New York State Route 97

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NY Route 97

Length:

70.53 mi^[1] (113.51 km)

South end:

US 6/US 209/NY 42 in Port Jervis

North end:

NY 17 in Hancock

Counties:

Orange, Sullivan, Delaware

Numbered highways in New York
< NY 96B		NY 98 >
Interstates - U.S. Routes - State Routes

New York State Route 97 is a 71 mile (114.2 km) long scenic highway paralleling the Delaware River north-south in from its intersection with NY-17 in Hancock, N.Y. to its intersection with US-6 and US-209 in Port Jervis, N.Y. Its most famous feature is the Hawk's Nest, a tightly winding section of the road high above the Delaware River a few miles north of Port Jervis that has been featured in several car commercials.

1 Route description
2 Communities along the route
3 Major intersections
4 History
5 Miscellanea
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Route description

[edit] Orange County

Route 97 begins, along with NY 42, at an intersection in Port Jervis where Park Avenue reaches US 6 and US 209. After passing through a residential neighborhood, the road climbs a nearby hillside and offers some stunning views back over the city, then leaves it. The road here runs right next to the active Norfolk Southern line.

The Hawk's Nest

A few miles further on, the two routes split at the hamlet of Sparrow Bush. After passing through a wooded area and climbing some more, the road opens on to its most dramatic portion, the Hawk's Nest.

Here 97 perches on steep and stony cliffs, following a narrow, twisty course. Picturesque stone fencing prevents cars from falling into the river a hundred feet (30 m) below, and there are frequent overlooks to take in the view and, on nice summer days, the kayakers and rafters. It has been used in commercials for BMW, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Saab and Cadillac models, as well as by American Express. Car and motorcycle enthusiasts, and more recently bicyclists and even skateboarders, have been drawn to the Hawk's Nest's combination of scenic beauty and challenge for many years.

Once past the Hawk's Nest, 97 again returns to river level as it crosses the Mongaup River and enters Sullivan County.

[edit] Sullivan County

Here the road runs more east-west, as does the river. Highway and the railroad tracks are never far away as 97 winds past several small hamlets that grew up around the railroad. In the slightly larger hamlet of Barryville, 97 meets its first state highway since Sparrow Bush as NY 55 crosses the highway on its way into Pennsylvania where it becomes that state's Route 434.

Continuing on past land mostly undeveloped as part of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, 97 passes more small hamlets. Shortly after Minisink Ford and the restored Roebling's Delaware Aqueduct, the river turns northward again and so does 97. However, the highway strikes a course more inland, with more than a mile separating it from the river at Luxton Lake. The NY 52 junction heralds a return to the river route, however, and shortly thereafter 97 comes upon Narrowsburg, the largest community it will pass through between its termini (while still small). A bridge leads across to Darbytown and PA 652.

Having returned to the side of the Delaware, 97 hugs it closely up to Cochecton, where the old Newburgh-Cochecton Turnpike once reached the river and a bridge gives access to Damascus and PA 371. 97 goes on to Callicoon and its last state highway junction in Sullivan County, NY 17B. It avoids a bend in the river north of the quiet hamlet by heading more to the north, then rejoins the river past Hankins and Long Eddy until it reaches the Delaware County line.

[edit] Delaware County

In Delaware 97 again moves away from the river and finds some stretches more like other state highways and less like a river road, with long straightaways, wide turns, good pavement and gentle climbs. A few miles south of Hancock, 97 returns to the river and follows it past the confluence of its east and west branches and then enters the village. There, it collects PA 191 and ends at a junction with NY 17/I-86.

[edit] Communities along the route

[edit] Major intersections

County	Location	Mile	Road(s)	Notes
Orange	Port Jervis	0.0	US 6/US 209 NY 42	Southern terminus of NY 42/NY 97 duplex. Southern terminus of NY 42.
Orange	Sparrow Bush	2.8	NY 42	Northern terminus of duplex.
Sullivan	Narrowsburg	18.2	NY 55
	S of Barryville	27.9	NY 52	Southern terminus of duplex.
	Barryville	28.6	NY 52	Northern terminus of duplex.
	Cochecton	35.5	PA 371	Eastern terminus of PA 371 (at state line, middle of Delaware River, a short distance from 97 junction).
	Callicoon	42.1	NY 17B	Western terminus of NY 17B.
Delaware	Village of Hancock	69.4	NY 268	Southern terminus of NY 268. As of 2006, road closed off at this point due to effects of flooding earlier in the year on highway.
		70.0	PA 191	Northern terminus of PA 191 at state line. Short route to bridge is well signed with PA 191 shields.
		70.5	NY 17	Exit 87 (NY 17).

Legend
Crossing, no access	Concurrency termini	Decommissioned	Unconstructed	Closed

[edit] History

97 was created in its present form in 1932 when then-New York governor Franklin D. Roosevelt signed legislation designating the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, largely contiguous with the current route. At the time, it was designated as New York State Route 3A, a number now used in Northern New York. About a quarter of the route follows the old Delaware and Hudson Canal.

The highway's star attraction, the Hawk's Nest, almost didn't happen. While a road of some form had run along the cliffside route since at least 1851, the original plan for 97 would have bypassed it entirely in favor of a shoreline route. But the Erie Railroad refused to sell the right-of-way.

[edit] Miscellanea

Near Cochecton, a historical marker points out that Route 97 passes the rock claimed by New Jersey colonists as the western end of the colony's northern border during the New York - New Jersey Line War in the 18th century.