OLD PUTNAM RAIL TRAIL:
BRONX, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: April 19, 2009
Length: Old Putnam Rail Trail; 2 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Hard packed rail trail.
Directions:
You can access this trail from the southern end of the South County Trailway or the western end of the Mosholu-Pelham Greenway.
The Old Putnam Rail Trail follows the abandoned rail line of the old Putnam Branch, a commuter line on the NY Central Railroad that ran from Sedgwick Ave in the Bronx north through Van Cortlandt Park to Brewster, NY. For more information visit; OLD PUTNAM RAIL TRAIL , SOUTH COUNTY TRAILWAY and MOSHOLU-PELHAM GREENWAY .
Starting from the end of the South County Trailway; The trail goes from paved to hard packed dirt. Other then an occasional tree root, the trail is pretty smooth. After a 1/4 mile you'll come alongside the Van Cortlandt Golf Course (the nations first public course). You'll spot some old railroad ties along your left, along with an old railroad millage marker reading NY6 (6 miles to NY). A 1/2 mile takes you underneath the Mosholu Pkwy. You come to Van Cortlandt Lake at 1.1 miles. Just a bit further keep a sharp eye to your right. Here you'll spot 13 stone pillars all lined up in a row. In the 1910's, before the Grand Central Station was constructed, these pillars were used to decide which style to use in the new terminal. A path to the right of the pillars heads up to ball fields and a park. Next you travel across an old double span iron rail bridge. The golf club house will be along your left as you come to what's left of the old Van Cortlandt Train Station on your left. Finally, you'll come to a blue double span iron rail bridge at 1.6 miles. This is as far as we traveled. The trail should continue for less then a 1/2 mile to the edge of the park. Future plans call for developing the section of trail in Van Cortlandt Park as well as an inaccessible section that runs from the park to West 230th St.
Note; You can access the Mosholu-Pelham Greenway by backtracking past the old train station and exiting the trail towards the road. The paved Mosholu-Pelham Greenway passes through here. Right takes you towards its western terminus at the edge of the park at Broadway. Left takes you along the main trail that travels all the way to Pelham Bay Park along the eastern edge of the Bronx. You can also access the Bronx River Greenway. See; BRONX RIVER GREENWAY .
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