Hike of the Week 5/20/2004

West Point Foundry Preserve

Location:  Village of Cold Spring, Putnam County

Length:  2 miles roundtrip, 1-2 hours

Rating:  Short, rough downhill; otherwise level beside river

Dogs:  Allowed on leash

Map:  Description in Scenic Hudson's Adventure Guide to Parks, Preserves and Trails. Call 845-473-4440.

Features: Old foundations, 1865 stabilized office building, restored wetlands of Foundry Cove Marsh, view across the Hudson River.

Watch out for: Protected areas where studies are being conducted.

Background:

Protected by Scenic Hudson Land Trust. An 87-acre site where a large foundry produced Civil War cannons. It is adjacent to a 0.7-acre Foundry Dock Park, historic chapel of Our Lady and the Cold Spring Railroad station and the Foundry School Museum of the Putnam County Historical Society.

Hike Description:

At the trail head where Route 9D goes over a bridge, follow rough trail down hill to old brick building. Explore restored marsh area and follow wide flat area north to Cold Spring Railroad Station. Here, you can retrace steps or wander through the village and return to Chestnut Street. Here, you pass the Foundry School Museum and view a video of the history of the West Point Foundry. The museum is open Saturday and Sunday, 2-5 p.m., and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

How to get there: 

At traffic light in Cold Spring where Route 301 meets Route 9D, go south for 0.3 miles. Bear right at fork onto Chestnut Street. Park along road near trail head where Chestnut Street meets Route 9D again.

About the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference : The NY-NJ Trail Conference is a federation of hiking clubs, environmental organizations and individual members who volunteer their time and resources to build and maintain hiking trails and protect related open space in the bi-state region.

Information : For a more detailed description of this hike including a map, visit www.nynjtc.org and click on Hike of the Week. For information on NYNJTC activities, call 201-512-9348 or email info@nynjtc.org.

Hike of the Week is a regular feature in the Poughkeepsie Journal Players section, call 845-437-4848. This hike is contributed by Jane Geisler of Verbank, an avid hiker and member of the NYNJTC.

V3 Last updated: May 20, 2004   Copyright © 1996-2004  New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Privacy Statement.