Twelve Stunning Hudson Valley Gardens You Need to Visit

Last updated on: March 30, 2025 at 12:58 pm

Here are 12 spectacular Hudson Valley gardens to put on your to-visit list.

⬇️ Scroll down for a view of all 12 gardens on a map 🗺️

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Step into a Persian garden with intoxicating roses, or stand atop a hillside as the Hudson Valley unfolds like a living painting below. The Hudson Valley isn’t just scenic—it’s garden heaven. From centuries-old formal estates to wild woodland retreats bursting with native blooms, this region offers some of the Northeast’s most magical gardens, arboretums, and green spaces. Garden geeks, history lovers, and serenity-seekers alike will find their bliss among these twelve spectacular gardens, each promising a perfect escape from everyday chaos.

ℹ️ Always check official websites for the most current hours, admission fees, and special events before planning your visit.

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Untermyer Gardens in Yonkers, NY (Westchester County)

Cost: FREE for all visitors

Hours: Open daily at 9am, closing times vary seasonally

This magnificent 43-acre former estate features a stunning walled Persian garden, a Temple of Love overlooking the Hudson River, and impressive Grecian elements. After years of restoration efforts by the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy, this park has reclaimed its place as one of America’s greatest gardens.

Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden in North Salem, NY (Westchester County)

Cost: Adults $8, Seniors $6, Children under 12 Free, Members Free (Updated for 2025)

Hours: Seasonal, April through mid-November, Wed-Sat from 12-4pm

The Hammond Museum features a traditional Japanese Stroll Garden designed by landscape designer Hoichi Kurisu. The garden exemplifies the principles of Japanese garden design with a harmonious blend of water, rock, and plant elements creating areas for meditation and contemplation.

Innisfree Gardens in Millbrook, NY (Dutchess County)

Cost: Adults $10, Seniors/Children (up to 15 years) $5, FREE for members

Hours: Open Wednesday through Sunday, with timed entry sessions (10am-12pm, 12:30pm-2:30pm, 3pm-5pm), reservations required

Innisfree is a powerful icon of 20th-century landscape design, inspired by the ancient art of Chinese garden design. This 185-acre garden features a 40-acre glacial lake surrounded by distinctive garden vignettes created as “cup gardens” – intimate garden settings defined by rock, trees, water and other landscape elements. Note that Innisfree requires timed entry reservations, and visitors are limited to their designated time slot.

Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site Gardens in Hyde Park, NY (Dutchess County)

Cost: Gardens and grounds are FREE; house tours $10/adult, children under 15 FREE

Hours: Grounds open everyday from 8am to 7pm; Visitor Center open daily 9am to 5pm

The Vanderbilt estate features formal Italian gardens designed in the early 20th century, with terraced layouts, beautiful statuary, and manicured lawns. The gardens offer spectacular views of the Hudson River and include period-appropriate plantings. The grounds are particularly beautiful during spring when the gardens come alive with blooms, and in fall when surrounded by vibrant foliage.

Orange County Arboretum in Montgomery, NY (Orange County)

Cost: FREE

Hours: Open Year-round, dawn to dusk daily

Nestled in the heart of Orange County, New York, the Orange County Arboretum is located inside of Thomas Bull Memorial Park. Currently, 8 of the 35-acre facility have been developed for the organized display of trees, shrubs, and plants. Notable features include the 9/11 Remembrance Walkway and Garden with its rotating granite sculpture.

Olana State Historic Site in Hudson, NY (Columbia County)

Cost: Landscape access FREE; house tours vary by type ($10-20)

Hours: Landscape open daily from 8am to sunset; Tours Tuesday-Sunday 10am-4pm

Olana was the 19th century home, studio, and designed landscape of Hudson River School artist Frederic Edwin Church. This 250-acre artist-designed landscape features five miles of carriage roads that wind through native woodlands, a Persian-inspired house at the summit, and stunning panoramic views of the Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains.

Locust Grove Estate in Poughkeepsie, NY (Dutchess County)

Cost: Grounds and gardens FREE; mansion tours: pricing varies

Hours: Visitor Center, Gardens & Grounds: Daily 10am-5pm (April through December); Historic Mansion Tours: Friday-Monday (April-October)

This historic 200-acre estate was once the home of Samuel F.B. Morse, inventor of the telegraph and a respected painter. The grounds feature formal gardens, flowering landscapes, and five miles of carriage roads and hiking trails. The gardens include period-appropriate plantings that showcase the horticultural interests of the site’s later owners, William and Martha Young.

Stonecrop Gardens in Cold Spring, NY (Putnam County)

Cost: $10/person; no charge for members and children under 12

Hours: Open days are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, as well as one Sunday per month.

• Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 10am-5pm (no reservations required)
• Saturday and designated Sundays: Two sessions available (10am-1:30pm and 1:30-5pm), reservations required

Stonecrop Gardens sits on a hilltop in Cold Spring, providing expansive views of the Hudson Highlands and beyond. Their alpine plant collection is particularly impressive, and the 15 acres of gardens include woodland and water gardens, a conservatory, and cliff rock gardens. For 2025, the garden will be open for select Sundays with Tea and Cake events.

Mountain Top Arboretum in Tannersville, NY (Greene County)

Cost: FREE (suggested donation $5)

Hours: Open daily, dawn to dusk year-round

This 200-acre public garden in the Catskill Mountains sits at an elevation of 2,400 feet, creating a unique environment for cold-hardy plants. The arboretum features three distinct areas (West Meadow, Woodland Walk, and East Meadow) plus a 163-acre wild forest and wetland area called Spruce Glen. Visitors can explore trails and boardwalks connecting meadows, wetlands, forests, and plant collections that showcase native northeastern US species.

Wethersfield Estate & Garden in Amenia, NY (Dutchess County)

Cost: $20/person

Hours: Open June through October, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am-4pm; advance reservations required

This stunning formal garden designed in the Classical Italian style features a series of “garden rooms” arranged around central axes and vistas. The 10-acre garden includes themed areas such as the Belvedere Garden, Wilderness Garden, and Cutting Garden. The 1,200-acre estate also offers woodland walks and meadow trails with beautiful views of the Taconic Mountains.

Boscobel in Garrison, NY (Putnam County)

Cost: Garden & Grounds admission – $14/adult, $7/child (ages 4-18), FREE for children under 4 and members

Hours: Open year-round, currently Saturdays 9am to 2pm until April 2025. Full operating schedule begins in April.

From the formal gardens to the woodland trail along the marsh, Boscobel grounds are a delight! The beautifully restored Federal-style house (additional tour fee) sits on 68 acres with spectacular views of the Hudson River and Constitution Marsh.

Lyndhurst Mansion in Tarrytown, NY (Westchester County)

Cost: Grounds only: $10/person; children under 12 FREE

Hours: Thursday through Monday, 10am-4pm (April through October); Friday through Sunday, 10am-4pm (November through March)

This Gothic Revival mansion is surrounded by 67 acres of landscaped grounds designed by Ferdinand Mangold, including a rose garden, fernery, and sweeping lawns with views of the Hudson River. The property’s landscape is considered one of America’s finest examples of 19th-century estate gardening, with winding paths, mature specimen trees, and formal gardens that transition to natural woodlands.

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Map view

The Hudson Valley’s gardens transform with the seasons—spring’s tender blossoms give way to summer’s lush abundance, fall’s fiery display, and winter’s sculptural beauty. Each garden offers its own magic: from formal European-inspired designs to wild native landscapes that celebrate the region’s natural heritage. Though most spectacular from May through October, many reveal unexpected charms year-round. Just remember to check each garden’s website before setting off on your adventure—there’s nothing worse than arriving at locked gates when paradise awaits just beyond!