Hyde Park Bike/Hike Trails

Hyde Park Trails
http://www.hydeparkny.us/Recreation/Trails/

Trail Head off route 9
(photography by Eilis Petrosino)

Trail Marker

Waterfall at the base of Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt View

Today we biked some of the Hyde park trails to create a long 2.5-3 hour excursion. When looking at the trail map the entire bike would be the Vanderbilt loop (hike a), through to the "other trail", to FDR trails (hike f), to Roosevelt Farm & Forrest (hike G), to Val-kill (hike h). If you were to take a day and hike this your probably looking at close to double your time, but also a really nice hike. This bike/hike includes so much in its adventure. First you start at the beautiful Vanderbilt mansion http://www.nps.gov/vama/index.htm which is the smallest of all the Vanderbilt estates. The website has so much interesting history, and there are tours you can take (about an hour), plus walking through the grounds with the beautiful gardens and Hudson river views.

The next part of this bike/hike you follow on some roads the trail marker (seen in pictures below) along the Hudson river. Not only do you have great views, but some stops to make if you wanted. First you could stop at the Hyde Park train station museum http://www.hydeparkstation.com/. This is a really neat spot. Across the street is the Hyde Park Landing where you can rent kayaks for the day and do a Hudson river tour http://www.hydeparklanding.com/, http://www.the-river-connection.com/.

 Hyde Park Landing Kiosk

Third section picks up right before you hit rogers point, which is a marina in Hyde Park. You will come to a dead end and see the trail head open up. This part of the trail is difficult, hills and loose stone make it a helmet kind of bike, and a good pair of hiking shoes kind of hike. You will follow the green markers through wooden trail, forest loop. At the end of this part you will see head on FDR's home. Head up the hill and see this neat historical site where our 32 president lived http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/. There is a really nice cafe here if you are interested in a tour and lunch, great spot to stop and relax for a few.

Next you head toward route 9 and will come across the next section of your adventure. This is hike G still and continues your Roosevelt Farm and Forest section. This also brings you to another great spot to stop if you weren't feeling cafe and needed more of a drink then the Hyde Park Brewery is just the stop http://www.hydeparkbrewing.moonfruit.com/. My favorite beer here is the Blonde! At the end of this part of the trail you come to route 9G and a sign that says Val-Kill which is your next destination. Head across and toward Eleanor Roosevelt's cottage http://www.nps.gov/elro/index.htm. Here is another great spot for a tour and some pretty grounds. This section of the bike/hike is trail h.

After Val-kill you pretty much turn around and head back the same way you came. Today we enjoyed a light lunch at a place called Cranberry's which was on the way home right in the small town of Hyde Park, NY http://www.cranberrysattilleyhall.com/. I had a hummus wrap with a fruit salad on the side, and after a serious bike ride indulged in the chocolate macaroon, coconut bar, and peanut butter chocolate bar (there were three of us, don't judge our sweet tooth's!). After that bikes back on the rack and off we went home.

Just as a side note Hyde Park is a really quaint spot for someone who has a day to enjoy. The historic homes and tours, cozy cafe Cranberry's and about three great antique centers http://www.hydeparkantiques.net/ (make sure you have time, you will want to linger in here), make for a really nice day. I hope you enjoy yourself a nice long day of adventure soon:)

Brace Mountain

This hike is in Millerton, New York: http://www.nynjtc.org/hike/brace-mountain-taconic-ridge, this website gives you all you need to know about how to get there, and what to expect. This hike is TOUGH, but worth every minute of it. I have done this hike now during the fall, spring, and summer months and you get something different each time. In the fall, of course, the fall foliage is out of the world. In the spring you get some really great weather to hike in, and you get to see all the new buds and signs of spring up in the highest peak in dutchess county. During the summer this hike tends to be busy, and you get some good conversation! The time we went we ran into people who had gotten together from the website www.meetup.com and were coming from the city together. Each hike will also give you new flags at the top, the first two times I went I saw a beautiful american flag at the top, this time around as pictures show below, was a pretty wind sock. The best part of this hike though is the three states marker you can see below. What other place can you be in CT, NY and MASS all at the same time. I always love a good wish rock too, so leave one at the marker and leave on at the flag (who couldn't use more wishes). The website shows 4 hours on this hike, we usually make it in 3. Ive also enjoyed the "after hike". A friend did this hike about a year ago and said you have to try #1 the hike, but #2 this market on your way to and from called McEnroe Organic Farm. Glad we did, because each time we come back with something new. This past time I had a sandwich with lox, jam and onion that was out of this world. I also find all sorts of delish other treats like Danielle's veggies chips http://neherbalfoods.com/danielle/our%20snacks.htm. These can be hard to find, but you will order these chips online after you try them, my favorites are the coconut! I also grabbed stuff for Easter baskets: yogurt covered raisins and pretzels, chocolate covered sunflower seeds, organic granolas, delish chocolate bars like sea salt and almond! They had fresh daffodils too to bring home for my kitchen table. This is a place to stop after hike, or seriously just drive there for an afternoon of indulgence http://www.mcenroeorganicfarm.com/. Hope my pictures and food talk got you interested, this is a must "to consider".

Photography by Meghan Martin

Mt Beacon

Mt Beacon

Photography by Meghan Martin

Located in Beacon, New York right off of 9D, trail head is very easy to find. http://www.scenichudson.org/parks/mountbeacon and trail is very easy to follow (straight up), and then continue on the red trail till the very top http://www.scenichudson.org/files/u2/MtBeacon_webmap.jpg. There are two places to sight see, one being the remains of the old casino and railway system. There is some really neat old history involved here, take a look: http://www.inclinerailway.org/Mount%20Beacon%20Incline%20Railway%20History.pdf. Then you continue on your way up, still following the red trail, to the fire tower. On a clear day you can see the manhattan sky line, and up to the state capital.  Mt. Beacon has been confused as the highest peak in Dutchess County, its high, but Brace Mt is the highest. On your way up be sure to look back and notice the great views throughout hike, and the remains of old cars and the old railway lines. The hike is difficult, but worth every minute. When you reach the fire tower at the top notice that as you look down over the cliff you can see a white trail marker on the rock. This is the fishkill ridge and will take you all the way to breakneck ridge, which is a great day hike from coldspring, or a great overnight hike from Mt. Beacon. If you started early enough I do believe you could get from Mt. Beacon to breakneck in a days hike, just make sure you plan with a car at each side. http://www.scenichudson.org/parks/fishkillridge
All in all this is a great hike in the hudson valley and we finished our hike with a great spot for lunch! Farm to Table restaurant in Fishkill, NY is on route 9 headed back to Hyde Park. http://www.ftbistro.com/ This place was perfect for a sandwich and a drink after a long hike. Usually for us, a hike = food + drinks:) Drinks we had here included cooperstown ommegang which is a favorite beer of mine http://www.ommegang.com/ and a great dragon fruit mojito, for your own recipe to make follow these easy instructions, I know ill be trying this again! http://www.tokyoterrace.com/2009/12/cocktail-friday-dragon-fruit-mojito/ HAPPY HIKING!!! (and eating and drinking)

Franny Reese Hiking Trail

Franny Reese Hike/Park

http://www.scenichudson.org/parks/frannyreese



Photography by Meghan Martin

This hike is a great way to extend the beautiful walkway over the Hudson state park. It is also a beautiful way to see the mid Hudson bridge that connects Poughkeepsie, NY to Highland, NY. On an evening, just before the sun goes down, take this trail to the top and see a great view of the hustle of cars coming from work. This trail is steep at first, but is about 3 miles all the way around of relatively easy trails, yellow and white are the longer trails, blue being the look out where you get the great view of the bridge. You can park at the parking lot for walkway over the Hudson and head across toward highland, or park on the other side (highland side). Leave the walkway bridge and head toward the walkway loop http://www.scenichudson.org/parks/walkwaylooptrail, you will find your way right to the trail head where you can find ample trail maps you can take with you as well as some great reading about the area trails. There are some really cool old remains to look at, as well as a great view of the Hudson river throughout this hike. After taking the full walkway loop which eventually brings you back over the mid hudson bridge we stopped at a local hot spot called Andys Place:http://www.yelp.com/biz/andys-place-poughkeepsie where I had a caprese sandwich. If you have never had this type of sandwhich it needs to be on your try list. See attached recipe http://www.yumsugar.com/Recipe-Caprese-Sandwich-Heirloom-Tomatoes-3412869  Enjoy your own adventures in walking, hiking and eating!