Saw this on WiKi:

" As of September 2013, the development is completed; therefore, the Dutchess Rail Trail is now connected to both the Walkway Over the Hudson and the Hudson Valley Rail Trail."

Part of the the trail in question is the rail-trail on the a portion of the Duchess segment of the defunct Maybrook railroad line that went from Maybrook, in Orange County, NY to Waterbury, CT. The route went over the Hudson on what is now the " Walkway over the Hudson". It then continued to Hopwell Junction and onward to near Brewster, over to Danbury, etc...

Assorted Duchess County park websites do not indicate completion to the bridge, yet the Wiki says it's finished as a 12 mile section from Hopewell Junction to a link up to the bridge, for close to 32 miles of RT riding (the bridge section alone is 4 miles EDIT: 1.3 miles)).

As well, Wiki is indicating there's another 4 miles of path west of the Hudson on the Hudson Valley Rail Trail.

It thus sounds like there's 30 or more miles of trail that I need to discover.

Anybody know the actual status ?.

I'm going up there next week. Plan to ride fro Hudson Valley rail trail entrance, over the Walkway, and see if it connects to Dutchess Rail Trail. I can send an update if no one else has immediate knowledge.

Interesting. I was going to go there this week and was going to try to get to the Hudson River bridge by starting in Hopewell Junction. I hear that another bridge is the last link and is close to completion?

I have never been there before and I am curious as to whether I can ride all the way. Please post if you do this ride.

UPDATE, and good news for those interested. I rode east, from New Paltz, crossed over the Walkway and it does indeed connect to Dutchess Rail Trail ("DRT). By coincidence, I met a Walkway official on the DRT -- he was cycling over to the Grand Opening of the bridge over Route 55.
I didn't know how close I was to that bridge at the time, but I turned around just shy of a mile from there. So apparently that bridge connector is now open and it should be smooth sailing.
Incidentally, if you take the route that I did (eastward), bear left after you cross the Walkway. I followed a path to the right that appeared to be the trail's continuation, but it was an exit ramp. It was a very short detour, so not a big deal in any event.

Thanks for the info., may head up there next week.

FWIW, Google earth and maps shows the path paved south of Rt 55.

SB

From just a few hours ago

https://hudsonvalleyreporter.com/dutc...-its-pathways/

OK, so my trail geography is getting foggy the more I keep staying closer to home. Can somebody bring me up to speed? Does the Dutchess Rail Trail connect to the Westchester County Trail?

No, its further north. The current section runs from Hopewell Junction, NW to just north of Poughkeepsie where it meets the bridge trail over the Hudson. I think the Duchess trail is now 12 miles. The bridge adds 1.3, then you can continue west in Orange County another 4 miles on the Hudson Valley trail, so a bit over 17 one-way.

The Maybrook rail line does run down to Brewster (from Hopewll Junction) and east to Danbury and Waterbury. I believe some of the CT. section is rail trail. I don't think Duchess County has any current plans to make it all rail trail as there might still be commercial rail use from Brewster (there's a link to Metro North) to Wappingers Falls/Fish kill, not sure though.
In theory, the line gets abandonded, they could link to the Old Put rail trail to the NCT/SCT.

I belive that Orange County intends to link/complete all the Hudson Valley trail SW to Walden. South of that the line is still running trains, but you could see a really long trail some day, like 50-60 miles one way.

I grew up in that part of NY and get back at least once a year to see family. I'd like to bring the bike next time. It there a link to maps showing the various trails and connections?

If you use Google Maps, type in "Hopewell Junction". Then press the directions tab and select the bike symbol. Exit without doing a direction.

The map has now populated with the Duchess Rail Trail (green line) heading NW towards the Hudson. Google doesn't show it, but it is complete all the way into Ulster County. It is as BTW, another 4.5 miles into New Paltz on Rt.'s 12 & 299 (from Tony Williams park), then a left on the Walkill Valley RT and you can go another 9 miles down to Walkill, for 32 one-way.

Hmmm....

SB

Thanks Steve. I went to high school in Wallkill. Love that part of the world.

I rode this trail on Sunday from Hopewell Junction (the beginning) to the walkway. It's gorgeous, and the weather was idyllic. The bridge was mobbed with people enjoying themselves.

I'm a recent convert to bike trails. I didn't like the concept, since I'm so used to riding on roads. But these trails are great. You can really get places fast and easily on them, and you can have fun at the same time. A couple of week ago, I rode from my home in lower Manhattan to my mother in law's place in White Plains. It was 32 miles, and all but about seven of the miles were on trails. Fantastic. My average speed is higher on trails than on roads, even the very crowded Hudson Greenway.