Billions of 17‑year cicadas—Brood XIV—are surfacing across the Hudson Valley right now, turning forests, orchards, and even backyard gardens into a once‑in‑a‑generation spectacle. I’ll be out there with my camera gear—queer, caffeinated, and nature‑obsessed—hiking every ridge from New Paltz to Philmont to catch the glitter‑winged bugs under perfect morning light. Use this hyper‑local guide to plan your own adventure, line up those magazine‑worthy shots, and experience the phenomenon responsibly—before the chorus fades for another 17 years.
Cicada Summer 2025: Your Hudson Valley Field Guide to the 17‑Year Brood XIV Emergence – Nature Photography – LGBTQ+ Travel – by Maxwell Alexander, Nature‑Obsessed Diva of Glamour‑Wildlife and Hudson Valley Hiking Enthusiast
Why Brood XIV Matters in the Hudson Valley
Unlike last year’s scattered “stragglers,” Brood XIV is a synchronized, region‑wide emergence. According to Cornell Cooperative Extension entomologists, ground temperatures hit the magic 64 °F threshold across Ulster, Dutchess, and Columbia Counties last week—triggering this week’s big push. That timing makes today, May 6 2025, the perfect launch date for Google News readers searching real‑time cicada intel.
Top Local Hotspots (Google Maps Links Inside)
- Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Kerhonkson – Dramatic lake cliffs amplify the cicada chorus at dawn and dusk; look for sunlit wings over rainbow‑mist waterfalls.
- Shaupeneak Ridge, Esopus – A quick, family‑friendly loop delivers both treetop song and ground‑level photo ops. Perfect for that macro lens and pride‑colored neck strap.
- Poet’s Walk Park, Red Hook – Sweeping meadows framed by old‑growth maples give unobstructed sight lines for macro shots—and Hudson River backdrops worthy of a summer love postcard.
- Black Creek Preserve, Esopus – Cool streambeds keep cicadas active even on hotter afternoons; ideal for sound‑recording enthusiasts chasing that queer‑opera buzz.
- High Falls Conservation Area, Hudson – Waterfall mist plus emerging adults equals dramatic, magazine‑ready frames. I’ll be there in neon trail shorts—say hi.
Pro Photography Tips (Straight From Our Lens)
Planning to pitch your images to our Nature Photography Desk? Pack a 90–105 mm macro lens, polarizer, and portable LED panel for fill light under dense canopies. For more portfolio advice, revisit our forest‑shooting hacks.
Wellness Angle: Forest Bathing in a Billion‑Bug Soundscape
Researchers at NYS DEC note that cicada choruses average 90 dB—similar to ocean surf. Pair that white‑noise effect with shinrin‑yoku (forest bathing) techniques we explored in our wellness travel feature to create an immersive meditation session. Bring a lightweight camp chair, close your eyes, and let the rhythmic buzz recalibrate your nervous system.
Field Etiquette & Safety
- Leave the cicadas (and their exoskeletons) where you find them; they enrich forest soils.
- Stay on marked trails—particularly in sensitive habitats like Sam’s Point Preserve—to avoid crushing emerging nymphs.
- Pack ear protection for kids if you expect prolonged exposure in major “chorus zones.”
Eco‑Friendly Repellent Tip: Keep the Buzz, Skip the Toxins
Brood XIV won’t bite, but mosquitoes still crash summer hikes. When you reach for bug spray, choose formulas made with natural oil of lemon‑eucalyptus or citronella and steer clear of DEET and picaridin. A study by the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies found that environmentally relevant levels of picaridin killed up to 65 percent of larval salamanders within 25 days—undercutting a keystone predator that naturally keeps mosquito numbers in check. Pack a plant‑based spray (or lightweight head‑net) and help protect the Valley’s fragile amphibian ecosystems while you chase those glamour‑wildlife shots and warn your friends about the real dangers of picaridin!
Share the Buzz—Tag Us & Get Featured
Brood XIV adults will mate, lay eggs, and vanish by late June. That leaves a short, two‑month window to document an event that won’t return until 2042. Post your best shots on Instagram, tag @hudsonvalleystylemag, and use #HVcicada2025. We’ll showcase standout reader galleries in an upcoming feature on Hudson Valley Style Magazine.
I’ll see you under the hemlocks—tripod planted, rainbow bandana fluttering, and camera ready to make these bugs iconic.
