Ossining Webcam – Hudson River Sailing in Westchester

The Ossining Webcam looks west across the Hudson River from the boatyard of Shattemuc Yacht Club in Ossining, Westchester County, New York. A blue steel boat hoist and the club’s floating docks fill the foreground, sailboats and motor cruisers sit at their slips in the basin beyond, and the river opens out to the wooded ridges of Rockland County on the far shore. Because the camera faces west, the end of the day is when the picture changes most: the club says it catches a sunset over the water every evening, clouds permitting. In daylight the river carries most of the action, with boats leaving the basin, sails crossing the open water and the commuter ferry from Haverstraw running across to the Ossining train station.

About Ossining and Shattemuc Yacht Club

Ossining is a village of 27,551 people (2020 census) on the east bank of the Hudson, about 48 kilometers (30 miles) north of Midtown Manhattan. It was called Sing Sing until 1901, when it changed its name to shake off the stigma of the state prison that shares it. Both names go back to the Sintsink band of the Wappinger people, from whom the New York colony bought the land in 1685, and the Wappinger words “sinck sinck” translate as “stone upon stone.” Sing Sing Correctional Facility opened on the riverbank in 1826 and is still in use, with Metro-North’s Hudson Line running straight through its grounds.

The yacht club traces its roots to the old Sing Sing Yacht Club, which held its first regatta in 1858. That club faded away, canoe sailors kept the water busy through the late 1870s and early 1880s, and the present club was incorporated as the Sing Sing Yacht Club in 1888. In 1907 architect William H. Rahmann renovated the clubhouse to resemble a riverboat, gangway to shore and all, and it became a noted landmark on the river, printed on penny postcards of the day. The club on Westerly Road now runs sailboat racing, a sailing academy for children aged 9 to 18, an Olympic-style outdoor pool, a private beach and slips for visiting boaters.

Ossining’s shoreline borders the Tappan Zee, one of the widest stretches of the Hudson, and just upriver lies Haverstraw Bay, about 5 kilometers (3 miles) across. NY Waterway’s Haverstraw-Ossining ferry spends its 15-minute crossing on that open water, which is why the ferry can appear on the Ossining Webcam, crossing between the two shores.

Weather and Climate in Ossining

Ossining has four distinct seasons. Averages for 2006 to 2025 put January highs near 3 C (38 F) and lows near minus 4 C (24 F), close to the 37 F and 22 F normals at nearby Westchester County Airport. Most snow falls between December and March, and in hard cold spells ice on the river can stop the Haverstraw ferry, with buses taking over until it clears. On camera, winter usually means flat gray light, a quieter basin and snow lying on the docks after a storm. Spring warms quickly, from April highs around 15 C (60 F) to May highs near 21 C (70 F).

July is the warmest month, with highs of 28 to 29 C (83 to 85 F) and lows of 18 to 20 C (65 to 68 F). Rain arrives in every month, typically 80 to 115 millimeters (3.1 to 4.5 inches), and summer afternoons can bring thunderstorms. Summer is also the club’s busy season, with the pool open from Memorial Day to Labor Day and racing and sailing classes out on the river. October cools to highs near 18 C (64 F) and lows around 10 C (50 F), and the woods on the Rockland County shore usually turn color through the month, behind the sunsets the camera faces.

Things to Do Near Ossining

The Old Croton Aqueduct Trail runs through the village, and its best-known landmark here is the Double Arch Bridge over the Sing Sing Kill. The upper arch carried the aqueduct, built between 1837 and 1842 to bring water to New York City, while the lower arch carries Broadway, and the pair appear on the town’s official seal. The aqueduct left service in 1955, its northernmost section was reactivated in 1987 to supply Ossining’s water, and it became a National Historic Landmark in 1992. Walkers can follow the trail south toward Tarrytown or north toward Quaker Bridge.

Croton Point Park, a Westchester County park in neighboring Croton-on-Hudson, has a swimming beach, tent and RV camping, cabins, walking trails, fishing, a boat launch and a museum. Much of the point was a county landfill from 1927 to 1986 before it was capped and turned back into green space, and wine cellars from the Underhill family’s old estate still survive. The park hosts the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater festival and Hudson River Eagle Fest.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

For more views of New York’s rivers, harbors and marinas, try these.

• Hudson River Webcam in Germantown, upriver in the Hudson Valley
• Brooklyn Webcam at Red Hook, where the Hudson meets New York Harbor
• Sutter’s Marina Webcam on Canandaigua Lake

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Ossining located?

Ossining is a village in Westchester County, New York, on the east bank of the Hudson River about 48 kilometers (30 miles) north of Midtown Manhattan. The camera stands at Shattemuc Yacht Club on Westerly Road, on the village waterfront.

What can you see on the Ossining Webcam?

The camera looks west over the club’s boatyard and mooring basin. A blue boat hoist and floating docks sit in front, sailboats and cruisers are tied up at the slips, and the open Hudson leads to the wooded ridges of Rockland County. A date and time stamp runs in the top left corner of the stream.

Can you watch the sunset on the Ossining Webcam?

Yes. The camera faces west across the river, and the yacht club says it captures the sunset every evening, weather permitting.

What is the weather like in Ossining?

Winters are cold, with January highs near 3 C (38 F) and lows below freezing, and snow falls mostly from December to March. Summers are warm, with July highs of 28 to 29 C (83 to 85 F).

Why was Ossining called Sing Sing?

The name comes from the Sintsink band of the Wappinger people, who lived here before the land was sold to the New York colony in 1685. The village kept the name Sing Sing until 1901 and then became Ossining to distance itself from the prison.

Is there a ferry from Ossining to Haverstraw?

Yes. NY Waterway runs the Haverstraw-Ossining ferry, a 15-minute crossing that connects with Metro-North trains at Ossining station. It runs mainly at weekday rush hours, with extra weekend sailings in the warmer months, and ice on the river can suspend it in winter, when buses replace it.

How do you get to Ossining from New York City?

Metro-North’s Hudson Line runs from Grand Central Terminal to Ossining station, the same station the Haverstraw ferry serves, and trains continue north to Croton-Harmon and Poughkeepsie.

Source: Shattemuc Yacht Club