Since I became County Executive in 1992, I’ve had a vision of a countywide system of trails for residents and guests to explore the beauty of Dutchess County on a variety of footpaths, gravel trails and paved surface trails.  Combining the Greenway trails, County and other municipal Parks and abandoned rail beds of the Hudson Valley, my vision is rapidly becoming a reality.

Today, people can enjoy our two wonderful rail trails -  the Harlem Valley Rail Trail in the eastern portion of the county and the Dutchess Rail Trail in the central portion.   Both of our rail trails offer opportunities for exercise and enjoyment by users of all ages and for all forms of non-motorized transportation.

Our Dutchess Rail Trail will be a 12-mile linear park stretching through the heart of the County from Morgan Lake on the Town/City of Poughkeepsie border through the towns of LaGrange and Wappinger, ending in East Fishkill with a trailhead in the Hamlet of Hopewell Junction.    It is being constructed in multiple phases.

The first two phases of the Dutchess Rail Trail  are open for residents to enjoy.    Phase I of the Dutchess Rail Trail is 1.7 mile section in the Town of East Fishkill extending between Route 376 and Lake Walton Road.   Phase II is a 2.4 mile section that stretches from Morgan Lake to Overocker Road in the Town of Poughkeepsie.   Thousands of residents have already enjoyed both of these sections!  We look forward to the construction and completion of the next phases of the Dutchess Rail Trail

Our beautiful Harlem Valley Rail Trail offers more than 10 miles of scenic trail through the communities of Millerton, North East, Amenia and Wassaic.  Plans are underway to complete Phase IV of the HVRT, which will span approximately 8 miles and complete a key link in the Rail Trail between Millerton in northeastern Dutchess County and Ancram in southeastern Columbia County. 

I believe the rail trails of Dutchess County are wonderful opportunities to connect with family, friends and neighbors.   Grab your sneakers, your bike or your rollerbladers and come out to discover the Dutchess Rail Trail and the Harlem Valley Rail Trail.

I’ll see you on the trails!