Things To Do at Long Dock Park
Biking
Birding and nature study
Boat launch site for kayaks & canoes
Fishing Pier
Hiking / Walking Trails
Picnicking

Outdoor Winter Activities
Cross county skiing (ungroomed trails)
Snowshoeing (ungroomed trails)

Directions
From Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, go 1.8 miles south on Route 9D, right on Beekman Street, Right on Red Flynn Drive then immediate left on Long Dock Road.

Press blue button for Scenic Hudson, hours of operation, parking information, trail maps, photos and more about Long Dock Beacon.

After a day out at Long Dock Beacon, select from one of many excellent restaurants in Dutchess County.

Madam Brett Park is an urban oasis along the Fishkill Creek in Beacon featuring tranquil trails and a beautiful waterfall. This 12-acre park connects to the "Beacon Shoreline Trail" providing a link between Dennings Point, Long Dock Beacon and the Beacon train station.

One mile of trails along the Fishkill Creek lead to scenic overlooks of tidal marshes and Tioronda Falls.

Things To Do
Hiking / Walking Trails
Picnicking
Scenic Waterfall

Directions
From Newburgh-Beacon Bridge head 3.2 miles south on Route 9D, turn right on Tioronda Avenue, then left under the railroad trestle. Parking area is on the left.

Spend a few hours enjoying Madam Brett Park. When it's time to eat, select from one of many excellent restaurants in Dutchess County.

Mount Beacon towers above Beacon and Fishkill at the northern gateway to the Hudson Highlands.

Mount Beacon is the most visible summit for miles around, providing the defining backdrop for local communities. Its prominence made the mountain an important factor in the Revolutionary War when it served as part of the Continental Army's early warning and signaling system. George Washington's troops set signal fires to communicate vital information about British troop movements. Mount Beacon is named for the beacon fires lit upon its summit during the Revolutionary War.

The incline railway, the steepest of its kind in the world at the time, carried visitors to the heights of the mountain for dining, dancing and enjoying spectacular views, from 1902 until the late 1970s.

Mount Beacon Park was created on land preserved by Scenic Hudson in the City of Beacon and Town of Fishkill. Totaling 234 acres, the parcels were purchased in 1995 and 1998, respectively.

Things To Do
Birding | Bird Watching
Hiking / Walking Trails
Nature Study
Picnicking
Scenic Views

Interesting Points
Revolutionary War reference

Directions
Parking area and trailhead are located at the intersection of Route 9D and Howland Avenue in the City of Beacon.

After a day of hiking, walking, or studying the wildlife, pack a picnic from the produce at a local farm in the Hudson Valley. Or dine at one of the many excellent restaurants in Dutchess New York.

The park is also home to the Taconic Outdoor Education Center which provides high quality environmental programming. In the winter, you can enjoy the Fahnestock Winter Park that includes 15 kilometers of groomed trails for cross country skiing and snowshoeing, and an area for sledding.

The large beach at Canopus Lake is the jewel of Clarence Fahnestock Memorial Park. Its sandy shore and nearby picnic area are enjoyed by thousands of bathers. In addition to swimming, campers and day trippers can fish in or tour Canopus Lake by row boats which are available for rental by the hour or the day. Fishing by boat is permitted at Stillwater and Canopus Lakes. Fishing at both lakes and four ponds is excellent in all seasons for anglers seeking bass, pickerel, perch or brook and rainbow trout.

The scenic campground, formed along the park’s natural rock ridges, provides alcoves of privacy and tranquility for campers. Each of the 80 campsites has a picnic table and fire ring. Additionally there is an area for RV camping. The campground’s nature center houses environmental displays and a variety of touch boxes. On weekends, park staff organizes hikes and craft activities. Movies are shown on Saturday evenings for the enjoyment of all campers.

Things To Do
Beach
Biking
Boat Launch Sites
Boat Rentals
Bridle Path
Campsites
Fishing
Food
Group Camping
Hiking Trails / Walking
Hunting
Nature Trail
Pavilions
Picnic Tables
Recreation Programs
Showers
Swimming
Tent & Trailer Sites

Winter Activities
Cross-Country Skiing
Ice Fishing
Sledding
Snowshoeing Trails

The 11.5 miles of trails on Fishkill Ridge connect to thousands of acres in Hudson Highlands State Park and the summit of Mount Beacon. This largest and must rugged of Scenic Hudson's properties features some of the valley's best hiking opportunities, including the access to two of the highest peaks east of the Hudson River.

Some of the region's best hiking trails connect to thousands of acres in Hudson Highlands State Park and on historic Mount Beacon.

Things To Do
Access two of the highest peaks east of the Hudson River
Birding - Eagles, Falcons, and rare species
Hiking Trails
Panoramic views of Hudson River and Catskill Mountains

Directions
View our Fishkill Ridge Trail Map information and maps that will guide you on a quest to learn about the history and ecology of Fishkill Ridge.

Press blue button for Scenic Hudson, hours of operation, parking information, maps, photos and to view Scenic Hudson's Fishkill Ridge Trail Map.

After a beautiful day viewing the Hudson Highlands, select from one of many excellent restaurants in Dutchess County and nearby areas.

Deer, foxes, coyotes and wild turkeys roam this rugged and beautiful property in the Marlboro Mountains

In addition to great hiking and mountain biking, educators can use this 570-acre park as an outdoor classroom; this mountain forest featuring a pond, waterfall, hiking trails and views of the Hudson River and Catskills is a great place for children to learn about ecology and environmental ethics.

Perfect for nature study, hiking and mountain biking. Six miles of trails. Great views of eastern Hudson River shore and Catskill Mountains.

Things To Do
Birding | Bird Watching
Fishing (Contact local guides for information.)
Hiking Trails
Mountain Biking
Nature Study
Picnicking
Scenic Views

Directions
Crossing Mid-Hudson Bridge from east to west, take Route 9W north for 8.2 miles. Left on Old Post Road. Lower parking lot is 0.2 miles on right. For upper lot, follow Old Post Road to Poppletown Road, which splits off to the right. Parking area is on the left, 2.5 miles from intersection of 9W and Old Post Road.

After a day of hiking, nature study or mountain biking in this scenic wonderland, pack a picnic from the produce at one of the local farms in the Hudson Valley. Or dine at one of the many excellent restaurants in Ulster, New York.

Rudd Pond has 15 tent sites and 26 tent platform sites, each providing campers with grand views of the ridge, pond, and nearby countryside. Enjoy boating on the scenic 64 acre pond. Visitors who possess regional boating permits are also welcome to launch their own rowboats, canoes, or kayaks. A variety of fish, including bass, sunfish and pickerel, inhabit the pond and fishing is permitted with a New York State Freshwater Fishing License. In the winter months, visitors can ice skate and fish on the pond, conditions permitting.

In season both deer hunting and turkey hunting are permitted in designated areas. A New York State hunting license is required. Please be aware that Taconic State Park property encompasses land in both Dutchess and Columbia Counties.

Press blue button for more about camping, boating, hunting, and required licenses at Rudd Pond Area in Taconic State Park.

Things To Do at Taconic State Park - Rudd Pond Area
Beach
Biking
Boating
Boat Launch
Boat rentals (rowboats, canoes, kayaks)
Campsites
Fishing
Grills
Hiking
Hunting
Picnic Tables
Showers
Tent / Trailer sites

Winter Activities
Ice Fishing
Ice Skating

Work began on the park and golf course in 1940. Construction continued intermittently during World War II and the James Baird State Park Golf Course was officially opened in 1948.

James Baird State Park has much to offer. There are spacious open and wooded picnic areas and two picnic pavilions which can accommodate up to 300 people each by reservation. There is also a sports complex where visitors enjoy playing basketball, softball, tennis and volleyball. Additionally there is a playground and a nature center. Open summer weekends, the nature center loans recreational equipment and offers nature programs. Outdoor enthusiasts will find the seven miles of scenic wooded trails ideal for hiking in the warm months and cross country skiing and snowshoeing in the wintertime.

Press blue button for more about James Baird State Park, or for information about the James Baird Golf Course.

Things To Do at James Baird State Park
Basketball
Birding
Golf
Hiking
Nature Center
Picnic Pavilions
Picnic Tables
Playground
Softball
Tennis
Volleyball

Winter Activities
Cross-Country Skiing
Snowshoeing

"The Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge was built in the late 19th century to link New York and New England to an extensive, nationwide railway network. For decades, it was a major rail corridor for both freight and passengers.

"After a fire in 1974, the bridge was abandoned and sat for decades as an oprhaned relic. This brand new park was made possible due to the unwavering commitment of the community, who, through a non-profit organization called Walkway Over the Hudson, forged a public private partnership involving the State of New York, the federal government, neighboring municipalities, private corporations and other not for profit groups. The amazing result of this wonderful partnership is a brand new state park, now open for all to enjoy."

The park offers interpretive signs and a Talkway Over the Walkway cell phone tour.
The park closes as sunset. Please visit sunrisesunset.com to plan your trip.
There are two entrances to the park, one on either side of the Hudson River

The rolling fields and quiet woodlands have inspired generations of writers and artists.

This 120-acre park is nestled in the region's famous National Historic Landmark District and offers breathtaking views of the Hudson River, Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge and Catskill Mountains. A visit to this property by Washington Irving is said to have inspired his classic story "Rip Van Winkle".

The park itself is buffered on all sides by 780-acres of private lands under Scenic Hudson conservation easements that insure the landscape's protection from development.

Attractions at Poets' Walk include two miles of trails through woods and open fields, magnificent setting for landscape artists, and rustic cedar pavilions.

Things To Do
Birding | Bird Watching
Hiking / Walking Trails
Nature Study
Picnicking
Scenic Views

Directions
Crossing Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge from west to east, turn left at first traffic light onto River Road. Entrance is 0.6 miles on left.

After a day of hiking, walking, or studying the wildlife, pack a picnic from the produce at local farms in the Hudson Valley. Or dine at one of the many excellent restaurants in Dutchess New York.

Burger Hill's seventy-six-acres of open meadows and rural, scenic beauty are perfect for bird-watching. The park is protected by a Scenic Hudson conservation easement and is owned by Winnakee Land Trust.

Things To Do
Birding | Bird Watching
Hiking / Walking
Picnicking

Winter Activities
Cross-County Skiing
Sledding

Directions
From intersection of Route 9 and Route 9G, take Route 9G south for 2.5 miles. Parking area on right

Press blue button for Scenic Hudson, hours of operation, maps, photos and more information about Burger Hill Park.

Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park adjoins Ogden Mills and Ruth Livingston Mills Memorial State Park and together, comprise more than 1,000-acres. Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park offers a full menu of exhilarating recreational opportunities and activities for visitors of all ages.

A serene wooded area with glimpses of the river provides an ideal location for camping. A marina consisting of slip space and a boat launch ramp is a popular area within the park. Press blue button for directions, and more about the activities and attractions available at Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park.

Things To Do
Biking
Boat Launches
Cabins Campsites
Dockage
Fishing
Golf Grills
Hiking
Marina (Marina Pump Out Stations)
Nature Trails
Pavilions
Picnic Tables
Powerboats
Scenic Views
Showers (Accessible)
Tent/Trailer Sites

Winter Activities
Cross-country Skiing
Snowshoeing Trails

Mills Memorial State Park is the home of Staatsburgh State Historic Site and the Dinsmore Public Golf Course. The Mills Park also offers some of the best hiking in the hudson valley with many trails that weave through the grounds of both Mills and Norrie State Parks, ideal for walking, jogging, hiking, cycling, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. Visitors can see exquisite views of the Hudson River that runs directly along the parks' western boundaries.

A Bit of History
Staatsburgh State was the elegant country home of Ogden Mills and his wife Ruth Livingston Mills. Sitting atop a grassy hill overlooking the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains, their house is a fine example of a great estate built by America's financial and industrial leaders during the Gilded Age (1876 - 1917). Also known as the American Renaissance, this period in American history was marked by America's rapid economic growth and emergence as a world power.

Darius Ogden Mills, father of Ogden Mills, established the family fortune by investing in banks, railroads and mines. Ogden Mills, like his father, was a noted financier and philanthropist. In 1882 he married Ruth Livingston, whose family had been prominent landowners in the Hudson Valley since the 17th century. In the 1890s Mr. & Mrs. Mills commissioned the prestigious New York City architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White to remodel and enlarge their home. Work began in 1895 and when completed in 1896, the house had been transformed from a 25-room Greek Revival style home into a Beaux-Arts mansion of 65 rooms and 14 bathrooms. Although the interior was lavishly decorated, mostly in the styles of 17th and 18th-century France, many architectural features of the earlier Livingston home such as the trims, moldings and many of the fireplaces had been preserved. This melding of grandeur and heritage is characteristic of the American Renaissance period.

Owning five homes, the Mills family resided in their Staatsburg home primarily in the fall and entertained as many as 80 guests at a time. The home and surrounding property was passed to their son, Ogden Livingston Mills in 1929. After his death in 1937 his sister Gladys Mills Phipps inherited the property and in 1938 donated the house and 192-acres of the estate to the State of New York as a memorial to her parents. Today the elegant mansion, restored to its turn-of-the-century appearance, is open for tours, and the house and grounds offer special events throughout the year.

Press blue button for more about activities and attractions at Ogden Mills & Ruth Livingston Mills State Park, including the Dinsmore Golf Course and Staatsburgh State Historic Site.

Things To Do at Ogden Mills & Ruth Livingston Mills State Park
Biking
FishingGift Shop
Golf
Group Tours
Hiking
Historic Site
Interpretive Sign
Recreation Programs (Accessible)Refreshments
Picnic Area
Scenic Views

Winter Activities
Cross-country Skiing
Sledding
Snowshoeing Trails

A Bit of History
In the 1890s Mr. & Mrs. Mills commissioned the prestigious New York City architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White to remodel and enlarge their home. Work began in 1895 and when completed in 1896, the house had been transformed from a 25-room Greek Revival style home into a Beaux-Arts mansion of 65 rooms and 14 bathrooms. Although the interior was lavishly decorated, mostly in the styles of 17th and 18th-century France, many architectural features of the earlier Livingston home such as the trims, moldings and many of the fireplaces had been preserved. This melding of grandeur and heritage is characteristic of the American Renaissance period. Owning five homes, the Mills family resided in their Staatsburg home primarily in the fall and entertained as many as 80 guests at a time. The home and surrounding property was passed to their son, Ogden Livingston Mills in 1929. After his death in 1937 his sister Gladys Mills Phipps inherited the property and in 1938 donated the house and 192 acres of the estate to the State of New York as a memorial to her parents.

Today the elegant mansion, restored to its turn-of-the-century appearance, is open for tours and the house and grounds offer special events throughout the year.

Press blue button for directions, fees and rates, hours of operation, activities, and more about Staatsburgh State Historic Site.

Things To Do at Staatsburgh State Historic Site
Biking
Educational Services (Accessible)
Gift Shop
Group Tours
Guided Tours
Hiking
Historic House
Interpretive Signs (Accessible)
Picnic Area (Accessible)
Scenic Views (Accessible)

Winter Activities
Cross-country Skiing