Sacred Ground
By D.H. Callahan

Don’t be fooled by the name. Dover Stone Church might be made of stone, but it is no church. Dover Stone Church is a cave formed by a brook running through a fissure in metamorphic rock, which eventually expanded to a striking, cathedral-like entrance. According to local legend, the cave served as a refuge for Pequot chief Sassacus and his warriors as they fled from the British Army following the Pequot War in the 1600s. The cave and surrounding area are part of 174 acres of woods and fields preserved by the Dutchess Land Conservancy. While the Church is certainly the main attraction, there are three supplemental hiking trails, all just over a mile. To access all the trails, you will walk through a tree-lined field and cross a footbridge over the aptly named Stone Church Brook. From there, head right to reach the church. It is a rough trail that demands careful footing, especially when the brook is running high. Heading straight after the bridge, you will walk uphill to the three loops. These trails are more manageable than the path to the church, but none of the hikes are particularly difficult. All of them are just right for a spur-of-the-moment walk in the woods. Insider tip: there is no parking at the entrance; designated lots are nearby at Dover Elementary School and other locations in the village.