Steve B.

And back.

One of my all time favorite rides. The Harlem Valley Bike trail, 8 miles from Amenia to Millerton on the trail, 9 miles on road to the next section on Under Mt. Rd., then back on the trail for 4 miles to Copake Falls and an add'l mile or so on the extension north from Copake Falls. Then back, so 45 RT.

The trail is great. The road section north from Millerton is exceptional. Views of the Catskill Mountains across the Hudson. The paragliders launching themselves off Mt.Brace on the Taconic ridge to the east. Hordes of folks on the path on an almost holiday.

I was literally stunned by the numbers of folks riding the path out of Millerton as well as Copake Falls. The term "build it and they will come" applies in spades here. I was first on this route maybe 5 years ago on a weekday in July, saw a few cyclists but nothing like today. Next time I'm going swimming at Rudd Pond State Park, just north of Millerton.

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/15775876

Here's some photos, Boston Corners Rd., looking south and north (plus my buddy Dave), the trail south of Millerton, plenty of shade. The free bike tool rack in Copake Falls, the old train mileage marker a mile north of Copake.

kaos joe

Nice! And thanks for posting the route! You can get tired, you know, of Round Swamp.......

Steve B.

As note that from L.I. it's a 2 hr. drive, one-way. Maybe a weekend get-a-way route. There's camping and cabins at Taconic State Park in Copake Falls as well as swimming area, plus a swimming pond and tent camping at Rudd Pond state park in Millerton.

We start in Amenia, which is 2.5 miles north of the actual trail southern terminus in Wassaic, only as the Wassaic to Amenia route I find boring as it's right along Rt22.

Lot's of additional on road options north of Copake, including heading east up the mountain.

zacster

I've done a loop from S. Egremont, up Mt Washington road (a killer) and then down Bashbish Falls to Copake, down the trail to the end, on the route you took to Millerton, then up 41 back to S. Egremont. I don't recommend going the other way as the ride UP Bashbish is too steep. I know the NYCC does a ride that way but I don't know how they do that uphill. Even going downhill is treacherous, you are holding on to those brakes tight. I've also done the trail from Millerton to Wassaic, and then down 22 to Pawling. The part on 22 wasn't so great.

SBinNYC

If you are looking for an organized ride that covers this ground and others, try the Harlem River Rail Ride.

Here's a link

indyfabz

I rode the section of the trail from Millerton to Amenia during my Brattleboro to Philly ride last September. Very pretty.

cyclebycle13

I go over Mt. Everest/Washington from the NY side all the time, have been since I moved to Pawling. I wouldn't recommend going your direction because the descent w/ those switchbacks would take the fun out of going downhill. I ride through that area all the time, some part of it almost daily in the summer. Almost all of my rides involve heading up/down that section of 22 from Pawling to the rail trail- if you know what you're doing it's just fine - there are also alternatives to Rt 22 just east of it, it'll be hillier.

ChipSeals

Agree with Steve B. That is a great ride. Just about anything north of Wassaic is beautiful up there. I discovered it as a gateway to the Western Massachusetts / Great Barrington area, and it's become a weekend destination for me now.

South of Wassaic is also beautiful, but tangibly different, especially on Route 22 toward Pawling. A few too many howling pickups at 45-55mph if you get caught at the wrong time of day.

MinnMan

I stayed in a rented house with my family in Ancram maybe 5 years ago. All there was to ride was a rusted old beater in the basement - it must have weighed 40 pounds. But I pumped up the tires, put some WD-40 on the chain (that's all there was around) and explored the area - Copake, Millerton. I enjoyed the nice roads and the scenery, but I didn't know there was a trail there. Is the trail new?

FBinNY 

Though I've never ridden the trail, the Central Valley has always been one of my favorite cycling areas. A fine mesh of quiet roads, with nicely rolling terrain, and hills if /when you want to climb them.

Often, I'll ride north out of either lower Westchester, or use the train to Brewster, then continue northward until I'm ready to loop back to take a train home. Folks from NYC can take the Harlem division out in the morning, do a nice loop and swing west to the Hudson River and take a train home.

Steve B.

New as in past 10 years or so (20 apparently). They keep opening sections as they get money to build.

The lower part is in Duchess, the northern in Columbia counties. The trail is on the northen right-of-way of the Metro North Harlem train line, that currently ends in Wassaic, which is where the southern 9.5 miles of trail begins. The rail line went to Chatham NY where it connected to an east-west railroad line. The rail trail is planned to go the 40 something miles from Wassaic to Chatham.

Harlem Valley Rail Trail ? Wassaic to Chatham or Bust

Pistard

WE ride every time we stay at Copake, great trail

etw

The area is beautiful and has great riding. The HVRR is one of the highlights of the summer. It is a well run ride with great rest stops and food before and after. I would recommend it to anyone within any driving distance. One of the best out there.

cyclebycle13

$80 to ride the roads I'm usually on anyway is an instant pass for me. Tour of the Litchfield Hills is half the price.

etw

Having ridden both, I enjoy doing the HVRR much more. For me the route and food is better, but both are great.