Find the top rated running trails in East Durham, whether you're looking for an easy short running trail or a long running trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a running trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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I rode both the William Stienhaus trail and the Hudson Valley Trail on a very windy early April Sunday. In comparison to the Stienhaus trail the Hudson Valley Trail is not as well marked but is also wide and in great condition like the Stienhaus trail. The Hudson Trail is overall more consistently scenic with less residential and commercial areas until you get to the end which runs right next to RT 9.
There are a few options to take a path of the trail to go into Highland which offers a few places to eat. My only complaint is that there is that there is no clear signage that the Hudson Valley Trail ended so I rode about a mile adjacent to RT 9 before realizing that the Hudson Valley trail technically ended at a small parking lot.
I rode the entirety of the Steinhaus Trail starting at Hopewell Junction and riding over the Walkway over the Hudson. On a very windy early April Sunday the trail was lightly used and everyone was very polite and practiced great trail etiquette including very attentive drivers at road intersections.
The trail itself is fairly wide, is well marked with mile markers counting up or down from Hopewell Junction depending on which way you are going and is in immaculate shape. I don't even recall a single bump, pothole or crack on the asphalt. The scenery is a mix of light residential, some commercial, a nice lake near Hopewell Junction and a good amount of tree cover.
I appreciate how easy it was to connect to the Hudson Valley Rail Trail via the Walkway over the Hudson which added to my ride.
It looked very nice from the parking area, but could not get through the barricades with a recumbent trike. Drove over an hour and gates were shut and would have had to lift trike over gates. Disgusted with Massachusetts and whomever designed the barricades. Has anyone heard of the ADA?
Excellent experience on this fresh paved trail. The scenery of the ponds and mountains in the distance was worth the trip.
After starting in New Paltz on the Hudson Valley Rail Trail and then crossing the Walkway Over The Hudson, I continued on to the Dutchess Rail Trail. I only went a few miles before turning around and heading back to New Paltz for a 21 mile ride.
The portion I rode is for the most part heavily forested, so if you like colorful trees in the fall or shade in the summer you'll love this. The trail is easy to ride, in amazing condition, and on a weekday morning in mid October lightly used. I especially appreciated the use of wood fencing in many spots which was the perfect architectural touch for this trail. Another highlight was Morgan Lake with its lovely swans and colorful trees reflecting upon the water.
I wish I would have had the time to venture further into the beautiful rural areas, but time was of the essence. I guess I have a reason to return and do the full length next time!
After pedaling down the Hudson Valley Rail Trail from New Paltz, I made my way onto the walkway. It was 7:30 on a brisk mid October weekday morning, and the bridge was not crawling with hordes of tourists (like me). Instead it was obviously primarily locals out jogging, getting their steps in on their walks, rollerblading, and walking their dogs.
The views are as expected - absolutely sensational and breathtaking looking both up and downriver.
After continuing across I proceeded to explore the Dutchess Rail Trail for several miles before heading back.
As luck would have it, when I returned the walkway was a completely different world. It was totally enveloped in fog, and you could no longer see the Hudson let alone fifty yards in front of you. The bridge was essentially deserted. Worst of all, I didn't get to do my selfies with a Hudson River background!
The walkway, combined with the rail trails on either end, is a must destination ride for bicyclists. What an unforgettable experience!
In my quest to bicycle in all fifty states, I drove 2,800 miles in order to ride my bike on this rail trail. It's hard to elaborate upon the Rails-To-Trails description. It was exactly as advertised and an absolute joy to experience on a brisk fall morn in early October.
About all I can add is the trail is flat, plenty wide, in excellent condition, and is a fun ride in autumn as the leaves are changing color and fluttering down to transform the path's hue from black to golden brown. There's also plenty of railroad memorabilia here and there to enhance the ride.
I didn't drive nearly 3,000 miles to just ride a seven mile trail. Naturally I continued on across the Walkway Over The Hudson and then on to the Dutchess Rail Trail for a fuller experience of the Hudson Valley! It was all exactly as I had hoped it would be!
As others have mentioned, this is a rough trail. Although somewhat scenic, it requires a lot of vigilance to slog through the gravel and overgrown path. We have hybrid tires, so perhaps mountain bikes would offer a more comfortable ride. The high point of our trip was staying at the Stamford inn and eating at the Millpond Inn.
I rode the southern half of this trail from Millerton to Wasaic the first week in October on a 75° afternoon. Beautiful ride on a beautiful day.
About a 45 minute ride on the Erie Canal path ,starting at the Medina lift bridge, through farmland and villages (Middleport, Gasport) herons that are absolutely not afraid of you! Beautiful in the fall!
Parked on the east side of the bridge after a bit of confusion finding the end of the bridge. Signs were a bit confusing. We just looked at the huge bridge went towards the obvious end of it to find parking. Lightly crowded on a Monday morning around 9:30 as we headed west across the bridge. Well worth the trip as the views of the Hudson Valley are spectacular! Rode 8 miles west out into central New York. Very little elevation change and a clean smooth trail. Worth the ride!
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