The Durham Valley Scenic Byway
The natural beauty of the Durham Valley is without parallel in the Catskill region. With its combination of rolling hills and the extraordinary backdrop of the Catskill Mountains, the Valley is considered one of the most beautiful places in the whole of New York State.
The Scenic Byway is a 22-mile corridor that accesses the northernmost escarpment of the Catskill Mountains, stretching from Mount Pisgah, along the Ginseng Ridge, and past Windham High Peak. Spectacular views from the upper elevations encompass thick woodlands, idyllic pasturelands, and working hay fields crisscrossed by the Durham Valley’s tumbling waterfalls, streams and creeks. Man-made elements also entice the traveler – the Valley boasts historic 19th century villages with their churches and cemeteries, one-room schoolhouses, stone walls and stone arch bridges, all accessible on scenic roads with breathtaking views. According to the Sierra Club’s Alan Gussow: “The Durham Valley is an area of unusual natural and scenic beauty.”
Durham Valley Scenic Byways Corridor Management Plan
Historic Resources Reconnaissance Survey 1997
