The Palisades (Hudson River)

The Palisades are a continuous line of steep basalt cliffs along the west bank of the Hudson River, notable for their sheer faces and scenic vistas. They form a prominent natural boundary between northeastern New Jersey and the Hudson River.

The cliffs offer a sequence of scenic overlooks, hiking trails and parkland managed as part of Palisades Interstate Park, with public facilities and picnic areas positioned along the cliff top. The exposed rock and vertical faces create strong visual contrast with the river below.

Geologically the Palisades are part of a Triassic-Jurassic rift-margin intrusion that produced the columnar basalt and diabase rock forming the escarpment; the area was quarried in the 19th century before conservation efforts protected the cliffs. The Palisades have been preserved as parkland since the early 20th century and remain a popular regional recreation corridor.

The Palisades run along the Hudson River from the northern reaches of New Jersey into southern New York, immediately across the river from New York City and accessible from multiple points in Bergen County, New Jersey.

• Scale and height: The cliffs extend for roughly 20 miles along the Hudson River and rise to heights of about 300 feet in places, making the Palisades a prominent riverside escarpment.
• Viewing options: The best views can be taken from riverside boat trips or from the park's overlooks along Route 9W; hiking trails such as sections of the Long Path provide more extensive cliff-top access.

What to See #

• Palisades Interstate Park: Palisades Interstate Park runs along the crest of the cliffs and includes picnic areas, trails, and multiple overlooks with views across the Hudson River toward Manhattan and the New Jersey shore. The park preserves the cliffline and provides the primary public access to the Palisades.
• Cliffside overlooks: State Line Lookout and other cliffside viewpoints that provide panoramic river vistas and photo opportunities; many viewpoints are reachable from short roadside pullouts or short hikes in the park.