Hudson Valley Rail Trail:
New York
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Description:
Located in the mid-Hudson Valley is a remarkable trail that is picturesque and family friendly. This flat, paved Hudson Valley Trail stretches a little more than 2 miles through hardwood forests, over Black Creek and under two spectacular stone-arch bridges. The trail stretches between the towns of Highland and Lloyd on the former right-of-way of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. Ulster County acquired the line when the railroad went bankrupt then deeded the section from the Hudson River to Route 299 to the town of Lloyd.

The corridor sat vacant until the town sold an easement for the installation of a fiber optic cable along the unused line. With funding in place, the citizens of Lloyd and members of the Highland Rotary Club prepared for trail development by clearing the right-of-way of brush and debris. Some of the old railroad signal structures were left to provide a link to the corridor's past. In 1997 the first section of trail was opened.

From Tony Williams Park in Lloyd the trail heads east though a wooded canopy. Less than 0.5 mile from the park, the trail crosses over Black Creek, which is a popular spot with kayakers and canoeists. Close to mile 1, the trail runs along a rock cut. In the spring, graceful columbine plants sprout out of the cracks in the rock. The cut provides a cool spot to stop and relax on hot summer days.

At the trail's midpoint two magnificent arched bridges carry New Paltz Road over the corridor. Next up is the Highland Rotary Pavilion. The Highland Rotary Club has made the Hudson Valley Rail Trail a primary project for more than a decade. The pavilion has restrooms, a large parking lot, a fully restored caboose, picnic tables and water.

As you move east and south, trailside exercise stations let you test your endurance and strength. You are now nearing the hamlet of Highland with residential neighborhoods on a less heavily wooded trail. There's a new pedestrian Bridge over Vineyard Avenue and the trail makes its way through a greenway corridor among an urban landscape. At Bridge Road the Hudson Valley Rail Trail meets up with the fantastic Walkway Over the Hudson, traversing the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge 212 feet high across the Hudson River.

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Parking & Trail Access:
To reach the Tony Williams Park in Lloyd: From the New York State Thruway, take Exit 18 for Poughkeepsie and New Paltz. At the traffic light at the end of the exit, turn right onto State Route 299 East and go 2.3 miles. Turn right onto New Paltz Road and go 0.7 mile. Turn left onto South Riverside Road; after 0.1 mile turn right into Tony Williams Park. Parking is to the left by the start of the rail-trail.

To reach the Highland Rotary Pavilion in Highland, take State Route 9W to State Route 299 West toward New Paltz. Turn left onto South Chodikee Lake Road. At the end of Chodikee Lake Road, turn right onto New Paltz Road. The parking area for the pavilion is on the left.

There is also a relatively new parking area on Haviland Road at the eastern end. For more information, contact:

Hudson Valley Rail Trail Association
12 Church Street
Highland, NY 12528
845-691-2066
info@hudsonvalleyrailtrail.com

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Seasonal Restrictions:
In the winter the trail is cleared of snow.
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Reviews: [2 trail ratings]
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Great Day on the river and Rail Trail
By jaysie in September, 2011
Went on my first excursion on the Walkway Over the Hudson and on to the Hudson Rail Trail. Not a long ride but very pleasant. I started on the east side, parking near Washington Street. If you can find a spot on the street it is free. If not, there are parking lots that cost $5. It was pretty easy to find off of Route 9. The bridge was beautiful and so interesting with it's historical markers and great views. It was a weekday so it wasn't too busy. The ride over the bridge is about one mile. It then hooks up with the Hudson Valley Rail Trail which is paved for the approximately 3 1/2 mile ride (one way) to Tony Williams park past Highland on the west side of the river. Nice picnic tables and benches along the way and at the park. Shaded and well tended. I guess the ride totalled a little over 9 miles and was pretty easy as most rail trails are. Good for families because it's not too long. Great outing!!
phase 2 open
By bigk12603 in October, 2010
Ulster County Town of Lloyd - this rail-trail is paved - {now actualy} 3.6; miles total - the new section of this paved rail trail is now open - the rail trail NOW goes from the west end of the Walkway OTH (0.0 mi.) to the Tony Williams park in the town of Lloyd.(3.6 mi.) There is a parking lot on Haviland Rd. at the eastern trailhead.{NOTE: the Haviland Rd. parking lot was still under construction as of 10-11-10}

There is an old caboose (that used to be on the Walkway) and an information kiosk here {there are now new full color brochures for the RT}.(0.1 mi.)

At US rt. 9W (0.6 mi.) there is a side trail for services along the highway.

At Commercial Ave.,in the village of Highland, there is access to the RT and a small parking lot.(1.1 mi.) At 2.2 miles there is the original {Rotary Club} pavilion / shelter with bathrooms, a water fountain,another old RR caboose with RR themed art in the windows,and a parking lot.This is part of the original 1997
'phase 1' section.The bathrooms in the Tony Williams town park,at the western terminus, are only open seasonly (during softball season)

NOTE: the old section of the RT is closed at the CR 12 New Paltz Rd. underpass (tunnel) crossing .4 mi. west of the pavilion {2.6 mi. from the Walkway OTH}
- exit the RT here and follow the detour signs for New Paltz Rd.

and to reviewer aj0465 below - the ENTIRE RT is paved 3.6 mi. - the old section has a paved area for wheels and soft area for equestrian use - the NEW section has no soft section and is paved
how much of trail is paved
By aj10465 in August, 2010
I prefer to ride on paved trails, how much of the Hudson Valley is paved?
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