About the Hudson Trail

The Hudson Trail is a proposed long trail from Manhattan to Mt. Marcy, linking together existing trails along with new sections and including some walking on roads and streets. The general idea is the following: there will be 4 sections, we call treks: Lower Hudson, Middle Hudson, Grafton Hills-Bend, and Upper Hudson. The route, especially the middle sections, are open to suggestions, adjustments and comment. Here are the plans:

The Lower Hudson Trek: Highbridge to the City of Beacon

The trek follows the Croton Aqueduct from High Bridge north on University Ave through Van Cortland Park, and thence along a route currently used by the Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct to the New Croton Dam.
Thence by trail along the Colabaugh Corridor to Blue Mountain Park over the Spitzenberg
It continues from Blue Mountain to Pleasantside,
then north by roads to the Catskill Aqueduct using several miles of this pathway to Canopus Creek
Upstream to Fahnstock Park
Up over Candlewood Hill with its spectacular 360 degree view
The AT is crossed on Sunk Mine Road putting paid to an old hiking dream (see page 154 4th edition, New York Walk Book)
North on Charcoal Burners, then west on Cross train to Schoolhouse Mountain Road crossing Rt. 9 and
continuing on local roads Old Carriage Road up and over Mt. Taurus, South and North Beacon Mountains to the railroad right of way.

This is roughly 80 miles from Highbridge. The use of Google Earth will improve estimates, but actual walking of the trail will be needed for exact measurements. There will be no private property crossed in this trek. The walking on roads is about 15 miles. Only ½ mile of new trail will be needed, from the summit of Blue Mountain to Pleasantside.

The Mid-Hudson Trek: Beacon to Brainard

The Route is dominated by abandoned railroad right-of-ways and roads. Two gems are found in the center of this trek, the Institute of Ecosystem Studies Mary Flagler Cary Arboretum and the over 1400 ft. Stissing Mountain Massif. As the route is still a work in progress, list of localities traversed follows:

East from Beacon following the Fishkill upstream on an old railroad grade.
Brinkerhoff, Swartoutville, Billings, Moores Mill, Verbank, Washington Hollow,
Mary Flagler Cary Arboretum,
Hibernia, Clinton Corners, Market,
Stissing Junction
Dutchess & Columbia Railroad right of way past Pine Plains to Silvernails,
Stissing Mountain,
Spaulding Furnace, New Forge, Taghkanic, Martindale.
Here a fine old Railroad grade goes 20 miles through Philamont, Pulvers, Ghent, Chatham, Rock City,
Old Chatham (Shaker Museum), Riders Mills and finally
Brainard

The trail is never far from the Taconic Parkway, wending its way through rolling farm land with blocks of low hills for variety and streams so pure that the brook trout thrives. The easy access, its relative flatness and intersting places to visit makes this trek appealing to walkers as well as short and long distance hikers.

The Grafton Hills-Bend Trek: Crossing the Hudson

The first half of this trek takes us through the Western Taconics, known locally as the Grafton Hills. Draining the area west to the Hudson are the Postenkill, Quackenkill and Hoosic River. Bobcats abound as does a potent local apple jack. This region is terra incognita to most of the lower Hudson hiking community.

Localities traversed:
Nassau,
Dunham Hollow,
The Gipfel, East Postenkill,
Quackenkill, Raymertown, Tomhannock Reservoir.
The Hoosic River is crossed at Schaghticoke.
Crandall Corners, Easton, Willard Mountain, Schuyler Mountain
The Hudson River will be crossed at Schuylerville.
Stark’s Knob (NY State scientific reservation),
Bacon Hill, Ballard Corners, Gurn Spring,
The Palmerton Range, Corinth.
Crossing Sturdevant Creek.
The Adirondacks lie ahead.

This is mineral water country. It is near to Saratoga Springs and goes through Gurn Spring and was a bustling tourist destination for 100 years. Immediately after crossing the Hudson River at Schuylerville, the trail will follow the tow path to Stark’s Knob, bringing to mind the once significant economic role of the River.

The Upper Hudson Trek: To Marcy

Towns are few—mountains abound. Ascending the Adirondacks, one can gaze over our lovely Hudson Valley. From Spruce Mountain’s lofty summit, you can see the field where, on October 7th, 1777, Tim Murphy, with one bullet tipped the scales toward America’s independence. Moving from history to ecology, a record Great Northern Pike was caught at Sacandaga Reservoir.

The route:

South Corinth
Spruce Mountain summit,
Hunt Lake,
West Mountain,
Lynnwood,
Conklingville,
Hadley Mountain summit,
Knowelhurst,
Bear Pen Pass, Kibby Pond, Eleventh Mountain,
Gore Mountain summit with its Garnet Mine,
Christian Hill,
Starbuck Mountain then west along the south bank of the Hudson,
Abanakee River, then a right angle turn north to Hudson Gorge at Newcombe
Tahawus, Up Twin Brook, Lake Tear,
Trail Summit MARCY

Panorama view from Mt. Marcy (Wikipedia)