Good Start Point for South County Trail If I Go Carless?
08-30-14, 08:59 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Good Start Point for South County Trail If I Go Carless?
Let's just say it doesn't rain on Labor Day. And let's just say my wife is busy all day and I get to do a "real" ride by myself. I'm thinking about revisiting the South and North County Trails to see what's changed since my last ride in the early 2000's. But I don't want to drive from Long Island and fight all the holiday traffic coming home.
Where would be a good place to start if I use Metro North, or if I want to train my way to Van Cortland Park? Even though I look really smart and sophisticated in my avatar photo, and even though I maintain a website devoted to all the good bikeways in the New York region, I'm really clueless about how far south the trail goes these days.
Help?
Where would be a good place to start if I use Metro North, or if I want to train my way to Van Cortland Park? Even though I look really smart and sophisticated in my avatar photo, and even though I maintain a website devoted to all the good bikeways in the New York region, I'm really clueless about how far south the trail goes these days.
Help?
08-31-14, 02:56 AM
#2
Senior Member
Just take the 1 train to the last stop at 242nd St. The trail begins just inside the park from there. Neither of the Metro North branches stop near there. The trail is built on the rail bed of the line that ran BETWEEN the other two, so until you get to Brewster you're never really near the Harlem line, although the Hudson line would leave you in Riverdale in the Bronx if you want. You'd end up at the same point as the 1 train anyway.
As for changes, all I know is that one section near the south end is now continuous as they rebuilt the bridge. You used to end up on the unmarked streets. I never understood why there weren't signs to get you back on the trail.
As for changes, all I know is that one section near the south end is now continuous as they rebuilt the bridge. You used to end up on the unmarked streets. I never understood why there weren't signs to get you back on the trail.
08-31-14, 03:11 AM
#3
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Tom...It's paved all the way to Carmel, 47 miles...
If you start in Van Cortland Park you just have to contend with a mile of smooth packed dirt until you reach the Northern edge of VCP. I like it, feels good under the tires...there's what everyone calls the "quicksand section," which is early on parallel to the Southern section of Van Cortland Lake, and if caught just post rain the mud can be a bit much, but I skirt the edge of it successfully...on 28mm slicks...
When you get to Elmsford you have to traverse some local streets for half a mile or so until you get back on the trail at Warehouse Lane...there's some riding alongside the Taconic Parkway as well, very wide and manicured shoulder....other than that it is mostly paved, exclusive bike path..:
South & North County Trailway and Old Putnam Trail
If you start in Van Cortland Park you just have to contend with a mile of smooth packed dirt until you reach the Northern edge of VCP. I like it, feels good under the tires...there's what everyone calls the "quicksand section," which is early on parallel to the Southern section of Van Cortland Lake, and if caught just post rain the mud can be a bit much, but I skirt the edge of it successfully...on 28mm slicks...
When you get to Elmsford you have to traverse some local streets for half a mile or so until you get back on the trail at Warehouse Lane...there's some riding alongside the Taconic Parkway as well, very wide and manicured shoulder....other than that it is mostly paved, exclusive bike path..:
South & North County Trailway and Old Putnam Trail
Last edited by UnfilteredDregs; 08-31-14 at 03:14 AM.
09-01-14, 07:13 PM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
The weather was taunting me on Monday, so I stayed sort of local and rode Brooklyn instead. I will save all this N&S County Trail info for a future ride, though. Thank you!
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