Taconic State Parkway, Historic parkway in eastern New York, US.
Taconic State Parkway is a parkway in eastern New York that runs 104 miles (167 km) from Kensico Dam Plaza north to Chatham, passing through Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, and Columbia counties. The route winds through wooded hills and follows the natural rise and fall of the terrain.
Planning began in 1925 at the initiative of Franklin D. Roosevelt to open access from New York City to state parks along the eastern Hudson River Valley. Construction stretched over several decades and was only completed in the 1960s.
The route takes its name from the Taconic Range, an old mountain chain that runs parallel to the Hudson River and shapes the rolling hills along the drive. Many New Yorkers use the road for weekend getaways, stopping at roadside farms in autumn to buy apples and pumpkins.
Only passenger vehicles under 8 feet (2.4 m) in height may use the route, while trucks, buses, and trailers are not allowed. Travelers should plan for fuel and rest stops at the beginning or end of the journey, as services along the way are few.
More than 275 stone bridges built from local fieldstone arch over the roadway, giving the drive an architectural character that remains today. At several points, the opposing lanes run at different elevations, allowing drivers to catch unexpected views of the surrounding landscape.
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