The Durham Valley is a region of significant historic and scenic importance in New York State. It includes a highly visible and critical component of the viewshed of the northern Catskill Mountains, including a prominent ridgeline known locally as “Ginseng Ridge.” Ginseng Ridge and other features of the Durham Valley region are visible from towns in Greene and Albany Counties, as well as from several highly traveled highways, including the New York State Thruway.

The Durham Valley also includes a registered historic district in the hamlet of Cornwallville and numerous historic landmarks in other hamlets, including nine 19th Century stone arch bridges. The 21 miles of scenic roads in Durham which form the basis of the Durham Valley Scenic Byway run through an area which, in appearance, has changed very little in the past 150 years. Even today, the houses, barns and stone arch bridges, along with the rolling fields and woodlands, offer residents and tourists alike the look and feel of a 19th Century farm community.

On August 17, 2022, Governor Hochul signed legislation to include the Durham Valley Scenic Byway in the New York State Scenic Byways system. This law will benefit our local community, as well as visitors and travelers to Durham. It will enable us to more effectively preserve the scenic and natural resources of this rural area, mitigate the impact of potential intrusions, and maintain open space. It is critically important for the Town of Durham.