All aboard: Historic rail trail opens to public

HAINES FALLS — The Mountain Top Historical Society celebrated National Trails Day Saturday by opening the historic and long-awaited Kaaterskill Rail Trail in Haines Falls.

The walking trail was officially opened to the public at 10:30 a.m., with enthusiastic speeches by representatives of the many organizations involved in its development, including the town of Hunter, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, the Mountain Top Historical Society and a handful of private property owners. After the opening ceremony, an eager crowd of hikers took off on guided walks of the trail.