Directions to the 3 Famous Rocks on New York’s Route 8

There's a new road trip destination in New York, and it all has to do with one of the strangest roadside attractions in the state.

Warmer weather is here, and that means the open roads of upstate New York are ready to be explored. While there are plenty of places to check out in the Hudson Valley (including the most dangerous and creepiest roads in New York), there's an amazing stretch of road just a few miles north.

New Road Trip Destinations Unlocked in New York

From elephants to pigs to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, rocks along New York State's Route 8 have quickly become the focus of random road-trippers across the country. While some of these fascinating rock formations have been around for decades, recent interest has spawned a new route for curious travelers.

Visit "Ninja Turtle Rock" in Upstate New York

"The NYS Route 8 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle of the Adirondacks...", began a recent post from Adirondack Aerial & Ground Imagery Showcase Page on Facebook (below). "This roadside oddity is much like both Pig Rock in Speculator NY and Elephant Rock in Graphite NY". They even helped plan an easy itinerary.

Elephant Rock on Route 8 in Upstate New York

While the "Ninja Turtle" rock is relatively new (Google images from as recent as 2002 show no paint on the rock), Elephant Rock (below) has been in the community for decades. Elephant Rock should also be either the starting or ending point of this wild road trip.

Ideal Road Trip Map for "Must-See" Upstate Rocks

The ideal route (map below) connects Pig Rock, Ninja Turtle Rock, and Elephant Rock in a compact 94-mile drive through upstate New York. Drivers beginning at Pig Rock can look forward to finishing their journey just miles from Lake George.

There are enough road trip destinations in New York state to keep explorers busy all summer long. Check out some of the stranger human-made attractions below, and keep scrolling to plot a trip along New York's Ice Cream Trail.