Discover Hudson
12 carefully curated photography spots with GPS coordinates, shooting tips, and local insights
Statue of Liberty
Iconic neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island — capture close architectural detail (patina, torch, crown) and dramatic wide vistas with Manhattan skyline and harbor. Access via Statue Cruises; reserve pedestal or crown tickets in advance and pass TSA-style screening. Best at sunrise for soft light and empty decks, and at blue hour for illuminated statue against city lights. Ferries from Battery Park or New Jersey/overnight harbor conditions affect reflections. Crowds peak midday and on summer/
1 Liberty Is
The Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island — an iconic architectural and cultural subject with dramatic scale against NY Harbor and the Manhattan skyline. Access via Statue Cruises from Battery Park (NYC) or Liberty State Park (NJ); ferries run early—arrive at first light for long shadows, fewer crowds, and front lighting. Crown/pedestal access requires timed tickets and security screening; crown tickets sell out months ahead. No private parking on the island; wheelchair access to grounds and the (
The Hudson
A waterfront promenade at Exchange Place offering sweeping views of Lower Manhattan, the Hudson River, and the ferry piers. Ideal for skyline, sunset, long-exposure water shots and urban reflections. Best visited at sunrise or blue hour for dramatic light and fewer tourists. Easily reached by PATH, ferry, or short walk from Jersey City parking garages; public access is free but can be windy. Nearby historic buildings and modern glass towers add compositional variety.
Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour
Hard Hat Tour grants access to the abandoned Ellis Island hospital complex — decaying tile corridors, rusting ironwork, vaulted surgical wards and dramatic shafts of light through broken windows. Photograph textures, leading lines and human-scale details that tell the story of immigration and medicine. Ferries run from Battery Park; reserve tickets in advance (hard-hat tour requires separate timed entry). Best light: late morning to mid-afternoon when shafts of sunlight penetrate interiors; go a
Hamilton Park
Clifftop park with panoramic NYC skyline and Hudson River views—ideal for sunset, blue hour and night shots of Manhattan lights. Grassy terraces, benches and floral borders provide foreground interest; summer concerts add event opportunities. Small parking lot and street parking can be limited; best visited at sunrise or golden hour on weekdays for fewer crowds. No entry fee; paved paths and short stairs make most viewpoints accessible.
Weehawken Dueling Grounds
Small wooded park on a Hudson bluff with sweeping Manhattan skyline views and a modest memorial marking the Burr–Hamilton duel site. Best at golden hour or sunset for dramatic light and reflections; sunrise offers softer light and fewer people. Site is uphill with stairs from the waterfront; limited parking — consider Hoboken/Weehawken ferry + short climb. No admission fee; quiet, respectful behavior required around memorials. Weather can be windy on the bluff.
Woodcliff Lake
Woodcliff Lake sits inside James J. Braddock North Hudson County Park — a small reservoir and shoreline paths that frame water reflections, marsh grasses and skyline views toward Manhattan. Photographers get a mix of tranquil waterscape compositions, seasonal foliage, and city-skyline silhouettes. Best at sunrise or golden hour for warm light and calm water; clear evenings give crisp skyline outlines. Park is free, accessible by foot or car (parking off Bergenline Ave), with paved trails and a 1
Flagpole Plaza
Small waterfront plaza at Jersey City's Exchange Place with rows of tall flagpoles framing sweeping views of Lower Manhattan, the Hudson River and Statue of Liberty. Ideal for skyline compositions, patriotic/architectural studies and reflections off the river. Best at sunrise and blue hour for warm light and skyline illumination. Easily reached by PATH/Light Rail; street parking limited—use transit or nearby garages. Public, no entry fee; expect tourists at peak times.
110 Goldsborough Drive
A quiet waterfront stretch on the Newark Bay offering industrial-pastoral compositions: shipping infrastructure, the Bayonne/Arthur Kill channels and distant bridges and Manhattan skyline lines. Best at golden hour or blue hour for dramatic skies and reflective water. Access by car with limited street parking; watch for private property and tidal mudflats underfoot. Weekday mornings are less crowded and light winds give clean reflections.
31 Paterson Street
A working-class Jersey City block of brick rowhouses, stoops and utility lines that capture authentic urban texture and everyday life. Best for architectural details, environmental portraits and gritty street scenes; light is strongest at golden hour and blue hour for moody facades. Easily reached by PATH (Journal Square) and local buses; street parking is limited and often metered. No entry requirements — public sidewalks only; be respectful of residents. Weekday mornings are quieter, evenings.