Explore the best rated trails in Poughkeepsie, NY. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Tannersville Bike Path (Huckleberry Multi-Use Trail) and Walkway Over The Hudson. With more than 56 trails covering 422 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.
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The Jones Point Path occupies an abandoned motor vehicle route (old US Route 9W). The path provides bicyclists with a relatively safe bypass to a dangerous section of busy US Route 9W near Bear...
While the Wallkill Valley Railroad no longer carries fruits and vegetables from Ulster County to New York City, trail users can still discover small, family-owned farms and farmers markets serving up...
The former “Old Put” commuter rail corridor that ran from the Bronx to northern bedroom communities in Westchester and Putnam Counties is popular once again, only this time it’s for people riding...
The D & H Canal towpath is nestled within the 300-acre D & H Canal Park in the New York hamlet of Cuddebackville. The crushed-stone trail, stretching just over a half mile, is one section of a larger...
Paralleling the Connecticut and Massachusetts borders, which lie only a few miles away, the Harlem Valley Rail Trail is a beautiful paved wooded pathway along the former New York & Harlem Railroad...
Connecting the Walkill River and Shawangunk Ridge, the aptly named River-to-Ridge Trail, which opened in September 2018, runs from New Paltz to the Mohonk Preserve. Begin at the Carmine Liberta Bridge...
Open in several disconnected segments, the Billings Trail is a dirt path that traverses a lovely scenic and wooded landscape outside Norfolk in northern Connecticut. Built on the abandoned railbed of...
The first phase of the New Milford River Trail runs southeast from Gaylordsville via the scenic but lightly traveled River Road, through Sega Meadows to Boardman Bridge, a distance of about 5 miles....
The South County Trailway rolls 14.4 miles through one of the most densely populated parts of New York, but its route through pocket woodlots, parks, and golf courses and along riverbanks makes it...
While not a "rail-trail," the Hook Mountain/Nyack Beach Bikeway is a very scenic trail along the Hudson River in Rockland County. The southern half of this trail is flat and runs right along the...
The Pequonnock River Trail is not a name you will see on the ground along this developing trail in southwestern Connecticut. Formalized in 2001 by the state, the regional trail pieced together...
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Built on the former Erie Railroad main line, the 15-mile Heritage Trail runs through the small Orange County towns of Goshen, Chester, Monroe, and Harriman. The shaded trail runs through different...
The Klara Sauer Trail (formerly known as the Beacon Riverside Trail) runs for 1 mile along the Hudson River on the west side of New York's village of Beacon. The trail occupies the same corridor as...
With vistas of the Catskill Mountains and a vast blue lake, the Ashokan Reservoir Promenade is a stunner. The paved pathway begins in Olivebridge, a hamlet in southeastern New York, and spans just shy...
The Bronx River travels from the mouth of the East River north to the Kensico Dam, providing views of the natural history of the area. Because the trail is under development, there are several gaps...
Coming in at just under 3 miles, the Sue Grossman Still River Greenway is anchored by the towns of Winchester to the north and Torrington to the south. It occupies the right-of-way of the Naugatuck...
The O&W Rail Trail provides a glimpse into the area’s history from the perspectives of both a historical canal and a railroad. The Delaware & Hudson (D&H) Canal carried coal from Honesdale,...
The Ramsey Bike Path is a recreational path built on the former Paterson to Suffern trolley line right-of-way. The path extends along a north-south route from one end of Ramsey to the other....
The 3.1-mile Kress Family Trail in Roxbury occupies the former route of the Shepaug Valley Railroad (the Shepaug, Litchfield and Northern Railroad). The railroad was famously known as the “crookedest...
The Naugatuck River Greenway will one day span 44 miles from Torrington to Derby in western Connecticut, but is currently open in a few short disconnected segments totaling just over 5 miles. The...
The Old Erie Path reveals spectacular views of the Hudson River Valley as the rail-trail rolls along cliffs that border the river’s western shore. Although fairly short, it joins two other...
The Briarcliff-Peekskill Trailway is a 12-mile linear park that runs from the town of Ossining north to Westchester County's Blue Mountain Reservation in Peekskill. The trail is built on land...
The Klara Sauer Trail (formerly known as the Beacon Riverside Trail) runs for 1 mile along the Hudson River on the west side of New York's village of Beacon. The trail occupies the same corridor as...
Offering a picturesque and family-friendly adventure, the Hudson Valley Rail Trail stretches 7.1 miles through hardwood forests, over Black Creek, and under two spectacular stone-arch bridges....
Tallman Mountain State Park Bike Path is partially paved and bisects the Tallman Mountain State Park. The route provides a motor-vehicle-free way for bicyclists using US Route 9W to connect with...
The Kaaterskill Rail Trail offers a beautiful wooded walk through Haines Falls in eastern New York, nestled in the northern Catskills. It begins at the historical Ulster & Delaware Train Station,...
The Larkin State Park Trail meanders 10.8 miles through the woods and around the lakes and low hills of southwestern Connecticut. The rail-trail follows the route of the New York & New England...
The Ramsey Bike Path is a recreational path built on the former Paterson to Suffern trolley line right-of-way. The path extends along a north-south route from one end of Ramsey to the other....
The Delaware & Hudson Canal Linear Park is 45 acres with a trail situated along the historic D&H Canal. Remains of the original locks, dry dock and waste weirs are visible from the towpath trail....
The William R. Steinhaus Dutchess Rail Trail—named for the county executive who championed it—is a local treasure in the Hudson Valley region of New York. The 13.1-mile trail runs through what seems...
The Pequonnock River Trail is not a name you will see on the ground along this developing trail in southwestern Connecticut. Formalized in 2001 by the state, the regional trail pieced together...
Just an hour north of New York City, the Timp-Torne Trail offers a scenic hike through Bear Mountain and Harriman State Parks with panoramic vistas of the Hudson River. The rugged blue-blazed trail...
The Liberty Rail Trail extends about 2.5 miles through the village of Liberty, NY, between Chestnut Street/SR 52 (near West Street) and the old rail trestle in Ferndale. The trail occupies a portion...
Built on the former Erie Railroad main line, the 15-mile Heritage Trail runs through the small Orange County towns of Goshen, Chester, Monroe, and Harriman. The shaded trail runs through different...
The Mohansic Trailway is a rail-trail providing an important link between the North County Trailway and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt State Park. The trailway occupies a short-lived spur of the New...
While not a "rail-trail," the Hook Mountain/Nyack Beach Bikeway is a very scenic trail along the Hudson River in Rockland County. The southern half of this trail is flat and runs right along the...
Connecting the Walkill River and Shawangunk Ridge, the aptly named River-to-Ridge Trail, which opened in September 2018, runs from New Paltz to the Mohonk Preserve. Begin at the Carmine Liberta Bridge...
The Walden-Wallkill Rail Trail is built on a former Conrail right-of-way. Conrail and its predecessors, Penn Central, New York Central, and The Wallkill Valley Railway, provided service to farmers...
With vistas of the Catskill Mountains and a vast blue lake, the Ashokan Reservoir Promenade is a stunner. The paved pathway begins in Olivebridge, a hamlet in southeastern New York, and spans just shy...
The Naugatuck River Greenway will one day span 44 miles from Torrington to Derby in western Connecticut, but is currently open in a few short disconnected segments totaling just over 5 miles. The...
The Kaaterskill Rail Trail offers a beautiful wooded walk through Haines Falls in eastern New York, nestled in the northern Catskills. It begins at the historical Ulster & Delaware Train Station,...
When completed, the Norwalk River Valley Trail will run from Danbury to Long Island Sound in southwestern Connecticut, for a total of about 27 miles. Currently, several disconnected sections totaling...
The Klara Sauer Trail (formerly known as the Beacon Riverside Trail) runs for 1 mile along the Hudson River on the west side of New York's village of Beacon. The trail occupies the same corridor as...
The Ridgefield Rail-Trail meanders for nearly 2.5 miles through the forested exburbs of Ridgefield, Connecticut. The trail passes among suburban acreages, along a creek at one point, and past a couple...
At first glance, there’s no evidence that an aqueduct ever existed along the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail. The trail is often a singletrack dirt pathway that winds through communities and trees and...
The William R. Steinhaus Dutchess Rail Trail—named for the county executive who championed it—is a local treasure in the Hudson Valley region of New York. The 13.1-mile trail runs through what seems...
This is a section of the New York, Ontario and Western (O&W) Railway line that ran across New York State from Port Jervis to Lake Ontario. The trail consists of two discrete sections: State Route 209...
The Albany-Hudson Electric Trail (AHET) follows a 35-mile course through the former Albany-Hudson Electric Trolley corridor from Hudson to Rensselaer in New York State. The electric trolley ran for 30...
Tallman Mountain State Park Bike Path is partially paved and bisects the Tallman Mountain State Park. The route provides a motor-vehicle-free way for bicyclists using US Route 9W to connect with...
The Kingston Point Rail Trail will be a paved pathway stretching from Kingston’s midtown to the Rondout Creek waterfront, connecting important points in the community such as Kingston High School,...
The Bashakill Wildlife Management Area is located on the Orange County-Sullivan County border just south of Wurtsboro, New York. It consists of over 3,000 acres of wetlands and uplands which were...
While the Wallkill Valley Railroad no longer carries fruits and vegetables from Ulster County to New York City, trail users can still discover small, family-owned farms and farmers markets serving up...
The South County Trailway rolls 14.4 miles through one of the most densely populated parts of New York, but its route through pocket woodlots, parks, and golf courses and along riverbanks makes it...
The Jack Harrington White Plains Greenway was recently renamed to honor a long-time member of the city's conservation board. The trail's corridor follows the former New York, Westchester & Boston...
The Briarcliff-Peekskill Trailway is a 12-mile linear park that runs from the town of Ossining north to Westchester County's Blue Mountain Reservation in Peekskill. The trail is built on land...
While not a "rail-trail," the Hook Mountain/Nyack Beach Bikeway is a very scenic trail along the Hudson River in Rockland County. The southern half of this trail is flat and runs right along the...
This rustic unpaved trail, just over three miles in length, runs along a route formerly used by the New York, Ontario, & Western Railway's Main Line through Parksville in Sullivan County, NY. The...
Open in several disconnected segments, the Billings Trail is a dirt path that traverses a lovely scenic and wooded landscape outside Norfolk in northern Connecticut. Built on the abandoned railbed of...
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The Wood Duck Nature Trail, appropriately named for the secretive duck, was made possible through the hard work and dedication of refuge volunteers. This beautiful trail now extends about 1.5 miles on...
The O&W Rail Trail provides a glimpse into the area’s history from the perspectives of both a historical canal and a railroad. The Delaware & Hudson (D&H) Canal carried coal from Honesdale,...
This is one of the most well-paved trails in the tri-state area so if you love a smooth ride this is the one for you. There’s a small lot for the trailhead in Baldwin Place thats adjacent to a strip mall on 118 that you can use to park. About a 24 mile roundtrip up to Brewster and back. Definitely hillier than the North and South County trails which makes for a good challenge. Mix of shady and sunny portions throughout. Fun ride through Putnam County.
Road this trail yesterday end-to-end as an out and back starting from the new trailhead parking area in Harriman at the intersection of River Road and North Main Street (portable toilet and bike repair station available).
With the two newer sections at either end the trail is now fully paved for 18.5 miles.
At the current trail end at Palmer Avenue in Middletown there are some signs that the trail will be extended further but no current activity.
The trail is in great shape but could definitely use better signage to help navigate through Goshen. My advice is to use West Main St. as a connector.
The Korean War Memorial in Airline Park in Monroe is worth a stop.
Was really surprised as to the condition of trail, was great. The only thing that would be great to see would be mile markers. As a resident of the area was looking forward to when trail would be black topped, now that it is completed its great to ride with a trike, Thanks
After many years of driving over an hour from NJ to Turner st in Hopewell Junction to ride the Dutchess trail to Walkway Over the Hudson - it was fun to go south / east in the other direction. I rode about 14.5 miles from Hopewell Junction to Holmes, a mile or so past Whaley Lake. That's roughy half of the Maybrook trailway . 29 miles round trip on a perfect day (7/22/21). As someone noted it is uphill 13 of these 14 miles. But hardly noticeable. Since the locomotives can't manage hills, the railroad builders levelled the right of way. Here with the existing track next to you - you're assured of no steep hills whatsoever. About 65 minutes to the turn around point, very leisurely done but flew back to Hopewell Junction at 17 mph and 40 minutes.
Will explore the other half next week starting in Brewster. I expect it to be just as enjoyable as this was.
We rode 50 miles on trail and had best rail trail experience ever. Maybe next weeks Rail Trails .org inaugural 5 day ride sponsored to go from NYC to Buffalo NY was reason for pristine surface & great signage but every part of trail was in immaculate condition even after last five days heavy rains.
Recently repaved in sections, but done sloppily and left bumpy. The northern half of the trail has a lot of sunken and washboard sections that make it unpleasant to ride. From Van Cortlandt Park and about half way up the trail is nice, but from mid-point to where it connects to the north county trail is a mess.
As described, this trail varies from a wide gravel path to a single track dirt track with grass. We started in Tarrytown and went south. This is not a trail for a road bike but you are ok on a gravel bike as long as you are comfortable with rough spots and roots. The trail has lots of road crossings and they vary from neighborhoods where the cars have stop signs to steep hills where no one stops. Almost all have large granite curbs that you have to dismount to lift your bike over. As long as you are cautious you are ok. We made it to Yonkers when we turned around due to a raccoon which was blocking the trail and threatening to attack. Others on the trail kept going and one group was going all the way to NYC. We rode a bit of the River Walk as well which looks like it connects the southern part of this trail with the northern.
There is a bathroom at the Keepers House along with a museum and lovely docents who had lots of fascinating information about the aqueduct.
This was a fun outing to try something new but will likely not be on our list of gravel trails we love to ride and go to frequently.
Paid $3.50 parking at Metro on weekday; suggest you park free at the Pete&Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park next door, north. Klara Sauer Riverfront Trail ends south at Dennings Point State Park which on a map shows a 1.2 mile loop trail. Caution: Only the riverfront half of the loop is accessible and only by walking - at some parts too narrow a path for bikes. The 2nd half of the loop is now an ESTUARY. The weeded, rooted, overgrown remnant of trail is trouble for anyone not heeding the warning signs to turn back.
Rode from Harriman through Goshen in to the new about 3 and half mile section, from Hartley Rd to Palmer Ave in Middletown. This section as of now (7/6/21) is not on the map here but it exists and is very nice.
5 miles of hilly terrain along the river from Nyack to Haverstraw that consists of mostly stone dust with some asphalt. A couple climbs and descents are steep but not a problem for more experienced riders. If you are going to attempt with a road bike go with a bigger tire. The 28mm Armadillos worked well for me. Watch out for pedestrians, especially on the downhill sections.
Okay, I road the whole trail, but on 2 days separated by a month. First I started at the Hopewell Junction parking lot (the end of the William R. Steinhaus Dutchess County Rail Trail). The second time I started riding in Brewster, near the end of the Putnam Valley trail. Either way you are going up a 1-3% grade until the level area near Whaley Lake.
Since it was paved with asphalt last year, this is a very smooth trail. There are several lovely watery areas on this trail and it is a great place for bird watchers. Except for either end, it is a somewhat secluded trail and very quiet. Thank you NYS for your investment.
This is all part of a section of NY's Empire State trail, and includes off road portions in Kingston, NY (the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail - gravel), continues through New Paltz, NY to the Hudson Valley RT, across the Walkway Over The Hudson and then to the Dutchess section. Then it continues through the Maybrook, Putnam, North County and South County rail trails to NYC. So you could ride more than 100 miles paved off-road.
Starting from either end Whaley Lake is the mid-point. From Hopewell Junction you ride east, north, and then south. Views include the Green Haven Correctional facility in Stormville, with its imposing and very high walls, and inmate sounds from inside those walls. From Brewster you ride northward past Ice Pond with its very long straight stretch (one mile?) for time trials. Going this way to the lake is shorter by about 3 or 4 miles than from Hopewell Jct. As you go upward the trail becomes very beautiful with flora and fauna. There are forest areas, beautiful mountain streams, marshlands, swamps, and then Whaley Lake. Also, there are many signs to "Stay on the Trail" to avoid snakes, poison ivy, and ticks, as well as "Stay off the Tracks" or private property.
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