Gone Hikin': Empire State Trail, NY - Hopewell Junction to New Paltz

The elevation profile is not accurate in GaiaGPS because going over the Walkway Over The Hudson it measures as if you are going down to Hudson River level and back up instead of staying high on the bridge.

THE BIKE:

Heading north from Hopewell Junction.

The trail crosses quiet roads where cars were really good about stopping to let bikes cross.

The trail passes many swamps and ponds.

Coming up on Walkway Over the Hudson.

There are signs and markers on the pavement showing who should be where (walkers and bikers) but, of course, not everyone can read.

It gets much quieter again after Walkway Over the Hudson.

Someone had posted on Facebook that whatever trail they were referring to needed signs like this one. Makes absolutely NO difference. And on this trail cyclists were particularly bad about announcing. In fact, I think I was about the only one doing it. I got a side mirror for my bike because I am so sick of being startled by bikes and e-bikes zooming by unannounced. It helps but I can't be looking at the mirror all the time.

The trail starts to follow next to very busy Route 299.

Crossing at pedestrian lights on crosswalks, the trail moved to the right side of Route 299.

Going over the New York State Thruway.

At this intersection, pedestrians can continue straight on a sidewalk into New Paltz; bikers turn right ...

... on a bike lane for a short distance.

The trail turns left on Henry Dubois Drive. I had been dreading this part and was contemplating coming back on the pedestrian sidewalk up Route 299 because I was going to be walking my bike up steep hills coming back anyway and did not want to do that on a road with no shoulder which is what was coming up but...

... what is that on the left? Was I every surprised to see a dedicated bike path that I did not know was there. Turns out it was opened June 2025 and it is nice!

You can pretty much cruise down into New Paltz but now I was no longer concerned about having to walk back up the hills on my return. There is plenty of space.

At the end pedestrian crosswalk to cross right then left ...

... then straight to the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail.

I went left into New Paltz ...

... then left again because ...

... I had ordered lunch just around the corner from Karma Road the night before for 11:00 AM pickup and wouldn't you know I arrived exactly at 11:00 AM. Not sure how I managed that but sheer luck in planning.