Hike of the Week 6/3/2004

Fahnestock Park: Pick a hike!

Location:  Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park, Putnam County

Length:  Varies from 1.5 miles (easiest) to 7.9 miles (most challenging)

Rating:  Varies, from easy to moderate to very challenging

Dogs:  Allowed on a leash

Map:  East Hudson Trails #103, published by NYNJTC. Also free brochure at park office.

Features: Good, high plateau woods walking, lakes, ponds, bogs, streams.

Watch out for:

Background:

Hike Description:

Fahnestock State Park encompasses an impressive 12,281 acres in Putnam County. Choose from dozens of park trails, more than 50 miles total, marked by blue, green, purple, red, white or yellow 2-by-3-inch blazes. Fahnestock rests at the top of a high plateau and the terrain is very different from the surrounding valleys. Hikes include the easy, 1.5-mile Pelton Pond nature trail loop, the classic, 5.8-mile Three Lakes hike south of Route 301, the 4.9-mile Dennytown Loop, the 6.0-mile Fahnestock Circuit hike in the north, the 7.1-mile Fahnestock West in the northwest and the challenging, 7.9-mile East Mountain-Round Hill in the far west. In short, Fahnestock has it all: Thousands of acres of remote, unspoiled, tranquil, beautiful terrain, traversed by trails ranging from picnic-friendly nature walks to serious, steep, challenging trails. Pick up a pamphlet, and pick a hike!.

How to get there: 

Fahnestock State Park can be accessed off the Taconic State Parkway or Route 9. From Poughkeepsie, take Route 9 south through Fishkill and into Putnam County. When Route 9 intersects with Route 301, take Route 301 east to the park. From the Taconic, exit at Route 301 and follow the signs to the park.

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 Ralph Ferrusi of Stormville, an avid hiker and member of the NYNJTC

V3 Last updated: June 4, 2004   Copyright © 1996-2004  New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Privacy Statement.