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:)