Overlooking the Mohawk Valley from Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine in Auriesville.
Day 8 moves along the Mohawk River to the Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine in Auriesville, Montgomery County. Perched high on the hillside, it marks the 1656 birthplace of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, known then as the Mohawk village of Ossernenon. Today, the peaceful grounds offer sweeping views looking out across the river and the broader Mohawk Valley. The low late-autumn light really accentuated the contours of the valley floor, though I’ll definitely be back in the summer when the shrine, museum, and expansive gardens are in full season.