The Esty & Hellie Stowell Trailhead provides access to Storm King Mountain, where Scenic Hudson got its start in the fight to Save the Land that Matters Most.

Esty & Hellie Stowell Trailhead offers 11.2 miles of trails on 1,900-acres and provides access to Storm King State Park with hiking and great views of the Hudson River and Hudson Highlands.

Stowell Trailhead offers hikers a new way to access the spectacular summit of Storm King Mountain. Hikers heading uphill from the Esty and Hellie Stowell Trailhead soon enter Storm King State Park, with miles of trails affording magnificent Hudson Highlands vistas that Scenic Hudson has been protecting since 1963. Storm King Mountain was the stage for the epic fight to stop the development of a massive pump storage hydroelectric facility that gave birth to Scenic Hudson's campaign to Save the Land That Matters Most.

Directions
From Newburgh-Beacon Bridge: 4.5 miles south on Rt. 9W, right on Rt. 218. Trailhead is 1.6 miles on right.

Press blue button for Scenic Hudson, hours of operation, maps, photos and more about Esty & Hellie Stowell Trailhead

When you are ready to eat, select from one of many excellent restaurants in Orange County and nearby areas.

Outdoor Discovery Center
The Outdoor Discover Center is located at 100 Muser Drive (entrance to the center is on Muser Drive across from 174 Angola Road) in Cornwall, NY.

Wildlife Education Center
See the Living Hudson Exhibit; a multi-sensory experience full of the flora and fauna native to the Hudson Estuary. Follow the journey as water trickles down a highland creek into a wetland pond. The pond empties into a freshwater stream which then joins the Hudson River Estuary.

Scenic Hudson purchased this historic 178-acre farm in 1993 so that the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum could establish an "Outdoor Discovery Center".

Nature trails on the grounds of this former farm (now home to the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum) are helping to inspire the next generation of environmentalists. Three miles of trails are owned and managed by the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum.

Things To Do
Hiking / Walking Trails
Nature Study
Scenic Views

Directions
Kenridge Farm is on Muser Drive, across from 174 Angola Road. Take Route 9W to the Angola Road Exit. Go .1 mile west on Angola Road.

After a day of hiking, nature study, or a casual walk at Kenridge Farm, dine at one of many excellent restaurants in Orange County, New York.

History of Storm King Art Center
"Ralph E. Ogden and H. Peter Stern, then joint owners of Star Expansion Company founded Storm King Art Center in 1960. Originally Ogden envisioned a museum of the Hudson Valley painters, however after visiting a marble quarry in Austria in 1961 he became partially interested in sculpture. Early purchases were set outside the building as part of a formal garden scheme. Six years later, Ogden saw sculptures by David Smith (1906-1965) set in open fields outside his home in Bolton Landing. The Art Center purchased thirteen works from the artist’s estate and inspired in part by Smith’s sculpture fields soon began to place works outdoors in a new way that directly responded to the landscape of Mountainville. Since that time, each sculpture has been sited as part of a visual fabric that includes its immediate surroundings and the distant landscape scene – expanding the context for viewing far beyond traditional garden confines. In 1972 the Art Center began acquiring a permanent collection of large-scale sculptures. Works are acquired selectively, always with attention to the potential interaction of sculpture with the Storm King landscape. Ogden died in 1974; H. Peter Stern continues to serve as both Chairman and President of the Art Center.

Museum Building:
"Completed as a residence in 1935 for the late Vermont Hatch, the French Normandy-style building was designed by architect Maxwell Kimball. The building's granite stones were salvaged from Danskammer, the 1834 Edward Armstrong mansion located north of Newburgh that stood overlooking the Hudson River for almost 100 years. The five Ionic columns now situated on the Art Center's property formed the front of Danskammer. The interior of the museum building contains many period details such as walnut paneling, and walnut and oak parquet floors. Inside are nine exhibition galleries, a museum shop, and offices.

Landscape
"At Storm King, visitors are encouraged to enjoy nature as well as art, to meander on trails and discover sculptures, or to traverse the fields to walk among monumental works. The grounds are under a carefully supervised program of maintenance and change. Recently the Art Center has developed the North Trail and a wooded grove with sculptures, and has restored several walking paths."

Visitors may walk through the grounds or take a self-guided tour aboard a handicap-accessible tram that travels through the main portion of the grounds. An audio-guide is available for rental at the museum shop. Press blue button to learn about the collections, current exhibitions, membership, photos, and more about Storm King Art Center.

The word is Fabulous collection of modern and majestic sculptures in an exceptional outdoor setting that complement each and every piece of art. Storm King is magical in all seasons, especially in the Fall. Bring the children, a picnic, and dine under a tree; four miles of hiking trails are also available.

Bushwhackers who explore this 500-foot hilltop outside of Newburgh are rewarded with spectacular views of the Hudson River and Hudson Highlands.

Snake Hill is 94.5-acres with no trails. The colorfully named Snake Hill is the dominant feature of the landscape surrounding Newburgh. Although there are no maintained trails on the property, adventuresome hikers can find their way to the summit and some rewarding views.

Things To Do
Birding
Hiking
Nature Study
Picnicking

Directions
From Newburgh-Beacon Bridge: 3.2 miles south on Route 9W, then right on Union Ave. Proceed 1.8 miles to 398 Union Ave. and proceed to end of driveway.

After a day of hiking, and/or nature study on the way to the top of Snake Hill, pack a picnic from the produce at one of the local farms in the Hudson Valley. Or dine at one of many excellent restaurants in Orange County, New York.

Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, designers and creators of Central Park in New York City, created this 35-acre urban respite named for their mentor and supporter of the public parks movement. The landscaping features many a winding path opening to a picture perfect vignette of flowering shrubs, rolling hills, a pergola and pond. Polly Pond, especially when filled with ice skaters, has been inspiration for many artists. The park hosts a variety of events throughout the year, and the Shelter House also serves as Visitor Center for the town.

Things To Do
Gardens
Ice Skating

Lakes, ponds, forest, hills, and mountains abound at Bear Mountain. Bear Mountain is heavily forested, offering the natural beauty of sights such as Perkins Memorial Point,

Of interest to hikers, the historic Appalachian Trail is carried across the Bear Mountain Bridge and the Popolopen Suspension Bridge. Although campgrounds and lodging are available, Bear Mountain Park is primarily a day-use park offering magnificent scenery, photo opportunities, and great hiking for all levels of hikers. The historic Bear Mountain Inn, situated in Bear Mountain Park, overlooks Hessian Lake and provides food and overnight accommodations. Food is also available at several vendors around Hessian Lake and in other areas of the park.

Bear Mountain Park attractions and activities include: a large playing field, picnic groves, rowboat docks on Hessian Lake, swimming pool and bathhouse, nature trails including key segments of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and the Long Path, basketball court, Trailside Museums and Zoo, Iona Island Estuarine Reserve and Bird Refuge, Perkins Tower, and the Merry-Go-Round. Many winter activities are available at Bear Mountain Park, including an outdoor rink that is open for ice-skating from late October through mid-March.

Perkins Memorial Tower sits 1,305 feet above the Hudson River, atop Bear Mountain. Perkins Point and Perkins Memorial Tower afford spectacular views of the park, the Hudson Highlands and Harriman State Park. Driving, biking, or hiking along Perkins Memorial Drive offers breathtaking views from many vantage points leading to Perkins Memorial Tower perched at the top of the mountain. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at one of many picnic spots that are available along Perkins Memorial Drive.

Click to enlarge photo of sign - Popolopen Creek Trail to Fort Montgomery.
	Popolopen Creek Trail to Fort Montgomery Walk the Popolopen Creek Trail to Fort Montgomery where you will "standon the site of Fort Clinton, which was built along with Fort Montgomery to prevent British ships from sailing up the Hudson River during the Revolutionary War. On October 6, 1777, the British captured both forts and destroyed them shortly thereafter. "This trail leads down to the Popolopen Creek and across the Popolopen Suspension Footbridge to Fort Montgomery State Historic Site. Fort Montgomery is an archeological site and a historic ruin. Interpretive signs and an audio tour are available to help understand the history of the fort and the battle."

More fun and educational attractions for kids include the Trailside Museum and Zoo, and the Merry-Go-Round featuring 42 hand carved seats of native animals. After a ride on the merry-go-round, visit the zoo and see how many native animals you can recognize. (Perhaps your children can help name the animals.) .

Great kids Attraction - Merry-Go-Round
The Merry-Go-Round at Bear Mountain features hand painted scenes of the park and 42 hand carved seats of native animals including: black bear, wild turkey, deer, raccoon, skunk, Canada goose, fox, swan, bobcat, rabbit and more.

Great kids Attraction - Trailside Museum and Zoo
There are four museums at Trailside. The Reptile and Amphibian House is home to a variety of turtles, snakes, frogs, toads, salamanders and skinks as well as many species of fish. The Nature Study Museum houses specimens originally created by the Museum of Natural History to educate people about animal identification. Visitors can learn about geologic formations of the Hudson Highlands in the Geology Museum and local Native American and early settler culture in the History Museum.

Things To Do
Biking Trails in Hudson Valley
Boat Rentals
Dockage
Fishing (lake and river fishing)
Food at park and at Bear Mountain Inn
Hiking Trails / Walking
Merry-Go-Round Pavilion
Nature Trail
Perkins Memorial Drive & Tower
Picnic Tables
Playground
Playing Fields
Pool (very large pool)
Swimming
Trailside Museums
Zoo and Nature Park

Winter Activities
Cross-Country Skiing
Ice Skating

Washington was pleased that the army was better housed, fed, and clothed than ever before in the long war, but life for the officers and troops at the Cantonment remained hard. It was at the New Windsor Cantonment that the cease fire orders were issued by Washington ending the eight-year War of Independence on April 19, 1783. The final success, however, was the gradual, orderly disbandment of the army at the Cantonment, and the peaceful march of its still largely unpaid officers and men back to their homes or new pursuits.

New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site is fun for children and family. See the staff in reproduction period dress and uniforms demonstrate musket drills, blacksmithing, military medicine and camplife activities. View the exhibits at the Visitor Center and the reconstructed Temple Building, which served as a chapel for the soldiers.

Attractions
Audio-Visual Programs
Costumed Interpreters
Demonstrations
Educational Services
Group Tours
Guided Tours
Hiking
Interpretive Sign
Picnic Area
Re-enactments
Scenic Views
Self Guided Tours
Visitors Center/Museum

The word is Wonderful day out for the kids and children of all ages.