The Rip Van Winkle Bridge carries Route 23 across the Hudson between Catskill and the city of Hudson, and its pedestrian walkway is worth crossing on foot. The views from mid-span take in the full width of the Hudson with the Catskill Mountains rising dramatically to the west and the rolling farmland of Columbia County stretching east. On clear days you can see for miles in both directions along the river.
The bridge opened in 1935 and takes its name from Washington Irving's famous tale, set in the Catskill Mountains just a few miles away. The walk across and back is about two miles in total — flat, easy, and genuinely rewarding on a good day.