WALKWAY OVER THE HUDSON:
HIGHLAND-POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK
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Last Updated: August 20, 2018
Length: Walkway Over The Hudson; 1.5 miles
Poughkeepsie Waterfront Spur; 1.4 miles
Waryas Park Promenade/Upper Landing Park; 0.4 miles
Kaal Rock Park Promenade; ? miles
Difficulty: Walkway Over The Hudson; Easy. Flat, paved railroad bridge.
Directions:
To start from the Highland Side; From I-87 (NY State Thruway) take exit 18 to Route 299 east. Head south on Route 9W through Highland. Just before the turn off for the Mid-Hudson Bridge turn left down Haviland Rd. The first parking lot on your left is for the Hudson Valley Rail Trail. The next parking lot on the left leads to the walkway. Parking is also available along the road or in a parking lot down to the right.
To start from the Poughkeepsie Side; From Route 9 in Poughkeepsie exit to Route 9G north (Marist Drive). Bear right onto Washington St. Proceed on Washington St for 0.5 miles. Turn left on Route 9G/Parker Ave. The trail and parking lot is on the left. Note; The gravel Lower lot is Free to park while the paved Upper lot has a Fee.
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 Walkway Over The Hudson crosses the Hudson River via the old Poughkeepsie Railroad-Highland Bridge. 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. It served as the only Hudson River train crossing south of Albany, NY until a fire put it out of commission in 1974. The pedestrian bridge is now the longest in the world. Heading west from the bridge along the former rail bed of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad is the paved Hudson Valley Rail Trail . Heading east from the bridge is the paved Dutchess Rail Trail . You can also access the Poughkeepsie Waterfront via the Poughkeepsie Waterfront Spur from the east side of the bridge. The Poughkeepsie Waterfront features several promenade trails that travel south alongside the Hudson River; Upper Landing Park, Waryas Park Promenade, future Kaal Rock Connector, Kaal Rock Park Promenade & future Shadows Trail. For more information visit; WALKWAY OVER THE HUDSON .
The Walkway Over The Hudson is part of the Empire State Trail , a continuous 750-mile route spanning the state from New York City to Canada and Buffalo to Albany, creating the longest multi-use state trail in the nation. To the east it continues along the Dutchess Rail Trail and to the west as the Hudson Valley Rail Trail .
Walkway Over The Hudson
Starting from the Northern End of the Dutchess Rail Trail; The Poughkeepsie parking lot is located here.
Note; From here you can access the Poughkeepsie Waterfront Spur which leads you down to the Poughkeepsie Waterfront where you can access the Waryas Park Promenade. See Below.
Continuing along the tree lined Walkway Over The Hudson, during weekends this area contains food trucks. Pass by the Walkway East Pavilion before traveling east along the Walkway Over the Hudson which takes you high above Poughkeepsie. When you come to the banks of the Hudson River below you'll find an elevator on your left.
Note; This elevator brings you down to the Upper Landing Park where you can access the Waryas Park Promenade. See Below.
Great views of the city, RR and river park. Informational signs are dispersed all along the walkway. Great unimpeded views of the river, Mid-Hudson Bridge and cliffs of Highland. After crossing over the Hudson you below as an active RR line passes beneath. Come to the Highland side where you'll find restrooms, food vendors, water fountain, picnic tables, informational boards, map, Walkway West Pavilion and the Walkway West Visitor Center at 1.5 miles.
Note; Continuing west the trail connects to the Hudson Valley Rail Trail where you'll find the HVRT parking lot. An old 1926 red caboose and map board are located here.
Poughkeepsie Waterfront
From the Northern End of the Dutchess Rail Trail; Head left through the Lower Poughkeepsie parking lot out to Parker Ave. Turn right and travel on-road (narrow sidewalk) down to Washington St. There are several street options, but I followed the suggested route (shown on map) by turning left on Washington St to a stoplight over to Verazzano Blvd (Caution; no crosswalk/light. Cross on red light). Travel on-road down Verazzano Blvd alongside Fall Kill to Mt Carmel Pl and turn right (wide sidewalk available). Bear left on Dutchess Ave and travel underneath the Walkway to Albany St. Head right (residential road) to Hoffman St and turn left. Cross over Route 9 and the RR tracks to N Water St. Turn left along a brick lined sidewalk and travel back underneath the Walkway. You'll come to the entrance for UPPER LANDING PARK on your right just before Fall Kill (From the bridge look left to spot a small waterfall and informational sign). Head right into Upper Landing Park. Travel straight along the brick lined walk out to the Poughkeepsie Waterfront & Hudson River after 1.4 miles. Picnic tables & informational signs.
Note; Right through the black iron gate leads to the Walkway Over the Hudson elevator.
Head left along the narrow paved path to a small bridge over Fall Kill. This leads to the Waryas Park Promenade.
Note; Left brings you back out to N Water St.
Straight ahead is the MID-HUDSON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. Turn right and travel past a pavilion back to the Poughkeepsie Waterfront & Hudson River. Head left alongside the Hudson River through Waryas Park, passing by the Children's Museum, a skateboard park, picnic tables, informational signs and the Waryas Park parking lot. Next you'll pass by the ICE HOUSE Restaurant, dock and pavilion before coming to a playground with a neat "whale" sculpture.
Note; Just past the pavilion on your left is a trail leading to Main St. You can head up Main St to access the Metro-North's Poughkeepsie Station.
Just past the play ground the trail ends after 0.4 miles at a dock overlooking Kaal Rock and the Mid-Hudson Bridge.
Note; Future plans call for continuing the trail around Kaal Rock via the Kaal Rock Connector to Kaal Rock Park. No construction as of 2020.
I have not checked this out yet. The Kaal Rock Park Promenade continues south alongside the Hudson River traveling underneath the Mid Hudson Bridge. Future plans will continue the trail south along Shadows-on-the-Hudson as the Shadows Trail. Not yet approved as of 2021.
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CLICK HERE FOR WALKWAY OVER THE HUDSON MAP
CLICK HERE FOR KAAL ROCK PARK/SHADOWS TRAIL MAP
CLICK HERE FOR HUDSON VALLEY GREENWAY MAP
CLICK HERE FOR EMPIRE STATE TRAIL MAP
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
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