Across the Hudson from upper Manhattan, the river runs below a long wall of dark rock known as the Palisades, a cliff of volcanic diabase that rises up to about five hundred feet and runs for twenty miles along the New Jersey side. Englewood Cliffs sits on top, among trees and large houses, with the George Washington Bridge nearby, and this is the southern end of a very good motorcycle road. It was saved from quarrying by a conservation movement in the early twentieth century, and the land became part of Palisades Interstate Park.
The Palisades Interstate Parkway starts a mile or two north and runs for about thirty-eight miles to Bear Mountain, passing through wooded hills, with occasional views of the river. It is a divided road with a modest speed limit, gentle sweeping bends, and a rule against commercial vehicles that keeps it free of trucks. The surface is usually well kept, and the trees arch overhead in summer. In autumn, the maples and oaks turn rust and gold, and the parkway is crowded with sightseers. Police patrol it vigilantly, so keep to the limit.
For a slower pace, Henry Hudson Drive, which runs along the top of the cliffs, and Route 9W, the older road, offer views over the water. Alpine Lookout gives a broad view over the river toward the Tappan Zee and the Bronx skyline, and a stone tower in the park is a good place for a break. The Bear Mountain Bridge, at the far end, leads over the Hudson to the Hudson Highlands, where roads climb through Harriman State Park.
Englewood Cliffs has about five thousand people, with fuel and a few cafes nearby, and Fort Lee and Inwood, on the New York side, have much more. Good places for breakfast are the diners on Route 9W. Weekends can be busy, and the best time to ride is early on a weekday, or at dawn on a Sunday, with clear air and golden light on the cliffs. Fog can settle in the river valley on cool mornings, so allow extra time.