ABOUT THE PARK:
DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.39146, -73.54126
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| Farrington Woods Parking at the New York/Connecticut State Line |
TRAIL MAP:
BIKE DISTANCE: 57.3 miles (28.65 miles each way)
I have to note that this is the farthest I have ever biked at one time. I was not sure I could do the whole thing (I hadn't planned to) but the trail is so amoothly paved with barely a ripple that it made this doable. Even though there is pretty significant elevation gain, the uphill parts were gradual and not that bad.
THE BIKE:
I never ride without a helmet and if it were ever to occur to me not to, I just need to remind myself about the time a branch fell out of tree onto my head while I was biking. The helmet absorbed all of the shock and no harm was done. Had I not been wearing a helmet, it would have been bad. Very bad. That said, I arrived at my destination after an hour and a half of driving to find I HAD LEFT THE BAG WITH MY HELMET AND CAMERA ON THE TABLE NEXT TO THE FRONT DOOR!!!!! So yes, I did this bike without a helmet and only because the trail was so smooth. Fortunately there were no mishaps. Without my camera, all photos were taken on my cell phone.
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| Exiting the parking lot the path is down below; a right just after the bridge leads down to the path. |
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| It was a very foggy morning. |
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| The Maybrook Trailway passes several scenic lakes and swamps. |
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| Road crossings have this decorative brick on either side. |
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| The Empire State Trail joins in from the left in Brewster. |
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| Without my camera's 60x zoom, this was the best I could do with my phone's 10x zoom. Missed a lot of wildlife photo opps :(. |
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| The trail was mostly in the shade on the way out. It was mostly full sun on the way back when the sun have moved south. |
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| Where the trail has been very remote up to this point, it starts to become more populated with busier road crossings after this Stormville sign. This was my planned turn around point but I kept going. |
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| Coming into Hopewell Junction, a large lumber yard on the left. |
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| The trail turns right then left ... |
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| ... where this sign is on the right. |
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| Just a little bit farther to the Hopewell Junction trail head. |
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| This is where the Dutchess Rail Trail begins - that's for another day. |
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| Heading back. |
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| Green Haven State Correctional Facility almost next to Trump National Golf Course. |
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| A waterfall on the right. |
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| The Empire State Trail leaves to the right in Brewster. |
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| This must be an old sign because the trail continues for a few more miles. |
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| Now coming up on the end. |
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| The ramp on the right back up to the parking lot. |
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| Looking down at the unfinished part where the trail is supposedly going to be extended into Connecticut. |
