Coffee Ride to Cold Spring Coffeehouse

The Ride

If you’re seeking a picturesque motorcycle ride in the Westchester and Putnam counties region, do not miss out on Cold Spring. While the Beeline compass may indicate a mere 20.9 miles from the start in Cross River, NY, I knew it would increase as I navigated through the winding roads that meander around the reservoirs that lay between. See our article on discovering new roads with Beeline.

From our start in Cross River, we headed north on Route 121 before turning left onto June Road, followed by another left onto Titicus Road (Route 116). This road hugs the Titicus Reservoir & becomes the first of our reservoir roads on this ride & it is one of my favorites in the area, with various radiuses to test your talents. The last few corners descend from the reservoir level to where 116 ends at Route 22.

Heading north on Route 22, there is a t-intersection where Hardscrabble Road heads to the right; I turn left & stay on 22 as it comes into the hamlet of Croton Falls. Pass under the overpass that carries the Metro-North Railroad line and make a left off of 22 onto Croton Falls Road as a quick way to get to our next reservoir road.

Stoneleigh Avenue is our next road, hugging another of the reservoirs in the area, this time the Croton Falls Reservoir. This eventually becomes Route 6 and brings us to another t-intersection in the hamlet of Carmel by Lake Gleneida.

We turn right here where the road becomes 52, and at the next light, make a left. One of the most pleasurable routes in the area is 301, which leads directly to Cold Spring, and we’ve just gotten onto this road. This hugs Lake Gleneida as we start but then becomes a causeway over the West Branch Reservoir and settles into hugging the northern coast of it. Quickly, the road reaches the Boyd Corners Reservoir along its southern shore, heading roughly northwest until we get to Mead Corners, where it has a 90-degree left turn and begins heading southwest.

We cross over the Taconic State Parkway and enter the Fahnestock State Park, and the only through road is Route 301, but it won’t disappoint. We pass Canopus Lake to our right and climb uphill into a relatively straight area with some fast sweepers. On the side is some parking for trail access as the Appalachian trail runs through the park.

We begin our descent from this hill, and a large radio tower is visible on the next hill ahead. I use it as a reference point as we’ll need to make a 90-degree right to follow the valley below the mountain, so manage your speed. The road changes into tighter turns before a traffic light at the intersection of Route 9. We pass over Route 9, staying on 301 as it passes through the Village of Nelsonville adjoining Cold Spring. We cross Route 9D as 301 becomes Main Street of Cold Spring and find Cold Spring Coffeehouse on our right.

REVER is a mobile app designed to help you plan, navigate, or track your ride. With the app, you can easily plan your route, view maps and directions, and track your distance using GPS technology. The app is an excellent tool for anyone who loves to ride and wants to keep track of their progress and distance.

Whether an experienced rider or a novice, you’ll be captivated by the breathtaking views and the thrill of uncovering this part of New York. These roads brought our total distance to 36.1 miles tracked by REVER.

I always enjoy taking my trusty old BMW R75/5 for a ride to Cold Spring, and today was no exception. Although Route 301 can accommodate higher speeds, my motorcycle’s modest 50HP meant I had to employ full-throttle acceleration to exit corners. Furthermore, the cable-actuated drum brakes necessitated a more gradual deceleration than I would have applied on a newer bike. A noteworthy road to explore in the vicinity is Route 9D, which offers breathtaking panoramas of the Hudson River and smooth curves. Pick the right time, as 9D can fill with traffic in the middle of the day, especially on weekends. It leads to other exceptional roads, such as Snake Hill Road, which I believe was specifically crafted with the desires of motorcyclists in mind. If you’re searching for a spot to savor a cup of coffee, several paths will lead you to the Cold Spring Coffeehouse. See the route I took below.

The Coffee Shop

Putnam County is a small county, sandwiched between the larger Dutchess & Westchester counties and home to the village of Cold Spring. This is one of the many small villages along the Hudson River. The central part of the village is on a hill descending toward the water bisected by the Hudson line of the commuter rail to NYC. The lower part is right on the Hudson River, offering spectacular views. Across the river is West Point, the historic and still operating military academy for the Army. Cold Spring was the location for the West Point Foundry, producing artillery for the government between 1818 and about 1911.

The narrow Main Street on the upper part of town has a slow speed limit of 25, and you’ll want to follow it as police patrol and several pedestrians cross to reach the shops on either side of the street. Cold Spring Coffeehouse has a few outdoor tables and more available inside. The main entrance has large windows on either side, with one featuring the logo highlighting it was established in 2019.

The counter to order is in the back and has a menu on a few chalkboards above the counter. If you are here in the morning, be sure to take advantage of the selection from the bakery. It is made on-site & features several croissant varieties, Danish, biscuits, scones, and more. You can also order several pies from their site. In addition to many coffee options, they offer several baked goods made on-site. If you come after 11AM, there are more food options available.

There is a full complement of coffee and tea options, including espresso, macchiato, cortado, cappuccino, latte, and americanos. Several house syrups if you want to flavor your beverage are available. If you need milk alternatives, they have options for you as well.

Beyond coffee, Cold Spring offers several restaurants and shops ranging from books and antiques to a Moto clothing store named Cold Starts. On the third Sunday of every month, several classic motorcycles gather near the Cold Spring Depot for the monthly Bikes & Breakfast just down the street from the coffeehouse. Tank of Coffee often brings the 50-year-old BMW R75/5 to Bikes and Breakfast in Cold Spring, so please say hi.

The Refreshments

I ordered a cappuccino & while I prefer my ceramic coffee, it was delivered in a paper cup with a cap for takeout. I also ordered a Danish. The staff quickly prepared both, even though I’d arrived right at the opening.

The baked goods are a treat here as they are made onsite. They are always a good pairing with the available coffee. While several pastry options are available, I chose to have a Danish filled with goat cheese and topped with honey. The crust had just the right amount of crispness, with a simple opening in the middle that held the cheese filling. Honey was drizzled over the top. The Danish had a more potent flavor due to the goat cheese than a typical Danish, but I loved it as I enjoyed it. It gave a nice offset, as a cappuccino often doesn’t have a strong flavor.