Explore the best rated trails in Lake Carmel, NY, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Hudson River Brickyard Trail and Walkway Over The Hudson . With more than 94 trails covering 652 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Parked at northern end just S of Orphan Farm Rd, NY; Trail surface is outstanding including numerous portions of elevated sections over wetlands. Did not see much in the way of wildlife. Quite rural with the 1st p potty 10 miles south; Turned back at Millerton; Shade 50% or so.
I just rode the trail today and the weeds mentioned in a previous review have now been mowed and the tree leaning across the trail near Whaley Lake has been cut. The trail is now in excellent condition with none of the typical rail trail root bumps encountered today. BobG.
Great trail, ride it frequently with my wife. Good workout for 22 miles. Main issue is not the road crossings; we ride many trails with more crossings than this, but on those, the towns take down the brush and you can see cars approaching the intersections. On this trail, you pretty much have to stop and inch out into the road to see these cars, many of whom are not "impressed" by the flashing yellow lights that you need to push a button for. Many drivers are looking at their phones rather than the road these days. You must appraoach these intersections as if you are invisible. Be safe
Sunny and warm July Sunday. Started from the handy parking spaces across from the Wurtsboro firehouse (corner of Pine St. and Canal St.) The informational signs in the little park back toward Sullivan St. are worth checking out before heading north on the trail.
The trail is really nice in that beginning stretch: some gravel, mown grass, hard dirt. Easy on a hybrid or mountain bike ... probably too rough for a road bike. Riding along the long-forgotten, but still totally visible, D&H canal is very pleasant. Some lengths of the canal itself are totally dry and filled with mature trees; other lengths have water. (We didn't stop to read them, but there is fun signage along the way that tells a narrative story about the area.) Mixture of shady tree coverage and open skies. Very, very nice!
BUT THEN! Big surprise. As the towpath crosses McDonald Rd and continues north, which is maybe only 1 mile from the start, the bike path is fully flooded by water and completely unpassable. This is due to a total blockage of water in the canal by a massive beaver dam. (This is right where a home, yard, and outbuildings are visible on the satellite view. And, yes, there are some scary dogs on long ropes ... that come lunging.) The beaver dam is interesting to see, but there is no way to continue on the towpath at that point.
It turns out that the Mamakating O&W rail trail also has an entrance right on McDonald Rd. We chose to ride that back to Wurtsboro. There is a supposed continuation of Mamakating that heads northeast (the satellite view shows it), and it might be possible to jump back onto the D&H trail on the other side of the beaver dam blockage. But the official listing for Mamakating shows that this length is not developed ... so we decided not to chance it.
The Mamakating trail back to Wurtsboro is a straight shot ... no problems. That unintended shorter loop was maybe 3 miles total. But worth it!!
A friend and I did this ride today starting from Brewster to Hopewell Junction, continuing on the Dutchess Rail Trail for ~4 miles and back. The ride was excellent, a little over 50 miles with a gradual decent (~10 miles) on the way to Hopewell and ascent back. The trail was very smooth, there were a couple of spots on the Dutchess side that had growth into the trail and one downed tree blocking the way.
Great ride through the shawingunk mountains ! Trail was great bikes were awesome ! What a beautiful day !!
Haven't ridden the trail since 2023. Rode from Cheshire down to New Haven, Saturday July 19th. Absolutely awful; entire section needs repaving and upkeep. Constant cracks in pavement and much debris on surface; plus glass and homeless down by the Wharf. Connecticut should take notice from Mass and NY on trail up keep. Both states's trail are far superior to CT. Also, difficult to navigate at trail end in New Haven if you don't know the city; poor signage.
Parked at the trail head in Elmsford rode north to Yorktown Heights plenty of places to get a cold drink or food then went on south county trail not many places along the way to get a cold drink or food & zero porta John’s . Overall great trail , good markings & scenic at the end the trail changed a bit still paved and ride a few miles in Putnam greenway Van Courtland park Bronx this was a plus .
Only about 7 miles round trip but a lot of gear changing and climbing! Great workout.
Use gps route its not well marked like others have said but part of the fun was planning the route and then finding your way as you go.
did trail 7 years ago. What a change!! Smooth all the way from Copake Falls to Wassaic!!!! Did 50 mile round trip then took a dip in the spring fed lake at Taconic Hills State park. Can walk to the lake from the trail head at copake falls. Also a nice state park with interesting sights. We stayed in Great Barrington , 10 miles from Copake Falls. Make sure you check out the Barrington Brewery. Great beer, great food.
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