Our summer interns picked a few hiking spots in and around Duchess County. Whether you are looking for an intense outdoors adventure, or just want to get outside for a stroll, this list of local jaunts is sure to have the hike for you!
By Lily Thorpe
Amenia NY
Harlem Valley Rail Trail — The Harlem Valley Rail Trail is a 26-mile long paved trail that runs through Amenia. Relatively flat, this trail is perfect for biking, jogging, and walking!
Benton Hill Preserve Main and Pond Loop — Just over the border in Connecticut, the Benton Hill Preserve Main and Pond Loop is a two-mile jaunt through beautiful fields (though the loop is sometimes buggy, so make sure to bring your bug spray!).
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/connecticut/benton-hill-preserve-main-and-pond-loop
Sharon Audubon Center — The Sharon Audubon Center is home to a series of short trails — all about a mile long. Two of the trails are flat and easy, and the third trail, the Ford-Borland Trail, gets a little hilly. Perfect for families and pets (on leash!).
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/connecticut/sharon-audubon-center
Beacon NY
Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve — The Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve boasts dozens of trails ranging in length and difficulty. A 10 minute drive from Beacon, everyone is sure to find their perfect trail!
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/hudson-highlands-state-park-preserve
Mount Beacon Park — Mount Beacon Park is home to some harder and longer trails, so make sure you’re up to the challenge before committing to one of the several trails they offer!
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/parks/us/new-york/mount-beacon-park
Clarence Fahnestock State Park — A slightly longer drive from Beacon (20-30 minutes), Clarence Fahnestock State Park is home to local stretches of the Appalachian Trail.
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/clarence-fahnestock-state-park
Clinton Corners NY
Whitlock Preserve — Whitlock Preserve is home to two easy, mile-ish long trails that are great for a walk!
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/parks/us/new-york/whitlock-preserve
Dover Plains NY
Dover Stone Church Preserve — Dover Stone Church Preserve has four relatively short and easy trails for everyone to explore!
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/dover-stone-church-preserve
Nellie Hill Preserve Red Trail Loop — A great walking loop!
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/new-york/nellie-hill-preserve-red-trail-loop
Fishkill NY
Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve — The Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve boasts dozens of trails ranging in length and difficulty. 20 minutes from Fishkill, everyone is bound to find their perfect trail!
Clarence Fahnestock State Park — 20 minutes from Fishkill, Clarence Fahnestock State Park is home to local stretches of the Appalachian Trail.
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/clarence-fahnestock-state-park
Hyde Park NY
Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site — The Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site has several short trails that explore the beloved home of FDR.
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/franklin-d-roosevelt-national-historic-site
Roosevelt Home to Bard Rock via Hyde Trail — Up for a longer walk? This mostly-flat, 8-mile out-and-back trail takes you from the Roosevelt home out to Bard Rock.
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/new-york/roosevelt-home-to-bard-rock-via-hyde-trail
Hackett Hill Park — Hackett Hill Park is home to a couple quick-and-easy local trails.
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/hackett-hill-park
Lagrangeville NY
Red Wing Recreation Area — Red Wing Recreation Area has a couple of shorter trails to explore: two moderate and one easy.
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/red-wing-recreation-area
James Baird State Park — The former farmland of James Baird — whose engineering and contracting company constructed the Lincoln Memorial — this state park is home to a moderate, three-mile trail.
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/james-baird-state-park
Millbrook NY
Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Area — This space is home to four short-to-mid-length trails!
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/parks/us/new-york/taconic-hereford-multiple-use-area
Taconic Hereford Perimeter Loop
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/new-york/taconic-hereford-perimeter-loop
Timbuktu Loop
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/new-york/taconic-hereford-perimeter-loop
Millerton NY
Taconic State Park — 20 minutes north of Millerton and full of trails of every length and difficulty, Taconic State Park is sure to have a trail readily suited to scratch your hiking itch!
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/taconic-state-park
Pine Plains NY
Thomson Ponds Preserve — Home to four short trails ranging in difficulty, Thomson Pond Preserve boasts some beautiful views.
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/thompson-pond-preserve
Wilcox Park — Wilcox Park has two great and relatively short trails for walking and hiking!
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/wilcox-park
Poughkeepsie NY
Walkway Over the Hudson — Adaptable to everybody’s needs, the paved, three-mile Walkway Over the Hudson path can be transformed into a four-mile loop or a 10-mile out-and-back that connects to the Hudson Valley Rail Trail.
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/walkway-over-the-hudson-state-historic-park
Franny Reese State Park — This three-and-a-half-mile loop has some great views of the Hudson River.
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/franny-reese-state-park
Berean Park— Berean Park has four trails ranging in length from three to nearly 10 miles!
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/berean-park
Pleasant Valley NY
Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Area — This space is home to four short-to-mid-length trails!
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/parks/us/new-york/taconic-hereford-multiple-use-area
Taconic Hereford Perimeter Loop
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/new-york/taconic-hereford-perimeter-loop
Timbuktu Loop
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/new-york/taconic-hereford-perimeter-loop
Red Hook NY
Tivoli Bays Wildlife Management Area — Along the Hudson River, this open space has two shorter trails.
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/tivoli-bays-wildlife-management-area
Poets Walk Park — This shorter trail is home to scenic views of the Hudson River.
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/poets-walk-park
Greig Farm — Greig Farm is home to a series of mostly well marked trails for families of all ages to explore!
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/greig-farm
Rhinebeck NY
Ferncliff Forest — Home to three trails and some great views, Ferncliff Forest is sure to be a hit.
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/ferncliff-forest
Thompson Mazzarella Park — This park is home to several short and interconnected trails.
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/thompson-mazzarella-park
Dayton Grant Park at Burger Hill — Home to four incredibly short (yet steep!) trails, Burger Hill has some great views of the Catskills.
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/drayton-grant-park-at-burger-hill
Stanfordville NY
Whitlock Preserve — Whitlock Preserve is home to two easy, mile-ish long trails that are great for a walk!
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/whitlock-preserve
Wappingers Falls
Bowdoin County Park — Bowdoin County Park has a nice two-mile loop, as well as a longer, more challenging loop.
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/bowdoin-county-park
Stonykills Environmental Educational Center — This space has five shorter trails that are great for walking and hiking!
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/new-york/stonykill-environmental-educational-center