WALLKILL VALLEY RAIL TRAIL:

ROSEDALE, NEW YORK

-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-

Planted:                NO LETTERBOX PLANTED AT THIS TIME

Length:                Wallkill Valley Rail Trail North; 7  miles

                              Wallkill Valley Rail Trail South; 8.1 miles

Difficulty:            Moderate. Flat rail trail with many different surfaces. Some sections are hard packed cinder or dirt, while other sections are rough gravel or 

                              grass lined single and double track. A mountain bike is recommended.                            

Directions:

To start from New Paltz; From I-87 (New York State Thruway) take exit 18 to Route 299 west into New Paltz. Just before crossing over the Wallkill River Bridge, take a right onto Hounert Street and another right into the parking lot. The trail is located on the opposite side of the old Train station.

To start from Mountain Road; From I-87 (New York State Thruway) take exit 18 to Route 299 west into New Paltz. Take a right onto Route 32 north and head towards Rosendale. After crossing over Rondout Creek, take a left onto Route 213 west. Take another left back across the river onto Keator Ave. and then a right onto Mountain Road. The parking area will be on the right where the trail crosses the road.

To start from Gardiner; From I-87 (New York State Thruway) take exit 18 to Route 299 west into New Paltz. Take Route 32 south and turn right onto Route 44 west into Gardiner center where the trail crosses the road. Parking is available here.

The Wallkill Valley Rail Trail runs along the former rail bed of the Wallkill Valley Railroad. In the late 19th century, the Wallkill Valley Railroad ferried fresh produce and vegetables from the farmlands of Ulster County to the streets of New York City. It also served as a commuter railroad for passengers traveling along the Hudson Valley. For more than a half century, the railroad supported business and tourism, provided jobs and created a critical economic link between upstate and downstate. By 1933 only one passenger train ran daily each way, and four years later, all passenger service came to a halt. Over the next few decades, numerous stations along the Wallkill line closed. In 1977, the Wallkill Valley Railroad took its last freight run.

The trail is divided into north and south sections emanating from New Paltz. The northern section heads towards Rosendale and travels a more wooded path then the southern section, which travels towards Gardiner and is more out in the open with scenic vistas. The northern section has two very scenic trestle crossings, one across the Wallkill River and a "not to be missed" partial crossing high above Rondout Creek with fantastic vistas. Do Not Miss This Treasure which is easily accessible from the Mountain Road parking lot. The northern section from New Paltz starts out with some rough gravel sections and then becomes smoother as it travels along compacted dirt and cinder, while the southern section is smoother overall, but with many different trail surfaces ranging from stone dust to hard packed dirt and cinder to single and double track grass lined surfaces. If you only have time to ride one section, I recommend the northern section, starting from Rosendale. For more information visit; WALLKILL VALLEY RAIL TRAIL .  

Starting from Mountain Road parking lot;

Note; The trail goes north from the parking lot for less then a ¼ mile, but it is not to be skipped as it contains the most scenic point along the entire trail. Heading north you cross ¾ of the way over the old 1920 railroad trestle where the trail currently ends. The trestle crosses about 100 feet above Rondout Creek with wide open vistas of the surrounding hills.

Heading south from the parking lot the trail crosses Mountain Road and enters the woods through a small rock cut. The trail surface is hard packed cinder. There is a brief split in the trail which then merges back together. After passing a high rock face on the left, you'll cross a small brook and come to a small rock cut at a ¼ mile. You'll cross another culvert and head deeper into the woods. At 1 ½ miles you cross a bridge over a road and at 2 miles there are open fields along both sides of the trail. However, the trail is still well shaded. At 2.9 miles you come to a road crossing and the New Paltz section of the trail. Signboards are located at all road crossings with the name of the road and a map on the back. At about 3 miles, the trail widens, but also becomes rougher with its gravel base. After crossing over Craigwood Road at 3.6 miles, there are more open fields and a nice view of the ridgeline on your right. Use caution when crossing over Springtown Road at 4 ½ miles as there is no cross-walk. Just after crossing this road you come to the Wallkill River Bridge. There are built in benches and a great view. The trail then heads back into the woods along a berm. After crossing another road you'll see an old remnant of the railroad on the left. It's a pole that says "measured mile" on one side and 1 mile on the opposite. You'll pass two more of these poles for a ½ mile and a ¼ mile. After crossing over Heubart Street at 5.6 miles there will be a platform on the right overlooking a marsh. Another old railroad remnant will come at 5.9 miles, an old Whistle Stop marker on the left. The trail is now residential as it crosses Mullbury Street at 6.3 miles and is paved, although not in the best shape. The trail then passes by the old New Paltz Train Station as it enters downtown and crosses over Route 299 at 6 ¾ miles. The next section is considered the southern section.

Starting from New Paltz; From Route 299 in downtown New Paltz the trail heads south along an old paved surface. The Wallkill River is down to the right, although the trail soon pulls away from it. After crossing a road at 0.3 miles, the trail surface reverts to crushed stone. A meandering stream is now on your right and power lines are up to your left. The trail surface alternates between crushed stone, stone-dust and single and double track grass lined. The trail is more open and thus less shaded. You cross over a creek at 1 ¾ miles with good views of the ridgeline and pass through an apple orchard at 2.3 miles. Cross another bridge ( Forest Glen Bridge ) at 3 ¾ miles. At 3.8 miles I ran over a poor little snake, but he didn't seem to mind and slithered away. At 5.4 miles the trail is nice stone-dust as it takes you into Gardiner at 5.7 miles where the trail crosses Route 44. Parking and food is available here. After crossing Sandhill Road at 6.3 miles, the trail narrows and turns into a single or double track grass lined surface. The trail then ends after 8.1 miles at Denniston Road . Horse farms and pastures lie ahead.

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