-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UnlBYbmV70yNbbd75R13edm13DL9RlSQ1wUX1rPl9u8iAuwDr78x6drcTXb/Vhpf
 MA6KwAkcnHSd4xxP8EKf4w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001057007-04-000001.txt : 20040106
<SEC-HEADER>0001057007-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040106150450
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001057007-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040106

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MACKAY MICHAEL JAMES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001260231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24187
		FILM NUMBER:		04509761

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HUDSON RIVER BANCORP INC
		STREET 2:		ONE HUNDSON CITY CENTRE
		CITY:			HUDSON
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12534

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HUDSON RIVER BANCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001057007
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS, NOT FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6036]
		IRS NUMBER:				141803212
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE HUDSON CITY CENTRE
		CITY:			HUDSON
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12534
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5188284600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE HUDSON CITY CENTRE
		CITY:			HUDSON
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12534
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001057007</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HUDSON RIVER BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HRBT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001260231</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MACKAY MICHAEL JAMES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>HUDSON RIVER BANCORP INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE HUNDSON CITY CENTRE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HUDSON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>12534</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock, $0.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>143</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401(k)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael J. Mackay</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----