Find the top rated mountain biking trails in Poughkeepsie, whether you're looking for an easy short mountain biking trail or a long mountain biking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a mountain biking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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The Bronx River Greenway will one day stretch 23 miles along the river through New York's Westchester and Bronx counties. Currently, 18 miles of the trail are complete in disconnected segments largely...
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...
Shawangunk, Walden, and Wallkill Rail Trail is built on a railroad right-of-way that was abandoned by Conrail in the late 1970s. Conrail and its predecessors, Penn Central, New York Central, and 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...
These three contiguous trails—the Raymond G. Esposito Memorial Trail, Old Erie Path and Joseph B. Clarke Trail—occupy the former right-of-way of the Erie Railroad's Nyack and Piermont Branch. Each...
This is the first phase of the proposed Lehigh & Hudson River Rail Trail. The second phase will connect Hillside Park to Kittatinny Valley State Park. It is hoped that there will be an eventual...
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....
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Sandwiched between the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains near the busy US Route 209 corridor, this trail has a little something for everyone. The Delaware & Hudson Canal Heritage Corridor (D & H...
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...
The Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park follows the route of the Old Croton Aqueduct, which carried water to New York City from 1842 to 1955. Most of the structure lies beneath the trail and has...
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...
These three contiguous trails—the Raymond G. Esposito Memorial Trail, Old Erie Path and Joseph B. Clark Trail—occupy the former right-of-way of the Erie Railroad's Nyack and Piermont Branch. Each...
These three contiguous trails—the Raymond G. Esposito Memorial Trail, Old Erie Path and Joseph B. Clark Trail—occupy the former right-of-way of the Erie Railroad's Nyack and Piermont Branch. Each...
The Bronx River Greenway will one day stretch 23 miles along the river through New York's Westchester and Bronx counties. Currently, 18 miles of the trail are complete in disconnected segments largely...
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...
The D&H 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. Interpretive signs...
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...
Shawangunk, Walden, and Wallkill Rail Trail is built on a railroad right-of-way that was abandoned by Conrail in the late 1970s. Conrail and its predecessors, Penn Central, New York Central, and The...
Three segments of the O&W Rail-Trail are open to the public within the Town of Fallsburg: Mountaindale to Woodridge, 2.7 miles; Woodridge toward South Fallsburg, 1.8 miles; South Fallsburg to...
This is the first phase of the proposed Lehigh & Hudson River Rail Trail. The second phase will connect Hillside Park to Kittatinny Valley State Park. It is hoped that there will be an eventual...
Sandwiched between the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains near the busy US Route 209 corridor, this trail has a little something for everyone. The Delaware & Hudson Canal Heritage Corridor (D & H...
The Kennedy Trail begins at the northwest corner of the 68-acre campus of John F. Kennedy Catholic High School in Somers. The town, which sits 30 miles from White Plains and 55 miles from New York...
These three contiguous trails—the Raymond G. Esposito Memorial Trail, Old Erie Path and Joseph B. Clark Trail—occupy the former right-of-way of the Erie Railroad's Nyack and Piermont Branch. Each...
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 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 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,...
These three contiguous trails—the Raymond G. Esposito Memorial Trail, Old Erie Path and Joseph B. Clarke Trail—occupy the former right-of-way of the Erie Railroad's Nyack and Piermont Branch. Each...
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 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 Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park follows the route of the Old Croton Aqueduct, which carried water to New York City from 1842 to 1955. Most of the structure lies beneath the trail and has...
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 D&H 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. Interpretive signs...
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...
These three contiguous trails—the Raymond G. Esposito Memorial Trail, Old Erie Path and Joseph B. Clark Trail—occupy the former right-of-way of the Erie Railroad's Nyack and Piermont Branch. Each...
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 Bronx River Greenway will one day stretch 23 miles along the river through New York's Westchester and Bronx counties. Currently, 18 miles of the trail are complete in disconnected segments largely...
Shawangunk, Walden, and Wallkill Rail Trail is built on a railroad right-of-way that was abandoned by Conrail in the late 1970s. Conrail and its predecessors, Penn Central, New York Central, and The...
The Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park follows the route of the Old Croton Aqueduct, which carried water to New York City from 1842 to 1955. Most of the structure lies beneath the trail and has...
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 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....
These three contiguous trails—the Raymond G. Esposito Memorial Trail, Old Erie Path and Joseph B. Clarke Trail—occupy the former right-of-way of the Erie Railroad's Nyack and Piermont Branch. Each...
This is the first phase of the proposed Lehigh & Hudson River Rail Trail. The second phase will connect Hillside Park to Kittatinny Valley State Park. It is hoped that there will be an eventual...
Sandwiched between the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains near the busy US Route 209 corridor, this trail has a little something for everyone. The Delaware & Hudson Canal Heritage Corridor (D & H...
Three segments of the O&W Rail-Trail are open to the public within the Town of Fallsburg: Mountaindale to Woodridge, 2.7 miles; Woodridge toward South Fallsburg, 1.8 miles; South Fallsburg to...
The Quarry Trail is currently a 600-foot long unimproved strip of land along what is known as Quarry Road in the Village of Hastings-on-Hudson, NY. The trail links Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic...
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...
The Kennedy Trail begins at the northwest corner of the 68-acre campus of John F. Kennedy Catholic High School in Somers. The town, which sits 30 miles from White Plains and 55 miles from New York...
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...
These three contiguous trails—the Raymond G. Esposito Memorial Trail, Old Erie Path and Joseph B. Clark Trail—occupy the former right-of-way of the Erie Railroad's Nyack and Piermont Branch. Each...
Great ride but especially by IBM and where there is an active rusty river flowing there needs to be work done.
We were driving home to PA from CT and stopped to stretch our legs on this trail, so we didn't ride the full length. We started at Goshen and there was plenty of parking in the municipal lot that sits right at the trail head; this was a Monday afternoon, but there was still plenty of parking (thank you to the town for providing free parking!).
The trail is nicely paved and very well maintained. The first two miles were a bit noisy because the trail runs parallel to a busy highway, but after that it was quiet and relaxing. We went a bit beyond Chester and turned around. (Unlike some other reviewers, we didn't find Chester particularly charming.) The trail was flat, easy, well shaded, and relaxing, and we were grateful to the people who keep it in such good condition. Our only (VERY minor) complaint was that close to Goshen the trail sometimes had the feel of riding moguls, probably because tree roots are growing beneath the asphalt. Overall, we would recommend the trail.
After riding, we left our car in the municipal lot and walked two blocks to the Sunshine Cafe. Although the signage made us think it was just a juice bar, it had a nice menu--great paninis and a long list of specialty burgers. We recommend the restaurant highly.
After reading some of the reviews I was prepared for a disastrous trail. Yes, its a little bumpy in spots but I felt it was mostly smooth. A couple of places are semi-rough but it wasnt that big of a deal.
Also, getting to it is a little tricky if youre just searching on google for directions. I found the best launch point to be at the northern most end of the South County Trail (just south-east of the Tarrytown Resovior). Drive your car to and get off at exit 23 of the Saw Mill Pkwy. There is a park and ride right there. Park your car and head south on your bike for the South County Trail and North for the North County trail.
I always attempt to start at one end of a trail and ride it to the end. According to the description the trail starts in Harriman which may have been the case at one point but as of July 2018 is not so. As others have said the trail ends abruptly at 12 miles and does not go to Harriman. I'd recommend you start at Crane Park in Monroe, it is easy to find and offers plenty of parking.
As far as the trail itself the scenery was average. The trail itself is all paved and mostly flat so it made for easy riding. The towns off of the trail are very quaint, I'd highly recommend walking around Goshen and visiting Chester for its local brewery. If you'd like to extend your ride try to find the unpaved extension in Goshen. It is single track and about two miles long so I'd take a mountain or hybrid bike.
From Wassaic to Copake, free parking in Wassaic train lot on weekends. Goes through a few small towns with bike shops including one in Copake. Lots of places to eat in the towns, some country roads tie the rail trails together, a few hills but nothing brutal, beautiful lake, plains, and frams views, and if you don't mind a small hike, check out Bash Bish falls in copake, worth the hike.
Nice ride! 44 miles round trip from Denniston road, Hybrid or mountain bike recommended. Great views from bridges. Surprising cold breezes from caves welcomed on hot days. Some muddy spots but overall very ridable.
I traveled from CT to come try this trail. Started cycling in Hopewell Junction and did the Dutchess trail, then the Walkway Over the Hudson, and the Hudson Valley trail out and back for 36 miles. Took a snack break then went back out to the Walkway and back for a total of 65 miles. Beautiful trail, clean and well kept and super clean bathrooms in Hopewell Junction. Definitely worth the trip. Hope to go back in the fall for autumn colors.
Rode the trail yesterday for the first time. Nice ride for an old guy like me. I started at the Oak Tree Road entrance and took it to the end and back. It’s a perfect trail for an older biker like me to get there daily exercise.
An excellent trail, takes you through mostly wooded areas, so you won't be riding in a blazing sun much. (Take mosquito spray). We started at Baldwin Place, next to New York Sports Club and took north (the trail actually runs both ways, north AND south, from NYSC - but the southern part is probably called differently; whatever the case, the trail map shows NYSC as the south entry point for Putnam Trailway).
If you start of heading north, your ride will be easy and pleasant - you'll spend most of time on a gentle downgrade, almost not touching your pedals. (Which means, of course, it's a harder work getting BACK - so, if you are doing a loop, maybe it's better to start off on the northern end of the trail and then have an easy ride back). The road is asphalt mainly, not in ideal conditions in many places, but nothing overly concerning - I saw people on racing bikes with thin rims. We had our folding and touring bikes, absolutely no issues.
If you are a family with kids, an ideal solution would be to start at the south entry point (NYSC), have an easy glide down, then split and have one of the parents ride back while the remaining party is waiting at one of the parking lots (there are benches in some places, and shops/cafes in others, so it's doable) and then come and pick them up by car.
November 2017
It was a good trail in the mountains, except for the bumps of leftover railroad ties. One end is a nice train station, the other is North-South Lake Campground, which you can also bike around, but is not a part of this trail. To see the wonderful water fall you have to get off the main trail a very short distance. A nice bridge over a creek too. Yeah, mountain bikes with suspension only.
I rode this last November, during a warm dry Sunday afternoon. It's a fine trail. At one end is a closed ski slope and lodge I think should become a mountain bike downhill business. The other end just seems to ... end on a road. Between is some nice mountain pass, at one point along a creek that wants to eat the trail, so there was a chainlink fence. If you're in the area, go visit this trail and the charming village of Tannersville.
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