Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, Estuarine research reserve along Hudson River in New York, United States.

Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve protects roughly 4,800 acres of coastal wetlands distributed across four separate sites along about 100 miles of the Hudson River. The reserve contains both freshwater and brackish tidal wetlands that shift with daily water level changes.

The reserve was established in 1982 under the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as part of a national system for studying estuaries. It was created to protect tidal wetlands and monitor environmental changes along one of the Northeast's most important waterways.

The Norrie Point Environmental Center serves as a teaching hub where visitors can join programs to understand river ecology and tidal influences on wetlands. School groups and researchers regularly use the space to observe and learn about how freshwater and saltwater mix in the river system.

The reserve is accessible at multiple locations, with the Norrie Point Environmental Center serving as the main information hub. Plan to visit during calm weather and wear sturdy footwear since paths cross wet terrain and tidal areas.

The reserve hosts over 200 fish species and serves as a nursery for sturgeon, striped bass, and American shad in tidal waters where these fish transition between ocean and freshwater. This critical passage allows young fish to grow in sheltered conditions before moving to open water.