A Day in the "American Trosachs"

Editor's Note: This article is from the Hudson River Maritime Museum archives. Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper August 21, 1886.

A Summer Day's Excursion Through The "American Trosachs." From Sketches by a Staff Artist. 1. The Hudson Highlands - Storm King. 2. View from Summit of Point Peter. 3. Greenwood Lake - Black-bass Fishing. Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper August 21, 1886.

A Day in the "American Trosachs"

The appellation of the "American Trosachs" has been bestowed upon that lromantic region of river, mountain and lake lying west of the Lower Hudson River, in the States of New York and New Jersey, on account of the resemblance of its natural features to those of the famous Trosachs of Scotland, where are laid the scenes of Scott's "Lady of the Lake." The convenient and charming "round trip" which has been arranged by Mr. John N. Abbott, General Passenger Agent of the Erie Railway, will serve to make the beauties of this region accessible to a large portion of the public who have hitherto known it only by reputation.

Leaving New York city by the day steamer, at nine o'clock in the morning, the tourist enjoys a sail of sixty miles up the Hudson River, passing its chief points of historic and scenic interest – the old forts of the Revolution, the Palisades, Tappan Zee, Stony Point, West Point and the Highlands, with Storm King Mountain, 1,529 feet high, standing at their northern gate.

At Newburgh, which is reached at noon, time is allowed for a brief visit to Washington's Headquarters, before the departure of the on-o'clock train on the Erie Railway for Greycourt. From here the route is continued to Warwick over the Lehigh and Hudson Railroad. This railroad ride, occupying altogether an hour and twenty minutes, unfolds a superb panorama of the Shawangunk and Schunemunk Mountains.

From Warwick there is a stage ride of nearly two hours, over the Bellevale Mountain to Point Peter, at the head of Greenwood Lake. This lovely sheet of water is the Loch Katrine of the American Trosachs. It presents equal attractions to the artist and sportsman, and its bass-fishing is celebrated.

After an hour's stop here, the tourist takes the lake steamer to the point where the lake is intersected midway by the State boundary line between New York and New Jersey.

At this point railroad travel is resumed, the train of the New York and Greenwood Lake Railroad leaving the lake at 5:45 p.m., and arriving in New York at 7:40 in the evening.

​Thus the entire trip is made inside of twelve hours; or, reversing it, one can leave the city at 4 p.m., stop overnight at Greenwood Lake, and, reaching Newburgh in time to connect with the day-line steamer at 2:15 p.m., arrive in New York at half-past five. The fare for the round trip, in either direction, is only $3; and it may be questioned if there is in all the world another day's excursion which can rival this one, either in price or in the pleasure afforded.

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