ROCKEFELLER PRESERVE WALK (Strenuous)

An 11.5-mile, moderate-paced walk through Rockefeller State Park Preserve, beginning and ending at the Tarrytown train station. We will return to Tarrytown in time for the Tarrytown Halloween parade for those interested, those not interested can return directly to the train station.

You can RSVP here on Meetup but you must register on the AMC website and complete the required online waiver in order to attend the hike. It's quick, it's easy, it's free and you don't need to make an account or log in, just click this link to get to the hike listing on the AMC website and then click Register Now and follow the prompt: AMC online waiver

Take the 9:53 semi-express Metro North Hudson Line train from Grand Central to Tarrytown arriving Tarrytown 10:42. Meet on the river side of the Tarrytown train station by the tennis courts. I will be wearing a green AMC cap.

The start time of 10:45 is just after the 9:53 train arrives in Tarrytown, the end time of 4:45 is when I think we will arrive near the beginning of the parade, the train station is a 20-minute walk from there. There are trains to Grand Central at 5:04, 5:18, 5:46, here's the train schedule Hudson Line train schedule Do not drive to Tarrytown, there will be no parking, park somewhere else and take the train.

From the train station we walk north on the Riverwalk along the Hudson River to Kingsland Park, then east on steep streets to Gory Brook Road, then counterclockwise through Rockefeller Preserve, including Stone Barns, the visitor center and the location of the hut of Hulda, the Bohemian "witch", and take the Old Croton Aqueduct trail to North Broadway in front of the high school near the beginning of the Halloween parade. If you don't want to view the parade, I will give simple directions to return to the train station by by streets away from the parade. Here's the parade information: Halloween Parade

Elevation gain is about 900 feet, some of the hills are long and steep. Sneakers are fine, but you might prefer something with a strong sole on some of the rockier trails, shorts are fine as the trails are wide so less danger of ticks but check for ticks just the same. Bring water, snacks and lunch. We will stop for lunch at Stone Barns at 5.5 miles and take short break at the visitor center at 7 miles, water available at both stops, restrooms in Pierson Park near the train station, at Kingsland Park at 2 miles, at Stone Barns, and at the visitor center. The park is carry-in carry-out.

Maps of the walk:
Strava
All Trails Map
Google Map

There is a free pdf of the Rockefeller trails at Rockefeller trail map which is also available as a free download on the Avenza app.
The New York/New Jersey Trail Conference has a much better Rockefeller trail map as part of its 4-map Westchester bundle, you can buy paper copies for $11.95 from the trail conference web site or buy a $10.99 download on the Avenza app.

Leader: Tom Bergen 917-727-5507 [tom.bergen@yahoo.com](mailto:tom.bergen@yahoo.com)

Please note that Covid-19 has persisted in our region from its onset in 2020, with cases currently on the rise. In the interest of public health, do not join this hike if symptomatic of Covid-19 or infected with it.
AMC Trip Policy
Difficulty Rating
6 - Strenuous
Difficulty Rating Definition
Most physically demanding. Fitness for the specific activity is required with direct experience in the activity highly recommended and potentially mandatory (see the activity description). Expect to be active 6+ hours per day for back-to-back days if it is a multiday trip. Breaks will be shorter/fewer than for other levels of trips.

AMC website listing:
https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UVX000001GK5R2AW/act00023126