Rail Trail Park, Poughkeepsie NY

Foot and bicycle traffic in both directions, as this is a highly transited trailway, transecting the townships of Poughkeepsie, LaGrangeville, Hopewell Junction, Fishkill and Wappingers Falls. If you walk far enough northwards, you reach the Walkway over the Hudson which leads to Ulster County. Following Ulster County’s Hudson Valley Trail northwards far enough, you can reach Canada. By then you should have a healthy appetite for some maple-soaked flapjacks.

This trail traverses the townships of Fishkill, Wappiners Falls, Hopewell Junction and Poughkeepsie. If followed along the Walkway over the Hudson to New Paltz, you can connect to the Hudson Valley Trail which continues all the way northwards to Quebec (tell Phillippe that Dan says hi!). There are well-maintained plaques which convey the area's fascinating history involving older commerce and ethnography. There are bridges which span streams, and swamps bordering some stretches of this trail. At the parking lot is a port-a-potty, a bike rack, picnic tables and multiple benches inscribed to commemorate donors to the trail's upkeep.

Lots of bikes. Not recommended for walking. Lots of people wearing ear buds or head phones. Very dangerous.

Used to love it here but I today when I pulled up a man in a white van next to me started taking pictures as I unloaded my bike. Because I was alone I said nothing because I was scared. Came back when I was done and he was still there. Made a point to crane his head and watch me.

Safe to say I’ll be biking at home for awhile.
Or until they install a camera.