Walkway over the Hudson

[Kurt in CT]

Hi! Connecticut rider here. Spring is in the air!
Could any of you that have done the Walkway over the Hudson (Poughkeepsie) and connecting trails, share your experience with me please? I just got finished watching I segment on public television about it. It looks pretty cool. Worth the trip? Also how’s the parking on the east side?
Thanks

 

[Citycrosser]

I've walked it a few times now and it's definitely worth the trip. It's a fun place to take family when they are visiting from out of town. We've always parked on the east side, then walked over and back. There are always a good number of folks biking across and the trail continues on both east and west bound. The parking lot we use is at 49 Parker Avenue in Poughkeepsie.

Once the new Maybrook Trailway opens in 2020, the Dutchess Rail Trail (and Walkway over the Hudson) will be connected to the Putnam County Trailway, which already connects to the North and South County Trailway in Westchester. Should make for a nice long trail without the worry of cars. More info here: https://maybrooktrailway.org/

 

[Saratoga Dave]

Currently you can go from the bridge down to the old Hopewell Junction train depot on the paved path the whole way. About fifteen or so miles if I’m not mistaken, and a very nice ride. Places to get a bite at some of the road crossings along the way. This is on the eastern, Dutchess County side. The whole ride is through woods, even going through Poughkeepsie.

On the Ulster County side the paved path is complete almost into New Paltz, probably another six or eight miles. Not as picturesque as the Dutchess County side.

However, parking access is probably better on the Ulster County side. There are a couple of gravel lots very close to the edge of the bridge and a few hot dog truck sort of things right there as well. There’s plenty of parking on Poughkeepsie as well, but some of it is in areas that are what you might call questionable.

The bridge itself is spectacular, a reclaimed RR bridge that burned back in the Seventies. I think 73? I remember you could see the smoke from many miles away that afternoon. Over the years there were many ideas of what to do with it that all went nowhere until the Walkway came to pass.