Andes Rail Trail

New York

2 Reviews

The Andes Rail Trail begins in the quaint town of Andes in the beautiful Catskill Mountains region of southeastern New York and follows a branch of the former Delaware and Northern Railroad. At the trailhead, you'll find a lovely pergola and a 1907 train depot. A pit which once housed the railroad terminal is still visible. Interpretive signage recalls the interesting history of the railroad line.

From the depot, one can walk 1.8 miles out-and-back along the trail's natural and grassy surface, still spotting old railroad ties in some places. Outstanding views of mountains, woodlands, fields, a babbling stream, and the remnants of an old stone mill can be seen along the way.

At the end of the rail-trail portion, you can continue on the Bullet Hole Spur, which offers a more challenging hike. This 2.2-mile addition climbs the ridge above the rail bed through hardwood forest high above Bullet Hole Creek and the Tremperskill Valley.

Parking and Trail Access

Ample parking is available by the trail entrance and next to the Train Depot (drive through the gate area next to the pergola). The trail's entrance gate is located at 266 Depot Street (aka Cabin Hill Road/County Route 2). For detailed directions, visit the TrailLink map.

Very nice trail

August 2023 rb4gf87d7n

There is actually parking at the trail head by the depot, not far from Main Street in Andes. We only took a short walk with our dogs, and it was very nice.

Grass trail, mowed, a bit wet, railroadiana

October 2015 russnelson_tl

Walked this trail (bicycling not allowed) in . It's a fairly new trail. Starts at the Andes Train Station. I didn't see any parking, so I parked on the side of the road. There's a kiosk at the head of the trail, showing where the trail goes. Heads out along the railbed, and makes a sharp right to go up the hillside to Bullet Hole Road.

Along the way you'll see the station, which they're working on, replacing rotten wood, etc. Past that you'll see two siding on your left, merging into one, and coming up the hillside to merge into the main line. On your right, you'll see a pit. Not a pit dug to borrow dirt from one location for another, but instead a turntable pit, where they would turn the locomotive for the return trip.

There is next railroad steel decked over for a footbridge. Just a short thing, about 5' long. Then it gets level and a bit wet. They route the trail to the side, a bit higher. Not much further and the trail comes to private property, and so heads up the hillside.