Croton Gorge Park
An unmarked trail wanders along the Croton River. Several longer trails start at the park. The Briarcliff-Peekskill Trailway crosses the top of the dam. Two side trails on the River Trail connect to the Old Croton Aqueduct.
An unmarked trail wanders along the Croton River. Several longer trails start at the park. The Briarcliff-Peekskill Trailway crosses the top of the dam. Two side trails on the River Trail connect to the Old Croton Aqueduct.
Affectionately called the Aqueduct, the 26.2-mile Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park, running from Yonkers to Cortlandt in Westchester County, is heavily used by its neighbors and friends. Joggers, cyclists and dog walkers use it to exercise. For others, it is route to walk to work, school, or the train station. The original 41-mile length of the Aqueduct was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1992.
While 26 miles may be too long for a walk or day hike, the route is conveniently separated here into three sections.
The Old Croton Aqueduct has multiple access points, including 90 road crossings. Use the Aqueduct map or a Westchester County map to reach various road crossings. Where the Aqueduct runs through residential areas, parking is limited. Parking areas are at Croton Dam (Cortlandt), Croton Gorge Park (Cortlandt), Joseph P. Caputo Community Center (Ossining), River Road (Scarborough), Gory Brook (Sleepy Hollow), Prospect Avenue (Tarrytown), and municipal lots which require a permit on weekdays. There are many places to park a car on streets near the Aqueduct.
This loop hike climbs to the highest point of this Westchester County park and passes an interesting rock shelter.
Take I-684 North to Exit 6 (Cross River), which briefly joins the Saw Mill River Parkway, then exits to N.Y. Route 35. Turn right and follow Route 35 east for 3.7 miles to N.Y. Route 121. Turn right onto Route 121, cross a bridge over the Cross River, then immediately turn left and enter Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. Continue for 0.7 mile to the tollbooth (a parking fee is charged on weekends, daily in the summer). Make the first right beyond the tollbooth onto Michigan Road and continue for 0.7 mile to a parking area just before a turnaround circle at the end of the road (if this parking area is full, additional parking is available uphill to the left).
Walk back to a junction where an "additional parking" sign points to the right. Turn right into a dirt parking area, follow it to its end, then continue along a wide path, passing a cedar tree on the right. At the end of the path, bear right and follow the FH blazes of the Fox Hill Trail (in the direction indicated by the sign "To Junction Marker 9"). The trail climbs, passing through gaps in several stone walls. Just below the high point, it bears left and begins to descend. As it parallels a stone wall at the edge of a field, there are north-facing views through the trees.