A short walk in from the parking area, the trail entrance.
We would be taking the yellow trail straight through the park.
The other trails in the park have views but there would be no views in the fog so we would do those trails at the end of the hike.
Passing by the blue trail which leads to a view, also for later in the day.
Staying on yellow to the left, white for later.
Ruins at the next intersection of yellow and white.
Franny Reese State Park ends at the tunnel.
Some options exiting the tunnel ...
Steps to the left that lead to Walkway Over the Hudson or ...
... the Mid Hudson Bridge which would be our return route.
We went straight towards Highland Landing to loop around to the Hudson Valley Rail Trail to approach Walkway Over the Hudson that way in hopes the fog would have lifted by then.
Seagulls in the Hudson.
This is a quiet road walk on Oakes Road with the Hudson River just to the right when you can see it.
Walkway Over the Hudson up head.
Just before Walkway Over the Hudson, this 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath house with railroad tracks just across the street up for sale for a mere $1,899,000.
Under the Walkway Over the Hudson.
Crossing the railroad tracks ...
... to Highland Landing Park.
Walkway Over the Hudson from Highland Landing Park.
Now heading away from the Hudson River towards Highland Hamlet following the round orange signs.
Walking past the water treatment plant is pretty icky ...
... but it gets better walking up River Road.
We were spotted by several turkeys that promptly took off up the hillside.
Vineyard Avenue through Highland Hamlet. Several places to grab a bite to eat along here.
There was no round orange sign that I could see for crossing to the other side of Vineyard Avenue and turning right on Commercial but there was the hiking sign.
Up the hill to the left ...
... then left on the Hudson Valley Rail Trail.
Black Vultures trying to dry the fog out of their wings.
The Hudson Valley Rail Trail goes straight into Walkway Over the Hudson. That is where 99% of the people will be.
It's not very crowded on a foggy morning.
Looking north up the Hudson where on a clear day the Catskills should be visible.
Looking south towards the Mid Hudson Bridge where we would be crossing later.
Nearing the other end of the Walkway Over the Hudson in Poughkeepsie.
We continued on what is now the Duchess Rail Trail to the parking lot ...
... where we walked out the parking lot drive ...
... and turned right on Parker Avenue following the Walkway Loop Trail signs.
Walkway Over the Hudson on the right.
Verazzano Boulevard along Fall Kill.
We took a little detour to the Poughkeepsie Waterfront but a wedding was getting ready to take place so we just stayed long enough to get a few shots.
Walkway Over the Hudson from the Poughkeepsie Waterfront
Mid Hudson Bridge from the Poughkeepsie Waterfront.
Back to following the Walkway Loop Trail, left to the ramp ....
... to the Mid Hudson Bridge.
The wedding at the Poughkeepsie Waterfront where we had just come from.
I was wearing layers. It was in the 30's. I cannot even imagine how cold they must have been and they were there for a long time.
At the center of the bridge, a bump out where there is no danger of peregrine falcon nesting this time of year, but there is bridge music! You just press a button for a tune of your choice. This totally confused Brodie.
Where it doesn't feel like you are on a bridge at all crossing the Walkway Over the Hudson, there is no doubt you are crossing on a bridge on the pedestrian walkway of the Mid Hudson Bridge.
Coming off of the Mid Hudson Bridge, the steps to the right go down to Franny Reese State Park but we bypassed the steps to ...
Johnson Iorio Park
Then back to the steps ...
... and down steeply ...
... to the yellow trail through the tunnel ...
... back into Franny Reese State Park.
We would do the blue trail last, for now left to ...
... the white trail which loops around coming out at the other end of the blue overlook trail.
The ruins don't look quite as creepy without the fog.
There would be no views in the summer but it's very scenic with the leaves down.
Now on the the blue trail.
Views from the blue trail - the Mid Hudson Bridge where we had just crossed over.
Walkway Over the Hudson on the left, Mid Hudson Bridge on the right.
Thanks, Cathy! As big of a bummer as it is when you get to a hike to find fog that had not been forecast the night before, it does make for some interesting pictures.
I've never done the walkway over the Hudson. I've had a few coworkers ask me if I've done it. That might be a good one to do to introduce my new puppy to people (we are now seeking out mini-hikes where we can expose him to people). Maybe just walk over the bridge and walk back. I cannot wait until this pup grows up and we can go on longer hikes again! We are starting out with around 1 mile hikes. I searched NYNJTC for 1 mile hikes, lol.
Congrats on the puppy! I was just looking at this the other day and they have several preserves with shorter trails. https://clctrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/countywide.pdf
Loved your entry today. Lots of excellent pictures given the foggy weather. Many thank you’s!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cathy! As big of a bummer as it is when you get to a hike to find fog that had not been forecast the night before, it does make for some interesting pictures.
DeleteI've never done the walkway over the Hudson. I've had a few coworkers ask me if I've done it. That might be a good one to do to introduce my new puppy to people (we are now seeking out mini-hikes where we can expose him to people). Maybe just walk over the bridge and walk back. I cannot wait until this pup grows up and we can go on longer hikes again! We are starting out with around 1 mile hikes. I searched NYNJTC for 1 mile hikes, lol.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the puppy! I was just looking at this the other day and they have several preserves with shorter trails. https://clctrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/countywide.pdf
Delete