The Hawk's Nest is a scenic location outside

Port Jervis, New York Port Jervis is a city located at the confluence of the Neversink and Delaware rivers in western Orange County, New York, United States, north of the Delaware Water Gap. Its population was 8,775 at the 2020 census. The communities of Deerpark, ...

high above the

Delaware River The Delaware River is a major river in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. From the meeting of its branches in Hancock (village), New York, Hancock, New York, the river flows for along the borders of N ...

New York State Route 97 New York State Route 97 (NY 97) is a north–south scenic route in southern New York (state), New York in the United States. It runs from U.S. Route 6 in New York, U.S. Route 6 (US 6) and U.S. Route 209, US 209 in Port Je ...

. Its name is derived from the

birds of prey Birds of prey or predatory birds, also known as raptors, are hypercarnivorous bird species that actively hunt and feed on other vertebrates (mainly mammals, reptiles and other smaller birds). In addition to speed and strength, these predators ...

that nest in the area. The location is also known for its winding roads and scenic overlooks in the Delaware River Valley. Route 97 was originally a one-lane dirt road built in 1859.

Historical marker A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, or in other places referred to as a historical marker, historic marker, or historic plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, typically attached to a wall, stone, or other ...

, Hawk's Nest, Town of Deerpark, New York. It was paved between 1931–1933 and subsequently dedicated in 1939, and rededicated on September 21, 2002, as part of the "Upper Delaware Scenic Byway" (according to a

historical marker A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, or in other places referred to as a historical marker, historic marker, or historic plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, typically attached to a wall, stone, or other ...

placed by the Town of Deerpark, where Hawk's Nest is located).

History

In the summer of 1874, the citizens of Monagaup sought to have a direct route over the mountains into the Bolton Basin ( Sparrowbush area). The existing route went up the Mongaup River to near Bush Kill Creek with a trail to the Old Plank Road, which led down into Bolton Basin. This is a distance of . The proposed route would eliminate from the trip. A route was inspected by 14 members of the community, which would be long and cost $5,000 to complete.Hawk’s Nest, Newspaper History of the Road; excerpts of The Evening Gazette, August 22, 1874 - Sept 5, 1874; Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, Inc., Upper Delaware Council Office; Narrowsburg, New York; ca 2002 In the spring of 1876, 124 men from Sparrowbush were hired at $1.00 a day to complete the work. The road was built above the

Delaware and Hudson Canal The Delaware and Hudson Canal was the first venture of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, which would later build the Delaware and Hudson Railway. Between 1828 and 1899, the canal's barges carried anthracite coal from the mines of northeaster ...

down on the river bank. Within a week the first vehicle driven by H.H. Parnum traversed the construction site.Hawk’s Nest, Newspaper History of the Road; excerpts of The Evening Gazette, March 16, 1876 - March 18, 1876; Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, Inc., Upper Delaware Council Office; Narrowsburg, New York; ca 2002 The New York State Highway System was expanded in 1911 under the Evans Delaware River Road Bill, adding the Port Jervis-Sullivan County-Hancock highway as Route 3-A. Later that year the road was widened to two lanes with the addition of stonewalls and guard rails.Hawk’s Nest, Newspaper History of the Road; excerpts of The Evening Gazette, June 10, 1911 - Sept 25, 1911; Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, Inc., Upper Delaware Council Office; Narrowsburg, New York; ca 2002

Gallery

Delaware River from the Hawk's Nest, New York.jpg, Delaware River from the Hawk's Nest Hawksnest.jpg, Hawks Nest HawkNest3.jpg, Historical marker Hawks Nest in HDR.jpg, Hawk's Nest Road Hawk's Nest view of DelawareR.jpg, Delaware River

References

;Notes

External links

* Geography of Orange County, New York Tourist attractions in Orange County, New York {{OrangeCountyNY-geo-stub