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.

I rode this trail out and back on 7/15/2021. Total out and back ride clocked in at 9.55 miles, 150 feet elevation change down heading North, so 150 feet uphill heading back South. I parked in the shopping plaza by the Taco Bell and rode the bike lane to the CTfastrack station where the trail starts.

For the most part the trail was clean except for a broken bottle just outside the first station, and a couple of trash cans that were left out for pickup on one of the sidewalk sections. There were not many people on the actual trail and every single one of them said hello and or thanked me for signaling when passing. The trail parallels not only the bus lane, but also an active train line, Amtrak is doing work on the line so in some places you can smell the new ties that they are installing. On the north end of the trail I stopped at a Dunkin' that was across the street from the station, and at the south end I stopped by the bike shop that is next to the hotel and part of the parking garage. There is a mix of businesses along the trail including convince stores and places to get food. The scenery is a mix of urban, industrial, tree lined, train tracks, and bus depots, if you pay attention you will even see a fiberglass Cobra Shelby along the sidewalk section. You will see plenty of busses, and if you are lucky maybe a train.

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.

[Biked from Bushnell Park to Charter Oak Park and back, 7/11/21]
If you're driving to a trail, don't make it this one. As many have said, the experience of biking next to the I-384 is less than stellar. There were two places where the vegetation had overgrown the trail to the point where some cyclists are going to crash sooner rather than later. The trail is boring, the street portions are boring, there's really nothing that makes this trail stand out. If you don't want to see people but you want to hear cars anyway, this might be the trail for you. Hardly anyone else on the trail, must be that everyone else is wiser than I. Aside from being a boring, noisy trail with occasional Jumanji hazards, the pavement itself is in decent shape and the hills give a workout so I'll refrain from giving this 1 star.

I won't blame this on the trail given the recent storms, but there was also a downed tree blocking the entire path and the only way around was a muddy, flooded detour some intrepid souls must've carved.

Also protip: Labyrinth appears to be closed on Sundays, I'd call ahead if you're planning a beer with your ride :(

I like this trail to walk because it is well paved, flat, no hills, and friendly considerate people especially the bike riders who usually indicate when they are passing me. There is some industrial and kind of dumpy areas that abut the trail unlike where I came from, Woodstock NY, where the paths are pristine and beautiful. However, I like where the trail crosses a bridge across the Mill River just past Veterans Field in Northampton.

This is a great ride for me to test my novice skills. I find myself coming back to here twice a week after work just to get a quick workout in

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.

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.

We just rode this trail for the first time and we will certainly be back. Amazing views, paved surface, and plenty of opportunities to stop and sit. The only improvement I would suggest would be to add mile markers.