson and the Delaware, the steep cloves of the Catskills, long lake roads through the Adirondacks and the vineyard shores of the Finger Lakes. Most of them sit within a few hours of New York City. Here are the roads, the season, the helmet law, the rallies and how Rippin' works in New York.
- Helmet law
- Required for all riders
- Lane splitting
- Not allowed
- Main season
- April to October
- Big rally
- Americade, June
Why ride New York
Why New York is better on a motorcycle than people think
Most people picture the city. North and west of it, the state opens into old mountains, deep glacial lakes and river valleys that were carved for curves.
Think of the state in regions. The Hudson Valley has the river roads, Bear Mountain and the Storm King cliffs. The Catskills are a tangle of steep cloves and notches with small towns between them. The Adirondacks are huge, quiet and full of long lake roads with few gas stops. The Finger Lakes trade elevation for shoreline sweepers, waterfalls and wineries. Out west and north, the Great Lakes shore and the Thousand Islands add big water. Long Island and the city are about traffic, not curves.
The roads
Best motorcycle roads in New York
The classics New York riders keep coming back to.
- NY 97, Upper Delaware Scenic BywayFollows the Delaware River north from Port Jervis toward Hancock. The Hawk's Nest stretch is cut into the cliff above the river, then it's steady sweepers. Watch for cars stopping suddenly at the Hawk's Nest pullouts and gravel at the edges after rain.
- Seven Lakes Drive and Perkins Memorial DriveSeven Lakes Drive winds through Harriman State Park past a chain of lakes, and Perkins Memorial Drive climbs to the top of Bear Mountain with views down the Hudson. Watch for cyclists, park police and seasonal closures on Perkins.
- US 9W and the Storm King Highway (NY 218)US 9W runs along the west side of the Hudson, and NY 218 between Cornwall-on-Hudson and West Point is a narrow ledge road blasted into Storm King Mountain. NY 218 closes at times for rockfall and repairs, so check before you plan around it.
- Taconic State ParkwayRuns north and south on the east side of the Hudson from Westchester toward the Albany area. No commercial traffic, long sweepers, stone bridges and valley views. Narrow shoulders, some crossings in the northern part are at grade, and deer are common at dusk.
- NY 23A, Kaaterskill CloveClimbs from Palenville up a steep clove toward Haines Falls and Hunter, with a cliff on one side and a stream on the other. Tight, steep and short; loop it with NY 214 through Stony Clove and NY 28 for the classic Catskills day. Hikers park along the road and walk it near the Kaaterskill Falls trailhead, and water seeps onto the pavement.
- NY 28, Catskills and AdirondacksNY 28 runs northwest from Kingston through the Catskills past Phoenicia and Margaretville, and farther north the same route crosses the central Adirondacks past Old Forge, Inlet and Blue Mountain Lake. In the Adirondacks, fill up when you can because gas stops are far apart.
- NY 73, Keene to Lake PlacidClimbs through the High Peaks past the Cascade Lakes into Lake Placid. Cars park along the shoulder at trailheads on weekends, and mornings are cold even in summer.
- Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway (NY 431)A toll road from Wilmington up Whiteface Mountain, open seasonally, with views across the Adirondacks and toward Vermont. Expect cold and wind at the top.
- NY 9N, Lake GeorgeRuns up the west shore of Lake George from Lake George village through Bolton Landing to Hague and Ticonderoga. Summer weekends and rally week bring heavy traffic through the villages.
- NY 89, Cayuga LakeFollows the west shore of Cayuga Lake from Ithaca toward Seneca Falls, past Taughannock Falls. Watch for wine tour buses and cars turning into wineries.
When to ride
When is motorcycle season in New York?
Downstate (the city, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley) has the longest season, roughly April through November, plus the odd warm winter day.
The Catskills and mid Hudson wake up around late April and ride well into late October. The Adirondacks and North Country run shorter: late May into early October is the safe window, and snow is possible at either end. Whiteface's highway opens and closes with the season.
Near Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, lake effect snow means winter comes early and spring comes late. Fall foliage usually peaks in the Adirondacks from late September into early October and a little later in the Catskills and Hudson Valley, and leaf traffic on weekends is real. Spring rides mean sand at intersections and potholes from the freeze and thaw.
Laws
New York motorcycle laws: helmets and lane splitting
Helmets: New York requires a helmet for every rider and passenger, at every age. See the IIHS helmet law overview for how New York compares with other states.
Lane splitting and filtering: As of 2026, New York law doesn't allow lane splitting or filtering. Several states are changing their laws, so check before you ride.
This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. Laws change, so check the New York statutes or DMV before you ride.
Events
New York motorcycle events and rallies
Americade in Lake George is the big one: a touring rally that usually runs in June, with group tours out into the Adirondacks and the roads around the lake. Check the organizer for dates. The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride happens worldwide each May, and New York riders often join it. Laconia Motorcycle Week in New Hampshire, usually in June, is a few hours east of the Capital Region.
Most of the riding calendar is local: weekly bike nights at shops and bars, spring blessing of the bikes rides, charity rides through the summer and toy runs late in the year. In Rippin', open Meets to find them near you and RSVP. Riders and shops can post their own. See motorcycle events in the app.
Live from the app
New York on Rippin' right now.
3 upcoming events and 5 rider-added roads in New York on the map today. This list updates whenever the site is rebuilt; the app always has the latest.
Local knowledge
New York riding tips
- Carry E-ZPassThe Thruway and the New York City crossings use cashless tolling. Without a tag you get a bill by mail.
- Deer, everywhereDeer are the biggest hazard on upstate back roads, especially at dawn and dusk and in the fall.
- Hikers on the roadThe Catskill cloves and the High Peaks roads have trailheads with shoulder parking. Expect people walking the road and car doors opening on summer weekends.
- Spring surfaceAfter winter, expect sand in the corners, tar snakes and potholes. The first few rides of the year are for reading the road, not pushing it.
Rippin' in New York
The motorcycle app for New York riders
Rippin' is a free motorcycle app for iPhone and Android that turns every ride into a game. Tap Record Ride once, pocket the phone, and you get a Ride Wrapped recap at the end with your miles, turf and points. See the free ride tracker.
Rippin' started in Southern California, and New York has few riders and roads in the app so far. In Turf Wars, any loop that closes back on itself claims the land inside on the live map with your name on it, and empty land is free to claim. A Catskills loop over the cloves claims a lot of mountain.
Shops, cafes and bars can become poker stops on the partners page, and riders can nominate stops too. Each stop deals one card when you arrive, no QR codes. See how poker runs work. You can also add a favorite road through Create a Segment; a person on the Rippin' team checks it before it goes live and your name stays on it. Run group rides with your crew on one live map.
Ride guide
Hudson Valley ride guide
The Hudson Valley motorcycle ride guide is built from the roads riders have added in the app.
FAQ
Questions riders ask.
What is the best motorcycle road in New York?
NY 97 along the Delaware, the Storm King Highway above the Hudson and the Catskill cloves on NY 23A and NY 214 come up the most. For long scenic miles, NY 28 and NY 73 through the Adirondacks are hard to beat.
When is motorcycle season in New York?
Roughly April through October upstate, with downstate stretching into November. The Adirondacks run shorter, about late May to early October.
Is lane splitting legal in New York?
No. As of 2026, New York law doesn't allow lane splitting or filtering. Several states are changing their laws, so check before you ride.
Do you have to wear a helmet in New York?
Yes. New York requires a helmet for every rider and passenger. Check the current statute before you ride, since laws change.
Is there a free motorcycle app for New York riders?
Yes. Rippin' is free on iPhone and Android. It records every ride and lets you claim turf, play poker runs and find meets in New York, and most of upstate is still unclaimed.
Claim the Catskills first.
Download Rippin' free, ride a loop upstate, and put your name on the map before anyone else does.