MAYBROOK TRAILWAY:
SOUTHEAST-HOPEWELL JUNCTION, NEW YORK
DUTCHESS RAIL TRAIL:
HOPEWELL JUNCTION-POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: June 19, 2024
Length: Maybrook Trailway; 28.3miles
Dutchess Rail Trail; 13.1 miles
Difficulty: Maybrook Trailway; Easy. Mostly flat paved rail trail with a slight grade.
Dutchess Rail Trail; Easy. Flat, paved rail trail.
Directions: Maybrook Trailway:
To start from Farrington Woods Park at the CT/NY border [Southern End]; From I-84 take exit 1 to Saw Mill Rd and head north to Mill Plain Rd. Turn left then an immediate right to the Farrington Woods Park entrance. This is where the trail starts. More parking is located just east up Mill Plain Rd where you'll find a paved commuter lot.
To start from Southeast Town Park parking lot in Brewster [Southern End]; From I-84 take exit 64 to Route 312 and head right (west). Turn left on Prospect Hill Rd after less then a mile. Follow to Tonetta Lake Rd and head left. Travel underneath I-84 and turn left on Pumphouse Rd. Follow into Lions Park and bear right to the parking lot.
To start from Route 292 parking lot in Holmes [Central Section]; From I-84 take exit 61 to Route 311 north. Travel 2.8 miles then turn left on Brickhouse Rd and left again on Cross St. Follow to Mooney Hill Rd and turn right, then a quick left on Route 292. Follow 1.2 miles to Holmes and bear right up Route 292 before the RR tracks/trail. Parking lot up on your left.
To start from Hopewell Junction [Northern End]; From I-84 take exit 52B to Taconic State Pkwy north. Take exit 38 to Route 52 W. Take a right on Route 376 to Hopewell Junction. Turn right on Routes 82 & 376. For the Turner Street parking lot; Continue straight on Route 82 and cross over a bridge. Take an immediate left on Turner St and you'll come to a parking lot and the start of the trail. For the Hopewell Junction Depot parking lot; Turn left on Route 376. You'll take a sharp right and come to Railroad Ave straight ahead before Route 376 turns left. Travel down Railroad Ave to reach the trail and parking lot. The Dutchess Rail Trail & Maybrook Trailway meet here.
Starting from Poughkeepsie for the Dutchess Rail Trail & Walkway Loop Trail [Northern End] and Walkway Over the Hudson [Eastern End]; From Route 9 take the Routes 55 & 44 exit east. Travel about 1.5 miles and turn left on Worrall Ave (Route 115) Continue along Route 115 for about 1.5 miles and turn left on Salt Point Turnpike. Follow to the intersection of Smith St and Creek Rd. Take a sharp right on Creek Rd and turn left into the Morgan Lake Park parking lot. You can also park at the Walkway Over the Hudson parking lot. There is a parking fee for up to 4 hours, however, next to the pay parking lot is dirt parking lot with free parking.
Directions: Dutchess Rail Trail:
Starting from Arlington [Central Section]; From the Taconic State Pkwy take exit 47B to Route 55 west. Travel 4.5 miles and turn left on Old Manchester Rd (Route 49). Old Manchester Road parking lot 1 is on your left. Old Manchester Road parking lot 2 is just up this road on your left.
Starting from Hopewell Junction [Southern End]; From I-84 take exit 52B to Taconic State Pkwy north. Take exit 38 to Route 52 W. Take a right on Route 376 to Hopewell Junction. Turn right on Routes 82 & 376. For the Turner Street parking lot; Continue straight on Route 82 and cross over a bridge. Take an immediate left on Turner St and you'll come to a parking lot and the start of the trail. For the Hopewell Junction Depot parking lot; Turn left on Route 376. You'll take a sharp right and come to Railroad Ave straight ahead before Route 376 turns left. Travel down Railroad Ave to reach the trail and parking lot.
The Maybrook Trailway follows alongside the NY, New Haven & Hartford RR Line, where a second set of tracks (removed in 1962) used to be. The Line was created in 1882. The Maybrook Line connected with its Waterbury Branch in Derby, CT and its Maybrook Yard in Maybrook, NY across the Hudson River. The Maybrook Trailway travels from the Danbury, CT border West to Brewster where you can connect to the Putnam County Trailway . The Maybrook Trailway continues Northwest to Hopewell Junction where it connects to the Dutchess Rail Trail. The Dutchess Rail Trail was built on the old rail bed that was once part of the Maybrook Line. The double track line opened for service in 1892 and functioned as a passenger and freight line until well into the 1900’s. The Maybrook Line provided the only train crossing of the Hudson River between New York City and just South of Albany and was an important railroad link for Connecticut and the rest of the Northeast. In 1974, its regular use was terminated after a fire on the Poughkeepsie Railroad-Highland Bridge interrupted the line’s continuity. This bridge, at 6,768 feet long and 212 feet above the river, was hailed as the longest railroad bridge in the world when it was completed in 1888. The Dutchess Rail Trail travels Northwest to Poughkeepsie, where it connects to the Walkway Over the Hudson. This pedestrian bridge is now the longest in the world and takes you West over the Hudson River to Highland. You can then continue Northwest, along the Hudson Valley Rail Trail , to New Paltz, where you can access the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail . In Poughkeepsie, from the Walkway Over the Hudson & Dutchess Rail Trail, you can follow the Walkway Loop Trail, West, down to the Poughkeepsie Waterfront, where you can access the Poughkeepsie Waterfront Trails. From the Walkway Over the Hudson & Dutchess Rail Trail, you can also connect to the Northside Line, which utilizes the former CSX rail corridor. Constructed in 1873, the corridor was built as a link between East-West and North-South rail lines, as well as a means of delivering coal to power the newly-completed Hudson River State Hospital. Shaped like a wishbone, the trail system has East-West and North-South rail lines, as well as a means of delivering coal to power the newly-completed Hudson River State Hospital. Shaped like a wishbone, the trail system has Eastern and Western Spurs, with on-road connections. For more information visit; DUTCHESS RAIL TRAIL , WALKWAY LOOP TRAIL & NORTHSIDE LINE .
The Metro-North Railroad's Hudson Line has a stop in Poughkeepsie. For more information visit; Metro North Railroad . If you click on the individual stations, they have available both directions and maps.
The Maybrook Trailway & Dutchess Rail Trail are part of the Empire State Trail , which is a continuous 750-mile route spanning the state from New York City North to Canada and Buffalo East to Albany, creating the longest multi-use state trail in the nation. To the west it connects to the Putnam County Trailway and to the north it connects to the Dutchess Rail Trail .
Maybrook Trailway:
Starting from Farrington Woods Park; CT/NY Border [Southern End]; FARRINGTONS WOODS PARK exit the park where you'll find a paved spur trail down to the trail.
Note; Danbury is studying the possibility of extending the trail East to CT and downtown Danbury, Tarrywile Park and the Ives Trail. See; CT Route Study .
The paved Maybrook Trailway travels West alongside the inactive RR tracks, passing by Haines Pond on your right. There are informational signs along the trail; See; MAYBROOK TRAILWAY BROCHURE . Cross Joes Hill Rd after 1.2 miles. Cross a bridge and travel alongside the East Branch Reservoir. Cross a causeway and Route 202 will parallel the trail above to your left. Across the reservoir spot the stone dam where the East Branch of the Croton River enters. Travel underneath the Route 22 on-ramp/I-684 off-ramp in Brewster at 2.9 miles. In Brewster the trail is separated from the tracks by a black metal fence. Travel underneath I-684, over Route 202, then underneath I-84. You come to a bridge across E Main St after 3.5 miles.
Note; A fence blocks your path, as of 2024, as a trestle over the East Branch Croton River has not yet been upgraded.
Note; Detour. To reach the next section you must carry your bike down a long set of stairs to E Main St. Then travel on-road left (south) along E Main St, then right on Main St to your first right on Peaceable Hill Rd to another set of stairs back up to the trail. About a 0.4 mile detour.
Continuing West from the unfinished trestle the trail travels above Brewster. Pass by a Spur Trail on your left that will take you down to Wells Park parking lot. You'll come to another paved Spur Trail on your left that leads down to N Main St after 4.3 miles.
Note; This is the future connection to the Putnam County Trailway. A bridge still has to be constructed (not started as of 2024) over the Brewster rail yards to connect to the Putnam County Trailway at Putnam Ave.
Continuing North the trail crosses Crosby Ave before traveling underneath the Tonetta Lake Rd bridge and leaving the town behind. 4.7 miles. You travel underneath I-84 again, passing by the Tonetta Brook Marsh, before crossing Pumphouse Rd. Here the open trail travels alongside Lake Tonetta and Tonetta Lake Beach. Informational signs along the trail. Pass by the Southeast Town Park parking lot on your left at 5.8 miles. Map Board. The open wooded trail is more isolated. Travel underneath Route 312 at 6.4 miles and look right to spot some iron RR track holders. Many of these are located along the trail. You travel along a causeway between the Muddy Brook Marsh. Pass by RR Mile Marker Dykemans 34 (These signs refer to the old train stations, thus Dykemans Station. I believe they are located a mile apart all along the trail) before crossing over the RR tracks at 7.1 miles. Here you can see an old RR switch to an active set of RR tracks along your left. This is the Harlem Line connection. Cross the RR tracks again as you follow a causeway alongside Ice Pond (formed from Muddy Brook). Spot the active RR tracks across the pond. Next travel through the Great Swamp. RR Mile Marker Ice Pond 32 at 8.7 miles. You then cross back over the tracks before crossing a RR trestle over the active RR line at 9.6 miles. Towners Station. You then cross a bridge over Route 164 where the trail begins a slight uphill grade through a rock cut. Cross another bridge over Route 164 and along a high berm. Cross a bridge over Route 311 and continue along the ridgeline. Patterson is in the valley below. Pass RR Mile Marker Paterson 29 before traveling underneath Mooney Hill Rd at 12.2 miles. Pass RR Mile Marker Paterson 28 before crossing Holmes Rd at 13.5 miles in Holmes.
Note; A steep paved Spur Trail to your right leads up to the Route 292 parking lot. Map Board.
Pass by RR Mile Marker Holmes 27 and alongside Beaver Brook before crossing Beaver Brook Rd. Pass by RR Mile Marker Holmes 26 before traveling through a rock cut and underneath Route 292 at 15.3 miles. Here the trail begins its descent. Pass by RR Mile Marker Holmes 25 where the trail levels as it travels alongside Whaley Lake. Pass an informational sign before a causeway crosses part of the lake. Pass by RR Mile Marker Holmes 24 and leave the lake behind. As you pass the Whaley Lake Stream Marsh on your left look back to spot the Whaley Lake Dam. Cross another causeway through the Whaley Lake Stream Marsh before passing by RR Mile Marker Poughquag 23 and another marsh and pond. Cross Route 292 and a small parking area at 18.1 miles. Whaley Lake Stream along your right as you continue a slight descent. Pass by RR Mile Marker Poughquag 22. Cross Bard Rd at 19.1 miles and follow a high berm. Pass by another informational sign as you enter a high rock cut (1881 Poughquag Cut). The trail turns Southwest. Pass by RR Mile Marker Poughquag 21, then cross Depot Hill Rd at 20.2 miles (Caution blind curve on your right). Pass by RR Mile Marker Stormville 19 and look left to spot Frog Hollow Brook as it cascades down the hill. The trail levels out as you enter a valley. Cross S Green Haven Rd and pass by a spur to the S Green Haven Road parking lot at 22.5 miles. Map Board, Porto-Potty. Cross a small bridge across a creek. Pass by the Green Haven Correctional Facility followed by the NY Canine Training Facility (Fencing and cameras). Pass by RR Mile Marker Stormville 17 and cross a bridge over a creek before another bridge over Seaman Rd at 24.2 miles. The trail then crosses the RR tracks and resumes along the opposite side along a residential corridor. Cross old Route 52 in the village of Stormville. Pass by RR Mile Marker Stormville 16. A flashing beacon at 25.5 miles will get you across busy Route 216 (Use Caution). Travel a causeway through a lake. Golf course along your right. Pass by RR Mile Marker Stormville 15. Travel underneath Route 29 followed by the Taconic State Pkwy where the trail turns Northwest. Pass by RR Mile Marker Hopewell Junction 14 in Hopewell Junction. Cross a bridge over Fishkill Creek at 27.8 miles and past RR Mile Marker Hopewell Junction 13 where you travel between a lumber yard and Hopewell RR Yard. Cross over the RR tracks and you'll join the Dutchess Rail Trail after 28.2 miles.
Note; Straight leads to Martin Road and a small parking area.
Continue left underneath Route 82 and you'll come to an intersection at 28.3 miles.
Note; Right leads to the Turner Street parking lot.
Continue straight and you'll come to the old Hopewell Depot parking lot at 28.4 miles. The old Hopewell Depot (Museum), along with the old Signal Station 196 located here. Vending machines, restrooms, picnic pavilion, Map Board & BIKE STATION. The Dutchess Rail Trail continues North to Poughkeepsie .
Dutchess Rail Trail:
Starting from the Turner Street parking lot in Hopewell Junction [Southern End]; Here, two rail lines merged, with the other line still active over to your left. Wooden Mile Marker 0 is located at the start of the trail and appears on your right every 0.5 miles.
Note; Heading South the trail travels underneath Route 82 where it connects to the Maybrook Trailway . Left leads to the Martin Road parking area.
The Dutchess Rail Trail is paved with a jogging path that parallels the trail. [Re-zeroing Mileage] You travel North, quickly coming to the Hopewell Depot parking lot. The old Hopewell Depot (Museum), along with the old Signal Station 196 located here. Vending machines, restrooms, picnic pavilion, Map Board & BIKE STATION. The old depot, built in 1873, houses a visitors center & museum. At one time, three different rail lines were served by Hopewell Junction. Another nice feature along the trail are the placements of sign posts at all junctions and intersections. There are also informational signs posted along the trail as well. After crossing Whortiekill Creek you'll cross over Route 376 at 0.4 miles. Heading North the trail enters the woods and is much more isolated then the Northern Section. After 1.2 miles you travel past Lake Walton on your left. Next you cross Lake Walton Rd at 2.4 miles and come to another Map Board. Cross a bridge over Route 376 with access spurs down to the road. Cross Sprout Creek bridge at 2.9 miles, travel through a rock cut and look left where you can still find some of the old telephone poles from the RR days. You'll come to the Diddell Road parking lot at 4 miles. Map Board and Porto-Potty's located here. After crossing Diddell Rd you travel along a high berm with steep drop offs along both sides of the trail. Cross a bridge over Maloney Rd at 5.4 miles with access spurs to the road. This takes you from the town line of Wappinger into LaGrange. Pass a side trail to Gold's Gym parking lot, which contains a sports cafe, before crossing a bridge over Titusville Rd at 6.5 miles. Just before the 7.5 Mile Marker you'll spot and old bridge abutment. Pass by a spur trail at 8.1 miles to the Old Manchester Road parking lot 1 in Arlington, followed by a second spur on your right to the Old Manchester Road parking lot 2. Here you'll cross an extended bridge over Old Manchester Rd, Wappinger Creek and Route 55. Travel along a causeway through a marsh at 9 miles and past the Overocker Road parking lot at 9.6 miles. Travel underneath the Dutchess Turnpike (Route 44) and you'll soon be traveling along a high berm. Cross over Van Wagner Rd via an old RR bridge before coming to North Grand Ave at 11.3 miles. Here you'll find an original Maybrook Rail Line signal that works. Another bridge takes you over Route 115 as the trail turns West, where you pass by St. Peters Cemetery followed by a bridge over Fall Kill. After traveling underneath Creek Rd you come to the spur for the Morgan Lake Park parking lot at 12 miles. Restrooms, a Map Board, benches and picnic tables are located here. Pass by an old cement RR Whistle marker on your left at 12.3 miles as you travel through a rock cut, followed by a tunnel underneath Route 9G. Crosswalk over Buckingham Ave as you travel a berm along a residential corridor in Poughkeepsie. Cross an old RR bridge over Fairview Ave, before coming to a Spur Trail on your right at 12.7 miles.
Note; This Spur Trail will take you down to the Northside Line .
You then travel over the Northside Line, before passing by a Map Board and traveling alongside the Walkway Over the Hudson parking lot, passing by wooden Mileage Marker HJ 13 (Hopewell Junction 13 miles) and coming to the start of the Walkway Over the Hudson after 13.1 miles. Map Board and HUDSON VALLEY BIKE SHARE located here.
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CLICK HERE FOR MAYBROOK TRAILWAY MAP
CLICK HERE FOR DUTCHESS RAIL TRAIL MAP
CLICK HERE FOR EMPIRE STATE TRAIL MAP
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